Upstate Gourmet stores

[docsconz]

We know that one can buy almost anything in NYC and the quality is about as good as it gets in this country. What about outside the city? Wherre do you go upstate to purchase your "gourmet" items?

Where I live the best place overall is Putnam Market in Saratoga, although the supermarkets, especially Price Chopper, have improved considerably. I can get good cheeses, meat, seafood and decent produce at the above places, however, for best freshness, selection and quality for many items I still need to go mail-order unless they are fresh in-season at the farmer's market.

I doubt that this phenomenon is limited to upstate NY.

[phaelon56]

Hmmmm.... I'll need to do some thinking on this. Not so surprising to folks who live in places where there is a giant Wegman's grocery but the newer and bigger Wegman's have a surprisingly good selection of gourmet items and foodstuffs that are not found in typical grocery stores.

Other things... all in Syracuse or the immediate area:

Freedom of Espresso for excellent micro-roasted coffee

Middle Ages Brewing store for English style ales, porter and beer

Fins and Tails seafoood store for exceptional fresh fish

Leah & Steigerwald for specialty meats and German style sausages

Eva's European Sweets for European style pastries and desserts

Biscotti's for Italian pastries and great biscotti

Pasta's Daily Bread for the most amazing stretch bread

Regional Market Farmers market for general produce, cheese from the Buttercup dairy farm (5X cheddar - incredible stuff) and also maple sugar candy

Macoun apples from any orchard in the Lafayette area just south of Syracuse - these are available for a limited season but blow away any other apple anywhere

Lombardi's for Italian cheeses, deli meats etc.

[tryska]

In syracuse, Ahn's oriental store at Erie and Teall carry a fine line of Indian groceries, including prepared foods, breads, sweets and good mangoes.

so Ahn's is still there? i grew up going there every couple of weeks with my mother to get groceries. it always smelled of dried fish or shrimp or squid or soem such thing.

[markabauman]

In or near the area where Docsconz and I live (Glens Falls/Saratoga):

Putnam Market, as mentioned

In Albany: Honest Weight Co-op (they have a great "gourmet" food product section separately in the back of the store, run by Gustave who is very informative); Lee's and Asian Food Market for Asian products. Adventures in Food- Montgomery St. Albany- game, cheeses, other interesting products. Andy and Son's-near the Spectrum theater. Great sandwiches, Italian cheeses, olives, salumi, general food products. Vince and Carm will take good care of you.

In Schenectady: Cappiello's, Capri Imports; Perreca's for bread, Villa Italia for pastries.

For spices: www.monalissainc.com Steve's often at the Troy Farmer's Market.

A little further afield- while in the Kingston/Saugerties area: Adam's Fair Market.

Of course, all the local Farmer's markets while in season.

Otherwise, internet; field trips to NYC, Boston, etc.

[ewindels]

While technically Massachusetts, Guido's in Great Barrington also serves the mid Colombia County area and carries a dizzying array of rare and specialty items, huge fancy butcher department and seafood, as well as a small selection of decent wines. Their produce is OK, can't beat the locally grown stuff though. This place is a big draw for the Hillsdale/east of Hudson area. See their web site.

[robert brown]

With an abode in the Berkshires, I depend mightily on Guido's. There is also one on the Pittsfield-Lenox part of Route 7. The Great Barrington store is, I believe better stocked. I would avoid the fish department. The meat purveyor is decent, but not up to the best in Manhattan. I don't know why a butcher told me that Stone Church Farms got out of the poussin business when I saw the birds at Eli's Manhattan. Some of the produce is good and they have lots of ersatz packaged brands. Cheese is weak there, but what else is new? Overall, I enjoy shopping there more than anywhere in Manhattan. It's a friendly place and they make an honest effort. It always makes improvements.

[ruggele]

Try Rubiner's Cheesemonger and Grocer and Rubi's Cafe both on Main Street in Great Barrington........the finest cheese and meats, Neiman ranch, Boulud smoked salmon, in Western Mass........cheese eg Cowgirl Creamery from CA, and his ruggelach are the best in the whole wide world.......Carol

[docsconz]

Sheldon Farmstand on Rte 22 in shushan is a great source for wonderful fresh produce (their corn is the best I've had), but especially for regional cheeses (try the Kurni from Nettle Meadow) and locally baked French breads.

[gnkindrick]

An old stand-by in Poughkeepsie (and now in Kingston as well and somewhere else down south, maybe Newburg?) is Adam's Fariacre Farms. They've got an impressive selection of imported and domestic cheeses, good coffees, a wonderful variety of meats and seafood and very affordable organic produce. On Saturdays of course, just drive to any of the nearby farmers' markets, but for any other day of the week, Adam's produce does just fine. Local farmers supply much of it anyway. At the Pough store they also have a lovely greenhouse and a huge selection of seeds for those who enjoy growing their own food (like me).

[adegiulio]

Slightly off topic, but have you tried the bakery next to the Pough. Adams? Do you like it?

[gnkindrick]

Sorry I've not, as I no longer live in the Hudson Valley. The last time I was there (in February of this year), I saw it as I shopped at Adams and wondered if it had good bread (apparently I didn't need any at the time). What's your take on it?