Eat Well While Pinching Pennies: Food Shopping
(Also see the penny-pinching posts on Tasting & Classes and Dining Out.)
This post is a compromise. Obviously, this site is about good food in Seattle, and I personally want to support small local businesses and sustainable food practices.
But like many - maybe most - folks, sometimes I make other choices. Sometimes I do prioritize saving money over other considerations around where and what I might be buying when food shopping. I realize I am risking Alice Waters disapproval, but...whaddyagonnado?
So again, this post on food shopping is a compromise. I've included the local and small businesses I know that have great values, but capitulated to some bigger guys for the the things they do offer at a good price.
Have any hot tips for spots I missed? Email me or leave it in the comments.
GROCERY SHOPPING
Although gas prices have deflated somewhat, it’s still a juggle between convenience and value for many shoppers. However, with a little preplanning, you might be able to maximize your shopping trips by hitting different markets for different items and by researching a bit before you go. Many Seattle markets feature their specials online, so it can be worth a look first to see what is on offer before heading out for your weekly shopping.
- Whole Foods offers the Whole Deal guide in the market or downloaded from their site, with coupons and recipes. (Voracious also posted last year about a challenge by Whole Foods to see how inexpensive their offerings could be with some careful shopping.)
- PCC Members get savings on trips, cooking class discounts, Zipcar discounts. Seniors and individuals with disabilities are eligible for a $2 shopping pass for a 5% discount on the 15th and 16th of the month. Non-members can still get good deals on bulk goods, dairy, and other items.
- Metro Markets is a little spendy, quite frankly, but their monthly “Meet the producers” events can give you a chance to try occasionally pricey brands before you buy. In March, some producers they will be featuring include Greek Gods Ice Cream, Small Planet Tofu, and Rao’s Pasta Sauces. Check out their events for listings each month. They also do have bulk spices, which are generally a good deal.
- Big John’s PFI is a Seattle favorite for deals on cheese (1 lb minimum), Mediterranean products and bulk chocolate.
- Culinary Collective sells products like Matiz rice and Blanxart chocolates and they are doing a discount Cash-n-Carry every Friday from 9am to 1pm out in Woodinville.
- Trader Joe’s is always a go-to spot for bargains with several locations in Seattle. My Ballard reported on the recent opening in Ballard.
- Madison Market Co-Op Membership comes with sale pricing and discounts. They also offer free membership to individuals who are dealing with certain kinds of financial hardship or other kinds of limitations.
- Central Market, like Metro, can be pricey, but there are buys to be had on bulk goods, Big Board Buys, and Bi-Weekly Ad.
- Viet Wah is often a bargain on Asian produce and food items. I got all confused the other day when I bought a bag of sesame seeds, a big knob of ginger, bunch of scallion and bag of cinnamon sticks and heard the cashier say my total was $2.76. $2.76? Who gets out of a grocery store for that much nowadays?
OUTLETS
Wine Outlet has some good discounts on market prices on quality wines.
Neither especially foodie nor locavorish, the below might still be of interest for bargain hunters.
- Grocery Outlet
- Franz Bakery Outlet
- Oberto Beef Jerky Outlet
- Calphalon , Kitchen Collection, Le Creuset, Le Gourmet Chef, and Royal Doulton at Seattle Premium Outlets
SOME OTHER FOOD SHOPPING BARGAIN ROUND-UPS
- Capitol Hill Seattle recently did a comparison for grocery stores.
- Seattle Weekly’s Voracious did a “Frugal Gourmet” feature last year.
- Here’s my Three-Bowls post from the holiday season with what I buy where when holiday baking.
Image of Rachel the Pig by Flickr Creatiev Commons photographer Phillie Casablanca.
Leslie Seaton
Also see Rebekah Denn's post on Best and Worst Supermarkets, based on the Puget Sound Consumers' Checkbook, which takes into about service in addition to price and quality.
Leslie Seaton
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