One of the most authentic Italian botteghe in New York can be found in Chelsea Market, which consists of a series of specialty shops enclosed in a building not far from the West Side Highway, in the Chelsea neighborhood.
I came across BuonItalia on a Google search for Italian Sweet Olives, a favorite of mine. Everything is to be found in New York City, including Italian food imports, but copycats abound. Fortunately, at BuonItalia I was able to purchase the same brands I find in Rome.
As you enter the store, a respectable choice of extra virgin olive oils beckons on your left. New oils are places aside on a table, and a sampling dish is provided along with some bread. Free tasting never fails, and I walked out of there with a new bottle of Olive Oil.
Coffee is next, from Lavazza to Kimbo and Illy, and you could purchase cafettiere, small espresso brewers, so as to get the best out of your caffe’.
The store has a vast cheese selection, nostalgic choices such as Gorgonzola, Montasio and aged Grana Padano. In the fish section we found Bottarga di Muggine (dried and cured Sicilian fish), which was very well priced, and the mysterious Garum, a sauce made of fermented fish, used in the ancient Roman Empire era. Dry ured meats are available of course, delicacies like Bresaola and Zampone and more.
I was delighted to find liquirizia, black licorice, of the Menozzi De Rosa family company. Buon Italia has the stringy licorice as well as actual licorice roots, which you chew on until the flavors wears out. It sure beats Twizzlers! Other treats include Torrone (nougat), Baci chocolates and Panettone, a holiday favorite for many, and beautifully rendered Marzipan fruit.
Dried fruits and beans abound, as well as capers in salt and various fruit preserves, although the olives trump all. Cerignola olives are probably the largest in the world, and Buon Italia proudly carries them at a reasonable price. Sweet olives are to be found there as well, as delicious as those I’ve purchased in small Roman neighborhood markets.
For the truffle connoisseurs, Buon Italia carries fresh White Truffles, and specialties such as truffle oils and pastes. Porcini mushrooms in various forms are also available. The store offers an annual white truffle festival complete with risotto and fine wine.
As a native Italian, for me a trip to Buon Italia is like coming home, if only for a few minutes.
Take my word for it, and visit the store on your next trip to New York City. It is located on 75 9th Avenue, at W 15th Street. Store Hours are Mon-Sat 8am-8pm and Sunday 10am-7pm.