My husband and I returned to the 42,500 square foot Italian food emporium called Eataly located at 200 5th Ave in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan a few weekends ago to have pizza. If you didn't see my first post on Eataly you might like to look at this link to see more about it and all it has to offer.
(All photos will enlarge if clicked on once, and then clicked on again when they open in a new window)
The lines waiting to enter Eataly have not diminished, especially on weekends.
Every kind of fine Italian import can be found here. It offers over 40 varieties of imported dried pastas, olive oils, balsamic vinegar, spices, coffees and teas, honeys, jams, spreads, rice, cornmeal, canned tomato sauces, capers, anchovies, olives, packaged cookies and biscotti, chocolates by Venchi, bottled sparkling waters and Italian sodas, housewares by Guzzini and Bialetti. Lots of fresh, pink, vegetarian fed, antibiotic free, hormone free, meats and Piedmontese beef crudo are available in Eataly. There were even orange crocs for sale, the kind made popular by one of the co-owners of Eataly, celebrity chef, Mario Batali!
My husband left our name at the seating point for the La Pizza La Pasta restaurant in Eataly, where we were told the wait for a table would be 40 minutes. That was no problem, as we knew that the restaurant is popular and it left time for us to browse around at the products for sale. We enjoyed watching fresh mozzarella being made and looking at all the other varieties of cheeses and "salumi" (which are salted preserved meats).
The assortment of freshly made pastas were very tempting. Just look at the prices of rare fresh truffles in the photo in the lower right of this mosaic!
The fresh locally grown organic produce was seasonally festive in appearance. The Vegetable Butcher was very busy preparing artichokes. To read more about the very popular concept of the vegetable butcher see my prior post.
The fresh bread makers were also very busy. The wood fired oven that Eataly's breads are made in daily was imported from Italy.
We passed by the La Piazza area where there are tall tables where you eat standing, similar to what you would see in a bistro in Italy. We were very tempted by the array of cheese and salumi that patrons had ordered to eat from the "I Salumi I Formaggi" counter. The delicious pink prosciutto and salumi are sourced by Parmacotto and Antica Salumeria Rosi.
We checked back at the La Pizza La Pasta seating point and a table was open for us!
Mmmm..just look at the pizzas this couple was eating!
As you can see, the La Pizza La Pasta restaurant, one of seven full service restaurants in Eataly, is always busy!
Eataly’s Pizza “La Pizza Verace Neapolitana S.T.G.*” ( *Traditional Guaranteed Specialty Denomination) is made by the Italian Sebeto Group’s Rossopomodoro Pizza, who have 80 restaurants around the world. The pizzas are handmade by a team of pizzaioli chefs recruited from Naples, Italy, and cooked in brick, wood-burning ovens also imported from Italy, called fornodoro or golden oven. These patented ovens were made by Neapolitan architect Riccardo Dalisi. Pizzas and pastas are also available “to go” at an outside window on West 24th Street.
There were thirteen varieties of fourteen inch pizzas offered on the menu, with prices ranging from $9 to $18. All their ingredients come from businesses and farms in the Neapolitan region of Campania. They make genuine Neapolitan style pizza using Caputo red quality flour, fresh tomatoes or peeled San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil from Naples, fresh milk or buffalo mozzarella. In keeping with the Neopolitan tradition they aim for a soft and elastic heart for each pizza which I think has been causing some confusion for many patrons, as the wood charred, thin, yet soft crust is very different form what many local American pizzerias make. My husband and I thought our pizzas were absolutely delicious!
My husband had the Maruzzella Pizza -- mozzarella, tomato sauce, anchovies, black olives and fresh basil.
We also enjoyed a Fontanafredda Barbera Piemonte "Briccotondo" wine along with our pizza. It had wonderful rich spicy overtones and soft tannins that made it a perfect accompaniment.
It was so good we went next door to Eataly Vino to buy a bottle to bring home. Eataly Vino sells over 750 different bottles of wines from many regions of Italy.
Did we have room for dessert? Unfortunately, no. But it was nice to take a glance at some of the delectable pastry and pana cotta selections for sale at La Pasticceria.
Eataly is a foodie's dream and I know I'll be back again soon to enjoy its many delights!
I'm adding this post to Michael's Foodie Friday, Beverly's Pink Saturday and Mary's Mosaic Monday. Thanks Michael, Beverly and Mary! Be sure to visit their blogs to see all the wonderful blogs participating and join in all the fun!
