Because of the sub-zero temperatures this winter (and the insanely biting windchill), I’ve traded nights out @ bars for nights in cooking dinner and watching movies. So, instead of spending my money on clothes, dining out and many, many cocktails, I’ve been buying quality groceries instead.
I LOVE grocery shopping. HUGE grocery stores are among the handful of things I miss about suburban life. New Yorkers aren’t blessed with Albertson’s and Safeways and Ralph’s around the corner. We have Food Emporium, Gristedes, Morton Williams, Whole Foods, and (one of my recent discoveries) Amish Market, just to name a few. There are also convenient bodegas scattered throughout each neighborhood. But these grocery stores (save Whole Foods) pale in comparison to the ever reliable, incredibly convenient, well-stocked and very LARGE suburban supermarkets. It’s not the same weaving through each aisle here in New York. Regardless, I’ve compiled a short list of tips should you ever find yourself searching for the right groceries in the Big Apple.
1. Typically high quality and expensive products found at Gristedes and Morton Williams are cheaper, YES CHEAPER!, at Whole Foods. There’s this jar of Swiss fruit preserves I really like and it’s usually $6-7 at Gristedes or MW. It’s less than $3 at Whole Foods!!!!
2. Similarly, extra virgin olive oil (of which I go through insane amounts) is much cheaper at Whole Foods.
3. Canned vegetables and legumes are cheaper at Gristedes and MW. It’s even cheaper if you go to Trader Joe’s, if you can withstand that crazy, hectic mob. Frozen vegetables and fruit are also cheapest at TJ’s. BTW, if you don’t know this already, there is only one TJ store in all of Manhattan. That explains the mob.
4. Sure you can go to Associated and buy discount groceries but don’t forget that it’s marked down for a reason! The sell-by dates are usually imminent at Associated, so be sure to use your fresh groceries immediately!
5. The same goes for groceries bought around Chinatown. You’ll find cheap bushels of baby bok choy, garlands of garlic for $1 and exotic assorted Asian vegetables and fruits. But because everything is RIPE, make sure you buy only what you need for that day.
6. The best quality seafood and meat are obviously found at fish and meat markets. The caveat is that the prices reflect the quality and the service, so make sure your wallet is nice and fat. Otherwise, I’d trust the seafood & butcher counters at Whole Foods and the Amish Market. Fresh is best! Sometimes I like to get my fresh seafood from Chinatown. It’s RIDICULOUSLY cheap. I cooked what I needed that night and froze the rest.
7. Farmer’s markets are good for fresh, cheap and great quality produce. Just be sure to carry cash.
8. Fruit from carts and stands around the city, particularly East Village and Union Square, are usually pretty ripe and cheap as well. Sometimes they’ll give you something extra, like a free mango or a couple tangerines along with your original purchase of grapes. Sweet deal.
Anyway, hope this helps.. as if any locals read my blog anyway.
Happy shopping!
<3
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