Where can I find gourmet SPECIALTY STORES in Los Angeles and surrounding areas?

[jaikovsky]

Everything in Los Angeles is spread apart. Beside from stores such as Wholefoods and Gelsons, I am looking for gourmet specialty stores who SPECIALIZE in different items/products. (Examples include cheese, deli, coffee, tea, wine, fresh pasta, sausage, olive oil, cholocates, international........you get the picture...)

I hope many people can contribute to this topic!!

[Servorg]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/588740

[monku]

Where do you live and exactly what are you looking for?
Yes, this is Los Angeles and they're all over the place.

[bulavinaka]

International is pretty vague, but if you're looking for specific ethnic stores, LA's selection is pretty deep and broad. Latin and Asian markets are most common, but even cultures that are less represented in LA have reliable well-stocked shops, e.g., La Espanola Meats in Harbor City for Spanish goods. Here's a shortlist off the top of my head for Asian supermarkets as well as for La Espanola.

[chez cherie]

pick a copy of "eat los angeles"--actual name of the book might be "eat la". published this year, it's a guide to exactly the kind of places you are looking for. great resource. i keep a copy in my car.
http://www.amazon.com/EAT-Los-Angeles...

[Servorg]

http://eat-la.com/?page=1

[rainey]

...not if you live in the San Fernando Valley! It's virtually devoid of info for the Valley.

I got a copy and sent it back.

[Jet]

Bristol Farms' Stores have many pricey specialty products. Surfa's in L.A. has a great many specialty gourmet products. There are also other gourmet & cooking supply stores that sell both to the trade & to the general public. If you are looking for particular ethnic cuisines, you can reasonably find ample items and materials at reasonable cost at Middle-Eastern,/Israeli, Asian & other ethnic Mom & Pop Grocers. There are so many, so it depends what you are looking for . For instance, I go to Japan Town when I need Japanese Items. There are Thai, Israeli, Russian, Italian & many other little markets in the Valley as well. Good Luck!, JET

[DrBruin]

I'm not sure if they're still running their little gourmet shop... but, the Alcove Bakery in Los Feliz used to import some speciality products. Their address is 1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Are you compiling a book or a newspaper article?

[foodiemahoodie]

So much depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for Italian, here's a little place in an industrial section of Santa Monica that imports a lot of italian products; cheese, wines, etc.

http://www.guidimarcello.com/

But there are plenty of little ethnic delis around. Not sure if that's what you're looking for.

[tablefor1]

Sun Market on Westwood is worth mentioning for herbs, produce, nuts, misc Iranian goods. Also European Deluxe Sausage Kitchen on Olympic or Jeff's on Pico in Beverly Hills for sausages. And The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills for Cheese and Charcuterie. And Le Palais de The in downtown Beverly Hills for tea. LAMILL in Silverlake for coffee and coffee brewing equipment. Olive Oil from Olio&Olive (online and at Surfas). Penzey's new spice shop in Santa Monica. Paulette for French macaroons. LAMILL or Platine for Chocolate Chip Cookies. Breadbar for bread and croissants. Farmer's Markets for everything else, including beans, sprouts, dates, mushrooms, and Lily's Organic grain-fed eggs.

[westsidegal]

can't describe how much i love penzey's. . .

[Dommy]

Have you been to Spice Station. I adore Penzeys... but almost have completely turned over to Spice Station because you can buy by the oz and their collection of spices is amazing!

--Dommy!

[westsidegal]

haven't been there. will look it up right now to see where it's located. i take all of your recommendations seriously; you have a great palate.

[Dommy]

Sorry about that! Spice Station is located in both Silver Lake and Santa Monica.

http://spicestationsilverlake.com/loc...

Another huge plus for spice station is they often have samples of food items made with their spices and mixes! Also great teas! :)

[westsidegal]

i plan to hit up the santa monica location as soon as my chile powder supply is exhausted.
thank you so much.

[Dommy]

They have several varieties of dried chiles (Including ghost peppers!) and chile infused salts and I believe they fresh grind! :) But what they don't have is Chili Mixes (I've talked to them about it already). For that, I continue to go to Penzey's for my Beloved Chili 9000 mix...

--Dommy!

[Thi N.]

Trust Dommy. Dommy is correct.

I used to think Penzey's was THE place, but my heart has been won over. Not only do they have weirdball stuff I've never seen before, but their just straight-up normal spices are *gorgeous* - like the best, most warm-intense-complex-glowing cumin I've ever had...

[Will Owen]

Nicole's in South Pas for European (mostly French) cheeses, charcuterie and canned/frozen stuff, plus confectioners' supplies. Claro's Italian markets, five locations - I go to the one on Huntington in Arcadia, and frequently go by the one on Valley between San Gabriel Blvd and Rosemead. Schreiner's in Montrose (north Glendale) for German meats and groceries; I love their bacon, and regularly get a pound or two in a slab for under $4/lb. There's also a little Italian deli, Roma, on North Lake at Mountain here in Pasadena, kinda tired produce but excellent salami, mortadella, cheeses and canned goods.

[grubtrotters]

I second Surfas in Culver City. I also love Cube on La Brea. There's a great cheese shop on Montana in Santa Monica called Andrew's Cheese Shop and one in Silverlake called the CheeseStore of Silverlake. The Market Gourmet in Venice has some good stuff.

[jaikovsky]

I will definitely drive around and look around these stores!

[foodiemahoodie]

Oh, how could I forget - Santa Monica Farmer's market on the 3rd St. Promenade and Arizona on Wednesday mornings.

[lucygoosey]

The Hollywood market on Sunday is giant and good too.

Bangkok Market

Sorrento Market

SM Seafood

Fish King in Glendale

You mentioned sausage. There's a sausage store on Olympic?

Whole Foods for Life on Los Feliz

Charlies Fixtures for good price on gear.

All the above mentioned places.

[Servorg]

West side sausage is European Deluxe in B. Hills.

[Andita]

Graffeo coffee on Beverly in Beverly Hills.

[maudies5]

out of business

[tdinfinity]

If you are near the beach or near the valley there is a cute little gourmet food and wine shop in Topanga Canyon called Canyon Gourmet. They have pastas, chocolate, cheese and wine.
www.canyongourmet.com

[sky21]

The Wine House in West LA on Cotner has an extensive wine inventory and some tasty items in the gourmet food section.

[1newyorkguy]

Brand new La Grande Orange on Main St. in S.M. has a great gourmet shop.

[daddyji]

Sorrento Deli on Sepulveda in Culver City is a great spot for all things Italian (frequented by Ms. DeLaurentiis and the cats from Terroni, no less). Also love Mitsuwa; Golden Farms in Burbank (Armenian/Global) and Cambridge Farms (Israeli/Global) on Burbank Ave in Studio City; The Wine House In West LA for meats and cheeses and such (and Breadworks is across the street; Of course, a visit to 'Little India" in Artesia is mandatory, with too many options for a lunch break to mention; Papa Cristo's on Pico for the Greek in you; Thai Town; Fairfax for a taste of Eritrea/Ethiopia/Red Sea; Traktir and it's cohorts along the Santa Monica Blvd/Fairfax cross for Russian. I love LA!

[katgrafix]

anyway, I don't really know the name, I kinda blundered in there, it's on the corner of Garvey and Kelburn in Rosemead, CA.

The place is Viet-Nam . The food must be authentic I only see VietNamese in there, eating, it's ALWAYS FULL of people... but here is the thing: they have the ABSOLUTE, no hand's down Best tasting , FRESH, and ready baked Baguettes, this side of New Orleans. I mean FRESH BAKED, long as my arm, from the fingertip to the shoulder... and here is the best part: only $1.00. Yep! this is not the stuff you will save for tomorrow, you will eat this all in one sitting, I promise you--- one bite deserves another. these people are open from early morning till late nite, baking that French bread and it smells and tastes magnificent!

Some places have REAL french Baguettes, but NOBODY has fresh made Baguettes that long for $1.00... NOBODY in the whole of LA county.. best kept secret... I'm letting the cat out the bag, now... and I hope I don't regret this.

[sushigirlie]

Just throwing some favorite places out there:

A Grocery Warehouse (SE Asian, Echo Park)
Bay Cities (Italian and gourmet, Santa Monica)
Cheese Store of Silver Lake
Jordan Market (Middle Eastern, Westwood)
Rawesome (Raw milk etc., Venice)
Andrew's Cheese Shop (Santa Monica)

[mangetoutoc]

Seconded: A Grocery Warehouse (on Sunset), Bangluck Market + Silom Market (on H'wood)

Don't think Otto's (in Burbank) has been mentioned yet. They have lots of Hungarian specialties plus great sausages and salamis. I'd also add Jon's. Their selection of international goodies and deli are quite impressive at ridiculously good prices. Besides, how can one NOT love affordable veggies and all manner of innards and funky bits in the meats?

[jadekarrde]

Wally's Cheesbox
Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
Bay Cities
Surfas
Mel & Rose (Italian like Bay Cities but especially for hard to find chocolate bars/couvature chocolate)

[sushigirlie]

I second Wally's Cheesebox.

[Servorg]

As long as this thread has cropped up again might as well add J & T European Gourmet Foods on Wilshire Blvd. near 11th Street for Polish food items.

[Dommy]

So glad this thread popped up again because I have to say, in the past my disappointed by most gourmet markets until last year when Cookbook opened up. I live right by Surfas and still make the drive to Echo Park at least once a month to stock up on supplies there. They have the the most well edited selection of a variety of food items including ready to eat dishes and of course cookbooks to inspire it all.

It's a tiny place, but Marta and the gang are SO knowledgeable about everything they carry that just one question can get get you started and before you know it, you'll have two weeks worth of dishes planned. I was SO looking forward to Le Epiciere opening because it sounded just like Cookbook...but it fell flat in MANY ways. I wasn't too upset though, as going to Cookbook has also given me a good excuse to frequent McCalls and Lindy and Grundy's on the way back...

--Dommy!