On a recent beautiful day this summer, my daughter and I decided on a whim to go into the city. We took the train, a water taxi and a quick walk over to Eataly, an amazing (but very crowded) new food emporium that allows humble cooks to wannabe foodies experience all-things-Italian. With eleven locations in Italy alone, and a total of seventeen worldwide, the concept of this super market intrigued me enough to make it a destination.
We enjoyed the feast for the senses, although the crowds were overwhelming at times. Customers are treated with everything from fresh fish, meats and produce to aisle after aisle of pastas and condiments. But the shopping experience is more like a department store setting than any grocery store I know.
We did not have lunch there but did visit the Nutella bar and took home some delicious pasta and prosciutto di parma for dinner. Thankfully, our experience there was nothing like this scandalous incident at Eataly's New York location, which sounds like quite a scene.
So here's to:
- Saying out loud that your bored - that's what got this whole thing going!
- Remembering a friend's suggestion to take the water taxi rather than a long walk or cab ride from the train station
- Being O.K. with making just one or two stops and going home on a good note, rather than exhausted
And, of course, spending a lovely day with your daughter. Days that won't last forever now that high school has begun (sigh).