Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market
75 Ninth Ave. nr. 15th St
Subway: A, C, E at 14th St.
Mon-Sat, 7am-10pm; Sun, 8am-8pm


The Chelsea Market is sort of a funny thing to put down here, but it's neat enough that if you're in the area - especially if you're going to the Highline - it's well worth a stop. Basically, it's a food hall: a collection of high-end stores in the old Nabisco factory. The space is cavernous and odd, and the picnic pickings superlative. Just a few highlights:

Amy's Bread for sandwiches and bread

Butcher shop for sandwiches and salumi

Bella Italia for antipasti and panini

Lucy's Whey for cheese

Jacques Torres for chocolate

Ronnybrook Milk Bar for ice cream

Fat Witch for brownies

(Needless to say, also great if you've got a kitchen!)

Food Shop: Russ and Daughters

*Russ and Daughters
179 E. Houston St.nr. Orchard St.
Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm; Sat, 9am-7pm; Sun, 8am-5:30pm
Subway: F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; J, M, Z at Essex St.



Russ and Daughters is take-out, so if it's bad weather or you don't have a kitchen somewhere, I guess it'll just taunt you. However, it's such an institution, and so amazing, and so special, that you should poke your head in no matter what. A remnant of the LES's Jewish immigrant past, R&D has been serving the city's best "appetizing" (smoked fish and other Jewish dairy cold-cuts) for generations and the place is a time capsule, albeit a thriving and sophisticated one. While you can get a bagel to go, know-at-alls on Chowhound are very scornful of this because it's not traditional. (I do it all the time, though!) Plus, the weekend-morning takeout crowd is kind of a gas, and the Babka and coffee are excellent. (If you're a purist, buy your fixings here and, if it's not a Saturday, your bagels and bialys from nearby Kossar's.) Also, watch this.

NB: the youngest generation has an excellent blog, Lox Populi!

Restaurant/Shop: Kalustyan's

Kalustyan's
MIDTOWN/MURRAY HILL
123 Lexington Avenue at 28th Street
6 to 28th Street
Monday - Saturday 10 am - 8 pm ; Sunday and Holidays 11 am - 7 pm

This enormous spice emporium is worth a visit anyway, but the second-floor cafe is a gem: delicious, cheap vegetarian Indian. The mujaddara sandwich is one of the best and heartiest in the city!