Going Shopping

The British Grocery Store

We've done a fair bit of shopping this weekend, starting with a rare trip to the British grocery store in our area. Usually peopled by expats, we're some of the few Anglophiles that make semi-regular visits, not to try foods from "home," but to pick up things we remember from trips or have read about since then. And this time we took the kids! Of course, they can't tell it's a specialty grocery store, except that it was little and none of the brands were familiar (though Bud recognized the Royal Standard). But Sis can spot chocolate a mile away and came home with some fudge. And Bud immediately spotted Mr. Kipling's Cherry Bakewells, which were very reminiscent of the Empire Biscuits he got at the Scottish festival, in other words shortbread, jam, frosting, and a cherry on top (plus an almond sponge layer). And they were pretty good! Are there other Bakewell flavors? Do people make Bakewells at home? Who is Mr. Kipling? I picked up a box of Scott's Porage Oats, complete with a kilt-wearing shot-putter, and a can of Lyle's Golden Syrup so I can make homemade flapjacks, which Mama loves but which even the British store doesn't sell pre-packaged (though Aunt Banana brought her some from their trip last Christmas but those are long gone). But for the first time the recipe was printed on the box and so all I have to do is figure out how much 125g of sugar is (I think it's almost 2 cups!). Mama got Ovaltine. Not chocolate. Just plain. She was very excited. It's a childhood thing. We skipped the freezer section completely but will do bangers and pasties next time, but probably not the haggis!

The Asian Grocery Store

Today, we took the kids to the Asian grocery in our area, a place they remember mainly for the chocolate (Thomas the Train box) and strawberry (Hello Kitty box) Pocky (for the uninitiated, it's like a thin straw cookie with a flavored yogurt-like coating). It was a warm-up before we go to the big Chinese grocery stores in Flushing next weekend with Ma and Gong (after, not before, dim sum). Mama was specifically out of some soy sauces and noodles (which she doesn't need to haul all the way from NYC), but we always browse every aisle, just to see what's there and to show the kids new-to-them foods. We also picked up some seitan ("mock" or "Chinese chicken" from gluten) and black bean sauce (for my lunch), plus a variety of fried tofu, bat chai, bamboo shoots, baby corn, and "water jicama" to make a stir fry. Finally, there are cans of lumyai, rambutan, and other fruits to have as slushies on another day. And the Pocky were all gone before we got off the highway . . . .

My "New" Grocery Store

The powers that be are reorganizing my local, regular grocery store. And it's a madhouse. I couldn't find anything and it took double my usual shopping time, even with a list of relocated items that I managed to snag halfway through my trip. Funny how discombobulating it can be when the marmalade changes location while the oatmeal is in the same place. Everyone was just wandering around cluelessly, asking strangers, "have you seen the maple syrup?" It's going to take me a long time to get used to the new arrangment. But there is a plus side: I'm noticing all sorts of new items I had just glossed over before, namely, single serving sizes of premium ice creams like Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry's!

The Warehouse Store

It's been a long time since I've been at the warehouse store during sample time. I skipped the dino nuggets (don't tell my kids you can buy those at the store; they think they only exist at the dino museum) but inhaled the natural peanut butter, which we still don't keep in the house because of their possible allergies (or, well, mainly because I'd just eat the whole jar. I love peanut butter). I tried some of the other Kashi cereals, since I eat one every morning. But I think I'll stick with my usual. Still, it was fun to browse sample time. I only miss the cake they used to give out!

That's it: 4 stores in 2 days. But at least we should have enough food for the week, and beyond!