Groceries/Restaurants in the South (Huntsville, Madison: how much, buy, organic)

[ionlife]

Hi Everyone:

I just read that someone from CA found health food/Amy's stuff and want to ask where she/he buys them. We have TRader Joe's, Whole Foods and Wegmans in Fairfax VA (will miss my TJs and Weggies a lot). What are the top grocery chains? I think one is Publix. Any other? Any alternatives?

Any interesting, off the wall, fun places to eat that aren't chain franchises? Love the franchise restaurants but like a little variety too.

We're heading down to check the area out in a few weeks. Any input or recommendations would be nice.

OH, and here's a dumb one: where do you buy in AL? In TN it was only purchased in private owned stores. Do your grocery stores sell wine or do we have to go to separate stores for that?

Thanks!

[Keeper]

Publix is in Huntsville and IMHO one of the best stores around. There is Krogers and Family Markets plus Natural market.

You can buy wine and beer in grocery stores. Hard liquor can be bought at private liquor stores (they also sell beer and wine) or the State store (ABC) which only sells liquor. No hard liquor sold on Sundays, but you can buy beer and wine in Huntsville on Sunday.

You have to try the BBQ while you are here. They make a white bbq sauce for chicken that is really good and different.

[NicoleC]

The best health food store bar none in Huntsville is Garden Cove Produce. It mostly caters to people with special diets, though, like gluten-free and vegan options. The produce section is excellent, the freshest around, and is mostly locally grown plus extra specialty items that rotate in and out.

There is a Fresh Market, which is similar to Whole Foods, in southeast Huntsville. Coming from an area with lots competition in this kind of market, the prices at Fresh Market nearly gave me heart failure. And I thought Publix was overpriced. But Fresh Market does have some foods I haven't seen elsewhere.

Most of the Kroger's have a small health food section. Also pricey, but if you desire is just for a few things like Amy's entrees, it's not any more expensive than any of the other local places.

There are also seasonal farmer's markets and CSA farms in Alabama, plus local options for high quality organic-style meat and eggs from local farmers.

[jmuoto]

My husband and I always go to Rosie's Mexican Cantina when we visit HSV (usually several times, at that). It is by far the best Mexican restaurant I have been too, not to mention the ambiance is amazing. As far as I know, they don't have a website but I wrote a review for them on Yelp (a reviewing site that is very popular in the Bay Area).

Rosie's Mexican Cantina - Huntsville, AL

[rnc76]

Star Market is a local grocery. The original one is in the Five Points area downtown. They have another in Meridianville (or is it Hazel Green???) and a third out west on US72 in Madison. Their produce is hit and miss but their beef and pork is incredible, the best for the money in town IMO. I second the Garden Cove recommendation. Locally owned, lots of vegetarian, vegan, supplements, vitamins and stuff you can't find other places and they have a very friendly staff. The European Market is a great little shop off of South Parkway (east side between Airport and Drake) with stuff from all over Europe with an emphasis on Eastern Europe/Russia/Germany (the owner is Russian). They have a deli case with lots of interesting sausages, meats and cheeses. Most of the packaging doesn't even have English on it, so I usually ask the owner, who is always really nice in explaining what is in it and how much she enjoys it or doesn't enjoy it.

[ionlife]

Wow Thanks! I'm writing the recommendations down and bringing them with me. My husband loves BBQ and we all love Mexican. Can't wait to check out the places.

Christine

[Keeper]

Here is a link to another post asking similiar questions about restaurants and things to see while in the area to give you some more ideas.

//www.city-data.com/forum/hunts...e-decatur.html

[33458]

SuperTarget, of all places, has Amy's and one or two other Vegan brand offerings...(I eat meat, husband does not.)