Recently, I paid a first (of many) visit to Foragers City Grocer. I found out about it when I asked a good friend of mine–and fellow conscious eater–where to buy fish around the city. The farmer’s markets weren’t happening for me that day since rain was in the air, but I did go to one of her recommendations: Foragers City Market. There are two locations actually. One in DUMBO and the other in Chelsea. I went to the Chelsea location, which is apparently smaller (note to self: check out other location when I find myself in Brooklyn). Despite the small size, I found what I was looking for.
Here’s a little foreword about them from their site:
Foragers City Grocer was born of the idea that our neighborhood in DUMBO lacked quality food options. Over the years we have built a unique, independently owned neighborhood grocery whose sole focus is on the pleasure that food should bring to the lives of our customers and to the producers that grow and make what we sell. Our goal is to always strive to shorten the distance both emotionally and physically between farm to fork.
They also have a restaurant in the store where you can enjoy a meal or a snack, and a wine store as well–Foragers City Wine.
- I love admiring the variety that occurs in nature
Whether it’s the funky shapes, the brilliant and surprising colors, and sunspots. I love it all.
- The mushrooms were a sight to behold.
I perused through their selection of artisanal and quality goods, quaint varyingly colored eggs, and their fish selection (my main reason for going there). This is a small location, but that didn’t bother me. Sometimes I love going to places that have a seemingly endless selection, but this felt more like a gallery than a museum. A selection of curated goods, and a place where quality makes the idea of quantity fade to the background. Being “new” to fish I didn’t feel overwhelmed with selection since it was quite small. I ended up taking the Alaskan Wild Coho salmon home with me, along with some other produce goodies.
Here’s an interesting article about the Chelsea location, and some features: Foragers City Market Coming To Chelsea.
- These crimini mushrooms looked so earthy.
Things like this encourage me to seek out produce from local family farms or my own garden because the organic produce from the big farms just isn’t as inspiring. With that in mind, what else can one expect when something is mass produced? But there are days when I “need” something, there’s little time, and perhaps the market isn’t even running–that’s when I make a quick run to one of the corner stores (luckily there’s one that has a good selection). Those quick runs can be exciting though, and I appreciate how convenient it is to live in this setting. Then there are times when I go to the market and see questionable items and prices that make me think, “seriously?” Oh boy, I’m a picky produce shopper aren’t I? Let me get back on track…
- The beautiful piece of Wild Coho salmon…
- With its brilliant skin…
Now the question was, “what to make with these?”
- Since incorporating fish into my diet, I’ve learned that I favor the livelier and fresher recipes…
- so I opted for something zesty with an Asian twist.
I whisked a combination of lemon juice, Bragg’s amino acids, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic. I let the fish marinate in the mix for about an hour, occasionally moving the dish around and pouring the marinade over the fish. Then I baked it with lemon slices for under 15 minutes and it was done! Served over a bed of romaine, grated carrot, chopped cilantro and scallions. I dressed the salad in a mix of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, which further added to the “zing” of the salmon marinade.
Now for the mushrooms. I sautéed them with garlic in goat butter, herbs like oregano, thyme, and marjoram. Then added some red wine and red wine vinegar, and sea salt and lemon pepper to finish. I made a simple saute so that I could incorporate it into various dishes or eat it on its own.
- One of the ways: slow-cooked an omelette in goat butter
I added the fillings once the omelette was essentially done cooking.
- Filled with the mushroom sauté , capers, tomato sauce, and parmigiano reggiano.
- Another way to enjoy mushrooms is as a pâté
I made a vegan variation here with Brazil nuts and thyme. Full recipe coming soon!
- Make a quick snack with a vegetable sauté and leftovers!
Green beans, mushrooms, peas, and garlic with a spoonful of cooked millet and parmigiano reggiano with a leftover chickpea fry and housemade sauce from Peacefood Cafe.
I’ve been going to different places around the city for fish, and so far I have to say that Forgers City Grocer had the best quality from what I’ve tried. I think the mushrooms speak for themselves. This place has an official place on my radar, and I want to check out their DUMBO location as well!
Here are some other indoor markets around New York City that offer local goods:
that looks like my kind of candy store
honestly, i would gladly eat anything on this post! i’m especially intrigued by the mushroom pate! i adore the meaty texture of mushrooms and one of my fave things is to saute some onions in kerrygold butter with cremini & shiitakes. mmmmm. off to get busy on my night time snack 
i love how you appreciate local produce and what kind of recipes you make out of it. I love going to local markets and buy whatever just grows at the moment. i am the same with fish, i try to buy lake fish from austria- i am really not a fan of eating fish thats been caught who knows wherre and fed with who knows what.
great post!
Isn’t it wonderful? I think going to the markets that offer local produce is also a practice and quieting the ego. Rather than buying something because you want it even though it’s not in season, you just go with the flow of what’s available close to you. I was reading actually that in Europe there are fishing regulations based on fish feeling pain. Have you heard of that? I found another great market close to me actually where the fishmongers really know about the catch of the day, where it comes from, etc on a day to day to basis. And it all looks and smells so fresh.
This inspires me to step outside of my grocery box. I love the experience of a farmer’s market or a new health food store; I just need to be better at planning to go to them or else days pass by so easily and I end up at the same old same old.
I appreciate all of the fish recipes you have been experimenting with. I noticed when I started incorporating fish back into my diet, the texture and clarity of my skin improved. I have been acne-prone most of my life, trying all sorts of terrible drugs and topicals to cure it… but my skin looked almost perfect when, for one month, I cut out grains/sugar and ate high fat rather than high carb.
I ate lots of fatty fish, flax, coconut oil, dark chocolate, etc. My skin was SO SMOOTH AND SOFT! With only an occasional blemish rather than that persistent splotchy look… I know you experiment with your diet a lot to address skin issues as well, so I’d love to learn everything you know on the subject!
I’ve been doing the same thing actually! I had grains last week for two days and I noticed breakouts and weird cravings and anxiety. Also, I’ve noticed that corn does not sit well with me… it kind of lingers in my system if you know what I mean
Have your taste buds changed since transitioning to this way of eating? I gave olives a second (make that seventh) chance lol, and I actually liked them.. not all, but I actually enjoy some. I’ve also found that different things sound more appetizing to me now.
I hear you on the days passing by so easily. That happens to me with venturing out to Brooklyn lol. But really… it’s funny when you just go and afterwards you realize that it’s actually not a difficult thing to get there, and while you’re there you just enjoy
xo!
Oh! And it’s deepened my appreciation for simple fruits and vegetable dishes
Yes! Everything you describe matches with my experience. After I stopped eating grains/sugar for 1 month and then reintroduced them, I thought they tasted either too bland, too saccharine, or too “fake.” Even foods like peanut butter tasted weird because it was not as “fresh” tasting as fish, fruit or vegetables. Likewise, when I first started eating fish, it tasted strange to me, but now I enjoy it greatly. However, the more I ate grains/sugar again, the more they tasted good again. So, taste buds change!
With regular grains/sugar in my diet, I experience: lots of bloating and indigestion (apparently corn does not digest well for me either
), more acne breakouts or just scaly-feeling patches of skin, intense appetite to eat more sugary foods and no amount of food really seems to ‘satisfy’ me so always feel hungry. My mood also changes. I feel anxious yet lethargic, like I have no motivation to do anything, and then that makes me feel bad about myself because I can’t understand why I’m so tired yet ate so much.
In contrast, when my menu consists of lean protein, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats, I feel very “stable.” I feel calm, peaceful, easy-going about whether or not my plans for the day are going as I hoped. Sometimes I even stop caring about plans, which is significant for me–to be spontaneous. Just solid energy and optimism. Oh, and like I said, great skin.
Colored, smooth, and soft instead of scaly, dry, and lackluster.
I guess it sounds kind of crazy, that food could make such a clear-cut difference in my moods and energy levels, but it does. I am allergic to several foods, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m also intolerant to others to a lesser degree. Now I am trying to transition back to the diet that makes me feel great