South Philly's Io E Tu on Ninth Street had an unnamed appetizer that regulars requested by citing two main ingredients: "shrimp and bacon." When Giovanni and Concetta Varallo closed Io E Tu to concentrate on their Ristorante Pesto on Broad Street a year and a half ago, the dish migrated west. It's still not on the menu, but it's available if you ask - shrimp wrapped in bacon, which in turn is wrapped in a crescent dough. Not the healthiest of offerings, but it has the homespun charm of a Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe.
- Michael Klein
"Shrimp and bacon" appetizer is $8 at Ristorante Pesto, 1915 S. Broad St., 215-336-8380.