2011 Zagat New York City Food Lover’s Guide picks top Brooklyn food shops
Aisha Asif AND Michael Preston, DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Brooklyn foodies who want to entertain at home have a new guide to help them host their best parties ever.
More than 150 specialty stores from across the borough - focusing on everything from wine to chocolate - claimed spots in the just-released 2011 Zagat New York City Food Lover's Guide.
"It's all about enjoying food from a different perspective than restaurants," said Nina Zagat, co-chair of the Zagat Survey. "We included everything from the simplest kind of places to places that offer the best ingredients of every kind."
Like the well-known restaurant guide, the Food Lover's edition allows customers to rave in short blurbs about their favorite butchers, bakeries and creameries.
Brooklyn Heights mainstay Sahadi's gained high marks for its "Middle Eastern provisions" and "unbeatable prices."
"It's quite an honor because Zagat is like a bible in the food industry," said co-owner Bob Sahadi.
At the North Carolina Country Store on Atlantic Ave. in Brownsville, customers can pick up all manner of Southern delicacies.
"We carry a lot of Southern products that are hard to find," said manager Shawna Redrick. "We try hard to please the people in the neighborhood and the people who come in."
Borough Park residents looking for "wonderful" cheeses and an "extensive" selection of "authentic Italian goods" should head to Coluccio & Sons grocery store.
"It's an honor to be included," said manager Louis Coluccio. "It's great to be in Zagat because it's voted on by the people, so it's a way to hear from our customers."
Another Borough Park entry, Ess-a-Pickle, preserves the memory of the now-closed Guss' Pickles by serving up recipes that "delight" the tastebuds of "pickle lovers" from across the city.
"That's very nice. It makes me feel good to hear that," said Pat Fairhurst, whose son runs the store. "In fact, Benny Guss just stopped in to buy pickles today!"
In Midwood, fruit purveyor The Orchard on Coney Island Ave. provides "breathtaking arrangements" that are "perfect for every occasion."
"We have the best product in New York; we don't depend on the market," said owner Daniel Spitz. "We go the airport every day to pick up our fruits and vegetables."
Also in Midwood, kosher shoppers are urged to check out the "extraordinary selection" and "impressive" quality of the goods at Pomegranate.
"This will lead people to appreciate the Pomegranate philosophy of everything better, more and more," said manager Dave Boxer.
Chocolate lovers will find a "terrific experience for palate, eye and nose" at JoMart's Chocolates in Marine Park.
"I'm very humbled and I would like to hope that their standards are as high as mine," said owner Michael Rogak.
An "authentic" experience can be expected at "old-fashioned" Jay & Lloyd's Kosher Deli in Sheepshead Bay. Store owners Lloyd Lederman and Jay Stern have been serving up pastrami, corned beef, hot dogs and more during their 18 years in business.
"Our life is deli, this is what we do," said Lederman. "Stores like ours are the last of a dying breed."
Photo: Coluccio & Sons' array of Italian goods (above) won praises in Zagat's guide (James Monroe Adams IV/NYDN)
