Tag Archives: DeMoulas/Market Basket

Events and Entertaining, Food & Recipes, Me!

attention Whole Foods shoppers [fancy party priced right]

So, I just got back from Market Basket. It’s a New England discount food store [I’m not really sure what stores like this are actually called; but it’s like, the cheapest place you can shop. Like, I think I got 12 English muffins for like, $1, cheap.]

If you have ever been in a Market Basket in any suburb of Boston, you will understand why this is meaningful. Market Baskets are the first world equivalents of a third world trading center; or a souk. I think. I’m not sure if I actually know what a souk is,  but I feel like it’s a really crowded place to shop. So is Market Basket. People are very angry there, and you best not cut in front of anyone trying to get a deal on Li’l Hugs (you know the colorful drinks in the barrels from Freaks and Geeks/the 80s?)

And it’s one of those places where you drive in a ton of traffic to get to – but then the traffic continues as you enter. I swear, it took me no less than 4 minutes standing on the curb to have someone finally stop and let me cross the parking lot into the store. The shopping carts should actually have turn signals, since at the end of the aisle, you need to indicate which way you’re turning, lest you receive the verbal equivalent of ::BEEP:: or, worst case scenario, get run over by a faster, more deft Market Basket shopper [#whompwhomp]. My neighbor says he doesn’t have this problem. He’s a man in the store with two tow-headed little girls, so everyone is all:

Oh, look, a dad who cares. What a great, great man. His wife must be dead…

And when he has to get through the aisle it’s all:

Oh, no, sir, after you – I INSIST!

I only went since the kids were with Mike today, and I figured I could handle the stress of being in this place. Welp, I guess in a way I was right. I walked out with [almost] everything I went for, and without having any version of a nervous breakdown.

Stores like this are great compliments to gourmet grocers when you are entertaining. For example, I’ll get my pâtés, fancy pickles, expensive mustards, smoked fish and caviar at Whole Foods and other gourmet grocers. Often, I’ll get the accouterment there as well. Whole Foods has relatively competitive pricing when it comes to non-prepared foods; for example, I found that Carr’s water crackers are less expensive at Whole Foods than at Market Basket. And all organic meat and produce is the same price, if not less, at Whole Foods than at Market Basket. Go figz.

BUT

I’ve been converted. I went there to buy inexpensive bread for canapes, marshmallows and such for s’mores favors, cases of mineral water, pretzels and crackers for the wine tasting, some GOYA stuff… on and on and on.

I was hoping that I was right about this joint being cheaper. I had filled my cart up to the top, and when I do that at Whole Foods, it’s generally over $400 (with good reason – it’s WHOLE FOOD). This was a cart full of crap. Crackers, water, pretzels, ya know, cheap shit – crap. But I got some cheeses, too, since they had a really nice selection.

Well, $250 later, I have most of what I need for my wine tasting birthday party. Their selection of cheeses was actually pretty impressive, and I even got a fancy mustard. All I really need from Whole Foods is the pâté and pickles. They also have an amazing selection of ethnic groceries; I picked up what I believe to be Serbian Nutella.

The challenge will be getting people to try it.

C’mon guys; don’t let my Serbian chocolate spread scare you – I promise, it’s just like Nutella, except instead of hazelnuts they mix in the tears of child soldiers!

Too soon? #sorry

I walked away from this experience with a few notes:

  1. The law of attraction is more powerful than you think. I have never had less than a 1/4 mile walk to the store from the lot, but told myself today would be different. I willed into reality a parking spot right next to the store. Literally, like, the closest spot you could get. Turns out, I did a little too well in the parking department; as I actually overshot the car and had to turn back around to find it. #fail
  2. Market Basket and other discount grocers have really competitive pricing on junk food. So, if you need junk for a party, or just like to eat junk [no judgementz – that’s God’s job – just ask 2Pac], then shop there.
  3. Twinkies still exist in store brand form. I’ll have to eat one to see how well they stand up to the original, but am assuming a cream filled sponge is a cream filled sponge is a cream filled sponge? Ew – that just gets grosser the more you say it – like the word “moist”.
  4. I’m really, really grateful that I am able to throw myself a fancy party and be a Whole Foods shopper. I know not everyone is as lucky as I’ve been, and shopping experiences like this make me feel really grateful. It’s really stressful managing life on a tight budget [trust me, I’ve been there, am just on the other side  now…] and I’m very, very blessed to be able to throw a wine tasting party filled with pickles and pâté. #justtsayin.
  5. The grass is always greener on the other side. As I walked out, I saw a woman who, upon meeting her and from everything I know about her, really has it together. Handsome [like, dead sexy handsome Greek] husband, beautiful children, great cars and a good address – the whole proverbial nine yards…

…she was yanking her kids into the store, flustered as hell and looking like shit.

Let’s all be grateful for what we have (even if it’s not pâté or caviar.)

And let’s give ourselves a break. No one really has it all together, even if they seem like they do… even the beautiful girl with the handsome husband and perfect kids.

All the beautiful, pulled together moms you see have most certainly [in the past week most likely] finished a harried grocery trip where their hair was shot, they snapped at their kids and left sweating.

xo

T

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