Altomonte’s is Family Owned & Operated for 53 Years with an award-winning butcher shop, Pennsylvania’s finest selection of Italian wines, a scratch made bakery and more!
Everything created and shared at Altomonte’s is fueled by passion. “After 53 years in business, our guiding principles remain the same: use top-quality ingredients, serve customers like family and always strive for excellence,” says Maria who adds “When we couldn’t find bread and pastries that met our standards, we began making them ourselves. Today, we import our own olive oil, tomatoes, flour and more, ensuring the highest quality from source to table.” She emphasizes that strong relationships with their producers and farmers are key to maintaining their standards of excellence.
Maria says her biggest inspiration is her mom, whose incredible work ethic and dedication exemplifies the American dream. “Her ability to turn challenges into opportunities while always being there for our family has shaped my own approach to work and life,” she shares. “What I enjoy most about our business is sharing exceptional food with our customers, educating them about its origins, and watching their delight as they experience something truly special.”
Maria can be found helping customers recreate cherished family recipes. “It’s a heartwarming experience to bring someone’s grandmother’s or mother’s secret dishes back to life, especially when those recipes were never written down,” she says, adding “It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the joy on their faces when they finally achieve that culinary connection.”
From their humble beginnings as a small corner store in Philadelphia, Altomonte’s has grown to include two markets, a bakery and an import company, thanks to the support and dedication of everyone involved.
Work days are always lively at the store and Maria chuckles, in retrospect. “One time during our childhood, we mistakenly allowed a basket of live escargot to escape. The snails ended up crawling over everything in the store- on shelves, the ceiling and glass cases, leading to quite an amusing clean-up adventure for our parents while we were at school. To this day, it’s one of our favorite family stories, reminding us that even in the midst of chaos, there’s always a chance for a good laugh and a memorable experience.”
For more about Altomonte’s visit altomontes.com and follow them on Instagram @altomontes.