AT THE ETHNIC MARKET: GALA APPLE INTERNATIONAL

Gothamist
June 26 2008
NY

Gala Apple is a sprawling Slavic supermarket housed in a former Rite
Aid, located along the southern border of Kensington, Brooklyn. It’s
loaded with odd food gems like these cute, 8 oz. "Subway Series" rye
mini-loaves ($1.29), above, that come from a Queens bakery. Part of
the baker’s profits benefit education about the Armenian Genocide.

Just past the bread aisle, a refrigerated case is stocked with Russian
cheeses and odd, layered dessert concoctions. Sausages and meats of
all kinds adorn the shelves–including one called "Baby Bologna,"
whose label carries a picture of a kid in a sailor shirt. Fresh
butter and about 10 different types of slab bacon are sold. Like
larger Russian stores in Brooklyn, such as M & I international,
lots of pickled things bob in brine at a service counter, and rows
of smoked fish and herring are lined up in glass cases.

Up front, Gala Apple features a wall of honeys and honeycomb. A giant
bucket of cloudy Linden blossom honey costs $13.99; a few shelves
down, it’s Bulgarian Pine Cone "Honey"– made from straight-up sap,
and torqued with citric acid to balance out the Christmas tree flavor
(2/$5).