Brightest Young Things

They haven't even opened yet and already Casey Patten and David Mazza are the new darlings of H Street and DC food bloggers alike. With the planned opening of Taylor at 1116 H Street, these two Philadelphia natives bring us a South Philly-style deli and Italian market with a dowtown twist. As they say on their menu "Italian Flavors. Urban Taste."

Last I heard Taylor opens tomorrow and from what I've seen of the menu, you have reason to be excited. Taylor will be roasting their own turkey breast with a special garlic and herb rub, and I personally can't wait to try out their risotto balls. If you want to check out the menu, Frozen Tropics has it up.

Casey Patten was good enough to give some time to Brightest Young Things for a Q&A, check it out below and then go check out Taylor in person.

Tell us about Taylor, when do you open and what should we expect?

We’re a gourmet Italian deli and market. We bring all of our bread from Philly and the majority of our meats and cheeses come from Italy. We’re also a full Italian market with oils, vinegars, sauces, anchovies, pestos and other gourmet Italian products.

In addition, we’re going to have 30 Italian wines under $30. We’re also going to carry Italian beers like Peroni and Moretti and selections from some interesting small breweries like Allagash, Brooklyn Brewery and Abita; the kind of things you aren’t going to find in the area.

We’re also going to do delivery to a limited area. Delivery will be an option through our usual business hours which are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tell us about the Philadelphia connection.

David (Mazza) and I grew up in Philly. When we came to D.C. in 2003 we kept looking for what we were used to in South Philly on 9^th Street. The Italian Store in Arlington was the closest, but it was still too far and we decided D.C.needed and old world Italian market. We started the concept in 2004 and bought the building last year. 

All of Taylor’s sandwiches are named after streets in Philadelphia and the salads are named after parks.

All our bread comes from Sarcone’s. If you have a deli in Philly and you want cred, you use Sarcone’s. We tried nine bakeries locally and no one could even come close.

Why H Street?

I lived in Gallery Place for a long time over in Chinatown. Once that area started to settle down all you heard about was H Street. David and I like home grown small businesses. I ran into Fritz (Wood) and Mark (Thorpe) at Matchbox one day when Rock and Roll Hotel was opening; we got to check it out and thought the RnR was an interesting project. We fell in love with the neighborhood and saw an opportunity for growth. We really wanted to get in on a street full of small businesses.

Where do you like to hang out in the neighborhood?

If I’m not at Taylor, I’m at Sticky Rice.

Where are your favorite places to eat in the city?

My go-to is Matchbox, it has a cool story. I gravitate towards places like that. I also like Rays the Steaks and Granville Moore’s.

If someone walks into Taylor, what are the three things they have to get?

9^th Street Italian (Prosciutto, capicola, genoa salami and sharp provolone). Take home a pound of 18-month aged sharp provolone. Imported pesto and sundried tomatoes

You are clearly a lover of sandwiches. What makes a great sandwich in your eyes?

The bread! The bread is the base and life of any sandwich

What are some of the unique things you're doing at Taylor?

We’re taking an industrial and contemporary twist on a classic Philly market and deli. We’re using reclaimed woods and exposed brick. Our shelving systems are made out of galvanized metal fence posts. The place looks like nothing you’ve seen.

My guilty pleasures are strawberry wafer cookies and cheese curls, what’s yours?

Prosciutto de Parma. I could eat it all day.