Official Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Guide!

Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Tour

Last summer we hosted the legendary, once-in-a-lifetime Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Tour. Here, finally, is our long-awaited roundup of all the places we visited. The good news is: since we waited almost a year to write this post, it’s summer again, which means it’s the perfect time spend a leisurely, sunny Saturday afternoon checking out all these amazing places!

(See below for the Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Tour Map)

1. Ridgewood Youthmarket

What it is: Farmer’s market
Location: Ridgewood Remembrance Triangle (Myrtle & Cypress)

Ridgewood Youthmarket

Ridgewood Youthmarket

The tour group—including me (Mollie), occasional Ridgefood contributor Ari, guest Instagrammer Alaina, and special guests Anne and Stephen—met at the Ridgewood Youthmarket, a seasonal farmer’s market that sets up shop in the Ridgewood Veterans Triangle every Saturday. Last year at the market, we scored kohlrabi, orange & yellow carrots, and kale. The market is open from 9am–3pm, now through November 22nd.

2. Mt. Everest Grocery & Deli

What it is: Indian & Nepalese market
Location: 5609 Myrtle Avenue (between Cornelia & Cypress)

Mt. Everest Deli

Inside the freezer at Mt. Everest Deli

Next, we headed to Mt. Everest—a quintessential Ridgewood establishment in that it looks pretty mediocre/shady from the outside, but then once you get inside you’re pleasantly surprised by what it has to offer. Ignore the cat-pee smell and explore the aisles; the Indian food is in the back. And be sure to check out the freezer, where you’ll find homemade momos, paneer, and other Indian & Nepali delights.

Stuff we bought: frozen roti (Stephen), cilantro chutney (Ari)

3. Fancy Fruit

What it is: Fruit & vegetable market featuring Italian and other European products
Location: 56-11 Catalpa Avenue (near Myrtle)

The group quickly cruised through Fancy Fruit, an indispensable and uber-cheap greengrocer just off Myrtle Ave. I stock up on produce here once or twice a week and rarely spend more than $15. Also, check out their impressive dried pasta selection (and their simple and excellent Mamma Lombardi’s tomato sauce is a staple in our house).

Fancy Fruit

Fancy Fruit

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Sfogliatelle from Catania Bakery

catania bakery lobster tail

 

I am finally getting around to writing our first Ridgefood post! Sorry it’s taken forever!

Friends, one of the very best things about Ridgewood — and what inspired me to explore all the food nooks and crannies of the ‘hood and start this website — is sfogliatelle from Catania Bakery on Fresh Pond Road. Since I’m not into custardy fillings and dry cookies, I don’t usually enjoy Italian pastries. But sfogliatelle (aka “lobster tails”) are sooo good. The bottom is sort of a cross between a cream puff and a croissant, and the top is all these flaky, crunchy layers. Delicious! It’s filled with a version of French pastry cream that is basically whipped cream with powdered sugar and egg white for a bit more body.

FYI: There’s another branch of Catania Bakery at 487 Harman Street (corner of Cypress), a few blocks over in Brooklyn. A few key differences: Pastries are topped with a maraschino cherry (?!), and more importantly, THE LOBSTER TAILS ARE NOT THE SAME. The filling is more custard-like, which I do not enjoy and cannot recommend.

Catania Bakery

64-10 Fresh Pond Road [map]
(718) 417-5700