Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with grocery

Bargain shoppers Extrodionaires: What are the websites that help you to save?

Carialle — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:02:10 -0800

Bargain shoppers Extrodionaires: What are the websites that help you to save? I have recently discovered that there are a variety of websites out there of folks looking for great deals on all types of stuff. Specifically, I am thinking of Slickdeals.net. I would like to know what other websites are out there that have quality bargains/deals/coupons posted. Most of all I am looking for one relating to grocery stores/coupons and help on combining the two (I am not interested in paying for a service though). I've found some local bloggers who seem to do this in the south, but I am in New England (Market Basket, Stop&Shop, Shaw's, etc).

Thanks for your help in cutting down on my grocery bill and maybe some other expenses too!

How do Upper West Side grocery stores comare with one another?

HotPatatta — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:41:02 -0800

Fairway, D'Ag, Westside Market, Garden of Eden. What's the diff? Tell me all about Upper West Side grocery stores. I'm moving to the UWS soon and during my last visit I was shocked--and thrilled!--with my grocery shopping options. So how do those stores compare with one another? I'm mostly looking for price comparisons and differences in inventory.

I'll be living on 107th and Broadway, so are there any other grocery stores around me that I haven't yet discovered?

Grocery Shrink Ray and Inflation

punkfloyd — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:13:19 -0800

When inflation is measured, do economists take into account the shrinking size/quantity/volume of consumer products? Like when Pampers stay the same price, but each box contains fewer diapers thanks to the Grocery Shrink Ray.

Help identify this horror story mentioned in "The Secret History"

punchdrunkhistory — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:56:27 -0800

I've just finished reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History. At one point Tartt references a supposedly famous horror story, but I don't understand the reference! Can anyone identify it? The description:

"I liked especially going to the little country grocery in North Hampden (whose ancient proprietors, mother and son, were said to have been the inspiration for a famous and frequently anthologized horror story from the 1950s)"

The book, of course, includes numerous references to actual works of literature, so I can only assume that this is a real story. Unfortunately, I have no idea what this might be. Does anyone know?

Frozen chicken breasts: Treasure or poison?

ignignokt — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:48:54 -0800

Frozen chicken breasts and other frozen meats: Are they worthwhile? I'm considering a membership to one of those "wholesale club"-type stores. While I can see there's great savings to be had on paper products and toiletries, I'm not so sure about the food. (Also, the lines.) I did notice that they have what look like good deals on frozen meats. I saw a ten-pound bag of chicken breasts for $22. I eat a lot of chicken breasts, so that looks like a good deal.

However, the only frozen meats I have experience with is fish. I don't know how frozen chicken breasts (especially ones containing 15% retained water) hold up in terms of taste and nutrition. How have you guys' experiences with frozen chicken breasts been? How different are they from fresh ones?

Are there any other frozen meats that are worthwhile?

Asian Grocery Item Needs ID

franklen — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:39:51 -0800

Help me identify this Asian grocery item. An old roommate of my current roommate left this item in the cupboard, and I have no way to get a hold of them to ask about it. The package is yellow with all Asian language text of some sort. There is a picture of some beans and nuts. Inside are individual packets that seem to contain crushed seeds and/or nuts. What is this product, and what is it used for? i was just going to open it up and sprinkle on my oatmeal in the morning?

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.

What are some good, quick boxed international lunches?

nitsuj — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:58:04 -0800

I really love these easy-to-prepare, not-too-expensive A Taste of Thai/India/China meals for lunch. What else would I like? My local grocery stores don't stock very many things like this, but with Amazon Groceries, I figure I can get pretty much anything shipped to my door.

The Asian stuff is great, so any other brands/styles/flavor recommendations are welcomed. I'd also be interested some other international flavors, like Mexican, Spanish, Canadian, et. al.

Emphasis on easiness to prepare and quality of ingrediants.

Help me stop using plastic bags

backseatpilot — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:14:39 -0800

I'd like to stop using plastic grocery bags, but I use them as liners in all of my garbage cans (including the kitchen, where stuff thrown in tends to be moist food detritus). Any ideas on what to use as garbage liners in lieu of the plastic bags?

What grocery stores in Canada carry healthy(er) foods?

irishkitten — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:50:29 -0800

What grocery stores in Canada carry healthy(er) foods? Mr. Irishkitten here:

I recently moved from the USA to Canada (Ottawa specifically) and am having a rough time finding some of the healthier foods that I regularly bought in the states. The most confounding part of this is that what I'm looking for isn't that out of the ordinary.

What I'm looking for are simple things like turkey sausage, turkey bacon, fat free cheese, light (or fat free) salad dressings or marinades, and even things like light macaroni and cheese. I'm not interested in Soy cubes, organic produce, or anything that's typically found in specialty stores. Just stuff that I'm used to finding in local grocery stores.

Are there any Canadian grocery chains that keep these sort of things in stock? I've found some of them here and there but never all in one store and never regularly stocked. There's an A&P and a Loblaws near me but neither one have enough of these sorts of items to fill my list.

Cheapest prices, in the 5 boroughs of NYC, for Amy's frozen foods?

sparrows — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:24:06 -0800

Cheapest prices, in the 5 boroughs of NYC, for Amy's frozen foods? Specifically, do you know any store where the Pockets are regularly less than $2.19, or the Tofu Lasagna is regularly less than $3.99? Those are best individual prices I've found (my freezer's too small for me to buy a case).

rot13($real_name)

tmcw — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:35:55 -0800

I'm going to get a 'customer loyalty card' from Bloom's (aka upscale Food-Lion) supermarket. The terms and conditions don't mention anything about the validity of the information, and I know enough about security and datamining that I don't want to distribute that information. Do they have a policy, or is there any way I could get caught using a fake name/address/telephone no, etc.?

What websites offer free grocery coupons?

JPowers — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:19:34 -0800

What websites offer free grocery coupons? As you might imagine, Googling "free grocery coupons" is mostly worthless. Too much wank to sift through.

Preferably I'd like to know about websites that are reasonably easy to navigate and offer grocery coupons that can be printed out. I don't mind having to register (as long as it's free). And though it's annoying and archaic, I'm also OK with coupon sites that only work on XP (I'm running OSX but have Parallels).

Grape testing

Juicylicious — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:37:59 -0800

Is it unethical to try ONE grape at the grocery store in order to determine whether to buy a bag?

Do you get a lot of your food via mail order?

sparrows — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:37:41 -0800

Do you get a lot of your food via mail order? I mean everyday foods, not stuff from expensive specialty places. What are your favorite sources for this? (I'm in the U.S.) Asking because I'm thinking about moving back into an isolated NYC neighborhood that's a long, multi-leg trip from any good grocery stores (and definitely has no FreshDirect service).

Last time I lived there, I used a combo of an organic delivery service (which is a good value for a weekly mixed box of fruits & veggies, but offers only a very limited & expensive selection of other groceries) plus sites like bulkfoods.com and some natural foods sites that now seem to have gone out of business or stoped local delivery.

So what are your current favorite mail order food sites? Every kind is great to hear about, and I'm especially into ones with lots of natural or Asian or vegetarian foods.

Does anyone have experience in starting a co-op?

humannaire — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:19:41 -0800

How do I start a grocery co-op? Do any mefites have experience with this? Here on the island of Key West, a crisis has developed. Our island's best grocery, Waterfront Market, supplier of fresh seafood and all sorts of goodies for Islanders, our boating communities and the dock workforce, is being by forced to close by a combination of bureaucratic greed and ineptitude. But there is hope!

A very solid group of neighbors and citizens has banded together with the idea of taking over the reigns of the market and transforming the successful business - 20 years with 45 employees - into a co-op. And I am spearheading the movement! Any insight or recommendations?

(My applicable background is in market research, organic farming, and ecology. I have done the google work, and come up with some very good/well-established groundwork. What I am looking for is recommendations and insight based on personal experience in starting a co-op.)

Missing the west coast already...

you're a kitty! — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:55:03 -0800

Help me find my favorite bean in upstate NY... I'm hungry! I've just moved to Ithaca, NY, and I'm desperate to find pinquitos (a small, pink bean) somewhere, either online or in the area. Back home it was just a matter of popping down to Safeway and picking up a can of S&W, but I can't find them in any of the grocery stores here (even Wegman's!) or at any of the online grocers who'll ship to the area. I realize this sounds slightly obsessive, but I'm craving this recipe that requires the cursed things, so any advice would be much appreciated.

food price comparison

sluglicker — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:06:46 -0800

Anyone know of a website that provides comprehensive food price data throughout the U.S.? For instance, lists the current price of top round beef, a gallon of milk, etc. I want to compare prices per region/city.

Have we shipped a million of these things?

acro — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:51:55 -0800

How to sell imported goods to local businesses... If you've got any experience selling wholesale (or other relevant qualifications)... I'd appreciate your suggestions on tactics for approaching local merchants and retail managers to get them to stock a product I would be importing.
Also, what kind of price markup is appropriate? Recommended method for addressing delays in transportation? Opensource product/shipping tracking software?
Thanks askme.

ps. The imported product is a generic of a branded good.

Biggest grocery store in L.A.

DarwinianDan — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:06:23 -0800

I love Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Wild Oats, and Farmers Market. What is the BIGGEST and best grocery store in Los Angeles County? Lots of variety needed.

Food and other shopping available only in CA?

Samantha — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:58:35 -0800

So I'm going to San Diego because I'm a big ol' geek and I'm finally going to San Diego Comic Con this year, about which I'm super excited. While in San Diego, what food should I eat/buy? I'm already planning on In-n-out burger and Jack in the Box, buying fresh masa for tamales (impossible to find in NYC), and hitting See's Candies for some yummy chocolates.

Any other suggestions for food to eat, specific San Diego recommendations (food and otherwise), things I might want to pick up in a supermarket, or y'know, anything else that might come to mind :) Again, don't limit yourself to food (although that's obviously on my mind) and I'd love to hear from anyone who's been to SDCC!

Keep in mind I live in New York City, which has a really awesome food scene of its own, so I'm specifically looking for stuff I could only get in CA, or that would be hard to find in NYC or on the East Coast.

Help Me Find Seattle's Mexican Uwajimaya

rossination — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:32:45 -0800

Where are all the Mexican groceries in Seattle? I recently got my hands on this fantastic book and love cooking from it, but I'm having a hard time sourcing things like dried chiles (Safeway has guajillos, but not dry chipotles or anchos, for example), cumin seeds, etc. I'd also love to be able to buy fresh masa, or at least locally made corn tortillas.

I know about the Mexican Grocery in Pike Place Market, and while it sounds like it would be perfect - and I intend to check it out - it's hard for me to get down there when they're open.

I realize that Seattle doesn't have a huge Hispanic population (and that it's sort of famous for bad and/or inauthentic Mexican food), but it seems like there should be other places that would have what I'm looking for. Dried chipotles, for instance, are really not that obscure (and yes, I know about the excellent canned alternative).

I'm willing to travel a bit, but suggestions near North Seattle are particularly welcome.

Grocery store line etiquette

marble — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 05:08:39 -0800

Grocery store line etiquette - when someone abandons their cart to go get an additional item, do they forfeit their place in line? I was in the store the other day, and in all the "lots of items" checkout lanes there were several people with their baskets jam-packed full of groceries. I hate the store and wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I spied a lane where there was an abandoned cart (with nothing behind it), and figuring that it was fair to go in front of this person, sort of put my cart in a merging position between that cart and the one in front.

Well, the bitch came back, and I sort of made an effort to see if she was cool with the situation, and she absolutely insisted she was entitled to her former place in line, and I should get the fuck out of the way, basically. (No, no outright insults or curses were exchanged). I got rather pissed off (so was she at this point), and though I yielded and headed for another checkout line (because basically I am a wuss), I made a few snotty comments to her as I left.

I did say that since she had abandoned her cart, she should lose her place, but she wasn't buying it. Was I in the right, or was she? There was no one behind her for her to sort of clear it with before she ran off.

In the future in such a situation, I think I'd just move the person's cart back and put myself straight in line, thus putting the onus on them to make a big issue of going around me to "reclaim" their spot, and I'd probably stand up for my position more, since I think it would be more defensible. I wouldn't do this if there were people behind me though, and I'm unable to articulate why exactly.

And I must say I did get some smug satisfaction after I found a much shorter line later on, so I got out of there before she did. HA! So it worked out after all, but I'm curious about the general principle just the same.

If it makes any difference, she came back with eggs, which I know are on the farthest side of the store, so she was gone quite a while - this wasn't just a quick dash or something.

I am considering taking over a small grocery store in Brooklyn.

Morgangr — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 05:52:04 -0800

I am considering taking over a small grocery store in Brooklyn. I am looking for reading material that would better prepare me for running this type of business. In absence grocery specific books, I would be interested in general small business management books that others have found useful. Thanks.

When do grocery stores get deliveries?

nbSean — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:12:01 -0800

Is there a certain day/time of the week when grocery stores get deliveries of certain items? I'm specifically wondering about eggs. I like to buy the local, free range eggs from my local grocery store, but they rarely have them in stock. Feel free to comment about any items, though.