I can’t believe I forgot to mention Chelsea Market in my last post! We came into Chelsea Market after walking the length of the amazing High Line park. I goggled as I walked through The Lobster Place staring at the cases full of impeccably fresh fish of every kind I’d ever heard of (plus some I hadn’t).
But it was in Buon Italia, the emporium of imported Italian food, that I nearly wept with envy, joy, and frustrated desire. The cured pork products alone: Speck! Lardo! Porchetta! Things I read about and want to taste, to cook with, but lack access to. I knew we didn’t have much space in our suitcases, so I heroically limited myself to one bag each of gorgeous dried porcini and chanterelle mushrooms, a little tub of large capers packed in salt, and a tiny jar of bottarga (salt-cured mullet roe that I know I have recipes for around somewhere).
Arne and I made ecstatic plans to return for a week, rent a place with a kitchen, shop for ingredients every day, and cook every night. Someday….
Mario Batali’s father has a place? Cool! Sorry I didn’t notice your comment before – I don’t get automatic notifications. I’ll have to fix that.
Have you been to Orangette’s restaurant?
You should definitely spend a week in New York with a kitchen! And then visit Stephie while you’re there. :) When you do your West Coast trip, I’ll take you to Mario Batali’s father’s place for Italian cured meats, and Orangette’s new restaurant.