A large barrier between consumers and gourmet food isthe poor availability of quality goods, and thehaughty aura and mystique that surrounds the fine foodindustry. I have often been unable to find a food tofulfill a recipe or craving sold in acustomer-friendly and informative environment. Ratherthan giving up on the quest for good grub to cook, Iset out to find more pleasant and helpful markets inSacramento.

The long-established purveyor of quality foods inSacramento is Corti Brothers on Folsom Blvd. and 59thStreet. Darrell Corti is regarded as one of the mostdistinguished food and wine palates in the industry,assembling an amazing selection of great eats. CortiBrothers staffs knowledgeable personnel that arewilling to help without the all-too-typical attitudethat the young seeker of quality foods oftenexperiences. At Corti?s you can find the biggestselection of upper-end foods in Sacramento at moderateprices.

Selland?s Market is a new arrival to the neighborhoodthat opened last month at H Street and El Dorado Way.The new venture in gourmet fresh, prepared andpackaged foods is owned by the family that founded oneof Sacramento?s most acclaimed restaurants: TheKitchen. The market sells a select collection ofproducts that are some of the best available goods onthe market at a fair price. On a typical visit, expectto find primo certified organic veggies, some of thebest olive oil on the face of the planet, great wineand beer and certified humanely-raised and organicmeats all offered in a friendly. non-confrontationalatmosphere. As an added bonus, you can call ahead toSelland?s to order foods prepared or wait while thefood is cooked to order.

With a short drive to the Land Park area, you canvisit Taylor?s Market on Freeport Blvd. at 4th Street.The selection at Taylor?s offers the best bang foryour buck in several categories and is the mostapproachable of all retailers of gourmet grub inSacramento. Some of the foods available at Taylor?sinclude good cheeses at great prices, an attractivemeat / deli case, and an extensive collection ofquality beer. The staff is knowledgeable about theproducts they sell and seem happy to help.

For the adventurous at heart and those serious aboutseafood or Asian food the Asian Food Market onBroadway near 13th Street and Oto?s Japan Food onSouth Freeport at 35th Ave. are must-visit purveyorsof far-Eastern and seafood eats. An occasionallanguage barrier can be expected, but is worth anyeffort on your part for high-quality and authenticgoods at amazingly reasonable prices. The seafoodoffered at both markets is typically of the highestsashimi (sliced raw fish) grade at prices that are thelowest around.

As you head out in search of your special food,remember to not settle for inferior quality orunnecessary bad attitude that you may encounter. Bestof luck in your search for the good eats with a goodattitude.