Kalustyan’s Market, New York City
Desperate to jet off somewhere exotic? Maybe Armenia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, West Indies, Yugoslavia, but you’re short on cash and you haven’t renewed your passport? Try Kalustyan’s. Opened in 1944, the market is the eminent destination for premium Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Indian herbs (no kidding: they carry 4,000 variety of spices, herbs, sweets, coffee, tea and healthy snacks and over 180 variety of imported tea and 50 variety of imported coffee.), stocking a comprehensive array of condiments, dried fruits, prepared foods, lentils, dal, beans and more. Indian chutneys, Mujjaddara, hummus, wrapped grape leaves, falafel – if your mouth isn’t watering yet, trust me, it will.