shopping can be fun

We have a new grocery store in town and it seems to be a terribly exciting event judging by the crowds I had to wade through when I went to visit it this afternoon.

The original store is located about 25 miles away and I talked to a few people who had been driving that far just to shop at this Eastern European gastronomic delight. They claim to have 624 different kinds of cheese. It is mostly Polish and I wished I had an app for my non-existent iphone to translate some of the product names. If there was a picture, I could get a good clue, but some of the deli meats and cheeses and I had no idea. Being a bit adventurous, if it was part of the opening week specials and looked interesting, I considered bying it. I did think about getting some homemade soup that looked full of ... something other than broth, until I noticed the small print on the other side of all the Poilsh. Tripe. Seriously? I almost threw it back in the shelf! Yech. Shudder. But, I did try one of those plum donuts,  Pączki,  that seem to be a Polish specialty. They were very good. And I have an interesting selection of fruit juices that we don't see normally in the usual grocery stores.


I pretended that I was visiting a foreign city as I navigated my way through the aisles looking as lost as about half the other shoppers. The other half seemed to be Polish and I was not above asking questions of anyone who seemed to be familiar with the system and what was on offer.

But, my oh my, I hope the crowds die down just a little in the next few weeks. I suppose in time, we will get used to what to look for and where things are.

In the meantime, far be it from me to let a good pun go to waste.

How many other cities can claim to have their own

Starsky and Hutch

food, glorious food

After a weekend of good food to be thankful for, I read Jazz's post on other foods we should at least try, whether thankfully or not.


So here is the stolen meme:
"From the parent post at Very Good Taste:
Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers."

Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (or as in my case, who hasn't figured out how to cross out, italicize)
Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Added bit:
Colour in bold red the items you LOVED, and bold lime green items you HATED

So here is VioletSky's unusual (or not) food taste:
I actually find it rather interesting the foods I have never tried - a Big Mac, chitterlings - compared with the foods I have tried - Krispy Kreme, haggis. Obviously, I am selective.

The Omnivore's Hundred

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. (I wish!!!)
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake