Guide: Our Favorite Places to Source Ingredients in NYC
We are always on the hunt for the best and most delicious ingredients to use in our recipes.
Being in NYC we are fortunate to basically have a world market at our fingertips. From farmers markets to health food stores, supermarkets, bodegas, speciality shops and cultural markets coupled with great online resources, there is always something new to be discovered.
Here are a few of our favorite places to shop here in NYC:
Union Square Greenmarket this beautiful market is our go-to for all types of fresh, seasonal produce, herbs, locally/sustainably sourced fish/meats, cheese, flowers, jellies/jams, honey, artisan breads and more. Many recipes in our Fresh Eats e-book were inspired by our market finds. The market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM. Pro tip: shop early, the good stuff goes fast and farmers sometimes leave once they have sold out. Download the app to keep up to date with daily offerings, events and more. Some of our favorite vendors to visit:
Sullivan Tea & Spice Company this magical, tiny shop located in the heart of Greenwich Village is one of our guilty pleasures. Here you will find an impressive assortment of organic teas, herbs, spices, and unique gifts. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and super helpful. We love taking our students here to learn about spices. Check out a few of favorite things to buy here (trust us the list is way longer, pop in for a visit and see for yourself):
dried rosebuds, dried lavender flowers and candied ginger for baking projects
speciality salts like fleur de sel and black truffle salt
flavorful spices/herbs like smoked paprika, cumin seeds, herbs de provence, bay leaf,
specialty blends like za’atar
fragrant vanilla beans
Kalustyan’s this speciality market is not for the faint of heart. Nicknamed “the spice mecca” this shop boasts spices, herbs, prepared foods, teas, speciality ingredients and just about everything in between from all over the world. You’ll find ingredients from countries such as Armenia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, West Indies, and Yugoslavia, just to name a few.
Eataly Flatiron One can spend hours browsing fresh pasta selections, cheeses & cured meats, specialty goods from Italy, homewares, beauty products, a great selection of cookbooks and more in this 42,000 square foot marketplace. When you’re finished, sit and enjoy a glass of Lambrusco and a flatbread at one of the in-house restaurants (founder, @carafresh’s favorite thing to do post shopping). We also love that Eataly is kid-friendly - check out this Family-Friendly Guide to Visiting Eataly with Kids from our friends at Mommy Nearest. There is also a 2nd NYC location located downtown at Four World Trade Center / 101 Liberty Street.
Lifethyme Market - Lifethyme Market is an old-school Big Apple staple for natural foods and health/wellness products. They have outstanding selection of organic produce, prepared foods and pantry staples as well as vitamins, supplements and more.
Hudson Charles - local, sustainable, grass-fed meats are their game and they do it so well. This quaint butcher shop is located in the West Village and their staff is ultra helpful when it comes to picking out the right meat, giving proper cooking time/temps, tips and more. In addition to fresh meats you can find bone broth, local seasonal produce, cheese, prepared foods and more. Their rotisserie chicken is divine, be sure to order ahead! When you are finished at Hudson & Charles, pop across the street to The Meadow and check out some fine salts and chocolate. Or stop by Health & Harmony for anything else you might need, they have it all!
Chelsea Market - is a food hall, shopping mall, office building, and television production facility located in the Chelsea neighborhood. Primarily known for its wide-range of eateries, Chelsea Market is hands-down one of the best food halls in NYC. The floors above Chelsea Market are home to several Food Network shows including Iron Chef and Chopped. The building also houses the Oxygen Network, MLB.com and more. Some of our favorite vendors in the market are:
Murray’s Cheese - Murray’s Cheese is an artisanal cheese and specialty foods retailer and wholesaler based in Greenwich Village in New York City. Founded in Greenwich Village in 1940 as an egg and dairy wholesaler, the company later expanded, and in 2012 opened a restaurant in Manhattan named Murray’s Cheese Bar.
FoodKick - Not sure where we would be without Foodkick! This grocery delivery service is a real lifesaver. Not only do they carry an impressive selection of local and organic ingredients, you can find great artisan and small batch items like fresh breads from Bread Alone, greens of all kinds from Gotham Greens, sauces from Haven’s Kitchen and more. Delivery in NYC is same-day, often in as little as an hour! Ordering is easy as can be using their app or online platform.
Do you have a favorite place to shop for great ingredients?
Share with us! Send us an email to frontdesk@freshmadenyc.com