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We happened to be in the Basque part of Boise and stopped here for pinxos/tapas because of the good reviews on TripAdvisor. I believe that there were some dishes that you could actually order, but we stuck with the selection of already-prepared dishes that were displayed on the counter. These included different types of mini-sandwiches, various kinds of meatballs, olives, etc. Most of the ones we tried were quite tasty, but both the flavors and variety of the dishes were not nearly the quality of the pinxos bars we visited in San Sebastian a couple of years ago. Nothing was bad, mind you, but I guess we were a bit disappointed comparing this place to the ‘real’ ones in Spain. Also, The Basque Market is in the middle of a block full of pinxos bars, and seemed to be the smallest of them. So the others may have a wider selection of dishes; we just didn’t have time to try them. So I would say that this place is pretty good, especially if you don’t want or need a large lunch, like us. Additionally, they also sell a variety of prepared foods and snacks, and have quite a good selection of Spanish wines by the bottle for sale. In fact, I bought a couple of bottles of tzakoli, a dry and refreshing Basque white wine with a bit of a spritz, which is hard to find outside of Spain. Time will tell if the wine is any good; we haven’t tried it yet.

Redfield Cider Bar & Bottle Shop – Menu with Prices – 5815 College Ave, Oakland

I DON’T DRINK UNLESS I HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT Last December I went to a pub in Berkeley that specializes in sour beer. I didn’t know what to expect. At the end I wasn’t a fan of sour beer as it reminded me of kombucha tea I had growing up. About a month ago I went to this cider bar after watching “Hamilton” in San Francisco. I didn’t know what to expect when I went a cider bar. I had to admit I assumed cider would be those alcoholic ciders you buy at grocery stores. As I looked at menu one item that intrigued me was Gurutzeta, a cider from the Basque Region in Spain. I’ve heard that cider is one of the specialties in the Basque Region so I ordered that particular cider. In addition I ordered prusciotto sandwich. My approach to drinking is very European as I need something eat with my drink – whether I was in London having an ale with Shepard’s pie, or in Rome sipping wine with pasta, or in Munich drinking wheat bear while munching on a crispy pork knuckle. My first initial reaction when I sipped the Basque cider it had the bitter taste that reminded me of the kombucha tea. However when I had the prusciotto sandwhich it helped elieviate the taste of the cider. In fact I enjoyed my cider more with my prosciutto sandwich. My only knock is with a variety of selection of ciders I wish there were more food items that would compliment the ciders. The food doesn’t have to be heavy but something that enjoyable to drink with cider. If you want to have introduce yourself to cider drinking. This is a good place to start.

Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market – Menu with Prices – 4th St & Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa

I’ve been to the market a couple times now. I think I will probably be a regular down here. Delicious food from local restaurants and caterers – check Beer and wine – check Craft vendors – check Farm stands – check Live music and other entertainers – check Nice setting with a lot of space to bring lawn chairs or sit at one of the tables – check Markets like this are part of the reason I am happy that I moved to Santa Rosa. The remodeled square is a great place for these weekly events. There is a lot of space, and quite a few tables where you can sit and enjoy your food. You can also just sit on the grass. The market is family friendly. There appears to be good security and police presence, but the police looked like they were having as much fun as everyone else. It can get a bit loud near the stage. Finding parking can be a challenge, but there are pay lots available that are just a block or two from the square. I have heard they have a free bike valet, and they do encourage walking or riding to the market. If you just want a snack at the market, you can always take advantage of the local bars and restaurants on 4th Street. If you have never been or have not been for a long time, check it out. See you there.

DeVitis Italian Market Menu with Prices 560 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron

This market has been around a very long time. It is an Akron institution. They continuously try to grow and improve, but keep the important aspects of what have made this place special for decades. It?s not a large store, but has a great deal of variety. The produce is always very healthy. They have an excellent selection of prepared foods. The eggplant parmigiana is a favorite. Fresh bread, good olive oil, and a great selection of deli meats make the place wonderful. The prepared sandwiches make a convenient lunch at fair price and the many types of salads and pastas are made with care. The staff is kind, attentive and keeps a very clean and well run store. I hope this gem never goes away.

Becher Meats & Provisions – Menu with Prices – 2415 N Monroe St #300, Tallahassee

Becher Marketplace Butchers takes you to the roots of all Italian cuisine. In its collection of meats and cheeses, you find the staples of Italian cooking and the dishes available throughout Urban Food Market. A charcuterie board from Becher can be a meal in and of itself, especially since the variety of items allows you to mix and match to suit your particular tastes. I personally love the mortadella and salami paired with a hard block of Pecorino Romano and a bit of soft Brie. Like Digia, Becher allows you to take the market experience home with you as you find a pound or two of meats and cheeses to spice up your own cooking.

Falafel & Co. Inc. – Menu with Prices – 1000 Brookside Dr Ste 119, Raleigh

Falafel is such a great place & refreshing revamp of the old Brookside Market! The customer service is top notch, and their wine program is so extensive. They’ve also got a great selection of to-go beers in the cooler & many other food/snack staples that you’ll need from a neighborhood market. Did I mention the amazing patio space out front & free parking lot? They also have a full restaurant that opens next week; I’ve sampled several things at their soft openings & I am soooo excited to try it. At the bar, you can get 10-12 beers on tap & at least 15 different wines by the glass… and the bartenders are so sweet. I love that they use real glassware & only charge $5-6 per drink! You can also snag a bottle of wine with a small corkage fee & they’ll provide glasses… grab a snack of fresh pita bread with housemade hummus, tzatziki sauce, or Muhummara (OMG the best),,, and you’re set for a great night. You can also get all of this to go too if you’d rather veg at home! Their market has last minute things you need too like cheese, milk, soda, chocolate, chips, lots of gluten free options, etc; Falafel has you covered. All in all, it’s a neighborhood market with a great atmosphere, friendly staff, fresh food, awesome beer/wine, & all the staples you need for last minute things at the house… all reasonably priced too!! Oh & they also host great events with live music & wine tastings. It’s great addition to the neighborhood & I’m stoked to see it stay around for many years to come ?

Regency Plaza Market – Menu with Prices – 3 Regency plz, Providence

This little market located on the first floor, corner spot of 3 Regency Plaza is great! They have all of the basics you would expect at a mini-mart, along with a large variety of ethnic foods. There’s quite a selection of asian and middle eastern foods which was a nice surprise. There is also a deli that makes fresh sandwiches, which I haven’t gotten a chance to try yet, but look pretty good. And the people that work there are so nice! They are always smiling and helpful – if you are looking for something specific, you can call them and they’ll check if they have it before you venture over. Also, I think the guy that usually works the counter lives in the building, so the place stays open even when there are blizzards! It has been very convenient for my ill-prepared self during this winter =D

Family Seafood Market – Menu with Prices – 3848 McKinley St, Corona

This is a pleasant surprise to find as it is tucked away in an easy-to-miss shopping center. I stumbled upon this market after trying out a Filipino restaurant a few doors down. Let’s just say that my dining experience left me disappointed and inspired to cook up some Filipino dishes. As a result, I checked out Family Seafood Market to see if they had any fresh produce for my craving for beef nilaga. They have a small produce selection but I ain’t complaining! They have the essentials like calamansi, pechay, talong (eggplant), and bittermelon. A quick step to your right and you’ll find yourself in their fish department, which also have the essentials– tilapia, bangus, pompano, etc. There’s even a tiny prepared foods area with 2-3 Filipino dishes, including fried chicken skin. Take another step to your right and they have a freezer full of ingredients for Filipino baking and breakfast. Odd thing is that they have tapa and tocino but no longanisa?! They also have a few aisles of other Filipino essentials, ranging from soy sauce and mixes to flan pans and barong tagalogs. At the cashier, be sure to pick up one of their freshly baked bibingkas. Utterly delicious! They also have BBQ sticks, fried turon, and other baked goods to tantalize you while you pay.

Tibor’s Kosher Meats – Menu with Prices – 2185 S Green Rd, Cleveland

Tibor’s has excellent service and better food. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly and always ready to help you find exactly what you need. The food, from the prepared foods to the poultry and meat to the deli are all phenomenal. Tibor’s has a large variety of smoked and cured meats. The very best are the ones that Tibor makes on site, though they do stock some products from Empire Kosher, etc. Looking to try something new? Take a look at the smoked brisket, mexican pastrami or the genoa salami – you can’t go wrong with these in-house favorites. The prepared foods are also very good. There are many to choose from and most will remind you of the classics you had at your grandparents house back in the day. The beef jerky has a cult following. Finally, the meat cases have every selection of chicken, turkey and beef you can think of and a great selection of lamb. If you have a large order or need something special don’t be afraid to ask the staff or to order ahead. You can’t make a better decision then to stop by Tibor’s.

Bonci Pizzeria – Menu with Prices – 726 Julia St, New Orleans

The concept I like. They’ve got a selection of pizzas out, and they cut you a rectangular slice as small or as large as you like. You pay by weight, then they cook it, then you eat it. They had a nice mix of local/Italian drinks if you want, but water was easy to find as well. There is no menu; they make whatever they feel like and what you see is what you get. My experience suggests there’s plenty of variety, and I tried four flavors with options to spare. It’s not a special diets place; there’s plenty for a vegetarian like me and I liked the single cheeseless variety that was available. The crust is airy and crunchy, and a unifying strength (airy is good; you’re paying by weight), but the vegetables and cheeses on top were excellent as well. They still have got work to do on how to provide service. There was no clear line or way to get attention. It’s intrinsic to their business model that you can’t plan ahead or look at a menu, you have to look at the actual pizzas, probably for a decent length of time, to figure out what your options are and make decisions. Then you have to get someone’s attention, then they cut each variety you want and individually weigh the slices, and then you pay, and only then do they cook and you start waiting. On top of that, when I was ready to order, there was nobody else standing for food, but they waited a couple of minutes to allow someone to peruse the beverage selection and stood around before getting to me. There’s just a lot of steps, and it’s inefficient, and I went early when it was not crowded. I burned my tongue a bit rushing through my pizza because I think my (admittedly light) half an hour that I put on the parking meter was probably up before my pizza even arrived, and I parked a block away. Having been back a couple of times, the pizza is still good but the service is still not really working. I arrived once a solid twenty minutes after their opening time to find that they were still not really ready yet; with only a single-digit number of pizzas available, without signs in front of them denoting the price. Even by the time I left they still didn’t have a full selection out. Does it take an hour for a business to get running after they open? Not normally. The pizza I like. New Orleans, despite having a decent Italian American subculture, is hardly known for this sort of thing, and I think there’s a niche to be filled. The mix of flavors I got worked really well, and I’d definitely come back excited to see what else they can come up with. But they’ve got to figure out a way that there’s someone available to serve me when I’m done ogling and to make the whole thing run faster.

The Market Place – Menu with Prices – 3325 Sheridan St, Hollywood

My experience over the years with The Market Place has usually been a visit to pick up beautiful steaks or fish with freshly prepared sides of vegetables, salads, prepared Quinua or pastas, soups and just about anything we needed that we could bring home and grill with these well prepared side dishes. Even during the holidays, The Market Place prepares everything we needed to take home. Of course, there have been times my wife and I have been laid up sick at home where this has been our go to place to pick up fresh Tuna Salad, Meat Loaf and Chicken Meat Loaf and always Matzah Ball Soup. I usually do not like to bring home prepared foods to heat up, but every time we bring in food from The Market Place, it is just as fresh as if we prepared it ourselves. When you walk in, the presentation of these dishes are so appetizing, I wish I could take home some of each of them. MY NEW EXPERIENCE with The Market Place!!! Turning the clock forward to this last year, as I have developed a new passion for Grilling and Smoking Meats, I have had a great experience ordering my meats from here: Whole Briskets, Beef Ribs and Rib Roasts and several times at that. I can call The Market Place to have them prepare or trim Briskets, check on their inventory on any of the meats I need to order and sometimes can pick up the same day. They have never let me down. Every time the end result of smoking a Brisket or Beef Ribs has been outstanding. These cuts seem leaner and more tender than I have had from other places in the past and I never have to worry about how they come out in the end, as long as I do my part on the smoker, I can always depend on their meats. The Market Place has every cut of meat you can imagine a great variety of fish and shell fish, every side dish and pasta dish as well as displays of dry grocery items to compliment your meals, including marinades, sauces, stir fry sauces, vinegar, olive oils and canned goods. Loved seeing the Raos Spaghetti Sauces here. Great quality, and most of the items they stock are specialty items, not the regular brands that are in the chain grocery stores. There is also a whole shelf section of specialty chips and crackers. The staff here does not take long to get to know you once you come here regularly and they treat you special every time and seem to remember what you like when you come in. Very rare these days. Keep in mind that this is a Gourmet Butcher and Specialty Market. If you want to be assured about quality and service, it is going to cost more than the usual grocery stores or box stores, but that is why I come here. I know what I am getting every time.

Grapes & Gallery – Menu with Prices – 1113 Taylor St, Columbia

Cute wine/beer bar, art gallery, and paint your own canvas place. The wine/beer selection is good and the bartenders always have a good recommendation. There isn’t a ton of meeting at the bar and you may often end up drinking in the middle of an art class, but everyone is friendly and the prices are reasonable. There is usually street parking and this place is convenient to other bars/restaurants/theaters downtown.

Piknik Park Food Cart Pod – Menu with Prices – 1122 SE Tacoma St, Portland

One of my favorite pods! I love the selection of diverse food carts here ranging from Asian, vegan, hearty meat dishes, smoothies, and even some booze. The Vegan Grub is my favorite! The buffalo and bbq wings really hit the spot. I’ve never had wings sooo finger lickin’ good! They can do 1/2 and 1/2 if you ask. I wasn’t a fan of the cashew mac and cheese. It was really bland and tasted off. The Dive Bar is great and I got a Mimosa. You can beer, wine, and cider here too. The Straits of Malaysia has a lot of unique dishes. The Vegan Stirfry has nice flavor with seasoned tofu and a heap of veggies – bean sprouts, peppers, cabbage, scallions – tossed in spicy coconut sauce on a large bed of rice. Very hearty! There are a few other carts that offer tacos, smoothies, and savory meat dishes. Great variety with many crowd-pleasing options, good for groups and picky-eaters.