NY: Chelsea Market
03-Nov-2005
On Saturday I visited the Chelsea Market expecting to find something that resembled Pike Place Market here in Seattle. That wasn’t quite what I found but it was interesting, none the less.
Chelsea Market does have fruits, vegetables, fresh-baked bread, meats, flowers, and all manner of goods but there is just one vendor for each type of product. That’s not exactly true – there is a little overlap between vendors, but only in a very limited way. There’s just one butcher, one fruit market, one bakery and then some specialty shops. And lots and lots of little restaurants. Although the number of vendors was limited the breadth of offerings was not!
At the Manhattan Fruit Exchange I browsed through an amazing array of mushrooms; checked out myriads of cheese; enjoyed the Halloween display of hundreds of pumpkins, gourds and squash; marveled at the containers of grains, nuts, spices, candies and other dry good stacked neatly in towering rows along every wall. The whole space was filled with the essence of oranges – the citrus fragrance brightening and enlivening the experience.
I found the little baby Brussels sprouts that have become so popular in restaurants; I marveled at the number of peppers and chilis they had pulled into their small space. Although they are the only fruit and vegetable vendor in the market you’d most likely be able to find nearly any ingredient your little heart desired.
I browsed through the Bowery Kitchen Supply Shop and sampled an amazing Coconut Gelato from the little stand at the entrance; I strolled through Chelsea Market Baskets where you can find all manner of gourmet treats to assemble your own gift basket; I bought some little breads from Amy’s bread, where the bakers were working on the other side of glass walls so that you could see the entire process. I was disappointed in the bread – maybe I chose the wrong things but after nibbling on a couple items I didn’t understand the number of people gracing the tables inside the retail shop. I happened to arrive in time for an Australian Wine tasting at the Chelsea Wine Vault and talked to the winemakers.
Probably my favorite place in the building was Buon Italia, an Italian food shop and mini restaurant all in one. This place reminded me of a local Seattle shop, Big John’s PFI (the website appears to be being updated), except it was better! Rows of pallets lined the floor holding all manner of oils and condiments. There were baskets full of bulk grains and nuts; tubs of olives and pickled vegetables. The cold cases held all manner of frozen pastries, cheeses and meats. I really wanted to load up on all the good things that were calling my name! But I managed to hold off, remembering the times I’d had to haul heavy bags through airport security checks and not being so happy about it!
So the market is a fun place to spend some time browsing and many of the little food stands looked interesting – although some also looked a little touristy. I didn’t go upstairs to see if you could see the Food Network Kitchens and some of the studios but I might do that some other time. If I lived in the area I’d be in and out of this market on a regular basis but for now it’s just another happy NY memory.
Chelsea Market
75 9th Avenue
New York
Cross Streets: Between 15th and 16th Street
New York
Cross Streets: Between 15th and 16th Street
Subways: A, C, E, L to 14th St
Culinary Fool 
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