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-pistachio, crunchy 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
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
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
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!
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.
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
