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As for TJ's I still say there is nothing that they sell that I can't get at a regular grocery store, except that crappy wine.
The TJ's nearest me sells more than just their crappy "Two buck chuck" wine. They have an excellent wine selection, along with craft beers and spirits. They sell all significantly cheaper than most of our liquor stores as well. I am not familiar with BC's liquor laws though, do your grocery stores stock beer, wine and spirits for the most part?
The TJ's nearest me sells more than just their crappy "Two buck chuck" wine. They have an excellent wine selection, along with craft beers and spirits. They sell all significantly cheaper than most of our liquor stores as well. I am not familiar with BC's liquor laws though, do your grocery stores stock beer, wine and spirits for the most part?
I've already stated that alcohol is the only thing at TJ's that you can't get in a B.C. grocery store, but this is about groceries, not alcohol.
However nearly every supermarket in my area has either next door or across the street a liquor store which has a better selection than anything I've seen in an Albertson's etc.
Getting back on track. When I walk into a store, a major chain like Albertson's in the U.S. ( my experience is with the westcoast of the U.S. ) I can not get French Brie, Dutch Cheese of any kind, in fact hardly any imported cheese. Organic meats were lacking, they had no organic chicken on my last visit, luncheon meats without sulphites or preservatives let alone preservative free hot dogs for my camping trip. ethnic foods that are plentiful in Canadian supermarkets such as Indian, Thai and Chinese ( I'm talking the imported foods from these countries ), plenty of U.S. Mexican foods, but no imported Mexican food that I have at my local store. Mustards. They only had one imported mustard from France, a standard Dijon. Ask a Canadian how many imported mustards are on a regular Canadian superstore shelf and the answer will be way more than one. German, French, and Canadian made mustards are standard.
Imported cookies as well.
Again I am NOT saying that you can't find these things in the U.S. I am saying these products are not as ubiquitous as they are in Canada. I can't tell you how many times I have asked for something in a regular American supermarket, only to be told " you have to go to a specialty store for that ".
I've already stated that alcohol is the only thing at TJ's that you can't get in a B.C. grocery store, but this is about groceries, not alcohol.
However nearly every supermarket in my area has either next door or across the street a liquor store which has a better selection than anything I've seen in an Albertson's etc.
Getting back on track. When I walk into a store, a major chain like Albertson's in the U.S. ( my experience is with the westcoast of the U.S. ) I can not get French Brie, Dutch Cheese of any kind, in fact hardly any imported cheese. Organic meats were lacking, they had no organic chicken on my last visit, luncheon meats without sulphites or preservatives let alone preservative free hot dogs for my camping trip. ethnic foods that are plentiful in Canadian supermarkets such as Indian, Thai and Chinese ( I'm talking the imported foods from these countries ), plenty of U.S. Mexican foods, but no imported Mexican food that I have at my local store. Mustards. They only had one imported mustard from France, a standard Dijon. Ask a Canadian how many imported mustards are on a regular Canadian superstore shelf and the answer will be way more than one. German, French, and Canadian made mustards are standard.
Imported cookies as well.
Again I am NOT saying that you can't find these things in the U.S. I am saying these products are not as ubiquitous as they are in Canada. I can't tell you how many times I have asked for something in a regular American supermarket, only to be told " you have to go to a specialty store for that ".
I am just making the point that you have a very limited experience of shopping in "America" as it is limited to the 3 states (portions of them) that on on the same coast as you. There is an entire country filed with grocery stores that have a much better selection than what you stated. Personally I have no idea how shopping is in most states or provinces, but my experience comparing good grocery stores in the places I have lived are about the same selection is present in them for the most part. There may be a couple differences here and there but not the extremes you have experienced.
All I can gather from this is that I am glad I don't live in Oregon as the grocery stores sounds absolutely terrible
I have also noticed mainstream grocery ice cream in canada isn't very good. It is almost like whipped cream like consistency. The more expensive brands are better but they are $$$$$. It is strange because I find milk in Canada to be very tasty. Cows ice cream parlour in PEI has some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted. I have also tried Dairy Cream in Mississauga and it is just average. Where I used to live in the states had really good ice cream.
Have you tried Coaticook Ice cream? It's fabulous! Real cream and milk, instead of milk solids.
Not as good as the home made ice cream I had on the streets of Moscow, but still very, very good.
Have you tried Coaticook Ice cream? It's fabulous! Real cream and milk, instead of milk solids.
Not as good as the home made ice cream I had on the streets of Moscow, but still very, very good.
A lot of people I know swear by Coaticook and we are not even in its base region, but I am not sure how widely distributed it is outside Quebec.
A lot of people I know swear by Coaticook and we are not even in its base region, but I am not sure how widely distributed it is outside Quebec.
If you ever see it, you should buy it. It doesn't look like much, as it doesn't have fancy packaging, but it's amazing ice cream. It's the only one I buy.
If the non-Canadians have no clue what I am talking about, I live outside of Buffalo NY -- we'll take Timmy's anyday over any other coffee! I just wish it was all over the US!
If the non-Canadians have no clue what I am talking about, I live outside of Buffalo NY -- we'll take Timmy's anyday over any other coffee! I just wish it was all over the US!
Tim Hortons isn't what it used to be. Compared to before, it really sucks. Donuts that taste half stale and bitter coffee. I'll pass.
Tim Hortons isn't what it used to be. Compared to before, it really sucks. Donuts that taste half stale and bitter coffee. I'll pass.
Tim's is revolting, ill pass. There are so many other great independently owned coffee shops around. It's a shame disgusting places like Tim's and DD are so popular.
Tim Hortons may have started out as a donut and coffee shop but they've gone way past that these days,Obviously any restaurant cant be all things to all people and i guess if you just want donuts any port in the storm will do, if you want a quality selection of many items besides donuts and coffee Timmies is the place to go, lately i've been enjoying their paninni sandwiches and a bowl of soup.. Tim Hortons - Canada
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