Greek Food Markets Astoria, New York

Thursday, 08 October 2015

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A taste of health and happiness awaits for you at these Mediterranean-style food markets in Astoria.

If you want to cook just like the Greeks and Italians, all you have to do is hop on the train and take a short subway ride to Astoria, Queens. Here, you will find a wealth of authentic ethnic food markets that sell everything from imported olives and EVOO to cheese and pasta.

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These days we are all more aware of the foods that we are putting in our bodies. The trend is now toward healthy meals that emphasize ingredients like fish, poultry, olive oil, and lots of fruits and vegetables. This is one reason why the Mediterranean diet is so very popular and why we keep on coming back to it.

It's a well-known fact to foodies everywhere that olives are one of the healthiest foods that you can eat. Olives provide us with many different antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Olives are,in many ways, also valuable in preventing bone loss. When it comes to taste, texture and health, Kalamata Olives are considered by many to be the queen of the olive crop.

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A classic table olive, Kalamatas are available at fine restaurants, your local deli and café, at the olive bar in your neighborhood supermarket and, of course, at Greek specialty markets throughout Astoria. Whether you prefer them whole, pitted, sliced or pureed, they bring to the table an authentic taste of Greece. After you pop one into your mouth, you won't be able to stop eating these sun-kissed Mediterranean morsels of goodness. The unique flavor of the Kalamata olive appeals to everyone who enjoys something deliciously different.

Even the Italians, those maestros of Mediterranean cuisine, have incorporated the Kalamata into one of their most popular and traditional dishes, Pasta Puttanesca. The Puttanesca sauce, which features Kalamatas along with tomatoes, garlic, basil and extra virgin olive oil, can be served over everything from polenta and seafood to chicken.

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Kalamata olives are grown in the Peloponnese and Livanata regions of Greece. For generations, the Kalamata olive harvest has been traded around the world through the port city of Kalamata. Hence, the name. These distinctive olives are almond-shaped, have a rich texture, a fruity, wine-infused flavor and an unmistakable deep burgundy-brown and eggplant-purple color. They taste as good as they look!

The Kalamata harvest takes place every year from mid-November through January. Throughout the harvest, the olive growers (mostly small, family-owned farms) cultivate the fruit with care and integrity. Each olive is picked at their peak of ripe perfection. And then, the all-important curing process begins.

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Did you know that olives are not edible until they have been cured? Olives contain natural, bitter sugars and phenolic compounds. The fermentation that the Kalamatas undergo during curing removes this extreme bitterness. But the delightful characteristics of the olive remain, so that you can enjoy their smoky, savory flavor. Curing is an artisanal process that hasn't really changed that much over the years. First, the olives are placed inside tanks of fresh water. Bags of local sea salt are carefully punctured and then immersed in the tank, allowing the salt to slowly seep into the water, thus creating brine. At the proper time ( and it has to be timed perfectly), the salt bags are removed. The olives remain in the tank, where the cool winter air works its magic, maintaining a constant, soothing temperature.

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The curing process takes around four months and the wait is well worth it. The Kalamatas are now ready for you to enjoy with their seductive aroma. With hummus, pita triangles, in salads, and from simple to upscale food recipes, these delicious and healthy olives offer an unbeatable flavor.

The very best Kalamatas come to you from import and distribution companies like DIVINA, who deal directly with the Peloponnese olive growers. Divina offers a complete line of Kalamatas, including olive spread, whole and pitted Kalamatas as well as organic varieties.

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Astoria is a diverse neighborhood and, as you would expect, the neighborhood is full of quality markets that sell a multitude of items imported from Greece, including Kalamata olives and many more delicious fresh and frozen mediterranean specialties.

When you are in the mood to create the perfect Mediterranean-style meal, check out these fine establishments: