KC On The Go

I have a confession to make – until this very week, I had never been to Chelsea Market. I know, shocking. I’ve lived in New York a long, long time so this is not something I’m very proud of. It’s just, it’s all the way over on the west side. So very far from public transportation. Okay, it’s only an avenue away from the ACE trains but it seems so far away. Seriously though, unless I’m visiting The High Line, I don’t often find myself in that area.

If I’m being completely honest, I’ve always felt it would be a disappointment after Borough Market in London. You see, Borough Market is one of my favorite places in the world. I dream about the spice store, the homemade nut butter, the oysters and the truffles and, yes, even the stacks of cheese rounds that I can’t eat. It’s so dear to me, I’ve yet to do a blog post on it because when I do, it has to be perfect.

After discovering they have a spice store of their own, I thought it was high time I head over and check it out for myself. Plus, my favorite taco joint, Los Tacos No. 1’s original stand is there. So off I went! I headed over with no intention of buying anything, just to walk around and take it all in. I’m very proud to say my wallet never left my purse. My camera, on the other hand, got a good workout.

Much like Borough Market, it serves as a food hall and market. Though I’d have to say Chelsea is more food hall than market. Walking through Chelsea Market you can absolutely see where Borough has influenced it aesthetically. Beyond that, it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two, they’re apples and oranges. Borough is a cock full of produce, fresh caught food stands, rare finds and small local vendors that Chelsea is lacking. While Chelsea has more options for sit down eateries and really excels in that area with prime choices.

Though the building that houses the market was built in the 1890’s, Chelsea Market is a relative baby in the New York City landscape. Located in the Meatpacking District neighborhood of Manhattan, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s the space first opened as the market. I can only imagine that when it opened, it was a welcome addition to the then sparse west side landscape.

Now that I’ve finally made the trek, I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to visit. First, let’s talk about the space. It’s a beautifully designed space that seems to go on forever. The vibe is a cool stripped-down warehouse style harkening back to its industrial roots, with brick, exposed pipes, high ceilings – it definitely awakened my senses. And, it’s multi-level which means even more to love.

Now, the really good stuff – it’s a foodie’s dream. Have I ever told you all how much I love food? Once or twice? Well, each eatery I walked by looked better than the last. Do you know how many return visits I’d have to make to hit them all? Offhand, I don’t either but it sounds like a fun mission to accomplish.

Tops on my list to try would be the charming little wine bar Corkbuzz for quick bites, and wine of course, and oyster bar Cull & Pistol. My top recommendations for amazingly tasty meals would be the pork belly sandwich at Num Pang and the Adobada tacos with the works from Los Tacos No. 1. When I went, it was lunch time and there was a line queued up around the market for Los Tacos. I was happy to see so many people excited by a simple meal made from quality ingredients. In my opinion, these are the best tacos in NYC.

For your home cooking needs, the market is a one stop shop. There’s The Filling Station for oils and vinegars, Saxelby Cheesemongers for your dairy needs, Manhattan Fruit Market for your daily allowance of fruit and veg, Dickson’s Farmstand for quality meats and Spices and Tease to kick the flavor up a few notches. If you need any kitchen utensils to prep it all with, there’s a shop for that too – Bowery Kitchens. Finish your dinner table off with blooms from Bastille Flowers and Events.

My verdict – I liked it so much, I went back for seconds. That’s right, I went from zero visits since it’s inception in 1997 to two this week. It is a great spot, I can see why it’s renowned as one of the best food halls in NYC. I will most definitely visit again, especially for that Spices and Tease…and maybe a quick taco. On the whole, it’s worth going out of your way for a visit but I could do without the Anthropologie and the Hale and Hearty Soups. There’s a Hale and Hearty on every other corner of Manhattan, do we need one in the market? Has it edged out Borough in my heart? Let’s not get crazy. For me, it doesn’t even come close – I prefer the vibe and local feel of Borough. In fairness, Borough has oh about 800, 900 years of experience on its American cousin.

Well, now that I’ve got Chelsea Market under my belt, I feel the urge to continue with the market/food hall trend. Next up – Hudson Yards! Where are your favorite markets? Which ones should I try? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear about them and add them to my list. Until next time – cheers!