|
Gourmet LAA Guide to Finding the Goods in LAGourmet LA is a work-in-progress, with alphabetical listings. I’ll be expanding the listings constantly—as I get out and visit each place to be sure it belongs on the list. Soon I’ll expand it so that you can find markets geographically and by category (such as cheese, wine, ethnic, gourmet ingredients, etc.). I’ll be adding thumbnail descriptions of these places and profiling a different business each month, beginning in December 2007. How do I define “gourmet” as it relates to a store? I can tell you what’s NOT included in these listings: chain groceries with so-called “gourmet” sections. In addition to serious gourmet markets I’m including ethnic markets, because when you’re out there searching for ingredients to make an authentic dish, you need to know where to find them. Best to hit a Hispanic market before making molé than having to make do with weak substitutes from the neighborhood grocery, right? While I’m not listing restaurants specifically, some of theses stores and markets do have eat-in areas. However, this list intends to be a tool for those who need the right ingredients for their culinary projects. Please help me—and everyone—in this effort. If you know of a suitable place that’s not listed here, please e-mail gourmetla-at-hungrypassport-dot-com, and share your information with us all. This list is a work-in-progress, and the more we share with each other, the better tool we have for finding just what we need for our culinary projects. Thanks so much, and enjoy! The List, so far . . .99 Ranch Market - 13 locations in the Los Angeles area. On the surface, 99 Ranch Market appears to be another grocery chain, but it’s specifically an Asian supermarket, where you can find all sorts of fresh produce, meat, fresh fish and seafood (some still swimming!), baked goods and imported foods from all over Asia. It’s an essential shopping stop for Asian culinary adventures, whether you’re cooking Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese . . . You get the idea.Artisan Cheese Gallery 12023 Ventura Blvd., Studio City 818-505-0207 Artisan carries a great assortment cheeses from the United States and around the world (ever had yak cheese?!), along with a nice array of gourmet items. Boule 420 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles 310-289-9977 Boule offers high-end cakes, tarts, candies, breads, sorbets and ice creams. Bread Bar 8718 W. Third St., Los Angeles 310-205-0124 & 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 310-277-3770 Bread Bar bakes up rustic, whole-grain and fruit-and-nut breads, boules, baguettes and pastries daily. Cheese Store of Beverly Hills 419 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills 310-278-2855 This famous shop features wines and gourmet foods and a knowledgeable staff that is quick with both information and samples. Oh yes, then there’s all that marvelous cheese . . . Cheese Store of Silverlake 3926-28 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 323-644-7511 In addition to a nice array of cheeses from around the world, this store offers a good selection of gourmet treats, wines and tap-it-yourself olive oils and vinegars. Gelato Bar 4342½ Tujunga Ave., Studio City 818-487-1717 Like a little chip of Italy plunked down in Studio City, lovely Gelato Bar offers a great array of handcrafted gelatos and other sweets. Harmony Farms 2824 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta, 818-248-3068 Harmony is a full-service butcher shop that also sells an amazing assortment of wild game and out-of-the-ordinary meats, ranging from frog legs to venison. A profile of Harmony Farms can be found here! Joan’s on Third 8350 W. Third St., Los Angeles 323-655-2285 Joan’s offers an array of cheeses and wines, along with lots of gourmet items and prepared foods that allow you enjoy a good take-home meal with minimal fuss. Julienne 2649 Mission St., South Pasadena 626-441-2299 Julienne carries an array of prepared gourmet foods, both savory and sweet, along with food-oriented books and gifts. Market Gourmet 1800A Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice 877-662-7538 Market Gourmet is a self-styled emporium of gourmet ingredients as well as prepared foods, with a helpful assortment of kitchen tools and assorted items. Mashti Malone’s,1525 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood 323-874-0144 & 143 N. Maryland @ Exchange, Glendale 818-662-0400 With a strong Middle Eastern flare, Mashti’s features exotic flavors of ices and sorbets, including rosewater, lavender, saffron, ginger and Turkish coffee. Consistently voted the “best of” by readers and critics of several Los Angeles area publications. Monsieur Marcel’s Gourmet Market in the Farmer’s Market at Fairfax & Third 323-939-7792 Monsieur Marcel’s is a great place to nose around for fun or in earnest. It features a wine room, cheeses, patés, spices, salts, scoop-your-own olives, chocolates, specialty gourmet items and ingredients. Includes a wine bar. Monte Carlo 3103 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 818-845-3516 A San Fernando Valley institution, Monte Carlo is the go-to place for Italian foods and ingredients, including cheeses, meats, wines and sweets. Nicole’s Gourmet Foods 921 Meridian Ave. South Pasadena 626-403-5751 Nicole’s provides a good assortment of domestic and imported cheeses and gourmet items—heavy on the French goodies, since Nicole is French. She also carries wines, oils, caviar and some of those hard-to-find baking items needed to turn out high-end desserts. Otto’s Hungarian Import Store & Deli 2320 W. Clark Ave., Burbank, 818-845-0433 You’ll never want for real Hungarian paprika again, as Otto carries it in every size from fits-in-the-spice-rack to add-an-extra-room-to-your-house. Don’t make goulash without it! He also stocks an assortment of Hungarian sausages, peppers and other foods from his homeland. Papa Cristo’s 2771 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 323-737-2970 This Greek and Mediterranean grocery carries prepared and canned foods along with cheeses, wines, olives, olive oils, spices, honey and preserves. Step inside its doors and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported far away from Los Angeles, to a land where the gods and goddesses had a hand in things . . . Piccadilly British Shop 2011 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank 818-842-2324 Piccadilly Shop carries foods and ingredients from Great Britain, including marmite, Devonshire clotted cream and blood pudding. And if you MUST have your mushy peas, stroll through the side door and into Buchanan Arms, an English restaurant/pub and hangout for expats. Porto’s 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 818-846-9100 & 315 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale 818-956-5996 Porto’s is a Cuban bakery that nonetheless carries a respectable array of French breads and pastries. It features a dizzying array of both sweet and savory pastries, breads and made-to-order cakes. Surfas Restaurant Supply & Gourmet Food 8777 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310-559-4770 Mecca for both the professional chef and the passionate home cook, Surfas carries gourmet ingredients and all the equipment needed to create a sumptuous feast. Susina Bakery & Café 7122 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 323-934-7900 Susina’s specialty is Italian goodies—pastries, candies and assorted sweets. Village Gourmet 4357 Tujunga Ave., Studio City 818-487-3807 & Village Gourmet Cheese and Wine Shop 1927 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles 323-660-2676 Village Gourmet offers a variety of meats, cheeses and wines, along with gourmet foods and prepared foods. They’ll also put together a fine picnic basket for your trip to the Hollywood Bowl.
© 2008, The Hungry Passport |
 |