Shopping is often an in-and-out trip, but it can also be an experience. And that's precisely what Boulder’s Bayleaf on Pearl is all about.  

Michael Burgermeister’s market, which relocated to a larger space in the heart of the Pearl Street Mall a few months ago, is a feast for the senses. Taking cues from markets in Europe as well as Eataly (the wondrous marketplace in New York), Burgermeister decided to expand his artisanal food selection.

Bayleaf's shelves are packed with cookbooks, candles, tableware, and hard-to-find gourmet-food products. Some of my favorite discoveries recently include teas and jams from the renowned Fauchon food temples in Paris; biscuits, puddings, and spreads from England; and polenta and pasta from obscure boutique producers in Italy. True to European custom, you can also find a stellar lineup of local products. My picks: Frasca Food and Wine's red pepper jelly, MM Local's canned Front Range tomatoes, and JJ’s Sweets' chocolate- covered java Cocomels, a must-try.

1222-A Pearl St., Boulder, 720-565-2477