Message: | I can sympathise with you - I lived in New Jersey where every other person is Italian and good Italian food is as common as Starbucks is here.
Bay Cities has been the topic of much discussion here at Chowhound - go to the main page and search for "Bay Cities".
It is located on the east side of Lincoln Blvd. between Broadway and Colorado Ave. in Santa Monica, two blocks north of the Lincoln Blvd. exit off the 10.
I know they sell San Marzano tomatoes, and I'd bet they sell Tuttorosso as well. It is totally a haven for all thing Italian - and I'm not saying that as someone who lives a few blocks away and practically sleeps there.
BUT! If you live in Pasadena or out in the San Gabriel Valley, you will have better luck at Claro's, which is on Valley Blvd. in San Gabriel, west of Walnut Grove and east of San Gabriel, on the north side of the street.
Claro's is much more of a deli but they have two large rooms of Italian produce. Bay Cities has the extra room for wines - it's one of the few places I know in the county to get reliable limoncello.
Sorrento's is on Sepulveda in Culver City. It's not nearly as good and if you live down there it is worth the trek to Santa Monica. Just be aware that Bay Cities' deli counter line gets very stacked up, it is known as a great place to get a sandwich, so we working stiffs crowd the place quite a bit.
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