"International Tastes"

A couple of weeks ago I went to the University Urban Fresh to pick up some coconut milk for a curry I had simmering in the crockpot all day.  I could not find it anywhere, so I asked a woman shelving granola bars where I might find a can of coconut milk.  She responded with a "oh, wow!  Coconut milk?  Is that like evaporated milk?  Go to the baking section".  I knew it wasn't there, but I went anyway, just in case.  It wasn't there.  It also wasn't with the soups, with the curry, with the dressings, or anywhere else.

While I was looking for it, a kind customer overheard my frustrations (something like, "why the fuck would they not carry effing coconut milk?") and told me that they do not carry coconut milk at any store in the university area.  She said that she ended up going to chinatown for it because the Safeway, Save-on, and the Sobey's I was in, all did not carry cans of coconut milk.  Apparently coconut milk is an exotic ingredient?  Not the last time I checked, but okay.  

I did get the other things I needed, and picked up some plain yogurt to use with the curry instead of the milk.  I was happy to find a new brand of chickpeas there, a type that was free of all weird preservative ingredients so I grabbed a couple of cans.  

Tripping to Sobey's

Another trip to Sobey's, another post.  I found myself and my company with an inebriated craving for milk & cookies, and so we walked to the (downtown) grocery store and each purchased two cookies and a Milk2Go.  I had a white rocky road and a chocolate rocky road and a vanilla milk.  I also bought the lemon dream chocophilia (white chocolate + lemon) which did not disappoint.  We sat in the bistro to eat our snack, and I asked for two glasses to pour our milk in.  The server behind the bar gave me two largish plastic glasses, which was a bit surprising, considering they do not appear to be a plastic type of place.  Aside from the plastic, the bistro area was a quiet place to sit and satisfy our milk&cookie yearning.  

The cookies were exactly what we wanted.  And obviously, the vanilla milk was super delicious, but when isn't it?

The chocophilia bar was more lemony than I'd expected, but also perfect.  

On our way out, we decided to pick out a pomegranate after I mentioned that I found them to be a sexy fruit.  I'm not sure why, but they strike me as seductive in a fertile way?  The way one might be seduced by a woman in her early 30's?

Note: a quick google image search of the phrase "sexy pomegranate" provides the result that I am not alone in appreciating the seductive qualities of this fruit.

xoxo, Grocery Crush

A New Location & Flaky Cereal

Hello Friends.

I am back, and ready to explore the world of Sobey's Urban Fresh once again.  I have been inspired by the opening of the new location near the university campus, and also my good friend A.M. Stein's discovery of another Edmonton food-lovers blog (A.M., I've lost the link, so could you please post it?  Thanks love).

I visited the new location about a week ago, to meet a friend for coffee (and to give her keys back, because I was babysitting her kitty).  The area to sit and have coffee is casual, and I imagine that if I were a student I might go there to study.  Obviously, it is no "large, open, kitchen-feel", and has no sense of "a community coming together to share food" that we have all missed dearly.  I am trying to simply ignore that this Sobey's has destroyed the beautiful energy of the organic store before it.  I can't go there right now.

After coffee, I did a bit of grocery shopping.  I bought a red pepper, some kicking horse coffee because it was on sale for ten dollars, some grainy crackers, a jar of red pepper jelly, a jar of pre-made curry, a block of cheese, half of a dozen of organic eggs, and some bagels.  I was disappointed to find out that they don't carry the selection of chocolate that the downtown location does, so I didn't get any chocolate.  I did check out the 'salt bar', which seems to be an assortment of salts that can be purchased in bulk.  The salt is from a variety of regions around the world, and there are descriptions of the healing properties and recipe suggestions for each salt.  I think I will try some soon, because I'm all over any type of salt-healing-crystal-magic.  

I need to head to the downtown sobey's today, for yogurt and granola.  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend Dorset Cereal.  I first bought this at a London Drugs about a year ago (side note: london drugs usually carries a lot of organic groceries at a really reasonable price.  I am not sure why, but it does).  This flaky granola is way above all others, and sobey's has the best selection I've found.  It is expensive, about eight dollars a box I believe, but it is worth it.  In fact, last Christmas I bought a box of this cereal for my dad and wrapped it up with his present!  The slogan on the box is "honest, tasty, and real" which I think is pretty adorable, and they even have a neat website.  I wish I could find the rest of the products they make because I am pretty sure this could be a new addiction for me.    

See?  Aren't the boxes so cute?  I promise you'll love it. 

Love grocery crush

Key to my heart

Yesterday (now a few days ago, because this is an old post...) Donald stopped by my place on his way home from work. I'd spent the entire day in bed, feeling sick, and generally having a way-horrible day.

He brought me the best gift in the world, all purchaced at----Sobey's.

One "tranquility" chocolate bar by Newtree Chocolates. It is milk chocolate infused with lavender and lime, and it is so so good. It is like a really good spa-massage in your mouth. I've always wanted to try it, so I was delighted.

Also two dark chocolate chocophilia bars, both kinds that I haven't tried (mocha bean and dark venezualan)! I haven't been feeling well lately, so it is wonderful to now have a stash of chocolate. And finally, two 'money comb' scratch tickets, which combine two other things I love: lottery tickets and honey bees.

Pretty much exactly what I needed to cheer me up, and all from the Sobey's. How thoughtful and lovely.

Chocolate for Lauren

I absolutely love these "Chocophilia" chocolates by Kerstin's Chocolates in Edmonton. I buy them from Sobey's (obviously), mostly because I couldn't figure out where the actually chocolate shop is located. If I have the option to purchase anything directly from the producer when it comes to locally-made products, I prefer to do that. As much as I love this grocery store, I would rather give all of my money to the independent business owners. That being said, when I'm at Sobey's I definitely always add a bar to my drag-along basket.

Note to Lauren: They can be found on the end of an aisle. I believe it is the aisle that is stocked with the cooking oils and spices. You will notice a long display of cookware and other kitchen gadgets opposite of the frozen entrees. If you are at this cookware display and turn around, you will see the chocolates.

They are $3.99 a bar, but they are well worth it. Sobey's carries many varieties of chocolate bars on this end display, and the Chocophilia ones are not the lowest price. I have tried other bars there that are priced at $4.29 and are much larger, and these were also fantastic, but my heart is still with the 'philia's. These other bars are named after emotions and states-of-being, tranquility, sensuality, and vigour are examples, so this can sometimes be a cute option for gifts.

My personal favorite is the 'sel de mar' (excuse my inaccuracies with the French name), which is milk chocolate with sea salt. The salt makes the chocolate taste illegal, it is that good. I've purchased the pumpkin pie one, a dark one, and the hazelnut one as well. I love the packaging, and the fresh colors. In fact the pretty colored wrappers entice me to buy more than one, because they look good sitting together on my counter.

I am going to check out Kerstin's Chocolates "Cocoa Room" at 10139-112 Street, in downtown Edmonton, and I will be sure to update you all as to how it is. Also, Axis Cafe on Jasper and 104st (just kitty-corner to Sobey's) sells the bars at the same price as Sobey's (and also makes amazing coffee) so that is another option for your purchasing pleasure.

Sweet Nothings: At What Cost?

Yesterday I took my weekly Sunday trip to Sobeys.  I was picking up something to eat for dinner with a friend of mine, and some things for lunch this upcoming week.  Let me recap some highlights:

• The wheel-behind baskets are the best.  I often struggle with the traditional baskets because I'm a little on the short side, and they hang awkwardly off my hip as I drag them through the store.  But, at Sobey's, I pop out the convenient luggage-style handle, and roll my groceries along.  Also, the carts are the perfect size for a store that is not meant for monthly family-size trips, but for when I need a few more things than will fit in a basket.  Lastly on the subject, I thank the store for providing easy-to-use sanitizing wipes for the handles.  They make me feel safe.
• Bought a pizza to cook at home.  It was ten dollars, for a smallish-sized pizza, and it was the perfect meal for a light Sunday supper.  
• I have always wanted to try one of the double-decker brownies, and yesterday was my day to do so.  The individual pieces of brownie are priced at $2.69, and the large loaf-sized pieces run around twelve dollars, if I remember correctly.  Yesterday, I was standing in line to pay, when I noticed the man in front of me holding the large brownie loaf priced at $2.69!  Naturally, I abandoned my groceries and went to the bakery section where I grabbed one of the other incorrectly priced brownie loaves.  And in the end, it turned out to be so delicious, it would have been worth the twelve dollars.

Can I take a time out?  I need to mention a little girl at the store who was there with her family.  I saw this tiny person, dancing around in rubber boots, a dress, about a hundred necklaces, and the wildest eyes she could manage.  She radiated a spirit of creativity, and she made me want to twirl right where I was standing.  After I saw her, I picked out a bag of cherries and a peach, and felt better about my basket full of sugar.  

• I picked out a carton of peanut butter ice cream, and a dove milk/dark combo chocolate bar.  I bought some organic raspberry yogurt, and milk (chocolate and 1%).  I also grabbed two plain cinnamon buns (one for me and one for a friend at work today).
  
• I broke down and spent eight dollars on a box of granola that I have been wanting to try.  I have tried other varieties of this brand, but they have come out with a cherry-cranberry-almond kind that looked delicious, so I treated myself to it.

The entire bill came to under fifty dollars.  I spent time picking out delicious food that I will enjoy eating, and I lazily browsed up and down the aisles visiting with a friend.  Next time, I'll take a closer look at the veggies...

Hi, I'm pleased to meet you!

This is me:

This is why I am going to blog about the Sobey's Urban Fresh grocery store on 104th street and Jasper Avenue in Edmonton:

1. A lot of things could possibly happen there, and I want to be ready if they do. For example, with all of the open, garage-style doors, a bird could fly in at any time and be trapped amongst the customers. This is something that I know that people will want to read about.
2. I like to eat food and I like to grocery shop for the food I eat. I want to document the experiences I have in a new grocery store, because becoming acquainted with a new grocery store is a complex process. The social customs, politics, economics, relationships, hardships, and triumphs that are part of coming to know a new grocery store--whether the store is just new for one customer, or is new to the whole community, as Sobey's is--are a valuable premise for personal reflection.
3. I find the concept of people (a very specific type of people) congregating at a grocery store intriguing.
4. I find the concept of people blogging about random things intriguing.
5. I tend to go there a lot, so I am hoping that by blogging about it, I will feel a greater sense of purpose when I'm there, and less of the aimlessness I feel now.

In my next post I will begin to divluge the more specific aspects of this Sobey's; the things that make it have a special place in my heart, and the things the cause me great concern for the future.

Okay, well, it is nice to have introduced myself.