Hi, listeners, this is Lila. I am getting on before we start this episode to share some big news, which is that this show is ending at the end of this year. It has been an absolute honor to host this podcast. I've hosted versions of it for more than five years. That's hundreds of episodes, hundreds more of guests, hundreds of thousands of listeners,

if not more.

And I just want to thank you.

That said, I'm not here to say goodbye just yet.

I'm here because we have a bit more than a month left and I want to ask you something.

A lot of you know me by now.

You know that I love questions so much.

My currency is questions. I work in questions.

And as a way to celebrate this show, I'm hoping that you might send me one question that you

think I could help you answer before we're done. I'm asking because I would like our last

episode to answer listeners questions, as the show has really always been about you. Your question

could really be

anything. As you know, I have access to all of your favorite FT people and more so you can ask

something with a guest in mind, like maybe you have a question for our foreign editor, Alec Russell,

or you want advice about film or music or art or food from our critics. You can also just share a question with me that's been rolling around in your mind that you're looking for a better way to think about. And then I will find someone who I think can give you the most interesting answer. So send me that question by email. You can email me at Lila Rap, L-I-L-A-H-R-A-P at F-T dot com. That's in the show notes. You can also message me on Instagram at Lila Rapp. I see all of those. And if you want to keep following my work, the best way to do that is to find me on Instagram or substack and follow me there. I will share what's next as soon as I can. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. On to the show. Welcome to Life and Art from F.T. Weekend. I'm Lila Raptopoulos.

New York City is an epicenter of gourmet food shops. I live near a cheese monger and a larder and a place that sells delicacies that come

exclusively from Spain. But this city wasn't always known for being artisanal. Until maybe 20 years

ago, you'd come to New York for a stale black and white

cookie or a sausage egg and cheese on a roll. If you wanted a perfect pastry or a perfectly ripe

tomato, you're better off going to Paris. There has been one family that's been quietly leading

the fight for good quality food in this city, and they've been doing it for more than 90 years.

...