Aisle Style: Christine Muhlke

At The Grocery Store

In this series, I follow stylish people while they stock up at their favorite local grocery store.

Who: Christine Muhlke

She's a New York-based culinary encyclopedia, editor, and author with a knack for authenticity, which you'll find in her numerous articles and books (including "On The Line" with chef Eric Ripert and "Wine Simple" with sommelier Aldo Sohm). I appreciate Christine's cultural expertise and devotion to bicycling, composting, and navigation in a room of yogis. Check out Xtine Substack!

Where: Trader Joe's in Chelsea

Intrigued? I was. I didn't expect Christine, a master of niche destinations and sustainable approaches, to suggest a chain store. I respected that she was not only open to it but took it seriously and approached it in a highly focused and thoughtful way. That showed me her range. It's always fascinating to see an expert navigate an unlikely place; this experience was no exception.

What She Wore: Old CELINE Overcoat

(P.S. I'm currently wearing her old Hermès riding boots—a kind gift from her archive.)

What she bought: Let's find out…

“I'll get dried but not fresh produce at Trader Joe's because I don't like it wrapped or bagged. The plastic makes me a little crazy.”

THE LIST

• Quinoa Pasta: “For my boyfriend, who is gluten-free.”

• Dried Fruit: “I do a hard run on dried fruit and use it to make granola.”