Fresh Grocers

Smartly invest in your food. Taking the time to scope out good variety and higher quality reflects in your dishes, and can even be the basis for inspiration.  I took this photo at Eli's - an Upper East grocer with a pretty vast selection of produce, cheeses and all kinds of things. The next day, Jen and I were in the store and she was literally awed when she was standing in the same exact location I took the shot from - the fresh and colorful currants, lychee, blueberries and Rainier cherries.

Whole Foods can be good but try other venues - fresh markets and grocers who carry local produce.  Feel, smell, even taste the produce - different seasons yield different flavors so in the summer fruits taste different than winter.  Try baby lettuces, heritage tomatoes, and anything else that is out of the ordinary - taking the time to make one aspect of a dish different goes a long way.