How to Find Gourmet Food Shops in New York City

New York City has some of the best gourmet food shops in the world, so any visit to the city ought to include a trip to one of these meccas. Because the Big Apple offers so many gourmet food stores, this list is by no means exhaustive. But these are some of the highlights.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make tracks for Dean & DeLuca, a gustatory institution that has grown into a multi-city retailer of specialty foods, wines and high-end kitchenware. Their flagship store in Soho is one of the best, and they work directly with artisan producers, farmers, fishermen, and even truffle hunters to obtain the freshest gourmet foods. In addition to produce, chocolate, wines, coffees, breads and meats, Dean & DeLuca makes prepared dinners like Seared Yellowfin Tuna with a Mango Chutney, Roasted Carrots and Fennel, and more. The SoHo Store is located at 560 Broadway (at Prince Street) and the Madison Avenue store is at 1150 Madison at 85th Street.
2. Travel to Hell’s Kitchen, where you’ll find The Amish Market and its wide selection of specialty foods, beautiful produce, and gourmet ingredients. Like most of the gourmet food shops mentioned here, you can also grab lunch. The selection of cheese is vast, and you will see freshly made salads, artisan breads, sweets, deli items, cheesecakes, fresh sushi and pizzas. The Amish Market is located at 731 9th Ave., between 49th and 50th Streets.
3. Head way downtown on 9th Avenue and you’ll be in Chelsea, home of Chelsea Market, a huge complex of gourmet shops and restaurants in a building that covers 1 large square block between 15th and 16th Streets. It's home to dozens of purveyors, and this destination alone is worth planning the day around. Among the tenants: Amy’s Bread, FatWitch (brownies you won’t believe), Lobster Place (fresh seafood and shellfish), Eleni Cookies, Chelsea Wine Vault, and T Salon, an upscale “salon” where you can enjoy some of the world’s most interesting and healthful teas. There are several upscale restaurants, a flower shop and much more.
4. A selection of Balducci items that can also be ordered online. Don’t miss Balducci’s, the lively gourmet emporium located at 2 main locations in Manhattan, in Chelsea at 81 Eighth Avenue (at 14th St.), or on the Upper West Side, at Lincoln Square, 155 West 66th Street. Balducci’s offers oodles of upscale goodies, including a deli selection, a bakery, an array of cheeses, seafood, chocolate, olive oils, champagnes, teas, coffees and more. Their prepared dishes are creative and wide-ranging, with recent specials including tamarind glazed turkey burger, roasted turkey and cheddar sandwich, Basmati rice with soy beans, and tilapia with a mango red pepper salsa.
5. Citarella is best known for its selection of fresh seafood. Finish your food tour at Citarella, which Zagat's New York Marketplace Guide called "awesome, enticing and amazing." Citarella, with 4 locations in the city, is best known as a top seafood market. But its selection has expanded in recent years to include prime meats, prepared foods, smoked fish, groceries, pastry, produce, yummy quiches, and great pastas and ravioli. On the Upper East Side, Citarella can be found at 1313 Third Ave. at 75th St. The Greenwich Village store is at 424 Avenue of the Americas at 9th St., and the Harlem store is at 461 W. 125h St. The Upper West Side store is located at 2135 Broadway at 75th St.
6. Take one of many Foods of New York Tours offered by the company of the same name. Focusing on food tasting and culinary experiences, the guided excursions include a sushi tour, an Italian neighborhood tour, a food tour of Greenwich Village and Soho, and others. Prices vary, but the Greenwich Village/Soho tour is $40, just to give you an idea.

Tips & Warnings

• Now that we're in the 21st century, these gourmet food shops also offer extensive websites. You can order many of their items online if you can't get to New York.
• Be prepared to pay for quality, freshness, creativity and New York overhead.