Last Updated on May 20, 2020 by Chef Mireille
Why is food so darned expensive????
I am not an economist or a finance person, but someone, country, organization has to do something. It is not that we do not have enough food in the world – it is just that no one can afford it.
I am the Gourmet Global, but many of our neighbors can’t even afford essentials (forget about gourmet). Between this and the price of gas, it is pushing the cost of living way beyond many people’s means.
I was speechless when I went to buy an individual sized bottle of apple juice (15 oz.) from a hot dog vendor yesterday and it was $3. $3 for something that I will finish in a few minutes. I remember when they were $1 and then $1.50, but when did they suddenly jump to $3.
Anyway, here is a list here of places where I do a lot of my grocery shopping, in a variety of cuisines. You can purchase things at these places without robbing the bank. Hope it is helpful in creating your gourmet meals on a budget.
| Name Of Location | Address | Telephone # | Website | Products |
| 9th Avenue International Foods | 543 9th Avenue | 212-279-1000 | Middle Easter, African, Greek, Italian | |
| Asia Food Market, Inc. | 71 1/2 Mulberry Street | Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Indian | ||
| Bangkok Center Grocery | 104 Mosco Street | 212-732-8916 | thai-grocery.com | Thai and other Southeast Asian products, Lime Leaves, Thai Basil, Galangal |
| Buon Italia | 75 9th Avenue (Chelsea Market) | 212-633-9090 | buonitalia.com | European Products, especially Italian and French, candied lemon peel, vanilla beans |
| Chop Chop | 126 Smith Street (Brooklyn) | 718-858-3757 | Organic produce and groceries, flavored syrups, prepared foods | |
| Deluxe Food Market | 79 Elizabeth Street | 212-925-5766 | Game Birds, Fish, Produce, Asian products, Prepared Foods | |
| Dynasty Supermarket | 68 Elizabeth Street | 212-966-4943 | dynastysuper.qpg.com | Game Birds, Fish and Meat, Asian products, Chinese teas |
| Empire Coffee & Teas | 568 9th Avenue | 212-268-1220 | empirecoffeetea.com | Coffee, Tea & Accoutrements |
| Family Fruit Farm | 1823 Church Avenue | Caribbean produce and products, calaloo, sorrel, Trini Green Seasoning, Kuchela, Shadoe Beny (outside Haitian women sell Haitian products – djon djon mushrooms) | ||
| Golan Gourmet | 1348 Coney Island Avenue (Brooklyn) | 718-338-1040 | golangourmet.com | Dried fruits, nuts, teas, coffee, figs, dates, Israeli products, fruits, olives |
| Hong Kong Supermarket | 109 East Broadway | 212-227-3388 | Asian | |
| Kalustyan’s | 123 Lexington Avenue | 212-685-3451 | kalustyans.com | Middle Eastern, Southeast and South Asian, Greek/Mediterranean, curry leaves |
| Kam Man Food Products | 200 Canal Street | 212-571-0330 | Asian, teas, dried sausages, dried seafood | |
| Malko Karkanni Bothers | 174 Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn) | 718-834-0845 | dried fruits, nuts, Middle Eastern cheese, Greek and Middle Eastern pastries and groceries | |
| Manhattan Fruit Exchange | 75 9th Avenue (Chelsea Market) | 212-989-2444 | Produce, Herbs, Cheese, Organic | |
| Murray’s Cheese | 254 Bleeker Street | 212-243-3289 | murrayscheese.com | Cheese |
| Oriental Pastry & Grocery | 170 Atlantic Avenue | 718-875-7687 | Middle Eastern cheese, grains, legumes, nuts, dried fruits, dates | |
| Patel Brothers | 37-27 74th Street (Jackson Heights) | 718-898-3445 | citysearch.com (for additional locations in Flushing and Jamaica) | Indian produce and grocery items, skin and hair care items, incense |
| Rio Bonito Market | 3286 47th Street (Astoria) | 718-728-4300 | Brazilian Products | |
| Sahadi’s | 187 Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn) | 718-624-4550 | sahadis.com | oliv oil, coffee, dried herbs, grains, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, dates, Greek and Middle Eastern groceries |
| Spice Corner | 135 Lexington Avenue | 212-689-5182 | Indian, orange blossom water | |
| Three Guys From Brooklyn | Fort Hamilton Parkway/65th Street | 718-748-8340 | 3guysfrombrooklyn.com | Large selection of reasonably priced fresh produce. |
| Tongin Mart, Inc. | 91 Mulberry Street | 212-962-6622 | Asian and Southeast Asian | |
| Udom’s Thai Indonesian Store | 814A Bayard Street | 212-349-7662 | Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian | |
| West African Grocery | 535 9th Avenue | 212-594-7399 | African products, Brazilian Products, Chinese Products. Dried goods and small amount of produce. |
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