Blue Apron Foods

Park Slope
814 Union St.
at 7th Avenue

P: 718.230.3180

This shop is a reason to live in or visit Park Slope. Specialists in charcuterie and cheese, Blue Apron also sells a superbly selected, edited and presented selection of breads, chocolates, olive oils and vinegars, and specialty grocery items.

What's great:

Imported and domestic hams and other chacuterie. The cheeses are artisanal, perfectly kept and presented, and none are cut until you're ready to buy (a righteous rarity and a practice only found among the best cheese mongers). They work with very small producers to be able to offer flawless ricotta cheese, domestic prosciutto that rivals Parma's, and other products that are available almost nowhere else in New York. Breads are from Amy's, Pain d'Avignon, Sullivan Street and Royal Crown. Jacques Torres is a friend of the store and the best of his chocolates are sold here.

What to know:

The owners are in the shop every day and they work closely with customers, offering tastes and guiding purchases. They know what they're talking about since prior to opening Blue Apron Foods they learned their craft (and art) at places like Balducci's (the original) and Dean & Deluca (in the early years).