At the Ethnic Market: Gala Apple International
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).
Gala Apple International, 4112 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, (718) 686-7590
