How I became a food snob

'Seeking for taste'.

I live in New York for a while now.

Work a lot. Have less time to eat and no time to cook.

I had the impression everything I ate tasted of nothing much despite the Espresso I do every morning, which is so strong, it removes all dental calculus.

I have never been snobby with food.

I didn't eat only crap but I never went to delicatesse stores or anything like that.

Student budget...

Snobby with food means in my little universe to focus if your food actually tastes of what it is made of:

That means no artificial flavours or ingredients, just pure - no chemicals. And this is even harder to find in the U.S. than in Europe.

I want my curry to be spicy, I want my rice to be ricy, my bread shall make sounds when I bite in it and shall taste of corn, wheatflower and yeast, my tomatoes shall be full of sweetness and bring the sun that made them ripe right into my mouth.

Now I am getting very poetic.

You know what I mean.

I have the slight impression nobody in New York cooks anymore. The price for a Mango is sometimes higher than the price for a box of doughnuts.

This city provides you with everything you need to cook not.

And it succeeds.

Even the bags in the supermarket are not made for people that buy big quantities- the 'Wocheneinkauf' we call it in Germany - one big purchase for the whole week.

Here most of the bags are so small, only one bottle of Orange Juice fits in them.

'When in doubt - Pizza!'

Ok and I have to admit: A slice of pizza for $0.99 after a night out is a great thing.

The special thing in New York is that every pizza place claims to be the best one in town.

Full of trust and a glass of wine too much I really thought I had the best pizza slice of the city every time I had one.

Only after the third night out and the third best pizza place in the city I became suspicious and then realised they all taste of the same- of nothing.

And I can only say that because I had my best Pizza once in Paris.

So my seek for taste and flavour.

Let's go back to that.

Well, luckily I found my lost taste in the East Village in lower Manhattan.

Where SoHO becomes NoHo I did not only admire the taste of food, but also the adequate taste of the locals there.

From unique, stylish little boutiques over fancy outfits, that only wait to be captured by the next fashion blogger strolling around, to the best taste for furniture and interiour design. Even the Bars and Restaurants, Delis and Barber shops looked super tastefully selected.

The search for tastes and flavours has been called off when I went to the

Essex Street Market in the East Village.

Did you ever had cheese of the consistence of a rubber and the taste of milk with water? Then try these awesome cheddar sticks, each one wrapped with lot's of love in plastic. These ones you won't find on the Essex Street Market. Which is an indoor grocery market.

While I am writing this I just bit on my cheek while eating original french cheese.

(Well this is what the guy told me. But with a french accent.)

This french camenbert creates such a manifold variety of flavours in my mouth which I didn't experience since I entered the U.S.

It also created a very very strong smell in the subway.

Two people were holding their nose.

I was hoping so much that nobody saw my bag with 'Fromagerie' written on and I also hoped they would think the guy next to me just let one go.

One woman even switched into another cart.

Well at least I got my cheese.

So in the Essex Street Market you find almost everything for an authentic, pure and tasty meal. From a vegan Sushi place, over German and French bread, over Coffee Beans from all over the world to fruits and vegetables for decent prices. Check out all the merchants here.

Here are some impressions of my little 'Fob' Adventure in the Essex Street Market:

Japanese Deli: ATSUSHI NUMATA

LOCATION

Address 120 Essex Street New York, NY 10002

Via Subway J, M and Z lines to Essex Street F line to Delancey Street

Via Bus M9 to Essex Street M14 to Lower East Side B39 to Delancey Street

HOURS

Monday — Saturday 8am — 7pm Sunday 10am — 6pm

#NewYork #Food #Culture