Specialty Food Stores

Specialty Food Stores Do my homework for me, won't you?

#1 rancho_gordo

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:33 PM

Where are the county's best stores.

I would argue for
Marlow and Sons (Brooklyn)
Cube/Divine Pasta (LA)
Village Market (SF)

Do you have suggestions for
Atlanta
Minneapolis
Chicago
Seattle
Dallas (or somewhere in TX) (other then Central market or Whole Foods)
Miami (Is there any food culture there?)
?

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#2 Rich

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:38 PM

QUOTE(rancho_gordo @ Jul 29 2008, 03:33 PM)

While I don't have other suggestions, I will agree with Marlow & Sons and it serves some nice food as well. And is also featured in a very prominent phone company commercial.

#3 omnivorette

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:44 PM

I've never been to Marlow and Sons.

Is it really better than other specialty food stores in NYC? How so?

"It seems a positively Quixotic quest to defend food from being used as any kind of social signifier, as if it could avoid the fate of each other component of our everyday lives." -Wilfrid

#4 mongo_jones

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:44 PM

denver: marczyk fine foods

purdah nahin jab koi khuda se, bandon se purdah karna kya?
~shaqeel badayuni

if it takes us seven years to prepare for a madness, how long shall it take us to run naked into the marketplace?
~yoruba proverb

facts are meaningless. you could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
~homer simpson

maybe it wasn't the best wording.
~nathan

#5 Daisy

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:45 PM

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 03:44 PM)

I've never been to Marlow and Sons.

Is it really better than other specialty food stores in NYC? How so?

They carry artisanal beans.

Sardines aren't for sissies.---Frank Bruni
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#6 Rich

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:48 PM

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 03:44 PM)

I've never been to Marlow and Sons.

Is it really better than other specialty food stores in NYC? How so?

It's very tiny, but the products they stock are top notch. It makes some of the best chicken liver mousse this side of Athens and the bar and food work quite well. You can eat outside and watch the people heading for Giando's or Luger.

#7 omnivorette

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:50 PM

What do they sell at Marlow and Sons that I can't find in other specialty food stores in NYC? Citarella, Dean & Deluca, Zabar's, Fairway, Eli's, DiPalo's, Agata, etc?

"It seems a positively Quixotic quest to defend food from being used as any kind of social signifier, as if it could avoid the fate of each other component of our everyday lives." -Wilfrid

#8 Rich

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:56 PM

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 03:50 PM)

What do they sell at Marlow and Sons that I can't find in other specialty food stores in NYC? Citarella, Dean & Deluca, Zabar's, Fairway, Eli's, DiPalo's, Agata, etc?

I doubt anything except somebody's beans, but it's the surroundings that make it work. It's reminiscent of 1920's neighborhood grocery and you can get some nice grub there. It's certainly worth a visit if you're in the area. Even stop by for some great oysters or clams - nice hot sauce.

#9 omnivorette

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:57 PM

Okay, but I don't see how that makes it one of the best specialty food stores in the country (sorry Rancho).

"It seems a positively Quixotic quest to defend food from being used as any kind of social signifier, as if it could avoid the fate of each other component of our everyday lives." -Wilfrid

#10 Lauren

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:57 PM

QUOTE(rancho_gordo @ Jul 29 2008, 12:33 PM)

Do you have suggestions for
Atlanta
Minneapolis
Chicago
Seattle
Dallas (or somewhere in TX) (other then Central market or Whole Foods)
Miami (Is there any food culture there?)
?

In Seattle I would say:
Chef Shop
Pacific Food Importers
De Laurenti
Spanish Table

There are lots of smaller, neighborhood shops too, such as Bella Cosa Foods which is in my neighborhood.

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#11 rancho_gordo

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 07:59 PM

QUOTE(Rich @ Jul 29 2008, 12:56 PM)

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 03:50 PM)

What do they sell at Marlow and Sons that I can't find in other specialty food stores in NYC? Citarella, Dean & Deluca, Zabar's, Fairway, Eli's, DiPalo's, Agata, etc?

I heard from a certain Important Food Editor that the trend is to go to Brooklyn now as that's where all the interesting stores are.

Visit lovely Rancho Gordo: ¡Cuanto le Gusta!
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#12 rancho_gordo

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 08:00 PM

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 12:57 PM)

Okay, but I don't see how that makes it one of the best specialty food stores in the country (sorry Rancho).

Why don't you go check it out and see what all the fuss is about?
When I mention it to people who know it, they kind of swoon in a sweet way. they don't swoon when you say Dean and Deluca.

Visit lovely Rancho Gordo: ¡Cuanto le Gusta!
"How do you say 'Yum-o' in Swedish? Or is it Swiss? What do they speak in Switzerland?"- Rachel Ray

#13 StephanieL

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 08:01 PM

Would Zingerman's count?

It's always something.

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#14 peppyre

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 08:06 PM

Rancho, are you interested in branching out the US at all? If you are, I may be able to connect you with someone (my dad....distributor of fine products

)

#15 Rich

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Posted 29 July 2008 - 08:09 PM

QUOTE(rancho_gordo @ Jul 29 2008, 03:59 PM)

QUOTE(Rich @ Jul 29 2008, 12:56 PM)

QUOTE(omnivorette @ Jul 29 2008, 03:50 PM)

What do they sell at Marlow and Sons that I can't find in other specialty food stores in NYC? Citarella, Dean & Deluca, Zabar's, Fairway, Eli's, DiPalo's, Agata, etc?

I heard from a certain Important Food Editor that the trend is to go to Brooklyn now as that's where all the interesting stores are.

It may be true. Red Hook's Fairway is better than the other three because of space, quality, price and turnover. (Parking and brunch work well too). The produce stores on Fort Hamilton Parkway (Circus & Three Guys) are the best in the city (with the exception of some Green Markets at some times of the year.) The Italian and Asian specialty shops that dot the borough are outstanding and better than most on Arthur Avenue and Chinatown.

I rarely go into Manhattan anymore for my dinner parties and would never go to Whole Paycheck.