Grand Central Market

Back in the fall of 2008, I walked through the Grand Central Market every morning on my way to the metro north. My client (when I was with PwC) was based up in Harrison, so I had wake up extra early and travel from the Lower East Side to Grand Central, and then another 45 minute ride on the Metro North to get to the client site. I usually picked up breakfast from Corrado bread or Murray's Cheese, and then grabbed coffee at Oren's and an Archie comic from the newsstand shop...nothing like enjoying a good comic while everyone has their WSJ's open on the train ;)

After I finished the audit with that client, I only made it back to the Market every once in a big while. A few weeks ago, I was given a personal tour of Grand Central Market and all its' edible offerings by Susan. We met with a bunch of the vendors and literally tasted our way through the market...I've never left Grand Central so full!

Below, select shots from our morning:
We started off at Murray's Real Salami and sampled no less than a dozen type of cured meats, ending with the oh-so indulgent Ibérico de Bellota.
See a few more shots here, here, and here.
We then moved onto Zaro's and had a bounty of bread - including this massive broccoli and cheddar focaccia which I polished off over the course of an hour hours in the afternoon, a "snack" ;) I was sent home with plenty more and started off many a morning with toasted slices of the 8-grain bread (slathered with butter and then a sprinkle of salt)...and on weekend mornings, thick slices of cinnamon-raisin loaf...so perfect for french toast.
At Ceriello's there was lasagne (warmed in the oven for dinner that night ^_^) as well as beef stew...pictured here over rice with butter-fried brussels sprouts, and pulled pork, which was also awesome with rice. Growing up in Hawai'i you learn that everything can, if done right, be paired with white rice ;)
As Pescatore Seafood Co., the owner was so kind to send me home with Vietnamese Basa...along with a few suggestions of how to cook the fish, and all the ingredients I would need. I brushed the fillet with their house ginger-lime sauce, and then breaded the fillet with their new line of Magic Crumbs...seasoned panko crumbs...I've tired the Italian, toasted coconut, and black peppercorn. I like to keep it simple and the black peppercorn is definitely my favourite of the brunch. Pan-fried and paired with the poached asparagus from Dishes To Go (below).

Since moving to NYC a few years ago, I find myself eating nearly three meals a day out and rarely cooking. Sometime I feel guilty...but for the most part there's so much to try in this city, it would be shame to not take advantage. But that past week was an exception - I did plenty of cooking as a result of the market tour...and it felt good to be 'in the kitchen' ^_^
Over at Dishes To Go, the woman packed me up with many, many dishes to go! There were stuffed mushrooms (my favourite of the savoury dishes), pecan chicken, poached asparagus, coconut quinoa, roasted sesame carrots, spicy ginger tofu, and even mango-coconut tapioca pudding (loved this!!) and bread pudding. The photo above is of the roasted acorn squash stuffed with (among many things) wild rice, cranberries and walnuts and hazelnuts. All this food lasted me for days, and proved to be both convenient and delicious while I was working!
We finished at Corrado Bread & Pastry with a quartet of cakes, including this Lemon Charlotte Royale pictured above...as well as the Coppa Mascarpone ^_^

You would have been equally stuffed! Thanks again to Susan and all the wonderful vendors at the Grand Central Market - certainly a learning experience and a lovely way to check out all the offerings at the market.

Happy Tuesday! :)