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What's Your Favorite Grocery Store?


Hello, and welcome back to What’s Cooking?, the open thread where you get to share your brilliant thoughts, advice, recipes, and opinions on all things food-related. This week I want to talk about buying food—specifically, where you buy it.

Last week, I was attacked on the internet. As a woman who has been writing on said internet for many years, I am used to attacks, but this one stung. You see, a certain food publication put out an article suggesting grocery stores for every astrological sign. Even though I don’t believe in astrology, I totally do believe in astrology, so imagine my shock when I scrolled down to find they were suggesting I, a triple Leo, would do best getting my groceries from Walmart. This brought up a lot of grocery store feelings I didn’t know I had. Beyond this particular issue and the feelings around it, I’d like to talk about grocery stores in general, because I love grocery stores.

  • First of all, what is your favorite grocery store? Mine is Publix, but Trader Joe’s is pretty good too.

  • Do you get to do your shopping at your favorite grocery store, or are there factors preventing that? Publix is in Florida and I am in Oregon. Also I don’t have a car, so I walk to my nearest stores, which are New Seasons and Market of Choice. Sometimes I will go to Safeway because it’s much cheaper, but it’s also a longer walk.

  • Are you one of those people who orders their groceries online? What is that like? I can see it working for dry goods, but I like to visually inspect my produce and meat before I buy it.

  • Do you buy all of your food at one store, or do you diversify? I like to go to one place if possible.

  • Do you have a Costco membership? What do you like most about it? When I lived in a house with storage space, I liked to stock up on La Croix and other non-perishables there, but I urge you not to sleep on their cheese and charcuterie selection, which is very good. You can also get decent steaks at a very decent price there. I grew up eating Costco steaks.

  • Tell me your Trader Joe feelings. I like them, mostly for their snacks. I also like their pre-cooked lentils, veggie masala burgers, and cheese selection.

  • What is your favorite place to buy cheese? Trader Joe’s and Costco. (Here I go repeating myself)

  • What is your favorite place to buy produce? I love a farmer’s market if I wake up early enough to go, but New Season’s actually does a decent job getting local, seasonal stuff in.

  • What is the best regional grocery chain? Publix.

  • Do you coupon? Should I coupon? Do you have any good couponing apps? The only coupon app I have on my phone is for JOANN Fabrics, but that’s not helpful here. Couponing overwhelms me, for some reason.

Once you’ve finished answering the above (or not!) feel free to leave any grocery store-related thoughts and feeling below. I live for (most of) your thoughts and feelings.