If you are in the mood to explore flavors as rich as the culture on the Lower East Side visit the Essex Street Market for one-stop shopping! The market, which opened in 1939 is always full of fresh produce, fine cuts of meat, poultry and friendly merchants who pride themselves on getting to know their customers. To help you navigate your way through the market we decided to visit of few of the markets most valuable merchants.

Jeffrey Ruhalter, owner of Jeffrey’s Meats, is the last original vendor in the Essex Street Market. Jeffrey’s Meats has been around on the Lower East Side for the past 75 years and will celebrate its 65th anniversary this year as an Essex Street Market resident. As the fourth generation owner of Jeffrey’s Meats, Jeffrey takes pride in getting to know his customers and helping to solve their dining dilemmas. If you are not sure how much meat you need for your next six-person dining event Jeffrey’s the man you should see!

Along with residents on the Lower East Side Jeffrey’s Meats has undergone a transition to reflect the needs of its customers. Today Jeffrey’s Meats supplies varying grades of beef, organic poultry, lamb, and pork to retail and wholesale customers. Other items available at Jeffrey’s Meats are chicken salad, crab cakes, Nova Scotia smoked salmon, eggplant caponata, and tomato bruschetta. You can also combine your choice of deli cold cuts with cheese for a quick sandwich on the go.

Visiting Jeffrey’s Meats is an experience unlike any other, his presence is one of the reasons his customers have come to rely on his service over the years and he has been featured on the Bobby Flay Show and Roker on the Road.

For 30 years Ron Budinas and Ira Stolzenberg have owned and operated Rainbo’s and …Cakes & More. It all began as a fish market they expanded and turned into a juice bar and bakery after Ron started making muffins. After baking cakes for friends, the two business partners decided it was worth a try to expand the fish market to include Ron’s baked goods. Each day for 12 hours Ron bakes an assortment of muffins including popular favorites such as apple, carrot, banana nut, sweet potato and bran which almost always sell out.

For special occasions with a minimum of 3 weeks notice you can have a birthday or celebratory cake made by Ron and decorated by Ira. Rainbo’s and …Cakes & More also creates wedding cakes with 6-8 months advanced notice. For those brides in a bind please keep in mind that Rainbo’s and …Cakes & More can put wedding cakes back together. Specialty cakes start at $60 for weddings cakes prices varies but most cakes start at $5 per person.

Juan Luis Rodriguez came from Santo Domingo in 1975 and has been a Lower East Side resident ever since. Juan and his wife opened Luis’s Meats 7 years ago and have since been providing fast and courteous quality service to customers. Juan’s selection of moderately-priced chicken, top sirloin beef, goat’s meat, short ribs and chicken are cut to perfection upon request. Not only is the customer service exceptional but Luis’s Meats also offers Dominican cheese, cooked salami and salted Pollock.

If you aren’t sure what to buy, Juan recommends the famous Tropical brand Queso Blanco (white cheese) or Queso De Fryer (frying white cheese). Juan also suggests coming by early since lines to tend to be longer in the afternoons when people are purchasing ingredients for dinner.

If you are in the mood for something light and flaky, introduce yourself to Danny Longo of Lower Yeast Side. Danny and his wife Ann have been merchants in the market for about six years and always have the freshest breads in their baskets. The Lower Yeast Side sells British products and fine breads thanks to area bakeries in Manhattan, such as Balthazar, which provide a large selection of flaky delights. Danny recommends trying the focaccia rolls if you are not sure of what to try, but the most common requests are for multigrain rolls and Balthazar baguettes. Other must-try products at the Lower Yeast Side include the Kibena, Orange Barley, Walter Crisps, Lemon Barley, Garson’s Vinegar, Golden Syrup and the Bird’s Custard.

Jose De la Cruz and Tina Hidalgo opened Viva Fruits & Vegetables five years ago and have expanded from two to six full time employees all from the Lower East Side. You can find a tantalizing array of green bananas, plantains, yucca, eggplants, grapefruits, and spices that will add flavor to any dish. Some of the products available at Viva Fruits & Vegetables are imported directly from Santo Domingo and Mexico. Other must-tries include the light and flaky El Faro Gallatas de Heleros (egg crackers).