If You’re Hungry, Stop Reading This: Dean & DeLuca
Over the years, I’ve made ten separate trips to New York but I’m embarrassed to say that until this most recent stay, I had never set foot inside of a Dean & DeLuca store. I’d heard people constantly praising the New York locations as if they were a sacred place where one would make a religious pilgrimage in search of treats. Truth be told, I’m not a foodie so I kept on wondering what the big deal was. Why were these stores so different from typical supermarkets?
Two weeks ago, I was walking through Soho with Gala and we decided to stop into the flagship location that started it all back in 1977. Once we entered, I immediately understood what the hype was all about.
Upon entering, the first thing I noticed about Dean and DeLuca was the overwhelming variety and impeccable service. The employees all wore perfectly pressed white uniforms with little name tags. This couldn’t be America!
Dean and DeLuca reminded me of a quaint neighborhood shop but slightly bigger and much, much better. Just the bakery alone could give you heart palpitations. Cookies, cakes, tarts, and confections beyond description lined the perfect little glass cases. My senses were overloaded so I settled on some small heart-shaped cookies.
Even though the store is quite compact compared to the typical American supermarket, they somehow showcase more items than one could ever hope to encounter in one place, perfectly arranged like a museum for food.
The produce section was also a sight to behold. Perfectly stacked rows of fruits and vegetables glistened under the lights.
And, as if the arrangements of fruits and vegetables weren’t enough, a small selection of flowers were also available.
If I were a rich and famous chef, I’m pretty certain that I would do all of my shopping here.
Meats, cheeses and jugs of old fashioned milk also made an appearance. The mass chain grocery stores dotting the U.S. need to take note of the atmosphere, ambience and old school charm that this place evokes.
Exotic varieties of fresh baked bread were proudly showcased.
Gourmet chocolates including gold-flecked edible buddhas, colorful animals and small squares infused with otherworldly flavors all competed for attention. How could you choose just one?
Silver canisters of spices with minimal packaging were perfectly aligned on trays. Magical potions? Perhaps.
It should be noted that Dean & DeLuca is pricey. This isn’t a place that you frequent if you’re purchasing a month’s worth or groceries (Trader Joe’s is much more appropriate).
Instead, Dean & DeLuca is about the visual experience. It is a place that is ripe with new discoveries and culinary delights that cannot be found anywhere else. Dean & DeLuca will make your tastebuds sing and your wallet hurt. But isn’t that how the best things in life usually are?
Tags: Consumption, dean & deluca, new york food
Get in touch: 
26 People have left comments on this post
wow~! definitely will be in my itinerary..
happy birthday, Nubby~!!
[Reply]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
[Reply]
I’ll have to try that place sometime, if I’m ever around one. You get what you pay for, that’s for sure. That is, unless what you’re constantly salivating over is the ridiculously low-priced NubbyTwiglet.com. In other words, Happy 28th Birthday, and thanks for being great.
[Reply]
Many well wishes to you! Happy Birthday.
[Reply]
Happy Birthday, Nubby!!
I’m curious. Do they have Dean & Deluca cafes? coz I always thought they’re cafes until this post. Maybe I’ve watched too many “Felicity” back in 2000.
[Reply]
the first time i found out about D & D was in Japan last year and they were pretty big then. I love their whole image and branding !!thks for the wonderful pics
[Reply]
reminds me of the big food halls in old department stores, like Harrods or KaDeWe in Berlin. or David Jones in sydney!
There’s a similar place in New York but on a much smaller scale… can’t remember the name but it’s near Jane St I think? in greenwich village, in an old bank building. you can eat there too.
[Reply]
my mum was telling me about this place just last night! i don’t think they have any dean and deluca’s near where i live, but i’ll have to stop by next time i’m in new york. yumbly.
[Reply]
Wow, I didn’t know it was a full grocery store!
Dean & Deluca was the coffee shop where Felicity worked in the TV show. I just thought it was coffee!
[Reply]
i wanna munch down on a edible buddha!
[Reply]
Oh suuure drag my ass to Marry Ann’s for crappy Mexican food and go to Dean & Deluca without me! I see how it is.
Just kidding….
….but seriously, that’s messed up!!!
[Reply]
I LOVE Dean & DeLuca. When I was younger, my dad would take me on trips to New York and DC and we always made a special trip to D&D. I was raised to be a foodie from so it was like taking a special trip to heaven as far as I was concerned.
[Reply]
Great blog. Love the pictures.
[Reply]
Wow your photos are truly amazing! It makes me feel like I am there. Thank you for sharing.
[Reply]
One of my fav spots ! Can’t wait for next week when I get to visit it again!
FAB pics!
[Reply]
btw, I get there, walk thru once, step outside, take a (very) deep breath, collect myself and head back in to make a few choice purchases.
*sigh*
[Reply]
Oh man, isn’t this such a wonderful place? I need to go buy some tea there- it’s the only place I can find my favorites. I hope your birthday was grand- I wanted to stop by Ella and wish you many happy returns, but I’ve been brought low by a malaise and headed home to rest instead.
How much longer are you in town for?
best regards,
A.
[Reply]
Love the SoHo location when I am in N.Y.
Landlocked here so I order my cheeses and charcuterie from their web location – deandeluca.com
[Reply]
they look really great!
working D&D in Japan,I want to watch the real one in NY!!!
Thank you for the great photos:-)
[Reply]
Happy belated b-day! Is it the 14th? Same day as my 7 year old.
I used to work across the street from that D&D. The coffee is great and it was always a nice pick me up to see the sights and smell the nice smells in there. Their branding is also very classy.
[Reply]
Ah, Alas I did read this while hungry. My tummy is in an uproar! Definitely a nice visiting spot for a day you want to treat yourself to delights. ♥
[Reply]
Mike: YOU drug ME there. Only after I refused to go to the same cuban restaurant on Ave. C for the third time. Hahaha. Next time, we are doing Dean & DeLuca and overdosing on treats. For reals.
elizabeth: Obviously your dad had impeccable taste! What great memories.
Dean & DeLuca: Thank you so much!!!
Angeliska: I wish we could have met! Sadness! I am in Portland now!
Hazera: Thank you, sweets!
Chicaco: I didn’t realize that they had a location in Japan; it would be interesting to see the section there and how it varies.
joseph: Yes, the 14th. You’re 7 year old must be super awesome!
You’re right about their branding; the simplicity feels very refreshing and elegant.
[Reply]
That reminds me of Central Market in Houston. … Down to the little nameplate things. Maybe they’re run by the same company?
Happy (late) birthday! It was the same as my best friend … But she turned 21
(finally!)
[Reply]
I went to the Dean and Deluca cafe in Rockefeller Center a few times a week when I stayed in NYC for a few weeks in the spring of 2001. I was really obsessed with their soups! They’re so om nom nom *falls over*. I’ve never been in the location you mention here, though.
At one point while I was eating, the jeweled bead on my labret stud came unscrewed and bounced onto the floor somewhere, and I had to make an emergency late night trip to Casseiopeia in the Village to replace it.
[Reply]
Wow this place looks amazing, its so on my list of do spots when I eventually visit NYC.
The typography on the little plastic looks like of ‘Lush’ (handmade cosmetics store in NZ and Australia). Ask Gala she will know….
[Reply]
Hello,
I’m a new to this forum. I just bought a pot bellied pig and want to meet other exotic animal
owners and lovers. This is my first pig so I hope to learn from others. I have a pet
parrot and some exotic fish so they all keep me very busy, especially cleaning up.
Now I’m off to do some reading. Hope to chat with some of you soon.
[Reply]