Seeking hidden gem or little known food stores/specialty stores?

[LaFemmeNikita]

I posted this to the Manhattan board but also want to know about Brooklyn, Th Bronx, Queens and Staten Island...

Hey,

I'm looking to explore hidden gem or little known food or specialty stores. Maybe it's a small Mexican grocery store or a really great chocolate studio. Not restaurants or carts but places that sell retail foods items. I've grown up in NYC and really want to find food related places I've never been to! Ethnic grocers, pastry shops - give me anything you love!

Thanks guys.

[chow_gal]

Caputo's on Court Ave and 4th Place in Carrol Gardens, BK. Italian 'grocer' salumi, cheese, imported products, pasta. (Assuming you know of the Middle Eastern grocers on Atlantic Ave)

[janie]

Hidden gem or little known, is not necessarily a good description for places that are known in the particular neighborhoods as solid specialty stores. Perhaps they are less known as a destination point for areas outside that neighborhood..perhaps a better description would be the best specialty stores in each borough that are worth traveling to from outside that area if that is your intention. In that case, I would offer a few in Queens--Sorriso's in Astoria for excellent fresh mozzarella and fantastic eggplant parm and other solid prepared foods. Titan Greek Foods in Astoria for the huge selection of extremely fresh feta cheese, and other greek staples--, also, fantastic Greek xmas cookies made all year long. Wafa's Mediterranean in Forest Hills for takeout of good Lebanese basics--excellent fresh tabouleh, good hummus, very good spinach, cheese and meat pies, and eggplant salads. Cannelle for French Pastry is excellent, but it's well known now, and not exactly hidden although you'd think it by its location--East Elmhurst.

[bigmackdaddy]

Caputo's on Court St & 4th Pl.
BKLYN Larder on Flatbush Ave. between 6th Ave & Bergen St.
D'Vine Taste on 7th Ave bet. Garfield Pl. & 1st St
Sahadi's on Atlantic Ave. by Court St.

Does anyone have an opinion on North Carolina Country Store on Atlantic Ave by Saratoga? It's been a long while since I've been.

[jaingmaster]

I'm a little disappointed by the North Carolina Country Store. I made my first trip there a couple of weeks ago, looking for smoked meats comparable to what I used to get visiting family in southwest Georgia. (I'm sure there's plenty of variation in food within the South, so maybe it's unfair of me to make the comparison. Still, that's what I know.)

Bacon was the big disappointment. It had a very tough rind that was overwhelmingly inedible. The flavor wasn't particularly smoky like I would have hoped. Sausage was better (but still not great), with a slightly spicy flavor. My complaint is that it seemed to be very lean: 10 minutes in a frypan and no fat rendered.

I'll reiterate that this was my first (and only) visit -- there's nothing to say that it's any different now than it ever was before. I'm willing to give the place another shot. Does anyone have suggestions about the specialities here?

[Glendale is hungry]

Hi LaFemmeNikita,

I did a rather lengthy post on food stores in my neighborhood (Ridgewood/lower Glendale/"East Bushwick") a little while ago. Some of these are of the specialty variety (meat, baked items, ice cream, etc.). Here is the link: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/686444

Of the places I wrote about, my favorites to visit are all of the meat stores mentioned (note - for Muncan's, there's also another one in Astoria on Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets—much easier to get to from Manhattan!), Rudy's Pastry Shop (Eastern European), Catania Bakery (Italian), and Artisanal Ice Cream (note - this place is seasonal!).

There's also a good little Bulgarian-run deli called Parrot Coffee Grocery (not mentioned in the original posting) on Myrtle Avenue between Centre and George Streets that features Bulgarian items as well as the usual Eastern European panoply of goodies.

Also to keep in mind, if you stroll down Fresh Pond Road south of Metropolitan Avenue, you can't throw a slush ball without hitting something Polish (please don't throw it hard—me like pierogis & bigos very very much!).

For a mind-boggling array of Latino items check out the huge supermarkets mentioned in the posting (Food Bazaar and Food Dimensions—within walking distance of each other).

Happy exploring wherever you go!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

[janie]

who do you think has the best pierogi's in your area, because my polish babysitter who lives around there used to like Kredens but didn't care for Bona--used to go to Bona but service can be very offputting there...prices are very high also for the pierogi at Kredens...do you know which Polish grocery store that sells these chocolate covered Polish marshmallow min squares around there--they are amazing...http://www.polana.com/produ...

[Glendale is hungry]

Hi janie,

Sorry, I've actually liked Bona's pierogis when I've had them as well as their bigos and salads & soups. Stuffed cabbage? Mixed results.

I used to like the pierogies at Taste of Europe II on Forest Avenue between Harman and Greene when it first opened (as well as their Gypsy pancake—yum!) but I think it may have changed management or changed cooks since then.

When it first opened, it had hilarious writing on the awning ("Polish Pizza! You must try!" "GOOFFERS!" "Polish Hot Dog Hmm.. Delicious!"). Then, the awning changed—and so did the food. Hmm...(not so) delicious...

I also liked the pierogis (and everything else) at a restaurant in Greenpoint whose name I cannot remember (something in English and very generic sounding like "Polish Cafeteria" or "Restaurant"). It was spartan decor inside, dirt cheap and I thought it was on Nassau but I can't find it now.

For the chocolate-covered marshmallow goodies, I would try (as odd as it sounds) Greenline Market on one side of Myrtle Avenue and Key Food on the other side of Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood. In one of those places I bought something similar to what you're looking for called, "Duo" (?) or perhaps "Duet" (?). They were dark chocolate covered and the rectangular middle had one half marshmallow and the other half jello. They came in tangy lemon flavor, raspberry and black currant. They sound majorly weird but the lemon flavor I found to be especially delicious with black currant a close second. I believe they also had something called, "Solo" that didn't have the jello half. This might be comparable to what you're seeking.

I'm guessing that both Greenline and Key Food are marketing toward the local population since there seems to be quite a few Eastern Euopean items in both stores. This may increase your chances of success.

I would also try Kefirek Deli on the corner of Fresh Pond Road and Putnam Avenue. I recall them having a fair amount of cookies and sweets (but most of the little Polish delis do—hitting every one up and down Fresh Pond is quite doable unless the weather's uncooperative). I also wouldn't hesitate to ask them if they either have it or sometimes still carry it (print out the picture from the website if necessary).

Heading further afield and back to my old stomping grounds in Astoria, I seem to recall that Euro Market on 31st Street between 30th Avenue and 30th Drive had quite a few things like this and might have something comparable.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to give a more definitive answer. If I run across them in my travels, I'll let you know.

Good luck!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

[Glendale is hungry]

Hi janie,

I found the marshmallow things you mentioned. They're at Kefirek Deli on Fresh Pond Road. They're also at Jandar Deli on Fresh Pond Road just one block north of Kefirek. At Kefirek they only had the vanilla flavor but at Jandar they had that and chocolate and strawberry flavors as well.

Enjoy!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

[janie]

thank you so much!!! Will get some when I'm over at Rosa's pizza...

[micki]

Take a look at Market opened by the owners (and right next door to) Mimi's Hummus. Nicely curated selection in a small space and brand new.

[bobjbkln]

Have you been to Lioni's Latticini? It's worth a visit. Their specialty is the hundred plus choices of handmade sandwiches, but they also lots of Italian specialties including their own homemade mozzarella, and baskets full of lard and prosciutto breads.

[janie]

I went out of my way to go there, and I didn't think their mozzarella touched Casa Della Mozzarella in the Bronx.

[bobjbkln]

IMO it doesn't touch Tedone's in Grand St. in Williamsburgh either. And Tedone's is amazing one of the last of the old Italian grocery / latticini left in North America. It is overseen by Mary who must be in her 90s. Sill it has a very small inventory, so I didn't mention it. It's also across the street from Napoli's bakery with the world's best lard bread (and prosciutto/mozzarella breads) that are better than Lioni's. But again a very small inventory, so I didn't think that is what the OP was asking about.

[janie]

Tedone's is on my list...got to get there....so many good reports about it.

[bobjbkln]

Better go soon. This throwback store can't be long for this world. And while you're there, don't miss Napoli bakery.

[jen kalb]

Napoli bakery yes absolutely. My lord, that lard bread is wonderful food. (heat it up and sprinkle a bit of salt for optimum porky, bready effect., but their other breads, including the country whites are also worth buying. I dont think Tedone's mozzarella is particularly great, at all - the store (like some others on that street) are mostly noticeable for their ancient-ness. tho I really dont have a favorite mozzarella vendor since Laticini Barese closed.

Lionis is good and I like visiting that little corner of brooklyn but I dont think it is head and shoulders above other sources.

[bobjbkln]

Agreed about Lioni's in regard to product quality. But it does have a unique feel to it that is probably along the lines of what the OP was looking for.

As to Tedone's, its been a while since we've had the plain mozzarella. We have been buying the smoked, which I think is wonderful. Perhaps it's in my head given the "ancientness" (thanks for the word, I'll use it again) of the place, but it works for me. Also agree that the closing of Latticini Barese was a great loss. I almost weep every time is see their old faded advertising sign painted on the side of the building.

[missmasala]

I'll third the mourning for Latticini Barese. And yes, the sign painted on the building is like a terrible tease.

These days I get my mozz from caputo's, but don't like it as much as Barese's. Also decent is Russo's if you're in the slope.

Was recently in Italy and the quality of your average mozzarella there is head and shoulders above anything here. Why is that?

[squid kun]

More on Tedone ... http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html#georgiana_depalma_tedone

http://www.chow.com/blog/2009/05/brea...