Hell's Kitchen - where do you shop?

[wasserd]

My boyfriend and I are pondering a move to Hell's Kitchen (40s between 10/11 Aves). We know about the Amish Market, but where else do you chow-savvy Hell's Kitchen folks shop around there, for everyday staples at reasonable prices, as well as specialized stuff? (I did see the thread about the fish market, which was helpful.) I currently live ten minutes' walk from the big Fairway at 125 St., so am pretty worried about having access to the same quality and prices in midtown.

Thanks!

[Earl Shay]

52nd between 8/9, Stiles Market. Not to be confused with Stiles at 41st and 9th. The 52nd Street location definitely has better produce. Portobellos $2 a lb, nice sundried tomatoes for $3.99 a lb, amazing wildflower honey for about $3. Not unusual to find raspberries for half a pint for $1. Fresh Basil $1. Go early in the day if you can. Then go round the corner and pick up your gourmet items at Amish.

[layla]

when i lived on 9th and 53rd, i frequently went to the fairway on 74th street, it's really not that far, and i found amish to be overpriced.

[Sammy]

Westerly Natural Foods is at 54th and 9th avenue and they have a dizzying array of organic produce, staples like cereal with an organic emphasis, all sorts of froze food, a butcher, cases full of soy products....it's pretty amazing. I can't say I've bought things there (I only work in the neighborhood and just discovered it) but if I lived nearby, I think I would frequent this place.

[Jason W.]

There's really two distinct food shopping areas on 9th avenue VERY close to where you're thinking of moving.

The more old-school section is south of 42nd, extending down to the high 30s. This is where you get high quality and low prices, though most places close by 6:30 and are closed Sunday. It also requires going to more than one place to get your shopping done.

The west side of that strip includes 2 seafood markets (you already mentioned one), International Foods (Turkish shop offering teriffic and inexpensive spices, coffee, olives, best taramsalatta, pitas, etc), Just Pickles (all sorts of pickled everything, including 4 kinds of cukes, mushrooms, hot & sweet peppers, sauerkraut, etc.), and an unnamed African grocery store with dried fish out front and lots of interesting spices, sauces and other items inside. There's also a larger market called the Big Apple that is very inexpensive and has butcher shop on one side which is one of those deals where the whole room is refrigerated. I've not had the beef from here, but a chicken was fine.

The east side of that strip features traditional butchers shops like Espositos, Cuzins, and one other whose name escapes me. These are great places for pork, lamb, duck, game, beef, and dozens of varieties of sausages. Espositos in particular has great skirt steak for about $5/lb and duck legs for about $4.

North of 42nd tends to be more upscale shops, but two stand out. One, between 45th and 46th, is Tartare, a recently opened takeout shop that also has a superb high-end butcher section in the back. This is where I go from prime steaks, and thick pork chops, cut to order, cheaper than the big supermarkets or the typical high-end meat markets. They also have great cooked food that they sell for takeout or delivery.

Between 43rd and 44th is the 9th Avenue Cheese Shop, a solid if low-frills choice for a pretty wide variety of cheese, dried sausages and other such items. They also make decent sandwiches.

The Food Emporium on 42nd between 9th and 10th is nothing special, but was just renovated so it's nice compared to what it was like a couple years ago. Amish, on 49th and 9th, is great for upscale packaged goods like mustards and sauces, olives and olive oils, and has decent deli and fish. It's pricey though, and I've found their butcher section to be just OK.

For bakeries, there's an Amy's Bread on 47th and 9th, and an H&H factory at 46th between 11th and 12th that's open 24/7.

As you can see, I've certainly found enough interesting food shopping to keep me busy. And it's great getting to know some of these old-time stores - it's a level of service I really wasn't used to, having grown up around suburban supermarkets. Hope you enjoy living there, if that's where you end up. Good luck!

[ultbil]

There's also a new (1 year old ???) Food Emporium on 49th and 8th.

I'll second Tartar for meats, although it's a small counter and may not have as wide selection as the bigger places (Esposito's...).

Also for breads, try Sullivan Street Bakery's Hell's Kitchen location on 47th b/t 10th and 11th (533 W 47). I just looked at their web site (www.sullivanstreetbakery.com/index.html) - click on the pornography button.

[hungrygrl]

both excellent posts. another option: since i'm on 42nd & 12th ave and like my veggies, i have signed on with urban organic for weekly delivery of assorted vegetables and fruit (you can order/cancel as you need), healthy pleasures offers the service now, too.

[hellsangles]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of an asian market in the hells kitchen area?

thanks!