Showing posts with label Porto Rico Importing Company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Porto Rico Importing Company. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Living La Vida Local

In my mind I go to the Union Square Farmer's market for seasonal produce and Murray's Cheese and that butcher next door on Bleecker and some amazing bakery for dinner rolls right out of their century-old oven. And I transport all this home on a bike with a basket while waiving to familiar shop keepers who are sweeping the sidewalk in front of their establishments. 

In reality I make the trek to Trader Joe's once a fortnight and stand in the Soviet-style food check out line for mango chunks and frozen potstickers. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Trader Joe's to an obsessive degree, but it ain't Paris. Or New York. But what is?

If I were Carrie Bradshaw I would write, "Can one really find and live the New York of their imaginations and if so, does anyone have the time?"


Today I was strolling past Porto Rico Importing Company after a job interview and I decided to pop in.  It is like popping back in time as well - a plus in my book.  They have sacks and sacks of coffees and all at reasonable prices.  I got an excellent French Columbian for $5.99/pound.  This is not today's 12 oz, but a real old fashioned pound.  The woman behind the counter was really nice and we spoke about the flat filter vs. the cone and if grinding to #4 was really as racey as it sounded. 




Instead of getting the thrifty coffee special at Westside Market (which ain't half bad) I could stroll a few more blocks (key words: "a few more blocks") and get my coffee from a purveyor that has been around over a century.

What will it be?