The Mothership Calls to Me

[livius drusus]

Mario Batali, the Bastianiches (mother and son) and Italian entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti have opened a gigantic 50,000 square-foot emporium of Italian food in the Flatiron building in New York City. It's called Eataly, which while annoying is just a little bit cute because that's how Italians pronounce "Italy" on account of 'i' being an 'ee' sound.

It employs 300 people, has every kind of fresh, homemade Italian food product you can think of plus hundreds of grocery staples from every region in Italy. There are 3 wood-burning ovens imported from Italy and 6 pizzaioli also imported from Italy to put scrumptious things in said ovens. There's also a restaurant that seats 600 and a little school where guest stars like Batali and Lidia Bastianich will teach Italian food and wine classes. Slideshow of awesomeness.

I'm seriously tempted to go full hobo, tie a bedroll to a stick and move in.

[trientalis]

Anybody have a napkin? I seem to be drooling uncontrollably for some reason.

[vremya]

OMG look at that ham!!!!

I'm going with you - we can move in under the bread, they'll never know we're there.

[livius drusus]

Excellent location choice. One of those wood-burning ovens is going to be running 24 hours a day to ensure the supply of fresh bread is endless. Can you imagine falling asleep and waking up to the smell of Italian bakery every day?

[vremya]

I love the smell of bread baking!

That place looks like total sensory overload. I'd probably end up buying everything in sight. Especially anything that goes on an antipasto plate.

[Dingfod]

It's not IN the Flatiron Building, it's across the street from it.

The huge, 6,000 square-metre space stands opposite the Flatiron, New York’s iconic early 20th-century skyscraper.

The whole Flatiron building can't be much more than 50,000 square feet, all 21 floors of it. My youngest brother worked on the 4th floor of the Flatiron Building when he worked for St. Martin's Press.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

[wei yau]

Two things:

1) I would love this place, definitely visiting it as soon as I can. If nothing else, the Italians know good food.

2) I love the Flatiron building, even if Eataly is only across the street, at least it has a lovely view.

[Stormlight]

Originally Posted by vremya

OMG look at that ham!!!!

I'm going with you - we can move in under the bread, they'll never know we're there.

Yeah, I don't know. That would work for a few days and then they'll definitely notice ...

[Shake]

Damn! That looks awesome!