PARK SLOPE PERSPECTIVE

Top 5 Buys at The Bad Wife market, Park Slope, Brooklyn

The Bad Wife market, Park Slope, Brooklyn

    This unconventional "corner" store with an even more unconventional name offers some of the best specialty food items in the neighborhood, at reasonable prices.

What used to be a glorified bodega-like mini-market between 11th and 12th street on 7th avenue in Park Slope, The Bad Wife - re-vamped several months ago- is now a small-scale grocer that competes with the likes of Union Market, without the pretension, smooth jazz or insanely long lines. While you can't get prime cuts of meat here, many other specialty and non-specialty items abound, plus they have a juice bar and some of the most gorgeous fresh flowers and potted plants in the neighborhood.

Here are some of the goodies that draw me to The Bad Wife, besides the welcoming atmosphere and  friendly owners:

Photo courtesy of stevesicecream.com

1. Steve's Ice Cream: Mexican Chili Chocolate, $5.99/pint
This item is definitely a treat, but if you have never had cayenne pepper in your ice cream, I suggest you skip your lunch plans and dive into a pint right now- you won't regret it.

2. YAMAMOTOYAMA Jasmine Tea, $2.39/box (16 tea bags)
For Jasmine Tea addicts like myself, this incredibly inexpensive box is all you need to make cup after cup of this earthy, fragrant beverage. Simple, to-the-point and inexpensive, YAMAMOTOYAMA Jasmine Tea will give you an eye-opening morning kick that's comparable to coffee, without the comedown.


3. Dogfish Head Burton Baton and Aprihop beers, $3.60/bottle

Hallelujah!  Dogfish Head beer is more readily-available in local markets than it was a year ago, and The Bad Wife carries two of the brand's particularly unique brews. Burton Baton- now sold year-round- has the hoppy kick of an IPA with an oakey vanilla flavor to mellow it out, while Aprihop's subtle fruitiness makes it a refreshing alternative to your run-of-the-mill IPA. Both have higher-than-normal alcohol contents (10% and 7% ABV, respectively) so one or two bottles should suffice for a cheap night in.

4. Aura Cacia Candle Lamp (for essential oil diffusion), around $7.99
Realized the smell of kitty litter is taking over your house, or that your living room is missing a little "atmosphere"? Pop into The Bad Wife for a quick fix to your problem: The Aura Cacia Candle Lamp is an inexpensive way to safely burn essential oils and give your home an aroma-makeover. Plus, the market also sells a wide range of oils, so you can experiment with the perfect blend for absolute tranquility (3 drops Lavender, 3 drops Tangerine, 3 drops Marjoram, 1- drop Chamomile, in case you were wondering).

5. Mrs. Lee's Kimchi, $5.99
For kimchi fans, skip the packaged stuff and try this homemade version of the spicy, pickled Korean dish straight from the kitchen of Mrs. Lee, the "Bad Wife" herself!

The Bad Wife
378 Seventh Ave. (bet. 11th and 12th)
Park Slope
Brooklyn, NY 11215