A Matter of Health: A New Healthy Supermarket on the UES
Monday night at Remorca Studio, I overheard one of my fellow yoga classmates discussing his plans to check out "the new supermarket." Naturally, I was curious. As it turned out, A Matter of Health, a cute little health food store on 77th, had opened a supermarket-sized location on 72nd and 1st. Tonight, I went to check it out.
I did the supplement side first. If you're into organic lip balm (I am), aluminum-free deoderant (yes, please) and things of that nature, you'll have fun here. There's also a nice selection of fish oil, probiotics, protein powder, aloe etc. They cater to every gimmick and every neurosis, so you may have to wade through things to find the products you're into. The huge selection of vegan products - protein, sports gels, electrolyte mixes - stood out to me. I had never seen that before.
On the supermarket side, they had a lot of what you'd expect. There were lots of drinks, a large election of Applegate Farm products, and tons of supposedly healthy snack foods and chips. I imagine that vegetarians would have a lot of fun here. Soy was everywhere I turned.
If you're the type to pour over ingredients - or the type who thinks ingredients is a dirty word - you'll find yourself in good company.
I have to admit, I was hoping against hope that they'd have a nice butcher counter with lots of good grass-fed options. No luck there, but they do have some grass-fed beef in the freezer section. It's something.
I spent a small fortune buying up things that caught my eye. My top 5 finds were:
- Kombucha. Kombucha is everywhere - but this cost me well over a dollar less than the bodega by me charges. (And, yes, I know it's not paleo, but since I take so much antibiotics, it's a somewhat necessary evil now and again.)
- Organic Pickled Ginger Carrots. They had a really nice selection of naturally fermented/raw foods (pickles, beets, kimchi, etc.).
- Organic Grass-Fed Whey Protein. I care what my food ate. Also - the "no" list is amazing: no gluten, no soy, no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors, no GMO ingredients of fillers, no added hormones and no high fructose corn syrup. Let's hope this doesn't taste like chalk!
- Buddha Cups. These pricey wonders are raw organic dark chocolate almond butter cups. Diary free. Gluten free. Soy free. And they're made in Brooklyn.
- Organic Grass-Fed Heavy Cream. Not so uncommon - but it makes me happy.
Happy shopping!
-Gym Belle-
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Reader Comments (1)
Abe had "The Good Earth" Health Food Store in this space up until about 8 years ago. I think they wrecked that old property and built the new property that's there now.
Abe also had a location on 68th street and Amsterdam. they were both big stores like the new A Matter Of Health. Abe moved up a few blocks on first Avenue about 5 years ago to 1st. Avenue and 74 Street. He told me he had to change the name but he was hesitant to tell me why. I'm sure he's thrilled there in his old space.
I think he told me once that Rodney Dangerfield was a silent partner. Rodney had 2 places on 76th and York. He owned one and rented the other. I think the one he rented was like a bungalow. Abe told me that Rodney used go into The Good Earth Health Food Store to buy things to GAIN weight!
Rodney used the name in one of his bits "Flying Southern Comfort." So maybe Rodney owned the name.There was probably a dispute over the name with Rodney's daughter or Rodney's widow, Joan Child. After Rodney died in 2004, a few years later, Joan Child pulled an Anna Nicole Smith and married a Billionaire with one foot in the grave So, it wouldn't surprise me.
It's easy to take but not to give...
She never got back to me about investing money in Brave New World The Musical.
She'll probably end up in the poor section of Calcutta in the next lifetime...
keep your fingers crossed...