Grand Central Market Favorites – Pt. II

I already did a post on Grand Central Market awhile ago, but there is so much changing and too many vendors to try that I wanted to highlight more of my favorites!

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I have been eyeing DTLA Cheese on my last couple of trips, but was always too full by the time I made my way back to them. I finally tried one of their signature dishes, and I’m so glad I did! The Burrata Toast comes with a large serving of the creamy cheese, two small pieces of toasted bread, arugula, and the most amazing sun-roasted tomatoes I have ever tasted! This dish is great to share with friends, but I highly recommend springing for some extra bread.

 

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Next stop, Belcampo Meat Co. for some meaty goodness! The varietal menu makes it a difficult choice, but luckily, I had some help. My boyfriend highly recommended the Lamb Belly sandwich, so I had to give it a try. The pulled lamb belly comes with harissa aioli, arugula, and cilantro. I’m kind of picky when it comes to lamb because once you’ve had a perfectly cooked lamb dish, all of the rest pale in comparison even if they are good. This lamb sandwich is right up there with the best of them! On weekends, keep in mind, they have a brunch AND lunch menu that they change over quite late in the day, so know what you want and go at the right time.

 

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Now on to the Piece de resistance. Wexler’s Deli literally changed my entire world view on Pastrami and Corned Beef! It’s not that I didn’t like it before, there was just nothing that ever blew me away. Until now. These sandwiches are melt-in-your-mouth amazing! The line is always long, but the service goes by quickly and it is definitely worth the wait!

 

I recommend visiting the market on a weekend for lunch. This way, everything is open and it’s great for people-watching. For more information, visit http://www.grandcentralmarket.com/.

Grand Central Market Favorites – Part I

I have vague memories of visiting Grand Central Market as a young girl. My most recent visits couldn’t have been more different. Now, it has become a marketplace of old and new, which I hope they stick with because I would hate nothing more than to see some of my childhood favorites leave. Since there are way too many places to try at GCM, I wanted to share my current favorites!

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First and foremost, any day that begins with G&B Coffee’s Iced Almond-Macadamia Milk Latte, is a good day. I have had many caffeinated beverages from here, but had never tried the coveted Iced Latte until The New York Times named it The Best Iced Latte in America. Obviously, with that title, it had a lot to live up to. I have been coffee obsessed for a few years now, but I have only recently begun to appreciate the craftsmanship behind my morning cup of joe. From the roasting process to the milk options, there is so much that goes into crafting the perfect latte, espresso, mocha, cappuccino, or whatever elixir you prefer for your daily pick-me-up. For someone that doesn’t care for almonds or macadamia nuts, I loved this latte. It was almost too sweet for my liking (key word being almost). It was extremely refreshing and the most drinkable caffeinated beverage I have had in awhile. This is my current favorite at G&B, but I feel like the more I try there, the harder it will be to choose one of their menu items as my favorite.
I can’t wait to try their Espresso Milkshake, especially since it is made with McConnell’s ice cream, a recent addition to Grand Central Market that I have yet to taste.

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This might seem like an obvious choice, but don’t dismiss it too quickly. Yes, Eggslut is trendy. Yes, Eggslut is popular. Yes, Eggslut is one of the only vendors at GCM that ALWAYS has a line. But yes, Eggslut is delicious. Let’s just focus on the last one, shall we? I love breakfast and I love delicious food, and Eggslut is the perfect marriage of both. Between their burger, egg salad, and The Slut (a coddled egg on top of a smooth potato puree, poached in a glass jar and served with a toast crostini), everything is delicious, but my forever and always obsession is the classic Bacon, Egg, and Cheese. Hardwood Smoked Bacon, a Medium Egg, Cheddar Cheese, and Chipotle Ketchup are all smooshed together in between a Portuguese Bun. A good breakfast sandwich is the key to my heart, and Eggslut is the best.

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Last, but certainly not least, I am currently obsessed with the Calamari Tacos from Lupita’s Seafood. The lightly fried calamari served under fresh lettuce, salsa, and crema in a fresh tortilla is pure deliciousness! For around $5, you can fulfill your fish taco needs. The bright green Habanero Sauce on the counter goes really well with the taco, but be warned, it is VERY spicy. VERY spicy.

Remember, this is the first of many posts about Grand Central Market. I promised myself that on my next couple visits to GCM I will try food from vendors I haven’t sampled before, and I can’t wait! I might wait until The Oyster Gourmet officially opens until I go back, but I have a lot of bites on my wish-list including Horse Thief, Olio Pizzeria, Wexler’s Deli, and Tacos Tumbras a Tomas.