New York

Like any place in NYC worth its salt, the Fairway Market on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook can get hellishly crowded. And while it's in an absolutely beautiful old warehouse building, the Fairway space itself on the first floor has low ceilings and not too many architectural details of note. However, who cares? The prices are great, and the selection of, well, everything IS AN ACTUAL SELECTION OF EVERYTHING. Almost all other grocery stores in New York--your C-Towns, your Met Foods, your Pioneers, even your Gristede's--are a pale shadow of what a grocery store could actually be (the king of all kings in this category is of course the brilliant Upstate New York chain Wegman's). But Fairway, by a large margin, wins hands-down, at least in Brooklyn--large organic selection, great cheese counter, good fish counter, excellent aged meat selection, a little cafe, outdoor tables on the water with a view of the Statue of Liberty, and, of course, more olive oil than you can possibly consume in one lifetime (pictured). The only (real) downside: it's about fourteen miles as the crow flies from a subway stop. But that's Red Hook...

Photo:  Rob Tallia

To avoid compulsive shopping, experts say, do not go to the grocery store on an empty stomach. So the most sensible thing to do upon arriving at the Fairway in Red Hook is to head straight for the cafe. There's a small but well-stocked salad bar and a menu of sandwiches, including the Ba Da Bing which, loaded with prosciutto, salami, and provolone, is about as classic as an Italian sub gets. The best deal, though, is the hot dog platter. For $2.25, you can take your kosher dog, cole slaw, and chips to the seating area outside to eat before a glorious view of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Stomach now full, you can safely browse the expansive aisles, including the wing of the store that houses all-organic products. There are mile-high walls of fresh fruits and vegetables, an impressive cheese case, an olive oil tasting station, great meat and fish departments, and plenty of tempting prepared foods, hot and ready to take home for dinner. No promises that eating a hot dog beforehand will stave off impulse-buying because it certainly didn't work for me. But it was a darn good dog.

Photo:  Vanessa Vichit-Vadakan