Philadelphia

Termini Bakery owner Vincent Termini and his sons, general managers Joseph Termini and Vincent Termini Jr., guide us through the century-old process of baking their famous family recipe for ricotta cheese cannoli with chocolate chips.

Francis Cratil-Cretarola, owner of upscale Italian restaurant Le Virtù in Philadelphia, speaks with Marcus about the causes that led to Abruzzian immigration to the U.S., including his own grandfather, who came to the conclusion that the best way to help his family was to leave his home in Italy, in 1909.

Chef Damon Menapace explains the sourcing of some of his ingredients, opting to go local more often than importing, as is custom in Abruzzo. This is part of an overall effort at Le Virtù to respect the origins of the food on their menu. After tasting the taccozzelle that chef Damon prepares, Marcus likens it to a symphony orchestra playing metallica: delicate and rustic.

Host Marcus Samuelsson heads to Philadelphia, where he meets new friends and old, and learns more about the city’s Italian food scene. Italian-Americans have been driving food culture in the U.S. for over a century, and Philadelphia is one of the original hubs for both classic and modern Italian cuisine.