Mine is a Russian spot in East Hollywood called Karabagh - specifically the pantry/deli room. Truly the best hummus and baba ganoush I’ve ever had in my life, and it carries “herring under a fur coat.” (Pictured below.) Plus it sells the type of lavash that’s big enough for a toddler to sleep under. Which is good, because I need it to eat all of my pints.
Hmm. One of mine would have to be Stella's Grocery in Richmond, Virginia. They are under the same owners as the cult Greek restaurant Stella's across the street, and they feature local food purveyors from all over the city. They have some of the best ready-made meals and the portion sizes are legit. I would frequently walk in and pick up a bouquet of seasonal flowers from a local farm and a dozen freezer-to-oven chocolate chips cookies from a local bakery (because I'm spoiled now and I have to have mine hot out of the oven).
Muncan Food Corp in Astoria is a butcher and grocer that sells smoked meats and other food from the Balkans. It always smells like my grandma's meat curing cellar, the deli guys speak at least 4 languages, I'm guaranteed to run into someone from church there, and it's awesome.
Hmm. One of mine would have to be Stella's Grocery in Richmond, Virginia. They are under the same owners as the cult Greek restaurant Stella's across the street, and they feature local food purveyors from all over the city. They have some of the best ready-made meals and the portion sizes are legit. I would frequently walk in and pick up a bouquet of seasonal flowers from a local farm and a dozen freezer-to-oven chocolate chips cookies from a local bakery (because I'm spoiled now and I have to have mine hot out of the oven).
This sounds great. And honestly we should all demand warm cookies.
Muncan Food Corp in Astoria is a butcher and grocer that sells smoked meats and other food from the Balkans. It always smells like my grandma's meat curing cellar, the deli guys speak at least 4 languages, I'm guaranteed to run into someone from church there, and it's awesome.
Man alive that sounds like the deli archetype. It's perfect. One day I will go!