I've also gone halves on a weekly fruit and vegetable box from Cossey Produce with Holly and Mark. I eagerly await the first delivery.
And then, of course, there's our WsM Food Buying Group - collectively we spent over £250 and so qualify for the discount. Thanks Holly for instigating and organising this. So exciting! I've ordered some things practically unknown to our cupboards, including quinoa, which I've never, ever used or even seen. Recipes are welcome.
Today, I spent about an hour and a half shopping in Weston's town centre: spices, pulses and some fresh produce from Eastern Delight in Orchard Street, where I discussed lamb recipes with the woman who works there. I was appreciative when she opened the door for me and my bags, laden with cheese, eggs, ham and enough sausages to last us a month from Palmer's the Butcher, bread from Winnie's Bakery (both next to Silica) and dried fruit and seeds on special offer plus the baking powder I so needed for our next cake-baking sesh from Julian Graves in the Sovereign Centre. I faltered at sugar buying and dipped into Marks & Spencer's, the only place that was heaving; exactly what I'm trying to keep away from - the crowds, the crowds.
What qualifies as a supermarket? Like I said to a friend I bumped into in Palmer's, I don't want this to be an exercise of self-flagellation, do I? Not the point at all. So, one day I may have to contemplate browsing the flour and sugar aisle at Co-op or Waitrose. As long as they're not busy!
The biggest plus is that we've been eating a wider range of nutritious and tasty food than we have since my now five-year old was weaning, when this brand-new, eager mother insisted that everything had to be fresh. I was at my healthiest during pregnancy, not so much with The Glow but due to a solid, well-balanced diet, without any of my vices/addictions. Ahem.
Meals are now better planned, waste is already less and I'm having fun in the kitchen and in the shops. Fun, yes, fun! I told my daughter that she could pick any fruit from Fruitline in Worle. She chose a single orange and hugged it to her face all the way to the car, "I just can't stop smelling it!" She made Fairies spring from it on peeling and sucked the huge thing dry. The pineapple was also fresher, so much so that it stung her lips. Our Somerset Brie is ultra-creamy too!
As for the economics of the whole thing, I won't know that for maybe a couple of months but it looks as though it won't be any more expensive than my manic trips to Stressco or Asda.
Happy Eating :-)
Milk and More website
Cossey Produce website
While I'm too much of a coward to commit myself to cutting all ties with supermarkets immediately, I do want to try to buy as little from them as possible, but where should I shop instead?
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be a fair number of butcher's shops in Weston (I don't eat meat) and I can think of several greengrocers (a lot more useful), but where is there a traditional grocer? They seem to have been replaced by all those newsagents who've turned themselves into small-scale general stores, but having relied on one of those for much of my food supplies at one stage of my life, I have to say that they do tend to be very expensive.
What about non-supermarket chain stores, a category that includes shops like Holland & Barrett, as well as some of those paper shops like Martin's? And are all supermarkets as bad as one other? Are the Co-op and Waitrose more acceptable than Tesco and Asda? There are a lot of issues that I'm uncertain about, and if this was Twitter I'd sum my attitude up as #confused.
When I came to live in Weston in 1975 there were plenty of places to buy food in the High Street(Co-op, Fine Fare, International Stores, Woolworth's, Macfisheries, John's the Bakers,Weston Garden Produce, to name a few) as well as many, many independent specialist food shops in other parts of the town. I think that began to change when Sainsbury's opened in about 1977; we all went there,found it was convenient and suddenly it was 2012, and not easy to shop elsewhere.
It's largely our own fault that we're in this state, and I'd like to think that we could reverse the process by shopping elsewhere. First, though, I need to find out where those independent shops are. I can see that I'm going to be doing a lot of pavement-pounding looking for them, but it's research, so that's OK.
2 greengrocers in WsM Town Centre - one by Silica and one next to Post Office in Regent Street. And Fruitline in Worle High Street.
ReplyDeleteIt can be confusing but I've learnt so much about where/who sells what even in the past few days. We'll all help each other. I aim to save money (or not spend more, at the very least) and to enjoy shopping and eating, such an important part of First World life.
And yes, I've been thinking that - what qualifies as a supermarket? For me, the less stress involved, the better. But, as @memarkyb said on twitter, it's an experiment. We will learn and adapt, if we want/feel the urge or need to. "Doctrine not Dogma" Each to her/his own, after all. No rules to any of this, is there?
Happily involved
There is a slight risk of complacency when purchasing from non supermarkets; years ago I lived in Milton, at the end of my road there was a Co-op and Co-op butchers on one side and a sweet shop and grocers on the other; a proper grocers like Keith is talking about rather than just a greengrocer, (the nearest greengrocer was a short walk away in the village, together with a fishmonger, another butcher, two more grocers and more). My mum did much of her shopping at the grocers at the end of our road, she didn't drive and it couldn't have been more convenient; however much of his stock came from Tesco, because it was cheaper for him to buy it there than at Cash and Carry...so in that case was the small grocer's shop necessarily the best option, was buying from him just adding an unnecessary link to the chain? and if the small shop-keepers are buying from a cash and carry type wholesaler are they necessarily any better/more ethical than a supermarket?
ReplyDeleteAnd, really, where the hell do you buy FISH?
ReplyDeleteWhere I grew up in 70's London there was a Cullen's at the end of the road, we shopped there a lot, had a milkman, everyone did. Then Sainsbury's opened in Victoria Street, which was an amazing place (they sold toffee apples; we had them every pay-day Friday). Then Tesco.
Then I don't remember much else.
there was a fishmonger on Alexandra Parade until fairly recently but I think they've closed now
ReplyDeleteThere is a company called James the Fish that have just started up again, in the past you ordered by phone and they brought all the orders to the Rugby Club car park once a week for collection, they've changed the system though and now you order and they deliver to your home, but charge quite a hefty delivery charge. There stuff is great and is reasonably priced but you have to buy fairly large quantities so it's a big initial outlay and only feasible if you have a large freezer or can share with other families.
ReplyDeletetheir stuff, their, THEIR, so mad with myself for getting that wrong
ReplyDeleteWe use the Co-op for some goods - sugar included. It's a supermarket, yes, but it's a co-operative, they have an ethical policy and the shopping experience isn't exactly like the big box marts that I refuse to go in to because they give me rage. Those environments are deliberately psychologically designed to turn people in to zombies which makes me angry.
ReplyDeleteAnyway... :o)
I'd still like to move away from the Co-op a bit more and only use it for "whoops I forgot to buy..." convenience missions that, with a bit of planning, should be few and far between. That's why I'm glad to see there are more people out there wanting to do this... It's been lonely these past years. These things are easier in co-operation. It's also nice to see that there's been a resurgence of independents in the past couple of years - there are far more places to shop.
Puxton Park is good for some dried goods - they stock Shipton Mill flour and other baking goods - worth a drive out there to take a look some time. Brockley farm shop is also a good un, if you find yourself passing. Murrays on Hill Road in Clevedon is good for deli items and some dried goods, if you fancy spoiling yourself. Just go in with a shopping list and do not deviate or you'll have to take out a bank loan!
Fish... I'm going to repost the links here that I popped up on your Facebook, Becky:
Burnham on Sea: http://www.sea-foods.co.uk/index.htm
Bristol:
Fishminster - http://www.fishminster.co.uk/ (Bedminster and Whiteladies Rd)
Source Food Hall - http://www.source-food.co.uk/fishMain.html (St Nick's Market)
The Fish Shop - http://www.glosroadfish.co.uk/ (Gloucester Rd)
There's also a fish stall at the Wells Farmers' Market every Wednesday morning.
Does anyone know what's happened to Fruitline in Worle High Street? It's been shut since Christmas Eve, and when I looked through the grille ALL fittings had gone. I assume either they're having a major re-fit or they've suddenly gone out of business. There's no explanation posted at the front of their premises, and I can't trace Fruitline in the phonebook or the Yellow Pages so can't contact them.
ReplyDelete