Fun Fearless Foodie

Imagine being able to walk through two double doors off a busy New York City sidewalk and instantly transported to a whole new country where wine flows like a river and the fresh scent of rustic bread and cured meats floats through the air.  No this isn’t Richard Branson’s latest time-space traveling conquest that will cost you $10 million a ticket, in fact it was created by a man in orange clogs and won’t cost you a dime (well maybe a plane ticket to NYC).  The scents, tastes, and communal lifestyle of Italy have been brought here to America in an unassuming storefront off 23rd st and 5th ave known as Eataly.

The 50,000 square foot Italian marketplace was developed by some of America’s most passionate Italian food ambassadors, Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich, and Eataly founder Oscar Farinetti.  Inspired by the original Eataly located in Turin, the concept behind this food mecca is the belief that quality products should not be limited to a small group of privileged people, they should be available to all and enjoyed by many. Some might say that’s a little overreaching given the prices of products at Eataly, but it goes to highlight the problem with food in this country and the fact that quality loses out to cheap processed food every time.  I commend the Eataly team for doing their part in changing the way we think about and shop for food, as well as their partnership with Slow Food.

It is hard to even imagine the work and effort that went into bringing some of the best products, artisans, and chefs from not only Italy, but around the world to create a marketplace that blends shopping, dining, and learning about Italian food and culture.  The marketplace, which is really more of a destination, is organized into multiple departments that feature everything from freshly made pasta, cured meats, incredible seafood, and delectable Italian pastries, and mixed in with each department are dining areas where you can sit down and the food you see right in front of you.  On top of that, you will find experts in each area to educate and guide you along your journey.

Next to Paris, Italy is at the top of my list of places to visit, so it goes without saying that I was anxious to experience a taste of Italy here in New York.  After my morning at The Martha Stewart Show I made the short walk over to Eataly to check this place out for myself and had an incredible time exploring, tasting, and interacting with the experts (including Lidia Bastianich herself) and meeting new people over Italian coffee.  I documented my experience and have included a photo tour of Eataly below for you to enjoy.  My experience meeting Lidia, her giving me a bowl of her homemade white bean and escarole soup, plus the recipe will follow in my next post.

While it is newly opened, incredibly crowded, and a bit overwhelming, it is without question that Eataly is a one-of-a-kind sensory experience that any foodie and/or lover of Italian food and culture should experience. I wouldn’t classify it as a market in the sense that you do your grocery shopping there, but it is certainly the kind of place you go when you want to prepare something really special.  It is also a great place to go to just explore and take in the sights and smells, have a glass of Asti, enjoy a board of Prosciutto de Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano, and people watch.  If you live in New York you must visit, and if you don’t, make a point to add it to your list of sights to see next time you come to the Big Apple.  I can promise you two things if you go: you won’t leave hungry and you will want to learn Italian.

Eataly is located at 200 5th Ave New York, NY 10010 and is open daily from 11 am until 11 pm. For more information call (646) 398-5100 or visit newyork.eataly.it/

Behind these unassuming doors lies an Italian food utopia

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a bounty of fresh produce. Gorgeous selection of over 10 different types of tomatoes.

Fell in love with these adorable peanut fingerling potatoes

For those too busy or lazy, there is a vegetable butcher that will chop and dice whatever you buy.

This guy hand-pulls fresh mozzarella all day long. He gave me a sample and it was out of this world delicious!

Proscuitto is imported directly from Parma and ages here in the store

The formaggio department offers a wide assortment of Italian cheese

Sip espresso and say Ciao!

Little pieces of art line the pastry counter

Picture doesn't do it justice, but they make fresh Porchetta in the rotisserie area, it looked and smelled divine!

I've never seen such a beautiful variety of fresh whole fish in one place, they had black bass, red mullet, and black cod

I grabbed a tasty lunch and people watched in the Piazza. House-made sopressata and provolone panini and a lemon flavored Italian soda

It's easy to get lost in Eataly, there are helpful markers to guide you along the way

Hungry shoppers gather in the Piazza to sip wine, enjoy meats and cheeses, and talk

I sat down for a fantastic Lavazza cappuccino and great conversation

On my way out I met Lidia Bastianich and tried some of her incredible white bean and escarole soup....more to come soon!