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Sandra Bernhard Loves Chelsea but Hates Whole Foods With a Passion

By Heidi Patalano | April 29, 2013 7:07am

CHELSEA — Comedian, singer, actress and gay rights activist Sandra Bernhard may cut an intimidating figure but she’s in fact surprisingly approachable — even if you’re cornering her at a fancy Tribeca Film Festival function.

At last week’s Women's Filmmaker Brunch, DNAinfo.com New York asked Bernhard about the West Chelsea digs that have been her home for the last 12 years. While she admits she loves her neighborhood locavore restaurants, she is loathe to enter a certain organic chain store unless she’s really stuck.

Where do you live?
I live in West Chelsea.

Where do you go out to eat in the area?
Cookshop is basically my canteen. I eat there a lot. I eat at new place called Chop-Shop, sort of Asian influenced. Blossom to-go, I used to eat at but now they moved below 23rd Street, so it’s more of a hike. I go to Chelsea Market a lot and do a lot of shopping there. So there are the main places where we eat.

What about groceries? Are you a Fresh Direct person?
No. I like to look at my groceries. We go all over the place. There’s a little butcher on 9th Avenue. It’s called Knickerbocker. I do a little bit at Dickson’s Farm Stand. I try to go to Union Square Market, Integral Yoga Natural Foods. And of course, when I’m stuck I’ve got to go to Whole Foods.

You’re trying to avoid that?
I don’t like their politics. I don’t like the guy that owns it. He’s a real manipulative son of a bitch. I don’t like their stance on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). I want to know what’s in my food, especially at a grocery store that’s based on organic, sustainable eating. I’m very into that, so I want full disclosure.

What about exercise?
I go to Equinox on 10th Avenue.

Where do you socialize?
You know, mainly Cookshop. I have all my meetings there. I’m not much of a bar-hopper. That’s the place where I meet with most of my people.

Any boutiques you’re partial to?
I like Steven Alan on 10th Avenue when I need to grab something quick.

How long have you been in Chelsea?
12 years.

What’s made you stay there so long?
I like the amount of space that we got. It’s more spacious.

What do you like the least about it?
There’s nothing. I like it over there. It’s quiet.