Foodie gift, East Village

[kittyboots]

I'm going to a birthday dinner for a foodie friend tonight, was planning to stop by Stonehouse Oils to pick up some of their Persian Lime olive oil ... and just found out the shop is closed Tues & Wed. Ack! Where can I go get something interesting/cool/special/delicious worthy of gift giving in & around the East Village?

[CorgiLover]

Could also do some cheese straws from murray's cheese shop on bleeker

[bostonhound]

Those cheese straws are great. Given how much they charge (can't remember exact amount but remember feeling they were very costly) does anyone know the recipe? Looked at the ingredients and they seem pretty simple.

[jsmitty]

what about an assortment of nice coffees from porto rico imports.
http://www.portorico.com/

[financialdistrictresident]

Add some pastries from Veniero's and you are good to go. . .

[Bev]

You could take a look in East Village Cheese on 3rd Ave between 9th and 10th. Aside from cheese, they have other yummy gifts such as olives, mustards, jams, etc. Great prices. Another idea is hummus from the Hummus Place on St. Marks between 1st and A.

[lekkercraft]

perhaps an interesting flavor of gelato from il laboratorio del gelato? though below houston, it's probably cool enough outside to make it to your destination w.o. melting.

http://www.laboratoriodelgelato.com/f...

[kathryn]

The Il Lab counter in the new Whole Foods might be closer. Maybe pick up some ice packs and a cooler while you're there?

If I were in your situation, though, I'd head over to Black Hound on 2nd Avenue for perfect, tiny cakes and cookies.

[lisabnyc]

how about an assortment of pickles from the lower east side? the pickle guys or gus's would be good. or the best bialys from kossars.

[jsmitty]

if you do this please do pickle guys over gus's. i just did a taste test. no camparison whatsoever. pickle crunch and snap,flavor, freshness. vs. gus's limp and mediocre

[rose water]

i emphatically agree. when i lived in the neighborhood, i would plow through a whole container of the pickle guys new pickles in one sitting. w a t e r...
such great stuff.

[jsmitty]

sad to say gus's is living on a reputation and name recognition

[MaspethMaven]

Thirding the pickle guys. Didn't they actually start out at Gus and then set up thier own shop?

[jsmitty]

not sure... but the owner explained to me that they are not shipping in their stuff. the explanation for its freshness versus gus's

[rose water]

i *love* that stuff, and agree that it's interesting/cool/special/delicious. not the right neighborhood for you, but i think that the blue ribbon bakery's honey selection is incredible, and would make a fantastic gift. also great (and also not in the right area) are chocolates from kee's.

[kittyboots]

Honey is a fantastic idea. Drat, and they're just down the block from my house. Too bad I'm not home! Maybe there are East Vill honey options ...