First of all, you must go check out my guest post today on this girl’s blog.  She too shares a love for running and delicious foods {cupcakes}.  Since I posted all about running NAKED!!! on her blog today, I’ve focused here on one of the many rewards of running naked….EATING!!! and finding new foods and restaurants that make the DT list.

While in NY last week I was finally introduced to what might be the gourmet foodie’s {aka me} dining heaven.

EATALY

Mario Batali’s  gourmet market-meet-restaurant-meet-dining adventure-meet-butcher shop-meet-cafe-meet-just plain wonderfullness.

(from their site) Eataly is more than a supermarket with restaurants. It is an energetic marketplace, an opportunity to taste and take home the products of artisans who till, knead and press to bring you the highest quality products at a fair price. We have assembled the absolute best Italian producers from every region under one roof and the absolute best chefs to cook their wares; Eataly is the heartbeat of Italy.

With over 12 restaurants ranging from Il Pesce to La Pizza & Pasta to Pasticceria,  Eataly is a culinary mecca in the heart of the flatiron district in New York.  One can shop, taste, take culinary courses, dine at one of the boutique eateries and of course savour the most delicate and full bodied Italian Wines.

Eataly has a 10 step manifesto that starts first and foremost with:

WE’RE IN LOVE WITH FOOD.

Walking around I discovered the highest quality cured meats, cheeses, breads, jams and more — only to shortly thereafter realize my disappointment in only having one meal left in the city, an over-stuffed carry on bag and a hotel without a refrigerator

The incredible food brings friends and laughter together  – seated around tables or at the bar, as well as standing around high tables.  We stood around a marble-top table during our first course at La Piazza  dining on prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, olives and vino.

and followed it up with a trip over to Il Pesce for Osters and Clams on the Half Shell, Scallops and Branzino.

While we waited for our food to digest before diving into the obligatory dessert, we strolled the market admiring the fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, fish and pastas for sale — all brought in from local farmers, fields, butchers and fishermen.