Just across the Detroit River in Canada, Windsor's East Erie Street is a bit like visiting Italy. Only without the jet lag.
The 12-block Little Italy neighborhood is awash in red, white and green –– and not just from the fluttering Italian flags that seem to hang from every available post and storefront. The country's food and culture infuses everything here, drawing savvy Americans across the border to sip espresso in outdoor cafés, chitchat with friendly locals selling Italian goods, and dine in more than a dozen restaurants serving cuisine that tastes so authentic, it could have been prepared in a trattoria and shipped from Italy.
The stores that line East Erie offer items to satisfy any shopping excursion, and nearly all of them feature shop owners who sell their wares with an Italian flair. In the mood for a shiny bauble? Head to Gambini Jewelers or Aldo's Clothing & Jewelry Ltd. In search of a new wardrobe? Check out the fashionable duds at LaurAngela Boutique or BCG Diva. And while en route to buy a colorful accent for the house at Giuliana Housewares and Gifts, catch bits of Italian conversation from the old men playing cards and gossiping at the gelato cafes.
Shopping is great, but let's be honest: The real appeal of this neighborhood is the food. With roots in southern Italy, local chefs offer a mix of time-tested recipes that gourmands rave about, including the chicken marsala at Il Brigantino and the brick-oven pizza at La Zingara. Line up for cannolis at Milena's Bakery, where garlic foccacia, black-olive bread and tire-shaped bruschetta are other favorites, then stop in mom-and-pop store La Bottega for a fun Italian deli brimming with imported foods and carved Pinocchio dolls.