UES Gem: Kitchen Arts and Letters

Have you been to the wonderful Kitchen Arts and Letters? Located at 1435 E. Lexington, between 93rd and 94th Street, it’s a business that marries a local bookstore with food and drink. Basically, a dream come true.

Kitchen Arts and Letters opened in 1983, and has since been serving the neighborhood (and city) with books that cover a broad range of food history and science to recipes to award-winning food writing. You can also find limited editions and signed copies here. Of course, Julia Child and James Beard were among their early customers.

I love popping into this shop when I want to buy a unique gift. I’ve bought New York City cookbooks for friends who moved away; I’ve purchased a meat-curing cookbook for my brother-in-law; and I’ve bought a handful of books for family members and friends who love to cook—and eat. Plus, they’ll wrap it in a pretty package for you!