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With Cristina Benigno continuing to make her father’s recipes and husband Matty Benigno starting a line of gourmet cupcakes recently, readers voted Potito’s Bakery, 1614 Ritner St., as top cupcake and co-winner for cannoli.
“I think he would have been really proud and happy that we were able to continue his legacy,” Cristina said of her father Carmen Potito, who opened the Marconi spot in 1985 and passed away in 2005.
The couple, who bought the shop from Cristina’s mother in ’09, expanded the business to Center City Feb. 4.
“All of our South Philly customers when they’re at work in Center City can now have Potito’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner,” Matty said.
In addition to releasing specialty cupcakes, with flavors such as Snickers, strawberry shortcake and red velvet, they continue to supply customers with their No. 1 seller, the cannoli.
“We still fry our own shell. A lot of people have lost that tradition. We make our own creams,” Cristina said noting flavors consist of ricotta, chocolate, vanilla, tiramisu, peanut butter, as well as seasonal pumpkin and pistachio flavors. “Everything is homemade.”
The staff, including Cristina’s grandfather, Antonio Potito, an 81-year-old who still works in the bakery 12 hours a day, seven days a week, always strives to please, and are delighted to have won the readers’ hearts.
“It’s one of the highest honors to win the Readers’ Choice Awards because it comes from who means the most, the customers,” Matty said.
For cannoli, Potito’s tied with Termini Bros. for first while Varrallo Bros. Bakery filled third.
In the cupcake category, Varallo Bros. Bakery iced second and Termini Bros. baked in third.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
Cuisine
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant: Gravy/sauce
Geno’s Steaks: French fries / cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies: Hoagie
Johnny Chang’s: Sushi
Nick’s Old Original Roast Beef: Roast beef sandwich
City Pizza: Pizza toppings
Green Eggs Café: Sunday brunch
Penrose Diner: Waffles
Popi’s Italian Restaurant: Business luncheon/banquet
FrancoLuigi’s Pizzeria: Romantic outing
Ristorante Pesto: Italian restaurant
Cantina Los Cabalitos: Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Noir: New restaurant
Sweet Tooth
Termini Bros.: Cannoli (tie)
Potito’s Bakery: Cannoli (tie) / cupcakes
Italiano’s Water Ice: Water ice
Lerro’s Candy Co.: Candy store
Staying Active
DanceAdelphia: Dance studio
Girard Academic Music Program: Music program
Marconi Plaza: Place to walk your dog
Stickball: Schoolyard/street game
Guerin Recreation Center: Recreation Center
Wake Up Yoga: Place to take a yoga class
Places
East Passyunk Avenue: Neighborhood
Pennsylvania Burial Co.: Funeral home
Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School: School
St. Monica: Church
Ten Pennies: Florist
Chickie’s and Pete’s: Place to enjoy a game
Sports
Frank Natale: High school coach
Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School Saints: High school team
Citizens Bank Park: Pro sports venue
Chase Utley: Current Philly pro athlete
Ed Snider: Philly pro sports owner
And the Rest
Mummers Parade: South Philadelphia tradition
Councilman Mark Squilla: Politician
Social Scene: South Philly Review section
Disc jockey: Category not on this list
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