Olive hunt in Little Italy
The other night I went out to a movie with girlfriends. We had a quick drink and catch up before the movie and at the bar we ate the most delicious olives we had ever tasted. These olives were round and plump, and opaque green. They looked like they would be tangy. Instead they had a rich, meaty taste that was light and satisfying. We had to get some.
We asked the bartender where they came 
from and he gave us the name of the olive and the little place on Arthur Ave in the Bronx where he got them from. Arthur Ave is Little Italy, right next to the Bronx Zoo, just out of New York City.
We decided to go on a girl’s day out to find these olives and any other goodies, as well as have a delicious pasta for lunch. This place was bustling with Italian mamas buying ricotta. Prosciutto and cheeses were hanging everywhere, cigars were being rolled infront of our eyes and the smell of freshly ground coffee gently wafted under our noses.
It wasn’t long before we had little bags of cheese and sausage, pretty pasta shapes and a massive appetite. We asked the store owners where we should eat and they unanimously said: Emilia’s!
We had a divine lunch, scrummy pasta and Osso Bucco. It wasn’t particularly fancy but the food was delicious and fresh. Then we were ready to visit the Teitel Brother’s store, the special Italian goods store where we found our olives.
The olives are called Castelvetrano, imported from Italy. I had to buy 2 tubs and then I tasted the most deliciously rich balsamic vinegar. I had to get that and then the cheese that I had dipped into it. I somehow managed to resist the slabs of chocolate, piled high and the many other delicacies. You have to put blinders on, otherwise you want to buy the whole store.
I was in stitches laughing the whole time in this store as my girlfriends haggled and joked with this guy here on the left. He wanted to buy chickens to raise and both of my friends have chickens and there was a lively exchange of ideas on chicken raising, in between bartering and the chicken jokes, taste testing and comparing this and that. It was just so much fun.
A little espresso and we were on the road back.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 am
I love Arthur Avenue! Sights and sounds so different.