Taste The Season in Chelsea

The weather is starting to cool down and Autumn leaves are coming soon. While we can't enjoy outdoor eating and great summer weather all the time, a few Chelsea favorites remind us of the flavorful and fresh tastes of summer year round.

People's Pops

425 W. 15th Street

www.peoplespops.com 

The little food stand that could has reinvented a simple summer treat and created unique and fresh flavors for all ages. People's pops are made from local sustainable grown fruits and herbs. What does that mean for us? Well, fresh ingredients and rich flavors seem to make a damn good pop.

Flavors such as raspberry and basil, apricot chamomile and pear ginger are sure to give your taste buds something new to try.  The mix n' match between fruit and herbs was a risky choice in my opinion but obviously that's why I'm no Top Chef. The popular favorite of raspberry and basil starts off sweet then cooling from the basil hint.They also serve shaved ice with natural fruit syrup in many of the same flavors. Both the pops and shaved ice are good but if you have the time, its enjoyable to watch them hand shave the huge block of  seemingly non-melting ice. With chunks of real fruit in every pop, forget the guilt and consider this your daily serving of fruit.

Burnt Ends and chili at Rub BBQ

Rub BBQ
208 W. 23rd Street
(212) 524-4300

www.rubbbq.net 
 

How could you think of summer without thinking of BBQ? This time around your dad won't try to show off by putting a whole bottle of gas in the grill because the meat at Rub is cooked slow. What many of us Northerners are not used to is a true BBQ experience. Cooking "low and slow" is the key to any authentic BBQ whether it be St. Louis style ribs or burnt ends. While Rub BBQ seems a bit out of place in Chelsea with all its art galleries and high end stores, it adds to the decadent lifestyle with great food options.

Some notable mentions include the burnt ends (fattier part of the brisket) and the baron. The baron is a sampler of brisket, sausage, pastrami, turkey, chicken, a quarter rack of ribs and 2 large sides. The meat overload can usually be quenched by some great Southern sides of fried green tomatoes or the top notch potato salad. With solid meat choices, do not come expecting the typical saucy BBQ here. This is where competition style BBQ thrives in New York with smokey outsides, juicy insides and the meat flavor stands alone.

The isles of the Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market

75 9th Ave 

(212) 243-6005

www.chelseamarket.com/
 

If you are a self acclaimed gourmet chef or just love to throw around the word "artisan", Chelsea Market is for you. With well known shops such as Amy's Bread, Lobster Place and L'Arte del Gelato there is something for everyone here. The decoratively lit isles of the market mainly consist of gourmet fare but a few other shops hold their own as non-food establishments.

Imports From Marrakesh, Gramercy Flower Shop and Bowery Kitchen Supply all have a unique flare from Middle Eastern mystery to gourmet practicality. The one thing that all of these stores have in common is their attention to quality and service. At the Chelsea Wine Vault, they offer more than free tastings and global selections. For those not lucky enough to have their own wine cellar, you can rent cellar space at the Vault. The newcomer on the block, the Filling Station, specializes in local and imported extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, sea salts, sugars and will branch into craft beer.

Their claim to fame outside of quality products is their environmentally conscious approach. Customers are able to purchase bottles of items and have them refilled at a discounted rate every time they return. With many of the shops taking the environmental and sustainable approach to food, Chelsea Market is a welcomed retreat for health nuts, vegans and vegetarians alike. 

Do you know more great Chelsea eats that remind you of summer? Add to the list!