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There's a Super H at the north end of town. It wouldn't be very convenient for me, but I have heard good things. I will check it out. I need another place to buy fish anyway.
One supermarket called "Waitrose" which is small, always has stuff I want to buy, great ready meals and principles of animal husbandry, sustainability and ethics I really appreciate. They stock a lot of fairtrade items which is important to me.
I also buy meat direct from Farmers' shops as well as veggies and fruits from markets when we have them. And my free range Eggs usually from people who rear chickens on a teeny-tiny scale.
I tend to order from Waitrose online for my "big shop" ( monthly) and then top up about once a week for smaller fresher items. I hate grocery shopping and as delivery is free and the driver unloads it all for me no drawbacks at all.
I occasionally buy cheeses and specialty items from the Covered Market in Oxford which is basically a huge deli.
I should have mentioned their other brand Ultra Foods. I'm looking at their website and almost all of the new Illinois locations are Ultra's. Looks like they are in Wheaton, Lombard, Downers Grove, Forest Park, Hanover Park, Joliet, Kankakee, Calumet Park, Crestwood, one location in Chicago along with several south suburban locations they have had for years already. As Strack and Van Tils, they have another Chicago location and Plainfield. They took over many former Cub Food locations. Don't know why they are naming most of the Illinois locations Ultra's.
I'm sure I've seen Ultra Foods around here somewhere ... probably the one in Downers because that's where my office is. I assumed it was a Food 4 Less kind of place, and I never liked that chain in California. I'm glad we had this thread, because now I have two new stores to look at. Of course they are nowhere near one another, nor are they close to where I normally do my shopping (Route 59). LOL!
how many grocery stores do you visit on a regular basis?
Lets see:
1. Local Ralphs - food staples
2. Local Trader Joes - certain veggies, almond butter, 2 buck chuck.
3. Ralphs near work - for when need to pick up a little something on the way home.
4. Whole Foods - for certain cheeses, wine, cuts of meats, teas, Udos Oil, etc.
5. Pavillions - Next to 4 year old's dance studio for whatever is needed.
6. Russian Deli - for Moscow sausage, olivier (as in Lawrence), tea, kefir, boromi, blinchiks, etc.
There's a Super H at the north end of town. It wouldn't be very convenient for me, but I have heard good things. I will check it out. I need another place to buy fish anyway.
You should make the trip for the following items:
Fresh shrimp
Fresh fish
Asian short ribs
Asian vegetables and fruits
I, too, am fortunate to have a TON of options within a 10 mile radius, and don't work outside the home, so I have the time and inclination to go to different markets for different items. My list:
ALDI - Do a bulk of my shopping here for staples: butter, hummus, cheeses, nuts, chips, pasta sauces, frozen fish, fruits/veggies, canned beans, European chocolates (yum!) cheap but great quality wines and specials. All GREAT quality at dirt-cheap prices.
Super Target: Mine has an AWESOME grocery selection. I buy most of my organics here along with, Alaskan crab legs, langostino, Amy's frozen organic dinners, Michaelangelo natural Italian dinners, cat food, sockeye salmon, organic beef and chicken, bacon, deli turkey, FANTASTIC BREAD (Archer Farm artisan), and many of their Archer Farm brand items (delicious!)
Publix: Used to be my main grocery before I branched out. The Publix stores where I live are awesome and have a huge selection, but pricier than Target or ALDI. I fill in what I can't get at the other stores, plus they have the BEST rotiserrie chicken I have ever tasted. Sometimes I shop their sales as well.
Farmstand: I don't go as much as I used to, but do make special trips for local, organic farm-fresh eggs, plus the best tomatoes and small pickle cukes which I love.
Fresh Market: Just an occasional trip here, mostly for special nuts and treats from their bulk bins, bread, and an occasional tenderloin.
Fish Market: I am lucky to live on the coast where a lot of fresh fish is available. I sometimes go to the market for some, but unfortunately fresh fish has become uber-expensive so I end up buying more of the cheaper frozen stuff from regular markets.
Our city will soon be getting a Trader Joe, so I imagine that will be on occasional rotation as well. I LOVE food shopping (and eating, lol!)
I'm sure I've seen Ultra Foods around here somewhere ... probably the one in Downers because that's where my office is. I assumed it was a Food 4 Less kind of place, and I never liked that chain in California. I'm glad we had this thread, because now I have two new stores to look at. Of course they are nowhere near one another, nor are they close to where I normally do my shopping (Route 59). LOL!
Well, when they started using that name, it was their discount brand. It isn't so much anymore, its a full service grocer now. The ones labeled Strack and Van Til's are a little more upscale then the Ultra's. They are nice stores, the Stracks by my house is being remodeled for the second time in about five years so they keep them looking good. You will probably see more of them pop up as they want to grow and will take locations from failed grocers like Cubs Foods.
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I LOVE food shopping (and eating, lol!)
