Eataly...a quick & easy substitute for the real thing

So if you haven't heard, there's a new Little Italy in town, located not too far from Mulberry St, at 200 5th Avenue. Speaking as the Jersey girl I am, it's a nice walk from Penn Station, or if you're too lazy to walk on down, grab the 1 Train and head downtown.

My mom and I arrived early, as in 3 minutes before opening, on a Thursday morning in order to avoid crowds and lines and of course to get our hands, eyes, and stomachs on the very best they had to offer us. The method to our madness began, as any smart foodie knows, with a scouting mission. We were sure to check everything out before purchasing or more importantly making choices about where & what we were going to eat.

The doors opened to a beautiful selection of fruits and vegetables (Yes, I should have brought my camera), we ooed and aahhed before moving into the center area where we ended up splitting up as we roamed around. After about a half hour or so of strolling around & making our way to the other entrance, I needed a treat. First up, Cappuccino & brioche, the same way I started every morning in Italy. With one bite, my taste-buds flew right over the ocean and forced my not yet hungry mother to taste both, and she too was delighted by the sweet, light, flakiness of the brioche & the depth of the Cappuccino. YUM.

While finishing up, we officially decided we were on a mission to create a homemade Italian feast the following evening. We headed straight back to the vegetables where I purchased (with unbelievable excitement) Zucchini blossoms. If you haven't tried them, they are absolutely delicious. Whether they are stuffed with cheese or anchovies or fried or steamed they are worth the extra effort. I have only ever had them in Italy & at a small family run Italian restaurant in my hometown, but if you find them, go for it. We also bought figs and some blood oranges before heading off to the pasta lady (I don't know if there is an official term for that), cheese monger, and the butcher. After loading up on three types of ravioli, Pecorino de Nocce, the most delicious Ricotta cheese I've ever had, salami, prosciutto, and some fresh bread (pancetta/parmesan & olive), we had worked up quite an appetite.

Again as well practiced foodies looking to fit as much as possible into our tummies, we devised a plan to hit Verdure (the vegetable restaurant), Pesce (the fish restaurant) and La Piazza (a combo of pretty much everything) and sample appetizers and some vino at each. At Verdure, we split the special bruscetta, an absolute mouthful of earthy goodness (spaghetti squash, brown butter, aged balsamic, sage, and Parmesan cheese) & the Frito Misto (a beautiful bright platter of perfectly fried fresh vegetables). The batter was light & perfectly seasoned, even my salt loving mother thought the season was up to par. And of course a glass of the house Prosecco.

We moved on to Pesce where I had a 1/2 dozen raw oysters and my mom ordered the bay scallops with a small salad of chervil resting on top of a good size serving of scallops. I then watched (in amazement) as the waiter grated fresh horseradish on each of my oysters. In the center of the iced dish was a vinaigrette that balanced the dish perfectly, and for those of you also amazed by the fresh horseradish, don't be too impressed. It actually isn't that hot when it's fresh :). After finishing up our last sip of Prosecco, we headed of to La Piazza to get some, "Salumi & Formaggi."

Here, we ordered the Grande Piatto Misto, which was a nice helping of five meats and five cheeses served with a delicious multi-grain bread (that we then went and bought) and honey, a fig & red pepper relish, and candied orange rind. WOW is all I can say about the entire experience there. Unfortunately, they are not yet selling these delicious assortments at Eataly; however, we did head over to the jam/preserve area to get some fig, pear, and apricot spread. We had a glass of red wine to finish things up & headed off to a buy some of the wonderful things we had just tasted.

Before leaving we also of course had gelato, Pistachio & Vanilla. Both were smooth with rich flavors; it was the perfect end to an incredible day. In the end, we headed back to Penn Station with the following menu planned.

Salami & Cheese Platter
Olives
Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto (if you haven't had this, go to the store now & buy it--you'll feel like a queen)
Stuffed Zucchini Flowers Two Ways (Fried & Steamed)
Homemade Fettuccini w/ Truffle Butter
Canolis (store bought shells but homemade filling)

And of course some Prosecco, Red Wine & Limoncello

It was quite an Italian feast for these two Irish girls. In the end, if you're a foodie, a trip to Eataly is a must. If you're looking for more info, be sure to check out the links below & stay tuned for some delicious recipes from the feast :)

New York Times Review
Eataly Website