Squeezed into a wedding trip to Miami, I visit The Epicure Market. The 60 year-old institution both delights and disappoints.
Whenever I travel, one of the things I like to do is to bring something home to remind me of the trip. Just before my Miami adventure last week, I noticed the cover article in Specialty Foods magazine - "Outstanding Retailers of 2006." I noticed one of the awardees, The Epicure Market, is located in Miami, so it was immediately added to my itinerary.
Our bride-to-be took me by after her last meeting with the wedding coordinator. As if she didn't have enough to do! I was so impressed with the vast array of products available I brought our new groom and my husband back to share the find before heading to the airport, and home.
Great finds, fun gifts
We found a set of local marinades "Floribbean" for our friends who took care of our cat and my fire escape garden. Organic Key lime, ginger, Scotch bonnet and Mango are some of the local ingredients that give these products the essence of Florida and the Caribbean. We bought three bottles for our friends, three for ourselves.
Other finds included:
- candied violets and rose petals
- organic French green lentils from Le Puy - D.O.C. rated! Probably shouldn't have been surprised that the French grade their lentils like they grade their wine.
- Bomba rice for Paella. Just as the rice for risotto is essential to good finished dish ( Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nono - my favorite), Bomba rice is said to be the best for Paella.
- Tahitian vanilla bean,
- a spice rub for grilling ,
- organic black peppercorns from Ecuador. The label describes them as floral and spicy and the scent of them packs a wonderful wallop, delivering on both counts.
- some outrageously expensive but irresistible ChimiChurri sauce
- Vindaloo paste
- Cantabrico Anchovies
- Maya Kaimal simmer sauces
Like discovering the Wizard of Oz
The Epicure Market prides itself "on treating customers as friends" and has been around since 1945. With such longevity they must get it right more often than not. On my visit, though, I was treated more like an unwelcome traveling salesman.
After ringing up nearly $200 on all the wonderful products, I asked for the manager, in order to introduce myself. I wanted to congratulate them on the award, compliment them on the store and give them the heads up on my upcoming article. A cashier tried to help me locate the manager, but could only direct me to a woman high up in a booth. The booth is elevated, and I couldn't even see her to say hello. I asked if there were a place she could step down so we could talk, and she refused to budge, insisting that I tell her "what I wanted" by shouting at the top of her head - literally all I could see from where I stood!
It was an odd-ending to wonderful experience, leaving me as mystified as the last item I bought. Marmite. More on that mystery soon...
