Western Beef

I go to Western Beef a lot more these days. If I walk 1.3 miles east, I pass very few people and then am in a vast store. If I walk 4 blocks west, I pass way more people. Even if I walk 3.5 blocks west to Ozzie's I pass more people. So I go to Western Beef.

I went today because I thought pop would be cheaper than it is up here. It was not. But I did get 3 lbs of bacon for $10. When I got home I saw that it was weird pieces "Great for recipes."

I got a 24 oz jar of red peppers for $3. I found a dozen eggs for $1.19! I paid over $4 for eggs last Sunday. I got a loaf of bread for $1.29 I think. Three bags of pasta for $1 each. I got weird shapes: both ditali and ditalini. I also got 2 flavored seltzers. Then I walked home.

Shopping

I went to Key Food. Eggplant, zucchini, and plum tomatoes were on sale for $0.99/lb so I got them. Tonic was $0.67. That was in the circular, but labeled on the shelf. So I wonder if I should trust circular prices. They label the produce sales, but nothing else. I don't know why. Iceberg lettuce is also $0.99 so I might go back later this week.

I went to Ozzie's too and got white pepper and cranberry juice. They were both $2.99. I don't know what to do with white pepper.

My trip to Bravo

They have people wait in a line outside. You have to wear gloves (though not a mask). Inside, a lot of things didn't have prices, so I couldn't buy them. The cashier rang up both of my bags of beans as the more expensive chick peas. And rang up my can of crushed tomatoes twice. I didn't realize that until after I paid, so I offered to just grab another can of them.

I ended up with 2 cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 can of tomato puree, 1 liter of tonic, 1 lb of chick peas, and 1 lb of roman beans. Oh, and a jar of pickled peperoncini that I need to make bloody marys for Easter.

I went grocery shopping for the first time in over 2 weeks

Key Food still publishes a circular, but they don't abide by it in-store. So of all the things I was looking forward to, only mushrooms were a good price. I left without buying anything because the lines were also long.

Since I had empty bags, I went to Ozzie's Fresh Market. I got popcorn, milk, and white bread. The shelves were stocked a little better and there were no lines at all.

Then I went to Jesus and got celery ($2) and a bag of 3 romaine hearts ($1). The romaine was the only good deal all day.

Key Food is the only store that still publishes a circular

So I'm going to read it! I haven't been in a grocery store since March 21 :-(  But I think I will go sometime this week.

I wish I could go to Whole Foods and buy potted herbs to plant in my window too. Basil, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.

Anyway, Key Food: Ham is $1.29/lb because Easter is soon. I want one. 16 oz white mushrooms are $3.49, which isn't bad. 30 oz Hellman's mayo is $3.49. A pound of PollyO mozzarella is $2 and 2 lbs of ricotta are $3. I want both! Cracker barrel cheese is $2. Canned tomatoes are 4/$5 and you must buy 4. Usually that is too many for me, but in these Covid times, I can take 4. This says flour is on sale, but I doubt it's in stock. Pepsi and Schweppes 2 liters are also 4/$5 MB4 but I don't think I can carry 8 liters of pop in addition to everything else and I'd rather not make multiple trips. Tonic water is $0.60 per liter. Jarred fried peppers are $2.50. A pack of hot dogs is $1 and I'm tempted.

What's on Sale This Week? Coronavirus Time

I never got to go to Key Food to buy beans because on Sunday I got symptoms of coronavirus so I haven't left my apartment since then. I feel better now. According to the CDC, I can rejoin what's left of society 7 days after my symptoms started. I forgot about new grocery circulars until now, but I will look to see if there's anything out there worth seeking.

Food Bazaar, Western Beef, and Green Corner still have no weekly specials.

Key Food: Store brand mayo is $2 for 30 oz. Hmm. A pound of Galbani mozzarella is $3.

Bravo: They quit their circular too.

C-Town: So did they.

The Best Canned Tomatoes (according to the New York Times)

I never heard of the #1 brand, and since it costs $6-7 a can, I never will. But the second best brand was the Target store brand, Market Pantry, which is $1/can. I want to try them.

What's on sale this week - Coronavirus Week 3

I saw "Week 3" because this is the 3rd week when it's been relevant to my grocery circular perusings and musings.

First, Food Bazaar:

I think the rest have circulars though. Whether I'll be able to find things when I go, who can say?

C-Town: Colavita pasta is $1. That's my preferred brand now. Coke products are 4/$5. Asparagus is $1.99/lb. Krasdale flour is $2 for 5 lbs. I have been on a focaccia kick. I can't spell it though. Maybe that's right.

Western Beef: 

Their sales always suck anyway. I do like their pickled things.

Green Corner: They also canceled their circular, but they put it on their website on a weird way so no picture.

Bravo: Cans of Luigi Vitelli tomatoes are only $1, but when I did a taste test with Scalfani, Luigi Vitelli lost by a lot so I don't know if I will bother.

Key Food: Asparagus is only $1.49/lb here. Gala apples are $0.99/lb. Flour is $2/lb. Powerade is $1. A pound of butter is $3. A half pound of luxury butter is also $3. Goy dry beans are mostly 3/$5. I want to get more cannellini. I might as well find out what fava are like too.

The groceries no one wants during cornavirus hoarding

I like this article a lot. I feel bad for Dasani.

Your sink is still going to work though. You don't need bottled water.

The reason to hoard food at all is that shopping might become very annoying and limited. For instance, only 10 people may be allowed in a store at one time. If that happens, it will be better to have enough things at home that you don't need to shop often.

What's on Sale This Week - St. Patrick's Day and Coronavirus

Last year Key Food has very cheap corned beef, so I ate it for the first time in my life. It was good, but it's not the same sale this year. Also, I wouldn't invite a lot of people over because of social distancing. My kitchen is pretty full with stuff, but I'm going to see what is on sale this week anyway.

Western Beef: nothing

Food Bazaar: A 44-pack of fish sticks is $6. I can't remember if that's a good price. Considering how many fish tacos I could make with 44 fish sticks (22), it's a pretty good price. That's the only good sale, so I won't go there.

Green Corner: Nothing really.

Key Food: (I hope I find good sales, even though I looked yesterday and know there aren't any as good as last week's.) Cabbage is $0.27/lb. (It also lasts a long time, perfect for a quarantine or even social distancing.)  Flour is $2 for 2 lbs. I have been making a lot of focaccia. The corned beef is $1.99/lb with a $25 purchase. Scalfani canned tomatoes are 3/$4 (must buy 3). Usually that would deter me, but in these times of hoarding I might do it.

C-Town: Nothing

Bravo: Luigi Vitelli pasta is $0.79. I am up to my gills in pasta though. Krasdale cheese hunks are $1.67 for 8 oz.

Shopping at Key Food while the feeling of Coronavirus sets in

I have still been going to grocery stores, and today it felt different. It was pretty crowded at 2:30pm. People were shopping with carts. I don't think Key Food even has carts most of the time. The shelves were mostly stocked, so it was interesting to notice what was out of stock: fancy rice, regular flavor Cholula hot sauce.

I went because this past week's sales are better than next weeks. I got more asparagus ($1.99/lb) and mushrooms ($2.99/lb). I got yeast ($3) and cornmeal ($2). I got 2 bottles of diet tonic water. The only part of this that could be considered hoarding/preparing for a quarantine is the 2nd bottle of tonic water.

What to buy this week - Coronavirus Edition

A couple of my friends were talking about stocking up on food in case there are quarantines or supply chain problems. I realized that all my usual shopping already prepared me. I have so many beans because they are always cheap. I have so much canned fish because it's Lent. But now I have an excuse to go buy even more beans. I want borlotti/cranberry/Roman (they are the same) because I've been watching Italian cooking videos.

Anyway...

Bravo: Barilla pasta is $1. I keep seeing that in my videos. I want weird shapes. A tin of anchovies is $1.69. I also see that in my videos. (They use so much more anchovy when that's an ingredient than we do.. and so much less garlic.)

Food Bazaar: Octopus is $3/lb. I watched several videos about that, but I am not ready to deal with one.

Green Corner: Lemons are 7/$2, which is more lemons than 6/$2, which is better than 50 cents each, which is usually a good lemon price. (This is how I do math in my head.)  A 2 pound bag of red onions is $1.25.

C-Town: Asparagus is $2/lb. Since when is Hormel salami $9/lb?

Key Food: Key Food has corned beef sales because St. Patrick's Day is coming up, but it doesn't have sales as good as last year, so I won't buy it. Last year I think it was like $0.40/lb. Now it is $2. Asparagus is also $2/lb here. Baby bella mushrooms are $3/lb. Mozzarella is $3.50/lb. Hmm. Cabot Greek yogurt is $4 for 2 lbs. Compare that to Fage, which is $6. Buttermilk is only $2. It's usually $2.50 here (but $1.69 at Trader Joe's). Colavita pasta is $1. Maybe they have good shapes.