I was in New York City with a friend the other day, and at around lunchtime she suggested we go into Mario Batali's (et al) newish Italian epicurean mecca, Eataly. She neglected to mention it is a 50,000-square-foot artisanal-food extravaganza.....and every square inch was occupied by foodies, shoppers, diners, elbows, baskets, gawkers. I will admit, I was a little stressed out (nope, don't like crowds), but it was worth the experience once we squeezed our way up to one of the innumerable bars (seems to be one every five feet), and calmed down with a glass of wine. Ok, and a Bloody Mary.
There are sit-down spots to eat with full table service....
...but at the heart of Eataly is the standing table enoteca
(literally meaning wine repository) where friends and business
colleagues meet for a little sipping, savoring and tasting
of the myriad offerings.
Cheese, cured meats in one corner....
...and exquisitely fresh seafood in the next corner.
Plus pizza, produce, pasta, bread, olive oil,
fresh meats, desserts, wine...
it's all there,
somewhere.
Couldn't exit without my own little take-home basket of
cheese, olives, bread, olive oil.....yum.
Eataly
in the Flatiron district
200 Fifth Avenue (at 23rd Street)
New York, NY
www.eatalyny.com
