Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli: Put Your Mouth Around It!

Ok that title sounds a little inappropriate but it's so true and as you can see from my ugly mug that's exactly what I did. Off the top of your head you probably wouldn't associate a sandwich with Vietnamese cuisine, certainly I never did back when I was introduced to these delicious creations. Honestly I acted like the typical food snob and said something like..."No way I'm gonna eat a sandwich that's not French or Italian and you can't make me!" Honestly I sounded even more snooty when I said it. I just couln't have imagined how good it was until I tried it, funny how that works. Not only is it really tasty but it's cheap and they don't skimp on the size...size matters. Anyway Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli isn't a place you would walk into on your own, it's a place that someone has to tell you about, like me! I always go for the #1 House Special, extra spicy, and often order more than one to keep for another day. That's unusual for your typical sandwich and against my normal beliefs, but normal went out the window when I first ate this sandwich. What's in it you say? Besides the fresh baked roll there's Vietnamese Salami, Pork Roll, Grilled Minced Pork, Pickled Carrots and Raddishes, Jalapeno's, Cucumbers, Cilantro and a spread that they call Hollandaise Sauce. It's all good. Literally an explosion of flavor in your mouth, it's pretty indescribable. The deli is often filled with folks thinking the same way I do, especially during lunchtime, and when a place has a following like that you know it's good. I suggest you all make a trip downtown to 369 Broome Street, near the corner of Mott, to pick yourself up a sandwich, or two, or three. You can visit their website for more info, http://www.vietnamese-sandwich.com/, and please have a look at the rest of their menu.

Market Week: The Chelsea Market

Simply the most interesting shopping experience in the city, The Chelsea Market has all the sights, sounds and smells to delight all under one roof right next to the trendy meat-packing district. The focus here is it's wonderful array of foods that is sure to keep your nose searching for what's next. To me the most important part of the space is actually the space. Opened back in 1997, the Chelsea Market takes up the ground floor of what used to be the Nabisco building, which is at 75 9th Ave between 15th and 16th. It's truly an assault on all your senses. Extremely lively during the lunch hour, The Chelsea Market really gets it's groove on after work is over often with live music performances to add to it's already fabulous aura. Some of my favorite stops are, of course, Amy's Bread, Fat Witch Bakery, The Nut Box, Buon Italia and the Bowery Kitchen Supply. It is very important to leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy yourself because this place is not a quick in and out. You're gonna want to stay for awhile. Hours of operation are: M-F 7 to 8pm, Sat 7 to 7 and Sun 8 to 6. Check out http://www.chelseamarket.com/ for more information. Eat well explorers.

Market Week: Union Square Greenmarket

For the better part of the last 20 years of my life I have been in and around Union Square more than any place else in the city and I have been lucky enough to see the Greenmarket grow into the fantastic bazaar it has become. I can remember when it was only a small collection of tents there only a couple of days. Today it is three times the size with offerings from pretzels, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, plants, breads, pies, cookies, honey and many more choices. Obviously great weather is it's best friend allowing

enormous throngs of shoppers from all over the city, in fact all over the world. The spring and summer, of course, is a fantastic time to stroll for fresh herbs or a beautiful plant for your home. But if you are looking to see the Greenmarket in all it's glory you must plan to be there during the fall and early winter. While the temperatures may not be completely beneficial, it's the time of year to see the most expansive array of delicious choices. Warm cider, pumpkin and apple pies, soups, delicious autumn apples, gourds, sweet potatoes, and on and on. And if you are looking to save some money this is the place to shop.

If you want to pay more just walk to the bottom of the park at 14th street and go to Whole Foods, they will be happy to take your extra money. So please when you have the time travel to Union Square and enjoy a wonderful day shopping at one of the best outdoor markets in the country. It's open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8AM to 6PM. Please visit www.grownyc.org/greenmarket to see all the Greenmarkets all over town and to read about how they promote regional growers and much, much more.

Market Week: Trader Joe's

I know what you are gonna say, Trader Joe's is not New York, yes I know this. But does everything in New York have to be New York? I say as long as it is a good place to shop and they have good foods then it's fit for my list. I actually discovered Trader Joe's when I lived in Arizona a few years back and at first thought....What's the big deal? Well let's just say it grew on me and when I moved back to the New York area I was more than happy to find a few TJ's scattered throughout the city. Now it's not a place you go everyday for the usual odds and ends, what it is though is a market that has it's own unique foods that are often of great taste and quality. Blah, blah, blah you say? Not really. Trader Joe's prides itself on being a part of every community they are in and that makes it feel like a local grocery store. Their staff always looks like they are having fun and are extremely attentive to you and especially your children. My favorite part, of course, is the sample bar usually towards the back with it's free offerings. Usually whatever they are making seems to make it's way into my cart, (sucker) what a sales job! They have a great selection of fruits and vegetables, great frozen meals, good breads, juices, nut mixes and lots more. Most of all it's really affordably. My favorites include: Kettle Corn, Lemonade, Mandarin Orange Chicken and TJ's Olive Oil. Trader Joe's currently has 4 locations in New York City with a new one opening soon in Chelsea. Go to www.traderjoes.com for more information.

Market Week: Arthur Avenue in the Bronx

To be a true foodie you must be able to travel anywhere in the city to find great food and/or a great market and in this case Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Not just simply an indoor market, Arthur Avenue is an entire community that is also known as the Little Italy of the Bronx. Don't be scared. For most New Yorkers the Bronx is like an uncharted alien (no pun intended) world that might be a bit scary to visit other than say the Bronx Zoo, but not to worry Arthur Ave is right next door! Honestly this is a food lovers dream with so much to eat and see you will be amazed.

There is of course the Arthur Avenue Market, the first indoor market in the borough, that is the center of this vibrant area. Fresh vegetables, fresh meats, cheeses, pizza, olive oil, gelato, pastas and much more. But that is just part of the experience. Littering the surrounding area are tons of great bakeries, meat stores, fresh seafood places and restaurants that can make it an all day affair. Some of my favorites are: Terranova Bakery, Teitel Brothers, Mike's Deli, Dominick's Restaurant, Calabria Pork Store and many more.

What I remember most, the memories that I am the fondest of, are the days I went to the market with my mother. We'd walk the entire market saying hello to all the people, the vendors who she had bought from hundreds of times. They all knew exactly what she came for. The place had a very distinct smell and a very small town feel. My sister and I would walk around looking for blank tapes, candy, gum and various knick knacks all while my Mom collected more bags. We were sure to avoid the meat counter with it's pig heads and feet plus the chilled calf brains, yuck! So for all you foodies out there in search of a shopping experience like no other, take the time to travel up to the Belmont section of the Bronx and experience a hidden gem of New York City.

Market Week: Gourmet Garage

Original founded in 1981, Gourmet Garage has been offering it's fine foods to the public since 1992 and has always been a favorite of mine. I think I like it most for the fact that it is not Dean and Deluca, also a fine place but in my opinion an over-priced option. With it's old fashioned charm, fresh breads, pre-made food options, fresh vegetables, cheeses and more, Gourmet Garage offers the best casual shopping experience in the city without the hustle and bustle of other well known joints. My favorite location has always been the one on the corner of Broome and Mercer, a bit small but very cozy. I often stop in just to pick up my favorite spicey olive mix and to walk around even if I am not buying anything else. For the full experience I suggest the Gourmet Garage at 117 7th Avenue South which is by far their largest and most noticable of all their locations. Here there is a larger selection of seemingly everything and it's also a fun place to people watch...I once saw Matthew Broderick squeezing some melons on a Thursday afternoon (don't be crude, I mean fruit you dope). Surely you can people watch just about anywhere in Manhattan. If you are looking for a quick meal to go I suggest trying one of their pre-made sandwich wraps or my personal fave, the Rigatoni with Meatballs, you won't be disappointed. For more information on Gourmet Garage please visit their website, http://www.gourmetgarage.com/, and look to see which one of their 6 Manhattan locations is closest to you.

Bagel Maven Cafe For a Bagel and a Schmear

Let me start out by saying that it isn't as easy as you'd think to find a good bagel in NYC. Bagels are very similar to pizza in this town, there is just as much bad as there is good and if you understand that you won't settle for mediocrity (even though you may eat mediocrity occasionally). First things first; the rules. Never, and I mean never eat a bagel from one of the carts on the street. I don't care how hungry you are or how convenient it might be, but nine times out of ten these bagels are substandard. You must recognize the fact that bagels are NOT like regular bread. They are denser, firmer, and have their own unique flavor. So when you go to one of those street carts you most likely will get a piece of bread that is disguised as a bagel, don't be fooled. Also I have found that unless you buy from a street cart bright and early your bagel, or buttered roll (I love buttered rolls btw), will be as stiff as a board and not fit for consumption. Yet I see people lining up at these damn things every morning. You fools! Second rule: don't get your bagels from places that don't make them, like Starbucks for instance (also street carts and any place that list bagels as a footnote). They do coffee, that's why you go there and for times sake it's easy to grab something to eat there as well. Don't do it. To me bagels are an important staple of this city and I for one am always on the lookout for good quality, fresh tasting and authentic bagels that I can have more than one. So I was pleasantly surprised to find Bagel Maven Cafe on the corner of 30th street and 7th ave serving up some great tasting bagels. Now I have walked past this place a million times always between meals and never had the chance to give them a try. However I could no longer ignore the wonderful aroma emanating from this establishment. I used to work at a bagel shop in Westchester when I was in high school and to make a long story short I really know what a real bagel is supposed to taste like. The bagels at Bagel Maven aren't exactly traditional bagels but they are close enough. To me the truest test is the ability to eat a bagel plain without anything on it...no butter, no cream cheese. Luckily these are really good bagels so I moved on to a Sesame with Vegetable Cream Cheese (I am not a huge fan of plain cream cheese). I was very happily surprised by the vegetable cream cheese as well with its larger than usual chunks of red, yellow and green peppers, they were like small flavor burts. So overall a very sastisfactory experience and I now have a new morning stop before I head to work...sorry Starbucks you can keep your stale bagels which you toast to hide the fact that they are stale! Eat Real Bagels.