[omnivorette]

I am so in love with Agata & Valentina (79th / 1st Ave.). I think it's the best of the upscale markets for the price - it competes with Eli's and the Vinegar Factory and Citarella's, etc., etc. And certainly it's my favorite on the east side.

Anyway...Saturday morning I went to buy fresh mozzarella (they make a very good one), and I ended up buying other cheeses as well. I bought something they call burrini, which is a riff on burrata....except instead of fresh mozzarella, it's aged mozzarella, and instead of the cheese being around a core of cream, it's around a core of butter. This is a seriously decadent, fantastic creation. At room temperature, when you slice it, the center oozes butter - and the cheeze already has a delicious buttery, smoky quality.

They make a riccotone, which is fresh ricotta that has been drained somewhat, so the texture gets closer to feta.

And of course scamorza, and primo sale, and fresh ricotta......

And the cheese guys really know their stuff.

I also bought the A&V house brand EVOO, and it's good. All the departments are good - meat, fish, charcuterie, bread, appetizing, produce....

Go. Enjoy. It's even not crazy expensive.

[Shermar]

I lived very close to A&V for years and I agree with you its terrific! Try the lamb sausage(made on the premises), ditto the porchetta. The Sicilian EVOO is exceptional. The smoked salmon, the pates, the fresh cream cheese...I'm becoming verklempt.

Crowding is a problem even after expansion, especially before major holidays. Get there early!

[Melonious Thunk]

Made a special journey today all the way to the East side to buy some Iberico Bellotta ham at A&V. It is worth the journey. Much cheaper ($100 lb vs $160 lb) here than at Despaña, though it is machine sliced (oooh). This is a nice store and a dangerous one for me to shop in. I dropped $100 before I was done. The ham is delicious.

[omnivorette]

Did you check out the cheese department? Pretty darn good.

[Melonious Thunk]

Yup. Bought a hunk of Beaufort. Dangerous store for me, like I said. Just a bus ride away......

[juuceman]

their chocolate mousse cake is incredible as well; always very good produce, often interesting items and a few dollars cheaper than D&D or Zabars..

[yvonne johnson]

I just read that there will be a new branch of Agata & Valentina in the former D'Agostino spot on University Place in the Village.

Any recent experiences with the uptown one?

[Suzanne F]

Not recent, but I too loved it when I used to go to the neighborhood regularly in the mid- to late 1980s. I think the fact that it has been around for as long as it has speaks well for it. I mean, who remembers J. Bildner?

I'm very interested in the new opening, since it is much closer for me, and just down the street from My Beloved Aunt Bette, so I will have yet another reason to visit with her.

[juuceman]

I went the day before the hurricane. It was a mob scene and I got in just before they put someone on the door to limit customers at ~10am. The procedure was that you were given a cart, got on line which snaked throughout the entire store, and you picked up your items as you walked past them on line. Everything is still of very good quality, and their prices tend to be equal, or a dollar or two cheaper than, competitors. Fish and meat counters remain very good. Prepared food is decent. Breads, etc. are of a very high quality. All of the standard yuppy foodstuffs are available.