Dominique Ansel didn’t grow up with much. At 16, he decided to help his family, dropping out of school in Beauvais, an hour north of Paris, to work at a restaurant. Cooking turned into a passion. One week a month, Ansel attended lessons at a free local culinary school. He moved to Paris in 1997, to work at the capital’s famed Pâtisserie Peltier, and one year later joined the prestigious bakery Fauchon.
In 2006, he moved to New York City to work in Daniel Boulud’s kitchen, crafting desserts from tiramisu to crème brûlée. Then, in 2011, he opened his eponymous bakery on a quiet street in SoHo. The Cronut—a hybrid of croissant and doughnut—made him well-known. The Cookie Shot—a warm chocolate chip cookie shaped like a shot glass and filled with cold milk—made him a sensation.
In quick succession, the James Beard Awards and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants named him the best pastry chef of the year. Today, Ansel also has bakeries in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Las Vegas. He published a book, Life’s Sweetest Moments, last month and is soon to open a third New York location, on University Place. Here, the expert on all things food shares his go-to specialty grocery stores in the city.
Kalustyan’s
A New York City landmark with aisle upon aisle of spices, hot sauces, and teas from all over the world. (foodsofnations.com)
Pino’s Prime Meat
A local butcher on Sullivan Street, in SoHo. It’s been around since 1907 and sells great quality steaks and chops. Every year, I make sure to pick up a prime rib roast for Christmas dinner. (pinosprimemeat.com)
Sunrise Mart
Located just a few blocks from my bakery in Soho, Sunrise Mart sells authentic Japanese ingredients and solid bento boxes for when you’re craving a katsu curry lunch. (sunrisemart.com)
Raffetto’s
A staple for fresh pasta, homemade sauces, and Italian ingredients. Raffetto’s has been open since 1906 and is still family-run. I love watching them slice your pasta to order on their old-school machines, continuing a tradition they’ve maintained for over 100 years. (raffettospasta.com)
Hong Kong Supermarket
My go-to for Asian ingredients, from fresh fruits and vegetables to endless varieties of soy sauces, vinegar, chili sauces, and more. When my kids are craving dumplings or beef noodle soup, I stop here to pick up the essentials.
Deluxe Meat Market
The best meats in Chinatown. Whether it’s beef shin for beef noodle soup or pork belly for Taiwanese lu rou fan, the quality and selection are excellent, and the butchers are pros. Walk to the back to find the amazing prepared foods section with char siu, crispy pork belly, soy sauce chicken, and dozens of sauteed dishes over rice.
Union Square Greenmarket
A must-visit for New Yorkers and visitors alike. If you go early in the morning, you’ll probably see some of the city’s best chefs picking up fresh fruits and vegetables for that day’s menus. I always buy heirloom tomatoes and strawberries in the summer, as well as local apples, cider donuts, and hot mulled apple cider in the fall and winter. (grownyc.org)
Meyers of Keswick
A tiny British shop in the West Village with all the classics, from homemade pies (the cheese and onion is my pick) and scotch eggs to Cumberland sausages. There’s a great selection of English ingredients, crisps, and chocolates, but you can also get a fresh scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. (myersofkeswick.com)
NY Cake
A one-stop shop for all sorts of baking supplies, cake pans, piping tips, kitchen tools, molds, and cutters, located just a few blocks from our shop in Flatiron. (nycake.com)
Aqua best
Aqua Best sources the freshest seafood directly from fishermen. Steven Wong (the second-generation owner of this family business) and his team supply many of my favorite restaurants with the finest fish and shellfish in town. (aquabestnyc.com)
Regalis Foods
An online purveyor of premium ingredients like truffles and caviar, fresh uni, wild mushrooms, and Wagyu beef. Ian Purkayastha, the founder, has curated an exceptional marketplace of ingredients from all over the world. If we’re planning on creating something that’s very premium, we know who to call. (regalisfoods.com)
