Wagshal's, Washington

Wagshal's is more than a market. It's more than a deli, too. It's more than a restaurant, and a butcher, and a bakery. It's a Washington DC institution. And considering its history, it's easy to see why. Since its founding in 1925, Wagshal's has served overstuffed sandwiches to Presidents—such as Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon—House Speaker Tip O'Neil, and a gaggle of Supreme Court Justices, lawyers, and lobbyists.

And even though "The President's Deli" slices up USDA prime meats that it dry ages in house, it's not just the sandwiches that get these titans of legislation clamoring. Pastry chefs fresh-bake Twinkies and Whoopie Pies from scratch along with custom cakes studded with meticulous fondant embellishments. For home chefs, the gourmet market stocks artisan ingredients, organic produce, and exclusive imports such as Fermín Ibérico de Bellota Ham.