Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/139333
BROOKLYN A lthough Brooklyn is considered by some to be the center of the hipster universe, these stores go beyond the flash novelty and fleeting trends to focus on quality and a wellcurated food selection.—D.S. Bklyn Larder Prospect Heights Step off bustling Flatbush Avenue, enter Bklyn Larder and you'll be transported to a light and airy food oasis in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. Owners Andrew Feinberg and Francine Stephens also own nearby pizzeria Franny's and opened the store in 2009 so they wouldn't have to shop anywhere else. Its high-end mix of shelf-stable items complements the house-made prepared foods and sandwiches, of which almond loaf cake, chocolate chip cookies and the ham and Gruyere sandwich are best sellers, not to mention, "any sauteed green we put out," says Timothy Solomon, general manager at the shop. The store's display is aesthetically pleasing, with packaged Ternata pasta displayed in crates, a stainless steel vat of Almazarade Perales extra-virgin olive oil, and the wall of specialty foods from Brooklyn producers, such as Morris Kitchen's cardamon clove simple syrup, the best-selling Mast Brothers chocolates, Early Girl Granola and Bklyn Larder's private-label products. Those offerings include refrigerated and packaged products, such as nut butters, Meyer lemon vinaigrette, chamomile lavender lemonade and gelato in such varieties as Greek yogurt and salted peanut. Bklyn Larder's cheese selection stands out with about 90 varieties that point to quality and rareness. "We select cheeses at their peak ripeness and try to find things that you don't see at other stores. And we order only what we will sell in a couple of weeks' time so that we can offer the cheese in the best possible shape," Solomon notes. A full on-site kitchen is where the prepared foods are cooked each day. The menu includes chicken potpie, heritage pork braciola, m'hamsa couscous salad, and freekeh and farro salad. It's a main draw for many neighborhood regulars who stop in to pick up dinner on the way home or grab a lunch that will be anything but pedestrian. The store also attracts tourists from all over the country and around the world. 228 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.; 718.783.1250; bklynlarder.com Encompassing an entire city block in Midwood, Pomegranate—considered by some the "kosher Whole Foods"—offers an upscale approach to kosher-only shopping. This 24,000-square-foot shopping mecca is filled with more than 13,000 products, from tra128 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com PHOTOS: DENISE SHOUKAS Pomegranate Midwood ditional matzo balls and chopped liver to international favorites like European butter and caviar. The store prides itself on offering the finest kosher-certified foods, with 30 percent made in-house. And while hardwood floors and ambient lighting make it a relaxing experience, Pomegranate is known for its competitive pricing and selection. "We go above and beyond to give our customers choices they cannot find in other markets," says marketing director AnthonyMichael Alexander. By employing culinary-trained chefs who operate three state-of-the-art kitchens separated for meat, dairy and pareve preparations, Pomegranate ensures quality and care in its offerings. And while every item in the store is kosher certified, you don't have to keep kosher to want to shop here. The staff is happy to aid shoppers in search of a particular product. "Our dedication to customer service, from valet parking to our personal shoppers and delivery services, our extraordinary attention to detail, cleanliness and quality—seen in all of our products—makes us stand out," Alexander says. "Our meat department is bar-none one of the finest and our produce goes through stringent selection where imperfections or blemishes are not permitted," he continues. The store is known for its kosher beef jerky made from prime cuts, aged beef, kosher bacon and prime rib. The bakery offers fresh breads, bagels and rugelach, while gluten-free items fill half an aisle and continue to grow with products ranging from pasta and cereal to sauces and frozen foods. A Shabbos section offers refrigerated meal solutions