New York Cuisine: Karina Longworth Highlighted
In the heart of New York City, in the year 2003, an individual arrived with just $1,000 in their pocket, ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure. Their temporary home was under the Marcy Avenue stop of the J/M/Z, a bustling part of the city that never sleeps. Interestingly, this was also the residence of film critic and podcast host, Karina Longworth, during her own New York journey.
The newcomer's life in the city was far from ordinary. They bartered Coach Farm green peppercorn goat cheese, a delicacy they often obtained from their job at Dean & DeLuca, a renowned gourmet food store in Soho, for cigarettes and booze. Unfortunately, the Coach Farm cheese, a staple in their bartering system, is no longer in existence.
Dean & DeLuca, founded by Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca, and Jack Ceglic, was a haven for food lovers. Employees were encouraged to taste the food, a practice that proved beneficial for our protagonist. Meals were not a necessity for them, as they could satisfy their hunger with the samples from the store. The individual was initially hired at the cheese and pasta counter, a role that would lead them to cross paths with the elusive Coach Farm cheese.
Karina Longworth, too, was a part of the Dean & DeLuca family. She traded food from the store with other counters, just like our protagonist. The two shared a common love for the Coach Farm green peppercorn goat cheese, a flavour they both miss deeply.
The individual's meagre savings were enough to secure a $700 monthly room in a loft shared with seven roommates. The hard work and long hours at Dean & DeLuca paid off, providing them with a roof over their head in one of the world's most expensive cities.
Sadly, Dean & DeLuca closed its doors in 2019, marking the end of an era for food lovers in New York City. The individual, now reminiscing about their time there, misses not just the Coach Farm cheese, but also the camaraderie and the vibrant atmosphere of the store.
Karina Longworth, too, shares the same sentiment. The memory of the Coach Farm cheese, the bustling store, and the camaraderie among the employees lingers in her mind, a testament to the unique experience Dean & DeLuca offered to all who walked through its doors.
