Chelsea is not well known for its culinary prowess. However, what few people realize is that Chelsea houses the headquarters of America’s biggest culinary empire—the Food Network. It is also home to Chelsea Market, an indoor market catered to anyone interested in the world of gourmet food.
Once at Chelsea Market, students will likely not be able to resist stores such as BuonItalia and Chelsea Market Baskets. Walking into BuonItalia, rich truffle oils and expensive spices first meet the eye—but don’t be intimidated. While giant chocolate bars from Perugia and Calibo will draw the attention of the pastry chefs, pastas in several shapes and colors will catch the eyes of the savory chefs, and for everyone else, there is a one gallon jug of Nutella. (And who doesn’t like Nutella?)
Next door, Chelsea Market Baskets beckons passersby with its free chocolate samples (up to 100 percent cocoa). Inside, Columbians will find a selection of spices, especially salts, from around the world, as well as such rare finds as antique picnic baskets. Beginning the process of a progressive dinner in Chelsea, The T Shop offers an easy way to start the evening. The store is adorned with hundreds of canisters, all filled with different teas available for the avid tea-drinker to smell and, of course, sample.
The people behind the counter are knowledgeable about all of the products in the store, and are surprisingly accurate when picking out the right tea flavor for each individual. Students who favor lightly flavored teas should try the caramel tea, and those who are more adventurous should opt for the strong and spicy Indian Market or the Morroccan Mint teas. All of the teas are offered in three sizes, and everything is thankfully cheaper than Starbucks.
With tea in hand, Columbians should venture up 10th Avenue to the evening’s main event at the Half King Cafe. Stepping into the café, one notices four different areas—the bar, the lounge, the family section, and outdoor seating. Outdoor and lounge seating offer a quieter, more pleasant atmosphere compared to the bar, which is so loud that one can barely carry a conversation. The lounge seating area features simple brick walls decorated with black and white photos. Visitors can choose to sit on the couches or at a table, all of which are lit by candlelight.
With attentive service and fast delivery, the Half King Cafe is a great dinner place, even with the heavy crowds the evening brings. For $15, one can split a delicious citrus salad (fennel, baby arugula, blood oranges, red onion, and lemon thyme vinaigrette) and a salmon burger with a friend. The balance of the salad with the salmon burger was perfect, although the burger was slightly mushy.
The bakeries in Chelsea Market are simply too tempting to resist. After paying the tab at the Half King, Amy’s Bread in the middle of the Market still had fresh lemon squares for the taking. Walking up to the bakery, one can see the large glass window and observe the pastry chefs and bakers busily making cakes and fresh breads. In preparation for lunch the next day, it’s not a bad idea to pick up some delicious focaccia bread.
Who would have thought that in one night so many enticing new restaurants could be found—especially in the sometimes overlooked area of Chelsea?
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