Gourmet Grocery Stores In The Peninsula
Whether you have special dietary needs or just enjoy cooking like a professional chef, Peninsula dwellers are fortunate to have access to a number of gourmet grocery stores. Here are five stores that can help you fill your pantry (and stomach) with quality ingredients made both domestically and abroad.
Bianchini Market
3130 Alpine Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-4391
810 Laurel St
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 592-4701
www.bianchinismarket.com
Bianchini's Market is a family-owned, full-service grocer with two Peninsula locations in San Carlos and Portola Valley. The foundation of the business is a full-service meat department featuring USDA grade, organic and grass-fed varieties. It also offers a variety of organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as gourmet cheese selections from local artisans and from those across the globe. Check out its house-made tarts, breads and treats, and Bianchini Family Vineyards' labels in the store. With a plethora of international items, rare spices, olive oils and sauces, you are sure to find all of the ingredients you need for your next great meal.
Draeger's Market
222 E 4th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 685-3700
1010 University Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 324-7700
www.draegers.com
Draeger's Market offers its customers high-quality food products and has one of the largest selections of packaged specialty foods from all over the world – with over 50,000 items in stock. Customers can dabble in fresh caviar from the Caspian Sea or try one of the more than 250 varieties of cheeses in the charcuterie. The produce department has over 500 selections available every day, making it one of the largest selections of fresh produce in California. Wine connoisseurs take note – Draeger's has over 2,500 old and rare labels. With lots of selections and high-quality products, it is no surprised that Draeger's has been recognized as a food and wine destination by the likes of Gourmet Magazine, Bon Appetit and The New York Times.
Related: Wine Country's Best White Wines
The Gourmet Corner
873 N San Mateo Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 340-6370
www.thegourmetcorner.com
The Gourmet Corner opened its doors in 2008 and is the reincarnation of the Made in France/Village Imports Warehouse. This gourmet food store offers well-priced and hard-to-find wines such as Jacques Pelvas and L'Opale de la Presqu'lle de Saint-Tropez – with most priced around $8 to $12 a bottle. Shoppers will also find well-stocked shelves with a plethora of French specialty foods like sea salt, pâté, cheese, oils and vinegars, escargots, yogurt, charcuterie and more. Paris may be a long flight away, but the Gourmet Corner is right in your backyard and has everything you need to recreate those favorite French dishes.
Roberts Market
3015 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-1511
www.robertsmarket.com
Roberts' legacy stretches back to 1889 when it opened its first store in San Francisco. Back then, it was mainly a meat, fish and poultry store and deliveries were made via horse and buggy. Fast forward to the present, Roberts offers its own private label of all natural and organic products, which features marinades and sauces as well as pasta like Rustichella d'Abruzzo, Tinkyada rice and pasta for people with dietary restrictions. With local and international specialty items like olive oils, white truffle oil, balsamic vinegars, Spanish cava, chocolates and truffles, foodies can find a variety of goods to meet their culinary desires.
Piazza's Fine Foods
1218 W Hillsdale Blvd
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 341-9496
3922 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 494-1629
www.piazzasfinefoods.com
Piazza's Fine Foods has a long, rich history stretching back four generations, beginning in Italy. Its mission has always been to provide a place for people to get natural, high-quality food. Today, it provides fresh, organic produce from local farms and hormone-free meats and seafood. On days when you might need a little extra help in he kitchen, Piazza's offer fresh meals during breakfast, lunch and dinner in its prepared food department, salad bar and deli. Piazza's Fine Foods is a one-stop shop with everything you need to keep your pantry stocked to natural body care. It also caters to dietary needs and offers specialty products such as Kosher foods, wheat and gluten-free.
Jenna Broughton can frequently be found exploring the streets of San Francisco looking for her next adventure and gastronomic delight. She has traveled far and wide, from Paris to Savannah, GA, to satisfy her adventurous palate. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
