Now more than ever, many shoppers make a conscious effort to support local businesses. Of course, when it comes to food, there’s nothing better than buying from a local maker. The Cottage in Jersey City is a new artisanal market for food and goods; in addition, they have a partially enclosed outdoor event space that can host up to 50 people.
The Cottage exclusively sells seasonal food, sourcing simple and fresh ingredients while supporting local farms. “So, you’ll see a variation of items and they may differ as the seasons changes,” owner Heather Grabin says. However, no matter the season you’ll always find fresh croissants every morning in a number of flavors; such as chocolate, spinach and ricotta, ham and cheese, and almond. You’ll also find homemade candies, pickled beets, and items from The Cookie Cake Company.
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The Cottage is a sensible pivot from Grabin’s previous work, spending the past decade working in travel/hospitality PR. “After being laid off like thousands of hospitality workers, I found myself trying to figure out what my next move would be,” she says, in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. Grabin also owns The Cookie Cake Company, which makes handmade cookie cakes.
The Cottage Offers More Than a Market
You’ll find event space at The Cottage on their patio in the back of the market. The spot is great for meetings, children’s parties, engagement parties, dinner parties, baby showers, and bridal showers. They also do experiential events like Cider Fest, teaming up with chefs to whip up fresh apple cider and donuts. “We want to bring different experiences you may not have access to in Jersey City and city areas,” Grabin says.
The Cottage also offers private chef services; for instance, “The Cottage Dinners Delivered” program provides creative, custom menus based on your likes, dislikes, and dietary needs. Using fresh, local foods, the team prepares complete meals with simple heating instructions.
Meanwhile, the market uses sustainable, ecofriendly packaging and other disposable products. They use sources such as bamboo, sugar, and corn, as well as other recycled materials that are compostable and biodegradable.
You can find The Cottage at 136 Monticello Avenue in Jersey City. Look for them online to find hours and other info.
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All Photos: © The Cottage
