29-04-2019

The best of Chelsea Market in New York, in five stops (plus two)

Our trip in the famous market in the Big Apple, what with hot dogs, tacos and doughnuts. And just nearby...

Chelsea Market in New York. All the photos are fr

Chelsea Market in New York. All the photos are from Alessia Odoardi, except for those of Seed+Mill

New York: a crossing of people, a melting pot of cultures and flavours. You can find anything in New York, especially in terms of food. Before our trip, we explored the Internet, selecting restaurants, fast foods, markets where we could taste what the city has to offer to visitors. One such place is, without any doubt, Chelsea Market.

It’s literally one whole block, more than fifty-five sellers and six million visitors each year: it’s a paradise for foodies in the Big Apple. The area is also known as the Meatpacking District, as it’s always been dedicated to trading food, even since the Algonquin Indians would sell their harvest and game here. Chelsea Market has an industrial style, what with bricks and water pipes; a walk in this covered market is mandatory before leaving town, not only for the beautiful shops selling crafts, but also for the huge variety of food and spices. So here’s a few delicious recommendations...

SEED+MILL
In this corner of the market we found some unique delicacies: delicious recipes made with sesame seeds, or rather tahina, a sort of sesame butter. Straight from Ethiopia, the seeds are toasted at a temperature that enhances both their flavour and nutrients. The true star is halva, that is to say tahina plus sugar, a delicious paste. Here you can find endless flavours: we tasted chocolate-pistachiocrunchy peanut butter and coconut-dulce de leche… Rest assured: you won’t be able to leave Sed+Mill without a tasting!

Hot dogs at Dickson's Farmstand Meats

Hot dogs at Dickson's Farmstand Meats

DICKSON’S FARMSTAND MEATS
At this butcher’s you can only find local meat, without hormones or antibiotics. You’ll wonder: why go inside a butcher’s if I don’t live in New York and don’t own a kitchen here? Well, we went for their hot dogs… and we recommend you do the same! Truly homemade, you have a wide choice of ingredients to add; we preferred to keep the flavour of the meat as the protagonist, and only added mustard and ketchup… Try and see.

Lobster Place

Lobster Place

LOBSTER PLACE
Did you know that New York was the world capital of oysters for a few centuries? Picture today’s hot dog stands, everywhere around town; well, they once sold oysters! So to celebrate this important part of the history of New York, we tasted them at the Lobster Place, the paradise of seafood lovers. A plate of oysters from the counter is mandatory before leaving this incredible place. You can write the number and type of crustacean right on the menu, hand it at the cashier and… wait to taste many and fresh seafood delicacies. Our favourite: Kumumoto. Truly mouth-watering.

The mini doughnuts at Doughnuttery

The mini doughnuts at Doughnuttery

DOUGHNUTTERY
Delicious mini doughnuts, fried right in front of you with a machine that seems to be come out right from the Umpa Lumpafactory, seasoned with sugar of the most incredible flavours. We tasted Paris Time (lavender, pistachio, vanilla) and Purple Pig (maple syrup, bacon and purple potatoes). Just follow your whim!

Tacos from Los Mariscos

Tacos from Los Mariscos

LOS MARISCOS
Authentic Mexican tacos and other fish-based delicacies: at Los Mariscos you’ll find very fresh fish. We tasted an enchilado taco (prawns and hot sauce) and ceviche especial (prawns, oysters, clams, scallops, octopus): yummy.

Cheese burger at Burger, Inc

Cheese burger at Burger, Inc

Ceviche bowl from Mission Ceviche at Gasevoort Market

Ceviche bowl from Mission Ceviche at Gasevoort Market

Two final recommendations: just off Chelsea Market there’s Gasevoort Market, a very typical dining hall with a nice and interesting range of delicacies. Don’t miss the ceviche bowl at Mission Ceviche(you can pick one from the menu, or make your own mix) and a cheese burger from Burger, Inc.

Translated into English by Slawka G. Scarso


Dal Mondo

Reviews, recommendations and trends from the four corners of the planet, signed by all the authors of Identità Golose

by

Alessia Odoardi

Italian-Canadian, from Abruzzo. A compulsive traveller, and professional taster. When she’s not writing, she eats; when she’s not eating, she writes. She doesn’t like labels, except when it’s wine ones. She writes in Italian and English on her blog wherethefoodiesgo.comand here and there on the web

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