Seen Around

I was planning to post about something else, but I am having issues with the pic download as usual....

Just a street over there is a little Portuguese grocery that has been at the same location since the 60's.

I started shopping there in the 80's when I had a shitty apartment just across the street from where i currently live.

The grocery store is a staple of Portuguese culture and food. people come from all over for their specialty meats, cheese and groceries.

 The ground beef, and bifanas (pork steaks) are really good.

They make the most fabulous smoked bacon.

 last night 2 of the butchers were fixing chorizo, the most wonderful

sausage! It is smoked and dried and stored in the cabinet

in the picture below.

you can order a mild or spicy chorizo.

it can be served grilled or sliced and served with 

Caldo Verde the traditional Portuguese kale and potato soup.

I really love this store and so did my Dad.

He didn't want to move from his neighborhood because of this place and other

spots.

I am really happy that I enjoy posting again!

I hope it lasts!

Have a great night!

Thrifty Goodness

One of my fave grocery store is the kookiest or one of the kookiest in Montreal.

My Dad calls it the dirty grocery, I've called it many names....but in fact it has no real official name outside. The sign says 'épicerie' or grocery store.

I know its real name but cannot say it....It is one of Montreal's best kept secret!

If you can get past the smell (Dried salted cod), the chaos and the noise....you will be rewarded with thrifty goodness.

The produce can be fabulous, or past its prime and sometimes they don't have red bell peppers....

I go there with a list, but rarely buy all that is written on it. Because you never know what deals you will find!

Here is some of the goodies i got today.

The Cracker Barrel cheese was $1.99 for 250g (about 8 ounces)

That is a DYNAMITE deal!

The cheese expires in 16 days....

The butternut squash was a dollar a pound, so it came to $1.06 

And the Oka cheese , was $1.49 for 100g (3.5 ounces)

The company introduced the sliced version of this iconic Quebec

cheese maybe a year ago. I saw it first at my local Maxi & Cie

(Canada's Superstore) and it was $6.99 for a big package, don't know the weight

but this cut of cheese has been MIA ever since.

It smells of feet and is amazing on toast!

  I also bought an eggplant ($1.11), 3 zucchinis ($1.07) and a

red pepper for .57cents

With the veggies I made a pig pot of ratatouille.

Eggplant,zucchinis,onion,garlic,red pepper and tomatoes....LOVE!

I also add basil, S&P and some Johnny's seasoned salt

It will be sooo good with Italian sausages

No Way!

The finish line is almost there....We are 85% packed.

Most address changes are done and we started moving the pantry! All the cans are in their new homes.

The pool will be closed this weekend by a pro as requested by the buyer. This pool will be missed!!!

Today I wanted to share something I saw in the grocery store freezer....

  Poutine bites!!!

 Crispy potato ,cheese and Poutine sauce

all conviniently frozen in case you get a craving.

 3 bites for 110 calories

I can't believe some yahoo invented that!

I won't be spending my hard earned money on that.

On the thrifting front....Last night we brought 6 bags at Value Village

and I was rewarded with a 30 % off card.

                                I brought home these cuties....LOVE!
                                Fireking cereal bowls love!

                                Got to get ready for tomorrow, sleep tight my friends

Seen around...the grocery store

I love to grocery shop and enjoy the ethnic stoes even moe because you never know what you will see....

                                             Coconut Sport Balls anyone?

                                           Just what are those? 

 

 

                                          I always get a kick of seeing Montreal Chop Suey boxes.
                                          It means my bean sprouts will be fresh!

                                         Now notice the price tags on these veggies....
                                        The eggplant,okra and lotus all have the same tags...

                                          They are all called LEGUMES in english VEGETABLE.
                                           I'm sure the ownes didn't want to take any chances with the language
                                           police, so they are covered....
                                           But what about the veggie police????

                                           They other day one lady didn't know the difference between zucchini and cucumber....Good times!

                                             Have a nice week and don't foget to eat you veggies!!!
              

It's all beef!

By now you probably know that I get a kick out of shopping in ethnic groceries, specially oriental ones.

One of my fave is in Verdun on Wellington street, I have no idea of its name. And in fact is is more than an oriental grocery, it is also a latino and african grocery that catters to a large immigrant population in Verdun.

So it is a bonanza of exotic, cool stuff!

The meat is very fresh and as a matter of fact I buy pork for stirfrys that is really lean and delicious.

Here's what I saw the other in the meat counter...

 

the tag says viande de boeuf (beef meat). Yes it is, but it is

really beef heart.

 

More beef meat (viande de boeuf)

looks like beef, but what cut is it?

 

 

What is this? Beef tail? no clue but it is still called viande de boeuf

(beef meat). Funny no?

 

I won't be buying the last cut anytime soon, because I have no idea what to do with it....

But I could go for the second .

 

Have you seen interesting things in grocery stores lately? 

 

 

Grocery store sighting

This is why I love ethnic grocery stores! Some products are so unique or off the wall!

 

I give you Balli Cerez!

It is a mix of honey and nuts.

The label really cracked me up.

 

 

The label reads for every one who wantsto be young with a strong mind and nerves; for

every old man who dreams to have his youth back.

 

But how to we fix the guy with the jar on his head?

 

By the way I looked it up on the internet and it is supposed to be amazingly good!

 

Who knows? I just might follow Dave's advice RIGHT HERE and go get a jar!

 

I love honey and I love nuts!

1.25

1.25 is what I spent at my fave church basement....for these goodies!

And these...

A whole lot of cook books! Vintage cook books, you know how much I love them!

So I got 6 cook books, 3 small Mason jar (the perfect size for homemade pesto), a unopened bag of peat pellets (perfect for next spring seedlings) and a brand new still wrapped Wrebbit puzzle (I will be taking that one on vacation with Dad).

Not bad for 1.25$ !

Ok now for a SDM tidbit: When I was working there, I didn't just mann the postal counter...I did that while EPM was on lunch break. After she would send me to 'the floor' and she would say it like it was a disease; you know with a disgusted face...

What I did on the floor...I checked the expiry dates on the products. Remove the expired ones and place sale stickers on the ones that would expire in 30 days.

Now I don't want to bad mouth the lady before me (she was really sweet and trained me) but while I was there I threw out so many products the manager was flabbergasted, so it makes me wonder just what she did because I found some that were expired since 2008 ( that is ANCIENT for lube!)

Ok enough for now! Off to grocery shop I go!