Provenance

is you, Provenance. You see, Provenance isn't going to satisfy many niche necessities in your life, except the only one it purports to address: the little fancy extra for the sensational date, the obscure duck liver product you'll share over brunch the next morning, as you peruse NY Times review of books--your routine every week, natch!-- picnic company to the overpriced farmer's market produce you'll pick up this summer, etc, etc, etc. Provenance does one little thing and it does it well: it has a small but expertly selected stock of fancy cheese, pate, truffled items, wine, chocolate and gelato. Everything is reasonably priced, insofar as these are luxury goods; for a "boutique" atmosphere the stuff costs exactly what it costs at larger purveyors (Fox and Obel and the like). So yes, your pint of ice cream will cost $7...but it's made from goat's milk! GOAT'S MILK! And it costs the same at Dominick's. They are open until 9 or 930, which means that when you burn the appetizer for your dinner party or forget to pick up a bottle of wine or three for a fast approaching night of seduction, Provenance has your back. The people who work there are unobtrusively friendly and knowledgeable, so don't be shy about asking for suggestions. I haven't mentioned the best part: 10 Wines under $10 are featured every week, and I have never been disappointed. In a pinch it's a lifesaver, and in a more relaxed moment--Sunday afternoon post brunch, it's fun to browse and spoil yourself with a little something with a French name. Highly recommended.