Greek Food Products?

[MMRuth]

So, this month's COTM is The Glorious Foods of Greece, so I'm going to be on a hunt for ingredients this weekend. Looking for Greek cheeses in addition to Feta, olive oils, Greek honey, olives, pastas, etc.

Are there any great places (in Astoria maybe?) that you'd recommend?

Thanks.

[JoanN]

Can't recommend them personally, but the Zagat guide to gourmet shopping lists two shops in Astoria that sound very promising:

Mediterranean Foods (two shops: one @ 23-18 31st St betw. 23rd and 24th Avenues): "The 'best place for a taste of Greece' outside of the Peloponnesus is this 'outstanding' Astoria market duo where the 'excellent selection' comes at 'bargain' prices and is presided over by a 'helpful and friendly' crew."

Titan Foods(2556 31st St. betw. Astoria Blvd and 28th Avenue). "When you can't 'afford a flight to Athens,' this 'grandaddy of Greek supermarkets' . . . is 'the next best thing, offering an array of specialties and 'imported items,' including 'delicious cheese,' 'to-die-for olives' and 'exceptional baked goods,' all at 'the best prices."

[rstank]

As an Astoria, I got to Mediterranean Foods regularly when I am seeking to make Greek dishes. I definitely recommend it. In addition, there is a Greek butcher next door which marinates multiple types of souvlaki.

In addition to the above markets, I would also recommend Euro Market at 31Street just south of 30th Ave, which has a number of European goods, but has a great selection of Greek goods.

[Astoria Lurker]

Both of these 2 places are amazing, highly recommended. There is also a 2nd branch of Mediterranean Foods just south of 30th ave on 34th? street.

[E Eto]

My usual places are Mediterranean Foods on 34th St and Greek House Foods on 30th Ave. Titan, if I feel like going the extra distance. Here's a post you might find useful.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/241761

[MMRuth]

That is a helpful thread - thanks. I think I'm going to need to make myself a little Google map, and then convince my husband to go back to Long Island City/Astoria after he plays tennis there in the a.m.

[MMRuth]

Looks like Greek House is quite near Titan ... am going to try to get some yogurt there.

[Joe MacBu]

I prefer the yogurt at Titan over Greek House. Titan's is a mix of cow and goat milk (not made in the store, but very good). I've had too many grainy or chalky batches at Greek House to risk it anymore.

[MMRuth]

Thanks for the tip.

[janie]

I have shopped at Titan weekly, for many years. They have the best selection of Feta, and the most turnover. The Aharova is the most popular and most reasonably priced. Whatever feta you get, ask them to put in the big tuperware with the juice, don't have them wrap it wax paper. I get a pound and 1/2 or 3/4 weekly, and it stays wonderfully, just make sure you keep all the air out of the container, and refrigerate it well. Rinse it off with cold water before using as it gets the brine taste off. The Aharova is great for cooking (has a low melting point), and terrific for salads. You can taste anything you want, as well. If you want Dodoni, ask for it, they keep it in the back, along with the French Feta. Iperiou? Not sure of the spelling, is also great.

They also have a great anchovy selection, good canned grape leaves at good prices, and other fun stuff, like olive oil soaps, and other greek treats..........They've got good honey, also, and a good selection of orzo, too. I always make Orzo salad in the summer time, with lots of artichokes, scallions, fresh mint, peppers, and feta cheese.
They also have a parking lot which makes it very easy if you're going there by car.

Another great place in Astoria you should check out when you're there, is Sorriso's, not Greek, but Italian, but definitely, the best Fresh Mozzarella in Queens, and amazing Eggplant Parmesean, as well as lots of other great stuff. This place is a gem, for both quality and old fashioned service. Don't miss it.

Oh, Titan also has a really good selection of Greek cheese other than Feta, and again, they will let you taste anything you want. Their olives can be hit or miss, I much prefer the olive selection that I get from Iavorone Bros out in New Hyde Park, but Med Foods has better olives than them. Their olive oil selection at Titan is okay, but it can be kind of pricey, get it when they are having a sale. They always have tons of Fillo dough in stock in all the sizes, so that's very convenient, as well as a big selection of Fage greek yogurt.

They also have a good bakery selection, with some very good phyllo pastries, and amazing greek xmas cookies (the dark brown molasses guys)---------Artopolis is good for some baked stuff, and amazing chock decadent things when you first walk in on the table...drizzled choc stuff....expensive but great. They also have a very nice feta or spinach stuffed round pastry puff that is good.

[MMRuth]

Thanks Janie - that's wonderful - lots of great advice from everyone here!

[byrd]

greek cheese primer:

http://www.greece.org/hellas/cheese.html

Look for Dodonis (northern greece), it is the best, largely commercially available brand.

[janie]

For some reason, the Dodonis never keeps as long as the other feta I get. Yes, it's very good, but more costly, and so I get it for very specific or fancier uses, and rely on the Aharova for more everyday use.

[MMRuth]

I just got back from Titan - fantastic store - though, um, we crossed the 59th Street Bridge three times in order to actually get there due to some, um, disorientation and stubbornness when someone pointed out that we probably weren't actually on 31st St. since we had just crossed 29th and 28th Streets. Well worth it though. I'm going to make lunch, but plan to post more on the COTM thread about the ingredients I found and will link back to here or vice versa. I bought a goat feta and then I think the Aharova one, but will have to check the label - also salted sardines, roe, anchovies, 3-4 cheeses, a Greek salami, phyllo, quince jam (don't know why), olive oil, gigante beans, barley rusks, and more ....

[janie]

Glad you liked it. It's really a quick trip from Manhattan and well worth it for price and selection. Good thing they have a parking lot after all the craziness to get there. You might have killed yourself if you had to find a parking space around there! Be careful also, when you pull out of parking lot, around the columns for the train, sometimes it can be sort of dangerous maneovering around there traffic wise.

Very interested to see what you're making, I love Greek food.

[MMRuth]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/544541

Here's the master COTM thread, in case you want to follow along and/or have tips. I've never cooked Greek food before, so this is all new to me.

[MMRuth]

Oh - and they had frozen snails too, in the shell, which I bought.

[pitu]

And then there's Brooklyn.
I can't compare to the riches of Astoria since I have not shopped there.
: )
In Bay Ridge, across 4th Ave from the Brooklyn branch of Century21 dept store (the other bklyn *secret*), is a Greek grocery store. They often have some great looking (and smelling) smoked fishes sitting on the counter with lemons, and a lamb in the window (it's also a butcher shop)
The awning is a Hellenic blue.

google is suggesting this, @87th and 4th Ave, which sounds correct:

Hellas American Imports
8704 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY [phone]
It's a block away from the R stop at 86th St.
While you're in the nabe, on 3rd Ave @92nd St, there's Piazza Mercato, a lovely Italian grocer associated with the Royal Crown bread bakery.

I'm guessing Sahadis would also be a good source, but I have not looked for Greek foods there. Let us know what you find . . .
(this could turn into one of those hyperinformative threads like the Chinese groceries compared and contrast)

[ropa vieja]

I second Hellas. It is excellent for olive oil, multiple types of feta and great butcher. Their premade pork and lamb shish kebabs are excellent and they sell whole lambs. Favorite olive oil there is called Horio. Really great and cheap too.

[bigmackdaddy]

I third Hellas. I have much love for their variety of feta and their butcher section.

[jen kalb]

You will probably find most of what you need at Sahadi. their Olives and Feta are excellent and they carry a variety of greek oils and other greek products, preserved lemons, spices and dried beans, etc.at good prices

I like Titan very much too if you are in that neck of the woods.

[raven2967]

unfortunately hellas american imports closed.