Agata & Valentina: Fine Food and Good Ideas

 
Last week I discovered so many awesome eats! The one I'm going to tell you about today is called Agata & Valentina. My friend Vanh introduced me to it and now I absolutely love this place.

Agata & Valentina says their "business was born of a passion for fine foods from Sicily, Italy, and around the globe, which drives our desire to share the absolute highest quality products and authentic hand-made prepared foods and pastries with our customers." Their original location was established in 1993 on the Upper East Side and their second location in 2012 in Greenwich Village. 

We shopped at the Upper East Side location which has over 5,500 items... so, their was no time to waste! When you walk in the entrance the walls are filled with freshly baked  breads. As you continue around the store there are so many fresh fruits and veggies laid out so precisely that it looks like art work.

Keep walking through the garden of  veggies and you will come to the huge cheese selection. Our as Agata & Valentina like to call it "a cheese lover's mecca." They have over 350 types of cheeses including "local, domestic, and international artisanal cheeses." They also have handmade fresh mozzarella, that you can watch them make every half-hour right behind the counter.

Next I discovered the coffee section. As you can probably tell, this place just keeps getting better and better. Some of their coffee selections include Hawaii Coconut Coffee, Vienniese Roast, Jamaican Blue Mountain and Mocha Java. Check out their full coffee selection here.

The wall of Olive Oil was crazy! I have never seen so many types of Olive Oil in one place. Next to that was a fully stocked wall of pasta. And later, I found another selection of refrigerated pasta which included a large variety of ravioli. YUM!

Do you love a good olive bar? Look no further. There are olives are far as the eye can see. You mix and match or grab one of the pre-made containers to take home.

Like fresh seafood? This is the place for you. Agata & Valentina calls this one of the most "vibrant parts of the store." They say the "market buzzes with activity all day as our fishmongers hand-cut and display a colorful array of pristine whole fish such as Red Snapper, Brook Trout, Branzino, Sea Bass, Arctic Char, and other seasonal selections fresh from the market that morning." They offer the freshest lobster, crab, clams, scallops, shrimp and fish just for you!

Are you more into Italian meats? They've also got you covered with their Italian inspired deli. Thinking an Italian feast for dinner? This should be your number one destination before heading to your kitchen.

Now let's talk sweets. Agata & Valentina offers a huge selection of pastries, cakes and cookies. When I was perusing through this section I also discovered what looked like cobbler. Check it out for yourself!

Agata & Valentina is located on the corner of 79th and 1st on the Upper East side and 64 University Place in Greenwich Village. So tonight for dinner, think Italian!

We love Agata & Valentina!

One image from: Timeout.com

Serendipity 3 is The Place For Me

Serendipity- the art of making happy discoveries, or finding the unexpectedly pleasant by chance. That definition pretty much sums up what happens to every person who walks through the Upper East Side doors at Serendipity 3.

Serendipity 3 has been enticing taste buds for over fifty years. And over those years it has quickly become a favorite among celebrities and New Yorkers alike. It's a small Upper East Side gem with a huge  waiting list almost every night. Don't worry though, as long as you have a few hours to spare they will get you in and you can experience serendipity for yourself.

Although Serendipity 3 has a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, what I want to focus on is their sweet treats. Let's start with one of there most talked about items: "The Original, Outrageously Divine, Frozen Hot Chocolate." Its made up of chocolate pieces, hot chocolate mix, milk, sugar, whipped cream and chocolate shavings- and probably contains your calorie intake for the day. For the exact recipe click here. This tasty treat makes Oprah want to "dance on the chandeliers!" It can be all yours for only $8.95

Next is something so delicious it needs to be shared. The "Can't Say No" Sundae is a tower of humble pie, ice cream, banana, hot fudge and whipped cream. After the two hour wait, my best friend Annie and I were ready to feast! Again, all these calories can be yours for only $15.

Lastly, I want to tell you about the most expensive sundae that money can buy. This sundae is so intense that they need 48 hours notice prior to you ordering it. It's called the Golden Opulence Sundae. It's so fantastic that holds a Guinness World Record. I mean if you can afford to eat gold you might as well enjoy it at Serendipity 3. 

Serendipity 3 is located at  225 East 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues New York, NY 10022. They are open Sun-Thur 11:30am to midnight, Friday 11:30am to 1:00am and Saturday 11:30am to 2:00am.





Some photos from: Table hopper and Emloves