I enjoy a
good marketplace even if I am not in the market for anything. Most marketplaces
sell a variety of foods indigenous to the region so they are worth a look-over.
Plus I love a souvenir that I can bring home to enjoy at a later time. This is
no less true when I am a hometown tourist.
My latest
experience took place the day I spent in Gansevoort. It started with a trip to
the Fort Gansevoort Gallery (see previous blog) but it ended with a trip to the
Gansevoort Market.
Inside
there were plenty of treasures ready for consuming. However I had just had
lunch (next blog) so I was quit full but I planned to be purchasing some
goodies to take home. I didn’t do much else but take photos and seek out what I
needed to try. In truth I would have been happy to have one of everything
especially once I was home and was hungry yet again.
The items
I decided I couldn’t live without were coffee, muffins, and macarons. The Champion
Coffee I bought and made at home definitely rates as one of the best I have
ever tried. It was a medium roast, which is just how I like it.
The
Bruffin Café makes muffins with an international flare. At the time of my
purchase I was not looking for anything too savory like their many cheese and
egg selections so I opted for the Apple Vanilla Almond Bruffin. The clerk
suggested that when I was ready to eat it I should heat it in the microwave for
thirty seconds for the best results. When I did so the next day I could have
kicked myself for only buying one! I had NO idea how much I would love it. The
description and the way it looks gave me no clue how fast I would fall in love
devouring every last crumb. Next time I am buying a baker’s dozen.
Dana’s Bakery
Macarons are currently my favorite brand of these French desserts. When I was
in Paris I was hooked on anything Laduree sold, I still am by the way. Now they
even have stores in NYC. But in terms of American brands I have tried they are
good but nothing out of this world until now. Dana’s Macarons were sitting
pretty in their glass case when I walked by. There were so many colors I
stopped to read all of the flavors. When I eat macarons I do not care for
anything exotic like lavender instead preferring the pleasure of one that has
fruit filling.
I ordered
only two to take home because I was afraid that however many I bought would
inevitably be consumed by me. I chose one Strawberry Shortcake and one
Raspberry Jam. Much later that night I bite half of each and was in macaron
heaven, seriously. I am already considering sending these as presents for the
holidays. I also will be purchasing a box that will be for my lips only. I am
going to try to hold out until my birthday in December but St. Patrick’s Day
might be my breaking point.
I already
know what I want to try next time I am near the Gansevoort Market. In no
particular order they are:
·
Crepe
Sucre,
·
Cappone’s
salami,
·
Il
Conte homemade pasta,
·
Luzzo’s
Pizza, and
·
Tease
NYC tea.
In NYC
there are two other marketplaces worth checking out. The Chelsea Market is
actually not too far from the one in Gansevoort. I first went to the Chelsea
Market (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/09/for-meandering-through-chelsea-market.html)
back in 2012 and I still think my favorite part was People’s Pops.
The other
is a recent addition both to NYC and Chicago, Eataly. It is inspired by Harrods
(see below) in London but exclusively sells Italian products. There are some to
purchase and eat and some to take home for grander meals. I don’t really find a
use for it but I get the fact that if you have never been a walk through when
you’re in the area is not a bad idea.
Harrods
is probably the most high-end version there is of a marketplace. Technically it
isn’t so much of a marketplace as a retail space for anything you might hope to
buy. This includes a floor dedicated to food of every type of the utmost
quality. It is the food that is actually a big draw here especially now that
they are no longer sells wild animals (Google Christian the Lion) just cats and
dogs. London is notorious for their Indian food and Harrods is a great place to
sample some. It is also a great place to get a taste a variety of other foods
from around the world. I think the sheer magic of Harrods and traveling to
London make this by far my favorite marketplace I have visited.
Pier 39
in San Francisco holds some fond food memories as well. Besides the sound of
sea lions the first thing you will notice is the wonderful waft of bread coming
from the Boudin Bakery, a San Francisco staple. It is during these cold New
York City nights that I could really go for one of their bread bowls filled
with soup.
During my
first day in Savannah I went to their City Market near Ellis Square
(http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/03/for-hard-hearted-hannah-vamp-of.html).
I was heading to the historic First African Baptist Church later on and so we
went there for lunch. I got more than I bargained for. This city center had so
many famous places that I had on my itinerary. I got some of Bryd’s cookies and
shopped in the Savannah Candy Kitchen before going to the Church that serviced
the Underground Railroad. Lunch was delicious too.
In
Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a more sophisticated and indoor version of
their marketplace. There are several outdoor vendors but for the majority of
your purchases you will have to go inside to a mini mall looking building. This
will definitely be a plus when you are there during the winter months. In the
summertime I imagine that it would be nice to walk through in and out seeing
what catches your eye.
Still to
go on my to do list of marketplaces to visit are the Reading Market in
Philadelphia (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/09/for-city-of-brotherly-love-benjamin_3.html)
and Pike Place in Seattle. The former will provide me with a chance to try pork
sandwiches and a variety of pastries I have had my eye on from afar. The later
is historic for the fresh fish and my personal favorite, the location of the
very first Starbucks, which remains in operation.
I guess
the lesson here is just when you think you have conquered all of the best
foodie moments in your day there is always room for a little more.
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