This weeks adventures take us to NYC. And I am happy to share with the blogosphere my favorite spot in the city. Eataly.

Eataly is a world wide chain of Italian themed grocery stores. But the one in NY is special because it is part owned by Eataly and part owned by super chef Mario Batali. In Mario’s words, this place is like a grocery store with tasting rooms.

Allow me to take you on a virtual tour of the coolest food stop in NY.

When you enter, you are welcomed by the vibrant colors of all the fresh produce. Big deal, I know, but to give you a glimpse of the depth of their offering, I have for you a picture of just the mushroom section.

From here, we hit the bread and pasta counters. The bread display is beautiful, including fresh focaccia, but the pasta is something out of a magazine (literally, I am sure). They make the pasta fresh in front of you all day. This sight always puts me in the mood for some home-made pasta.

Next we move on to the extensive meat department. What I love about this meat department, is not only the variety of meat, but they are also dry aging some of it, right in front of you.

Right across the way from the meats are the seafoods. Again eye-catching, although, unless you live in the city, you are probably not carting a bunch of raw seafood with you on your trip. However, you can appreciate the colors and some of the exotic options.

By this point, we have passed the Pizza ovens, wines, beer garden, and tasting tables, but I am moving past those briskly for good reason. We are on to the salumi and cheese section. This is by far the most inspiring section for my son and I. In fact it was a trip here last year that inspired us to start our hobby of making salami and curing meats, but that is a story for another time. Here is a glimpse of our favorite section.

Finally, on our way out, we hit the barista and sweets.

Kazmira’s pro-tip for everyone with small kids: There is a lego store next door. One of the few places that kids are free to, and even meant to, run around!