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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2009 1:20:24 GMT
Probably no one here shops in just one place. Let's see where we all buy our groceries, whether it's a gleaming food emporium with piped music, a corner shop, or the local farmers' market.
I'll start with the meat section in the Zaachila market.
Modified to add that I forgot you can't see the commentary unless you open this to you tube. Thus, I'll repeat it here: This is Yolanda's meat stall. The lady on the right is counting tlayudas -- a type of tortilla. You'll hear her say it right at the end. The flute sound is from the perambulating knife grinder.
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Post by existentialcrisis on Nov 11, 2009 8:42:03 GMT
You know this is embarrassing for most North Americans... *sigh* ... Superstore, Sobeys and the natural food store when I can get out that way.
However, while in Halifax I also enjoyed the Halifax Farmer's Market, located in the Alexander Keith's brewery and is simply the most amazing Farmer's market I've ever been to (as a North American, of course). Also, the Middle Easten Food Centre was an impressive store.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2009 8:48:17 GMT
Why is it embarrassing, Existentia? We pretty much can only shop at what's available.
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Post by existentialcrisis on Nov 11, 2009 11:08:34 GMT
It would just be so nice to live in a place where I could walk to a butcher shop, a bakery, a produce market, a grainery, an ethnic food store, etc. Instead, big supermarkets force us to buy meat that is factory farmed and shipped from across the country. It's always bothered me not being able to get local free range meats at the grocery store.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 11, 2009 13:58:34 GMT
Mostly shop at Marché Jean-Talon, the largest public (farmers') market in Montréal, a few minutes' away. No, that is not by accident.
Right around the corner from me, there is a very good family-owned Argentine butcher's, with a variety of products - not just meat - from different Latin American countries (though mostly the Southern Cone) and Italian products. They have very reasonable prices. Most of the meat is local, though I doubt it is free range - they do have quality "grain-fed" chicken though. I can get free range and even organic at the market, though it is pricy of course.
I do also shop at "evul supermarkets" - I read flyers and make lists, being terminally cheap. In this climate, I do like to have some staples on hand.
There are many "ethnic groceries" around here; this is the traditional Little Italy, there are also large communities from various Latin American countries, East and Southeast Asia - the main shops for that are run by Sino-Vietnamese and Sino-Cambodians - they have bbq duck! - the Maghreb (North Africa: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) and some other places. Across the railway viaduct, near the Loblaws at the corner of Jean-Talon and avenue du Parc - this is about half an hour's walk from my place - there is a neighbourhood that was traditionally Greek but now more and more South Asian (from several countries; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)... Obviously we have good breads, croissants etc.
There is a wonderful supermarket chain in Montréal called Adonis, run by Lebanese people. They have a huge array of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods, but also in general very good produce, cheeses etc and good prices. Unfortunately there are none really close - There is one I can cycle to on a nice day, but it is a bit of a trek, and I don't like carrying too much heavy stuff on my bicycle although it has sturdy Dutch panniers and is a sturdy old Raleigh.
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Post by bjd on Nov 11, 2009 14:57:11 GMT
I buy most staples, meat, cheese fish etc at the supermarket -- one of two depending on how I feel and where the specials are. My suburb also has an outdoor market twice a week and that's where I buy most fruit and vegetables. I'm not sure what N Americans mean by a "farmer's market" -- most of the people selling there are not producers of the food, but middlemen. Or else they produce some, but buy other things. I buy bread either at the bakery or at the market.
There is not much choice in "ethnic" food here. A few shelves in the supermarket, and even that is a big improvement on a few years ago. It's all pretty well French stuff. There is a big Asian supermarket but it's quite a drive and I rarely go there.
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Post by cristina on Nov 11, 2009 15:23:52 GMT
The supermarket is my main shopping venue. While I do have two weekly Farmer's Markets in my neighborhood, they can be hit or miss. They are generally a good source for interesting locally prepared products such as salsas or, my favorite: pickled garlic cloves (I can eat a whole jar in one sitting), but not so much for produce.
I also have a gourmet market that I can walk to, which is nice when I need an obscure ingredient. They also have the best selection of cheeses. While they tend to be a little pricier for normal groceries, I did find pomegranates there this week for half the price of the regular grocery store.
I also have an independent butcher nearby but I don't shop there nearly as often as I should.
My son has recently found an Asian Market that he really likes but I'm not sure where it is. I need to look into this.
I'm sure there are decent bakeries in the Phoenix area however there are none within a reasonable distance.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 11, 2009 16:32:57 GMT
There are some actual farmers at Marché Jean-Talon - it is a "marché public" in French; I was also referring to it as a "farmers' market" in quotes so English-speaking North Americans wouldn't think a supermarket. But certainly out of season most stands are operated by middlemen, and there are different types of shops as well as the stands.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2009 18:48:42 GMT
I have often made it clear that I have access to just about everything, but probably about 80% of what I eat comes from 2 of the principal supermarkets, which are both less than 3 minutes from my apartment.
I am guilty of often sacrificing quality to convenience, plus I am a cheapskate. When my colleagues talk about how much they spend at the butcher or at the fishmonger, complaining about how incredibly expensive it is but how the quality is worth it, I maintain a discreet silence.
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Post by auntieannie on Nov 11, 2009 19:14:35 GMT
I do try and avoid supermarkets as much as possible. I find better quality AS WELL AS prices at the independant butchers, healthfood shop, grocers, etc...
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Post by imec on Nov 11, 2009 19:30:57 GMT
Supermarket for the most part. Some products are worth a special trip to a specialty store. I go to a good Italian grocer/butcher/baker for Veal, Italian charcuterie and fresh sausage, cheese, bread. Asian markets for Asian stuff of course (sauces, veg, BBQ Pork, frozen dim sum, noodles etc.). Small market only open in summer for interesting things like morels, fiddleheads and such. Farmers market in summer/fall for all kinds of veg (and great Vietnamese spring rolls). Small fish market for smoked local fish and golden caviar. Small fancy food store for French cheese. Best beef these days is from Costco. Good pork can be found almost anywhere. Old traditional butcher for peameal bacon. That's about it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2009 19:52:18 GMT
It is true that I absolutely never buy Asian products elsewhere than at my Asian supermarkets, never the 'normal' ones.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 11, 2009 22:37:16 GMT
They are usually cheaper as well as better. One always sells sweet little Vietnamese imperial rolls - I mean the kind you fry - from what seems to be a fairly artisanal local producer. These are usually called "nem" in French - I read that this is North Vietnamese dialect. They are sold from the freezer container but I've twice bought them just delivered and not even frozen yet. Ten small rolls for 3,99$ (Canadian, of course). They have a crab and shrimp variety, which I almost always buy, and a vegetarian variety, which I buy if I'm treating vegetarian friends.
People who think Kerouac has no taste are not familiar with the generally high standards of French supermarkets...
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Post by existentialcrisis on Nov 12, 2009 8:44:02 GMT
I am jealous of lagatta. I ought to move to Montreal... but I feel I should improve my French first. Or I could just move back to Halifax where ethnic shops, gourmet shops, and the farmer's market are much more easily accessible. How foolish was I to assume that since Calgary is a much bigger city that it would have a better selection and accessibility of such things.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 14, 2009 16:10:09 GMT
The supermarkets in my city are of indifferent quality at best. The price of produce can be shocking, especially considering how many fresh markets are easily accessible. The meat and fish frequently have been previously frozen. Meat from the supermarket seems to go off almost immediately . They are loud, poorly organized, and sometimes it seems one spends more time trudging to the price check machine than shopping. Even though I love the local outdoor markets for freshness and interest, sometimes it would be nice to go into a big emporium that takes credit cards and where I could pick up paper goods, clothing items, slightly exotic food items, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2009 16:12:02 GMT
Exactly. That's why I am glad that French supermarkets are reliable.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 14, 2009 17:23:28 GMT
I pretty much make do with two markets here, a local chain Fred Meyer's for produce and meat and coffee which is all available in excellent selection, quality and price, plus you can buy T-shirts or light bulbs or blank CDs or plants etc. while you are there. Then I go to TJ's about once a week for things they have that are too expensive (like good cheese) or simply unavailable at the other store.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 14, 2009 17:58:46 GMT
I went to a Hungarian church bazaar this morning. Bought egg noodles the church ladies made. There were lovely tortes and cakes too, of course. Did not stay to eat a plate of goulasch.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2009 19:51:44 GMT
We do the majority of our shopping at the local supermarket. Will go to independent small grocer for meats and some produce. I avoid Whole Food Co. for a variety of reasons but mostly because they are so very overpriced. The local farmer's market here is all produce,seafood,honey,flowers,breads,condiments,cheeses,dairy,some meats and nursery grown plants,produced by vendors within a 100 mile radius of the market. No middle men involved. This past week they had locally grown and milled rice,several varieties which I bought some of and am looking forward to trying. There are rice paddies out SW LA way near Lafayette. I have become acquainted enough with the vendors at the market that they let me know when and what they will be having available on a weekly basis.
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Post by dahuffy on Jul 12, 2010 22:30:04 GMT
Sorry to say it,but I'm a Wal-Mart girl.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2010 22:42:35 GMT
Me too. I like Walmart. We have two in the City, one of the North side, and one on the South Side. They are always busy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2010 5:17:00 GMT
Wal-Mart is often my first stop when I am on the road in the United States. It's the closest to the European hypermarkets that you can find in North America.
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