Friday, January 22, 2010

So much food, so little time

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 09:  South Korea...Image by Getty Images via Daylife








 

I only had a hour after I dropped off my son for his piano lesson in Englewood yesterday to pick up some of the terrific food the city has to offer.

My first stop was the kimchi factory on West Englewood Avenue, where I bought a half-gallon jar of Arirang-brand mahk kimchi ($9.99) from the always helpful Mrs. Oh. She combines crunchy nappa cabbage with red pepper, salted shrimp, anchovy sauce, garlic, scallion and other ingredients. It's a healthy and delicious side dish with a sandwich or a complete meal. (Photo shows woman in South Korea offering kimchi.)

Not far away is Balthazar Bakery on South Dean Street, where for the first time I found a dozen ficelles or miniature baguettes ($6). I also picked up a quarter of the bakery's signature rye, sliced ($3.75), and successfully avoided buying another scrumptious pear-hazelnut galette we tried for Christmas.

I drove down South Dean to Jerry's Gourmet & More, not so much to shop as to graze among the cheese, bread and salami samples. I did pick up two aseptic packages of Pomi marinara sauce and chopped tomatoes from Italy, each about 26.5 ounces for $1.69.

I headed back toward the kimchi factory and made my final stop at H Mart, the Korean supermarket near the Palisade Avenue monument. There, I concentrated on prepared food -- a pound of stewed tofu with red pepper sauce ($2.50), cucumber kimchi ($2.50) and honey rice cakes studded with beans ($3.49).

Arirang Kimchi (Gaboh Inc.), 191 W. Englewood Ave;
Englewood, 201-503-1314. 

H Mart, 25 Lafayette Ave., Englewood
201-871-8822.


Balthazar Bakery, 214 S. Dean St., Englewood;
(201) 503-9717.
 
Jerry's Gourmet & More, 410 S. Dean St., Englewood; 
201-871-7108.



 

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6 comments:

  1. Victor, have you ever been to the Rockland Bakery in Nanuet, NY?

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  2. No. But I've heard about it. I used to live in Englewood, two blocks from Balthazar Bakery, so that was my place for great bread, and I still go there now, except for Syrian bread, of course.

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  3. I have never been to Balthazar, I am not too familiar with Englewood. I go to Rockland Bakery about once every two months. Its definitely an experience. Lots of selection and great prices. Their egg twist rolls remind me of the ones I would have when I was a kid.

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  4. I guess they have a retail store, similar to Balthazar's? I'll have to check it out.

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  5. Yes there is a retail store and you can actually go right into the bakery itself and buy fresh bagels and bread right out of the oven (literally piping hot).

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  6. Sounds wonderful. I am addicted to bread, unfortunately. Balthazar has amazing bread, though it might be more expensive than Rockland. A favorite is the $2 baguette, a great sandwich loaf.

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