This secret Italian market located on 200 5th Ave has the best tasting food you will ever find in America that can relatively be compared to Italy. The first Eataly was established in Turino, Italy in an old vermouth factory and now it has arrived in America. This New York flagship store has been opened for six and a half years in the United States.
You can tell that their food tastes fresh and authentic to real Italian food because they say, “every morning we gather the best ingredients and cook them as needed, presenting them to you in the freshest way possible.”
Cheese
Eataly offers a wide variety of cheeses, and I bet you cannot name every single type of cheese they have. Some of these include gorgonzola, ricotta, burrata, fresh mozzarella, and much more; however their most popular cheese is parmesan. These homemade, fresh cheeses are made from all different kinds of animal milk and salts, and by mixing them together they create the rich creamy taste that melts in your mouth. Buy a cheese board to sample these delicious cheeses and even pair it with some meat.
Meat
Prosciutto is their most popular meat sold because it pairs so well with cheese. Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked. Eataly does offer a wide assortment of meats to choose from like prime rib, steak, pork, sausage, veal, and lamb. Eataly says that all of the meat they offer have "no antibiotics, no added hormones, and no growth promoting drugs".
Pasta and Pizza
Watch and learn how they make dough from scratch every day for breads, pastas, and pizzas. This mesmerizing performance encapsulates the real Italy experience. This light and delicate dough transforms into the best tasting noodles for pastas like ravioli and spaghetti that you can take home and cook. Eataly has one rule and that is, although their "pasta is delicious, you have to eat it the healthy Italian way –cooked al dente, sauced lightly, portioned seasonably, and balanced with light vegetable side dishes."
Wine
Unfortunately because of New York health code laws, they are not allowed to sell bottled alcohol in the same area in which they serve food. However, customers are allowed to purchase imported wine bottles from Italy right next door. Buy a glass or two off their menu to try the flavor and then buy the most appealing one. Eataly is environmentally friendly as they, “choose Verallia glass because it is healthy, maintains the taste, and is 100% recyclable endless times.”
Dessert
How much do you love Nutella? Nutella is a rich hazelnut and cocoa chocolate spread that the Italians invented and spread on pastries like crepes and waffles. Eataly's slogan says, "We know crepes are French and waffles are Belgian… but Italians make them better”. Make sure you try their delicious Nutella inspired sweet and savory deserts. If you are not a big chocolate fan, they do offer a variety of espresso shots, gelatos, and cakes to choose from.
Going to Eataly is better than Little Italy and it is cheaper than flying to Italy. Their food is so healthy, fresh, and delicious that more chains are opening up across the country in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and recently in Vegas. There is no excuse not to go and as they say, “discover the excellence of every Italian region".