appetite, i has it!

"i like the best...but i also like savings the money" so your boy went euro trippin' in astoria queens.  specifically, a balkan/ruski/slavic mashup mega mart that holds everything from cured meats and cheese to your favorite chocolate and pickled cabbage...say what!!!  "oppulence, i has it" is nowhere to be found here.  in fact, euro market has more in common with the hong kong market than it does with the single country focused but european nonetheless blingy bling blang fest at eataly.  it's like walking into a supersized european bodega.  once you get inside euro music videos are playing at club level volume. just what i like, mo' bass and techno snare while i'm strolling in aisle 3 for eurocreme candy bars.  but enough of what i have to say, let's have a look shall we.

euro market is located at 30-42 31st street. take the N/Q train to the 31st ave. stop

easier and cheaper to cross the east river than the atlantic

mineral water is kind of a big deal

cevapcici! you can have it any time of day!

excellent selection of beer

ajvar is a delicious spread made from red bell peppers, garlic, eggplant and chili pepper.  try it on bread in the a.m.

cured beef and pork right next to some of the best feta around

they will cut the bacon to your preferred thickness

more cheeeeeeeese

he'll hook you up with free samples

this cured beef is off the hook

balkan beef jerky






51 sandwiches on the wall and note the prices



pickled cabbage in the heezy

ketchup and mayo in one tube

in the cut: columbine

columbine caught my attention because the line stretched out the door and onto west broadway.  like my recent visit to eataly, the scene could have easily been mistaken for a nightclub but columbine eliminates the sensory overload.  it's a tiny space with limited standing room and seating for 4-5 people at best.  unlike its modest appearance, i'd say it is one of the best looking and well dressed soup/sandwich/salad lines i have seen. 

this afternoon i had a cup of 'uncle mike's corn & potato bisque" paired with a jerk chicken sandwich and root beer soda. i have enjoyed other meals here but today's missed the mark. the bisque was watery and the jerk chicken sandwich was dry while the popular jerk spice was no more than an afterthought.

uncle mike's corn bisque



columbine's jerk chicken sandwich

 maybe i'm just bitter because i dropped $2.50 on a root beer that could have been spent on some four loko but the premium on my $17 lunch was not worth it today.  however, i do recommend trying 'donald's famous smoked chicken salad' sandwich and lounging by the window to people watch.  bring your own drank and use the money you saved to get a thesartorialist.blogspot.com worthy outfit so that you can blend in and get a number/date in addition to your sammich!   

Columbine
229 w. broadway
corner of white & w. broadway

club batali is crazy right now

your boy made it to eataly tonight but nobody told me it's like pdiddy's white party in there.  it's seriously off the yuzzlebub because not only is the space massive and the selection of goods are mind boggling but errrbody is walking the runway in this place.  seriously, hide yo husband...hide yo wife...hide yo kids because errrrbody is getting their sexy back in there.   

luckily for you, i'm not chasing booty in the market so here are some shots of the market/restaurant/wine bar/bakery/pastry shop...well you get the idea.