Freshest Seafood, Gorgeous Meats, Authentic Italian Food
Carmine's Market- Delicious Foodcation Not to Miss
I travel all over looking for unique experiences in the food and lifestyle industry. For me to get excited and write about these foodcations, certain criteria must be met. It must be a destination in itself. The food must be stellar, the ingredients unique, and the atmosphere must let me lose all concept of time. Whether that be getting lost in the experience, the story, the authenticity of the establishment, or the vast square footage of delight to uncover.
What good is a gourmet market if I spend 20 minutes looking at food I can get at home? That's, not a foodcation. What good is an Italian Market if it sells the same ingredients and quality of food I can get at home? That’s not a destination, that’s an Italian market in a neighborhood I came across.
carmine’s bakery-case
I look for destinations and then find things in the area that the locals do. So when I heard about Carmine’s Italian Market & Gifts, I booked my trip to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to check it out.
Truly a destination all its own! My first stop was Carmine’s Italian Market & Gifts. The flagship store in Palm Beach Gardens covers 16,000 square feet of space. Located in the same plaza is their 4-star upscale white table cloth Trattoria which was EXTREMELY busy, and a New York-style brick oven pizza shop. It’s a busy spot, to say the least, and parking is premium, so be patient! It is well worth the wait, or feel free to pay the valet.
Before you even enter the gourmet market, you are greeted with fresh herbs and flowers to purchase and bring back to your beach rental to enjoy. When you walk through the doors, the wine cellar is your landing. Aisles and aisles of unbelievably priced wine are waiting for you.
Meandering through each wine aisle walks you alongside the bakery case and fresh-baked loaves of bread. You have to stop and gawk! Not only did I gawk, but my hands were also full within the first 10 minutes of entering the store, I had to grab a cart.
Going around the corner you arrive at the fresh seafood and absolutely most gorgeous meat you have ever seen. Who says that about meat?
You can’t help it! The cuts are precise, the color is spectacular, and the marbling is barred none. The prices are remarkable. Honestly, I wanted to extend my foodcation so I could keep going back and buy more to cook! Oh, you’re not wanting to cook on your foodcation? Keep going around the corner you won’t be disappointed.
charcuterie board
Welcoming you to the prepared, take-out section of the Italian market is the most friendly, patient staff just waiting to serve you. Everything you can imagine is available for take-out. Sold by the pound or the meal grouped by the number of people, your options are overwhelming. The taste is so authentic it brings you to Italy.
By now, I have a few bottles of wine, dessert, and breakfast for the next morning. I grabbed dinner, and I am about to enter the cheese cases and market area.
Oh, I love a good, makeshift charcuterie board and wine on the beach. I must have a good beach cheese tray, napkins, and beach safe wine glasses. This brought me right into the checkout and right out the door. I picked up what I needed for my first day. Yes, I have a couple of more days to complete at the market. I need to see if that pizza is all it's cracked up to be and pick up some fun gifts from my travels.
Since the Italian market is on the east coast of Florida, I wasn’t going to catch much of the sunset but a short 5-mile drive to the beach had me barefoot in the sand, on a blanket smelling the salt water, listening to the waves at dusk and enjoying my dinner and travels. Now that is a foodcation!
What gourmet market have you been to?
Leave a comment and tell us about it! We would love to hear from you…
