Specialty Food Magazine

and includes 15 seats at a bar area. House-made Lebanese-style frozen lemonade, shawarma wraps and bowls, Lebanese pressed "quesadillas," and tahini brownies are all top sellers, says Christine Whelan, one of the co-owners of this family-run purveyor. Other vendors are newer to the city's food scene. Ammi offers homestyle Indian street food, including dosas and chicken and potato samosas. Mijo serves flavorful Mexican standbys like tacos and flautas. For fresh oysters, Mothershuckers shucks to order. Wash it all down with the lagers, IPAs, and hard ciders on tap at Harlem Hops, or savor the water views from the enormous windows with coffee from Bird & Branch, a roastery of beans sourced from around the globe. All of this culinary innovation comes under the auspices of the James Beard Foundation, which curates the rotating mix of vendors and guides the development of the food hall. While the foundation is focused on the dining experience for visitors, it also has an expanded mission: promoting "Good Food for Good" by elevating the people who work behind the scenes and fostering a more equitable food industry. To this end, the foundation maintains an educational space and show kitchen in the market and keeps a busy calendar of events with cutting- edge chefs, cooking demos, and other culinary arts programming. The foundation's food equity aim is evident in its mix of vendors: almost all are BIPOC- or women-owned. Market 57 serves "as an incubator for emerging chefs and entrepreneurs with a focus on BIPOC- and women-owned businesses that have been underrepresented in the culinary industry," says Bernard. The foundation's mission was one of the selling points for Whelan. "Anything that promotes equality and mutual sharing in the food industry is a valuable thing to participate in," she says. "Food is the great equalizer. Everyone eats and shares the world's ingredients." Pier 57 features a two-acre rooftop park open to the public every day. Visitors can bring food and drinks from Market 57 and enjoy their eats surrounded by panoramic views of the Hudson River. The space is within walking distance of the Javits Center, Hudson Yards, Little Island, and the Whitney Museum, making it an ideal destination for visitors heading to and from these attractions. There are other food halls in Manhattan. But Market 57 is the one with a deep culinary pedigree, a mission to move the food industry forward, and the prettiest views in town. —Esther Crain Wegmans Astor Place Grocery Store 770 BROADWAY AT LAFAYETTE AND EIGHTH STREETS MANHATTAN 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. DAILY When Wegmans opened a supermarket at Astor Place in New York City's East Village last October, fans of the grocery giant as well as curious New Yorkers wondering what all the buzz was about lined up around the block, hoping to be among the first to tour the 87,500-square-foot store. Judging by the excitement that the first Manhattan Wegmans still generates months later, this culinary wonderland did not disappoint. Like the smaller (74,000 square feet) Wegmans across the East River in Brooklyn that launched in 2019, it's a brightly lit, inviting space that takes its inspiration from New York City. White brick- shaped tiles line the walls, exposed pillars from the building it occupies lend a sense of history, and the layout is designed to mimic a town square, says a Wegmans spokesperson. "We aim to create a warm, welcoming, friendly, and comfortable atmosphere where our SUMMER 2024 17

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