New York Notes: My Heavenly Trifecta

Welcome to our new series of news and capsule reviews of New York food establishments.


I can hop a train and sit down to eat in New York in about four hours. Life is sweet indeed. And it’s especially sweet at this joyful spot on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, where three delights sit in a heavenly trifecta.

Amy’s Bread gets a lot of well-deserved praise. I have a fatal attraction to the red velvet cupcakes because the frosting is unique and unlike anything I’ve tasted – the perfect balance of a little fluffy, a little creamy and not too sweet.

The Lobster Place seafood market is a valuable part of the trifecta here, but even more exciting at its Chelsea Market location. There, in a much bigger space than this Village shop, you can select a lobster or other shellfish and they’ll steam them to order. Pick up some accompaniments from their refrigerated case, take your tray to the food court tables and get cracking! Last summer, the lobster was $9.95 per pound. No, not a typo. Simply thrilling all around!

Murray’s Cheese not only has an awesome worldwide selection and a charmingly quirky attitude but a comprehensive educational program. There’s a full schedule of classes and even field trips to the countryside. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches are made to order … with cheese, of course.

I first discovered this trifecta on a Foods of New York tour, which I highly recommend.

You can replicate the experience at home, too. First, shop ’til your heart’s content at all three stores. In your home kitchen, use your Fissler knives to slice your sashimi-grade fish, bread and cheese with grace and precision. Steam live shellfish in a stew pot from the Solea or Original Pro collections. For a creative tool to clean and open oysters and clams, borrow a trick from the New York Times’ Flo Fabricant and use Skrub’a gloves.

A heavenly trifecta indeed.