Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with food and shopping

Keeping food on the table

ecorrocio — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:12:17 -0800

Tired of lame meals and fast food. Help me stock the larder... Here's the scenario:

My wife works full time. I work at home, and I'm dad here too. We share the cooking, but frequenty bomb out completely with nothing in the cupboard and no energy/time to go to the store.

I've heard thru the grapevine that there are people out there who have well stocked larders, who can almost always whip up a meal, who eat healthier than we do. That's what I want to accomplish.

Do you have tips on:

1. Staples that I can stock up on, so we don't get stuck evenings with no meal options (other than running out for fast food again)
2. Recipe genres that would enable me (not the most enthusiastic of chefs) to come up with some variety of "30 minute meals". eg. If you stock X and Y and Z, you can always make A and B and C.
3. How you manage to feed the family healthily and well on a regular basis.

Thanks!!

Who has the best CHEWY peanut butter cookies?

invisible ink — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:41:12 -0800

Please help me find the perfect, CHEWY, peanut butter cookie. Requirements inside. Health Valley has discontinued my favorite Wheat and Dairy-Free Peanut Crunch Oatmeal Cookies, so I'm on the prowl for a new brand. Here are my requirements:

The consistency should be more chewy than crunchy.

Main ingredients must be peanuts and/or peanut butter. No chocolate chips, chunks, etc.

No high-fructose corn syrup

All natural ingredients

Preferably organic

Available in southern California. I have access to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Online delivery is also a plus!

Thanks in advance:-)

Good gifts from Boston?

Metroid Baby — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:02:05 -0800

Looking for ideas for interesting gifts/souvenirs/foods that I can buy in the Boston area and bring to friends and relatives in other parts of the country. I moved here recently – it's my first time living in this part of the country, and I'm not completely sure what you can get here that you can't get anywhere else. I'm going out of town this weekend to visit some friends, and will be attending a party so I'd at least like to bring a bottle of wine. The following weekend a friend from my hometown is visiting me and is willing to take gifts to my family when she returns home.

What lovely gifts can I get them from around here? Either things that are unique to Boston or New England or things that are just generally hard to find would work.

I'm especially looking for food or wine, though I'm open to other ideas. I'd like to keep things affordable, maybe $15 tops for a bottle of wine or so.

Whatever I get should be able to survive a 10-12 hour car ride. (I may also be sending a care package or two in the future, so I'm looking for shippable stuff too.)

I live in Somerville and can get to Cambridge very easily, so anything close by would be ideal. I can walk to Savenor's and the Wine and Cheese Cask, and will probably find some stuff there, but I'd love other suggestions.

Thanks as always!

City of Brotherly Love and Girlie Weekends?

dancinglamb — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:20:21 -0800

What to do in/around Rittenhouse Square this weekend? I'm driving down from NJ and my girlfriend is driving up from Maryland. We're meeting in Philadelphia - no husbands, no kids. We want to hang out, shop, and eat. Excellent margaritas get bonus points. I've heard something about a grilled cheese restaurant and a Naked Chocolate Cafe.

Any other recommendations?

We're staying just off Rittenhouse Square. We will have cars, but obviously prefer to hoof it - just not too far. My knees will be most appreciative.

Thanks!

Grocery in Philly

Aanidaani — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:02:49 -0800

I'm going to be moving to Philadelphia soon and I'll be living near 2400 Chestnut St. Can anyone recommend good grocery stores to shop at? I've been reading some of the reviews of the grocers in the area and they all seem to be overpriced, dirty, or some combination of both. Are there any clean, reputable places within walking distance or reachable by public transit?

Where to Buy Fish in Downtown NYC?

toomuchkatherine — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:29:27 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy fish in lower Manhattan or North Brooklyn? I live in Greenpoint, and I've done a little research already but everyone seems to suggest places that are in Park Slope/South Brooklyn, and as such, inconvenient for me.

I just want to get more into eating fish. I'm trying to do it in a responsible way, so feel a little sketched out by Chinatown, even though it's an obvious choice (have no way of telling whether those fish were sustainably harvested or not). Anybody know a place that has decent fresh fish, below 23rd Street? Extra points if it doesn't break the bank.

Why is the Mexican Nesquik cheaper?

Barry B. Palindromer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:09:53 -0800

Why do items in my grocery store with similar items on the Mexican food aisle cost more at my grocery store? Why does Mexican Nesquik cost less? I'm buying Nesquik at my local Fry's Food and Drug here in central Phoenix. I pick up the 10 ounce container, which is on sale (with my VIP card!) for 3.49. On the Mexican specialty food aisle where I'm picking up my roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (cause the David ones are WAY too salty) I see a 14 ounce container of Nesquik for 2.59.

Now, a serving of the Mexican variety is 3 tbs, and the gringo version is 2 tbs. But even taking the serving differences (I figure the amount of servings per container is roughly equivalent), how can you explain the price difference?

I've seen this in various foods. Another notable difference is the sardines, where the can on the Mexican food aisle contains almost twice as much as the Crown King can on the canned fish aisle, and costs a little less.

As an unrelated aside, the Mexican Nesquik has more sugar and has a richer semi-sweet chocolate flavor, when compared with the milk-chocolate flavor of the US version.

Please name your picks for the best food/shops near LA's Red Line.

invisible ink — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:11:06 -0800

Angelenos who ride the Red Line: What are your favorite stops and why? Which ones are the best in terms of being within easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, etc? I just moved into an apartment two blocks from the Vermont/Wilshire stop, and would like to take full advantage of the Metro rail system - especially the Red Line. I'm originally from Pasadena, so I've already seen everything over there. I also have a car, but would like to avoid the urban gauntlet of LA's streets as much as possible.

Green Concierge Seeks Los Angeles Infodump

carsonb — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:00:25 -0800

I'm starting a new job as a telephone concierge at a Brand-new upscale retail/housing establishment in Glendale, CA next week—can you help me get my ear to the ground? Clients will be both tenants of the property and casual shoppers, and I am expected to provide expert-level concierge service. However, I'm relatively new in town, and the time I've spent here has been confined to a rather narrow corridor between Echo Park and central Hollywood. My boss is even newer to town than I, and I'd like to make a good impression by hitting the ground running for this gig. Please, I'm eager for all types of suggestions:

- Specifics on LA destinations (restaurants, attractions, events, nightlife, etc. with a focus on upscale, hip, guaranteed solid types of establishments)
- Hints/tips on transportation and navigation
- Blogs, websites, mailing lists, and RSS feeds that will keep me up to date on all of this stuff (I've subscribed to some related AskMe tags already; what am I missing? =o)
- Dead tree rags I should be reading regularly
- Any other information you can provide

Glendale is my first priority, but superior knowledge of all of Los Angeles is my ultimate goal. As mentioned above, I'm working my way through pertinent tags here on AskMe, but if you know of any relevant/obscure questions I might like to see please do mention them. Also, as a sub-question, do you have any tips on this type of job? I've worked as a TTY Relay Operator before and am happy to customer-serve, so I'm not completely unaware of what it entails. But if there's any specific advice you're holding I'd appreciate a share. Thanks!
Yes, I run with my ear to the ground; talented like that.

Where can I buy irradiated milk in "these United States"?

lukeklein — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:24:55 -0800

Where can I buy irradiated milk in the U.S.? Where online? My grandmother retired and moved to Mexico LONG before I was ever born. I loved going to visit her there, and one of the things I remember very vividly was how DELICIOUS the milk in Mexico was!

She stored it in her pantry, without refrigeration, until it was needed. I've heard it called, "irradiated milk", "long-life milk", and "shelf stable milk", but I've never seen it for sale in American markets and I can't find a place that sells it online.

This is not evaporated or condensed milk. It is a completely different product, usually sold in one of those soft-sided cardboard containers, like the ones in which rice-dream, soy-licous, or almond milk are sold (click here to see an example).

If anyone knows of a place to pick this up, I'd like to hear about it.

How do I grocery shop and cook?

pedmands — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:41:48 -0800

I've been living on my own for about five years now, but I still cannot for the life of me understand grocery shopping. I've tried buying the staples, easy-to-cook meals, and even specific recipes. But I always end up ordering take out after a week. I know that one needs to grocery shop about once a week to replenish the perishables, etc. But I never feel like I'm buying the right things, that I have staple supplies at the ready, that I have a decent 'kitchen'.

I want to start eating healthier, as I wholly believe it contributes to a better life all-around. But eating take out 95% of the time leaves little room for this.

I've tried compiling a book of recipes that focus on healthy eating, but these recipes are so damned expensive and call for such specific things that I have all but given up on their conception.

So what I'm really asking is, what advice do the experienced MeFites have when it comes to grocery shopping and putting together a seven-nights-a-week meal plan? What should I expect to spend (I thought it was supposed to save money)? Where do I begin?

I'm overwhelmed with it, hope the hive mind can help. Thanks.

quest for pistachios

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:04:13 -0800

Where can I buy pistachios at a reasonable price? I know that Trader Joe's has big, delicious bags of raw pistachios for, what I think, is pretty cheap. But I'm in Lawrence, KS, a city bereft of Trader Joe's. And I love pistachios.

It seems that everywhere online either the shipping is way too high or the pistachios are drowned in salt or the amount of pistachios in the package is paltry. So, what am I overlooking? Where can I get my pistachio fix without paying premium pistachio prices?

How can I carry my arugula without a plastic bag?

melissam — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:11:18 -0800

Farmer's market and co-op conundrum: what can I use to carry my veggies instead of plastic bags? I have my nice burlap shopping bags, but I can't just shove a bunch of cilantro unprotected next to my eggs. I usually end up putting them in a plastic bag instead my shopping bag. It's useful because they are easy for the farmer/clerk to weigh and when I get home I can just put that bag in the fridge. But honestly, I'd like to phase them out. I'd lug my tupperware to the store...but I shop by bike. Is there a good portable alternative for carrying and storing delicate produce?

Help with my high-metabolism food shopping list

sprocket87 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:42:59 -0800

What are some sample meal plans or food lists for a high-metabolism, frequent small meal diet? Looking for specific ideas for the "eat 5-6 times a day" routine. I've been reading a lot about the benefits of eating less, more often. My eating habits as of late have been atrocious (lots of heavy dine-out foods and snacking in between). I can see the benefits of eating smaller portions designed to keep your metabolism working to your advantage (I think I'm subconsciously sabotaging my metabolism!).

So I ask your help in finding specific food shopping lists and food plans to help me get in the routine of eating this way. A sample of what I'm looking for:

• 7:30 a.m.—1/2 cup cooked oatmeal; one cup skim milk; one slice of whole wheat toast with one tablespoon peanut butter; one cup of blueberries
• 10 a.m.—8 ounces of non-fat yogurt with a tablespoon of walnuts or flax seeds
• 12:30 p.m.—Large spinach salad (two cups) topped with carrots, radishes, onion, cucumber and two ounces of tuna (packed in water), a teaspoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of vinegar; six whole-wheat crackers; one apple
• 3 p.m.—One cup of raw vegetables and one-quarter cup of hummus dip
• 6 p.m.—Three ounces of grilled, skinless chicken breast; one cup of brown rice; 1.5 cups of steamed broccoli; one piece of fruit
• 8 p.m.—One piece of fruit or three cups of light microwave or air popped popcorn

Source: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2500/2589.asp?index=9788

I'm NOT looking for generic "eat high protein/high fiber/low calorie foods". I need specifics. I need a shopping list. Foods I can stick to exclusively and know that I'll be relatively safe until I get into the routine. I don't necessarily need the specific schedule as laid out above (though it would be awesome and very helpful if you have some daily plans like that!), but specific food choices would be great.

Thanks all!

I want my home-made microwave foods to be crisp, but how?

vytae — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:50:51 -0800

I want relatively crisp reheated food from the microwave. Can can I buy or make something to do this for me, like that silvery-coated paperboard that comes with frozen foods? Many bread-related frozen foods come with microwave crisping devices - frozen personal pizzas have round trays, hot pockets have wrap-around sleeves, and Lean Cuisine paninis come with the "revolutionary grilling tray". I know I can put together a healthier, cheaper melt sandwich or mini pizza if I make it myself, but the only source of heat in my office kitchen is a microwave. Without the magic crisper thing, I get soggy, unappetizing food.

Using google I've discovered that these coated paperboard things are called "susceptors" and I've found a couple companies that manufacture them for the food industry, but so far nobody seems to sell them directly to the consumer. Do you know where I could buy them? Or, can I make something at home to help crisp up my microwaved foods? I would experiment with aluminum foil, but I'm nervous about setting my kitchen on fire.

I've seen the Waveware Microwave Crisping Dish, but the reviews don't inspire much confidence. If you know anything more about this or similar products, I'd love to hear it.

"Ace of Cakes" equivalent in or near Seattle?

matildaben — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:55:32 -0800

I'm looking for a place in Seattle or nearby that makes wacky and creative custom cakes similar to those featured on the Food TV program "Ace of Cakes". I've Googled, but nothing really jumped out at me. A few years ago I saw a van driving around for a company that seemed like what I want (it was a couple of guys' names, I think), but I can't find them anymore so they may have gone out of business.

How not to get malnutrition :D

Phire — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:18:49 -0800

Help me create the ultimate grocery list! I'm moving out next year, and while I do know how to cook, I am pretty clueless when it comes to a healthy diet. I've eaten Chinese food all my life and I get a pretty even portion of meats and vegetables and fruits, but since I will be doing my own shopping next year...

What I'm looking for is a complete (or pretty damn good) list of all/most essential nutrients, and which foods contain them. Ideally, I could eat all the items on the list over a month/two months and at the end of the year end up well-nourished and scurvy-free.

Failing that, could AskMe help list off the things that are essential to have in your diet over a reasonable period of time in order to remain healthy?

No allergies, overenthusiastic love of fruits and salty food.

How can I schedule my shopping and meals better?

lpctstr; — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:53:25 -0800

Are there existing websites/wikis out there with shopping+recipe planning lists? I want to shop once or twice a week for food and not have to worry about spoilage. The ideal site would have: buy [shopping list] to make [daily recipes for meals]. I can cook just about anything, but I always end up with mismatched foods in the fridge that don't work together.

I found some books online for this, but want to just try it for a bit first before I buy a bunch of books and find out I don't like the recipes or barely ever use. My web searches only turn up web applications that let you input your plan.

Best mail-order food?

shivohum — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:34:53 -0800

What are the finest mail-order food goods available at reasonable prices? I'm talking best bread, brownies, cakes, fruits, frozen pizzas, cookies -- any recommendations for extraordinary food at not-exhorbitant rates.

Salvation from Super-Sizing!

EatTheWeak — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:24:53 -0800

Lunch time! Calling all Mefites for any and all suggestions of successful brown-bagging! So right now, lunch hour at work means a drive up to all the fast food spots that have sprung up around a nearby off-ramp. After only a week at this job, I'm already disliking the toll this is taking on my wallet and health. There has to be a better way!

So I'm looking for any suggestions you might have on affordable, nutritious, portable meals. I'm not a picky eater by any account, so don't hold back on account of my palette. The only things to take into consideration while making suggestions is that I cannot cook meat beforehand at home, though cold cuts and the like are okay. Microwaves and coolers are available to me at my job.

Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to trying out dozens of mobile MeFite meals!

A girl needs more than just a knife

jadepearl — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:16:53 -0800

Londonfilter: Just landed with a chef's knife and need to locate goods. Have perused the many threads on shopping in London but need to track down a restaurant supply store open to the public and baking supplies/ingredients of high quality. Robert Dylas, Argos nor Tesco Direct are not giving me the equipment nor the ingredients I need. Extra points for places near Putney but am willing to travel using tube and bus. Have already tried the Spice Shop on Portabello Road (hate to say, but the goods were not up to par especially in extracts). Thanks for any suggestions and help.

My God! It Burns! And I Love It!

jeribus — Mon, 08 May 2006 19:48:54 -0800

So, went to a festival of nations (a neat place full of different country's foods) and had some sort of african "meat pocket". Which burned my innards in a most pleasant sort of way.

I think I'm certain they were these:

http://www.towerislespatties.com/turnover.htm

but it looks like they don't sell them in the bland food is the color of gray with appropriate matching taste that is Minnesota.

I know there is a place in Saint Paul that sells these (they ran the booth). God bless you West Indies Soul and your taste bud searing hot meat pockets.

But I am wondering if anyone knows someone in the Twin Cities metro area that sells these.

Or something very close.

Thanks!

College food supplies

Saydur — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:49:07 -0800

Where to order ramen noodles online? I've searched various sites for imported ramen noodles. RamenDepot has a great selection, but prices inflated way beyond reasonable. RamenCity demands larger purchases of single flavors or "samplers", and still tends towards pricier territory.

Other places like Yifanmall, Veryasia, and Indokiosk seem a bit better in both price and piece-by-piece orders, but are slightly lacking in the choice department.

Preferrably, I'd like a choice between various Korean, Chinese/Taiwanese, Japanese, and Indonesian noodles, without a need to buy "by the case" or at inflated ($2+ apiece? No thanks.) prices. I burnt out on Maruchan long ago, and I've yet to find an Asian market in the OKC area that stocks more than Sapporo Ichiban and a few Nong Shim varieties.

I know this is pretty picky, so any alternative suggestions would be appreciated. My primary concern with variety is that most places charge a shipping fee, so mutiple orders wind up being rather inefficient. Anybody out there with a bit of experience and information to be had?

When is paying extra for organic worth it?

tkolstee — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:19:47 -0800

Help me decide when paying a premium for organic / GMO-free / etc. is worth it. My girlfriend and I do about 1/4 of our grocery shopping at Whole Foods, meaning that we alternate trips between there and other grocery stores, rather than going to both each time for different items.

At Whole Foods our total is generally about twice the normal grocery total, even though we're walking away with less items. If we were to shop only there, we'd be broke! We're both health and environmentally concerned, and would like a simple way of figuring out what items bring a large benefit for the extra price, and which don't matter as much.

General rules of thumb are good ("buy organic produce, but meat doesn't matter") or even lists of specific items ("Yogurt and bananas purchased anywhere are about the same, but buy apples at organic grocers").

Bonus: Anyone know the most convenient way to find locally-grown/raised items in the Orlando area?

Where is the best place to buy parmigiano reggiano mail or web order?

leafwoman — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 19:11:41 -0800

Where is the best place to buy parmigiano reggiano cheese by mail or web order?