Grocery Store Deli’s and Salad Bars

I love grocery stores.   The bigger the better.  To me they are like museums serving as an ode to conspicuous consumption in America with plenty of free parking.

Lea and I went to Whole Foods as a low-effort outing and lunch.   We picked two kinds of apples out of the 50ish varieties of fresh fruit, potatoes and onions.  Then we got box lunches from their 100 feet of salad bar next to the 100 feet of 6 kinds of hot counter food including bbq, tacos, burgers, and grilled sandwiches.

Definitely spendier than other grocery stores but at least customers don’t have to wait in line at the checkout register.    Whole Foods takes your money with a quickness!  I was pleasantly surprised to find a few produce and bottled water prices that were better than the other local grocers.

Small ethnic markets tend to run between tight and impassable for me in my wheelchair.    Otherwise I would shop at them more often.  Plus I don’t know how to prepare tasty meals from the products they offer.  I guess that is what cookbooks are for.  I like to read while eating not before eating. 

I was planning to make scalloped potatoes with ham for Easter.   It turns out what I really want is Au Gratin potatoes.  I had to Google the difference (cheese vs. cream).  Never made that before, slicing the potatoes by hand was a drag and I very rarely make casseroles (or other baked dishes).

I am grateful for high quality produce at affordable prices set up in dazzling displays of color and abundance.


2 comments:

  1. Safeway foods has the best prices in our town, and many tiny farmers markets to get the really fresh stuff..I volunteer and buy food for the hungry here and get some farmers to donate high protein foods, poultry and sometimes, pork and hams for the holidays..the faces of the hungry are amazing to me when they down the grub as they call it never had any person or persons complain about the tastes at all..we do pack food to take home! How bountiful your life in Bellevue, few here have a place to call a home really, the rents are ridiculous for what they actually get, yet they never complain working 60 plus hours weekly and more and feeding their wives or husbands and kids and they are suppose to starve no this minister gives food and help he is an angel, I don't belong to his church but I cook and buy food so some can eat and work and work..You live a charmed life in spite of your addiction(s) you truly do..Many here are homeless and hungry, the people who go to churches here are not giving anything to this tiny place..I don't attend any church/temple even though my hubs is jewish we lead by example and our faith in a higher power..I read your blog all the time, I pray for you and your sobriety and I know you help many in your recovery to stay sober, God's Blessings to you at this Passover and Easter, a stone's throw from our home is Whole foods it is too expensive for us and a New Seasons too, too expensive, the Safeway has the best prices and freshest produce and Hams, Poultry, Fish and beef..I buy the meat when it is marked down 30 to 50% and get great deals I freeze it and haul it to the place that feeds the hungry, plus I stop at a place for spuds, carrots and brussel sprouts the fellow gives me a wonderful deal, then my neighbor drives me to the place..i cook, bake, roast and make goodies, I am not a chef nor are any of the volunteers but we make great foods, I love to bake made many tiny cookies and a big big cake from the safeway for little will fill the many kids and wee ones coming tomorrow..God's Blessings in your recorvery you do a wonderful service for those trying to keep sober and happy..ciao!

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  2. I meant to say I only buy the meat and poultry at 30% to 50% off, the dates are not old they just want to get them sold, it is a big bargain, every little bit helps, we makes soups all the time, mashed spuds, biscuits and rolls from scratch..Always some egg dish for the protein and lots of puddings and cookies if we get the bob's red mill flours which is not often or I just use white all purpose..No one goes hungry and always can take home sammies and apples and fruit in a backpack donated, sometimes they get a mac and cheese casserole and protein to go with it, they get enough to hold them over until they can get to the place again for a meal and help!

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