The first time I remember getting excited about exploring a supermarket, was in Arizona, in about 1985. I was there for a three day workshop/training and stumbled across the grand opening of a new food store. I was fascinated by how it was different from what I went to every week in Florida. Different products, different merchandising, different ways of doing things. A few years later when I started to travel more, and travel internationally, the curiosity continued. I have explored grocery stores across north America and western Europe. A few times I have had access to a kitchen, allowing me to sample the local and different.
When people move away from home, family and friends often worry that the person won't be able to find their favorite. My mother use to bring me Vernors Ginger Ale, and Koegel's Ring Bologna from Michigan. What we should think about is all of the wonderful things they can try there, that we can't find here.
Have you shopped and cooked in another country?
I've stopped for food...but not cooked. That's why it was vacation!
ReplyDeleteEven snacks are fun in another language
DeleteUsing the royal we, we have cooked a little in England. We've certainly shopped in many supermarkets in many parts of the world. It can be challenging to find what you want and to read labels, but generally there aren't really too many other differences. It is quite interesting to do so really.
ReplyDeleteI will cook anyplace, we - not so much.
DeleteBritish Pork Crackling Straws... for the perfect chocolate milk chocolate! Oh dear god!!! Anyway, even though I don't really cook, I have shopped and sort of cooked in a few countries.
ReplyDeleteI didn't buy these, maybe I should have
DeleteYes, in Italy we rented a villa just outside Florence and did a lot of our own grocery shopping and cooking. You're right -- going to the grocery store in a foreign country is a trip in itself!
ReplyDeleteOh I want to do that in Italy,
DeleteI've done neither. I will say in this country items vary from state to state.
ReplyDeleteYes, amazingly
DeleteWhy yes I have! I share your curiosity of groceries in other places. Whenever I travel, I will inevitably come home with some product of some kind that I can't get at home. I especially like shopping in London. And, I did cook dinner for friends in London one year and a few years ago, I cooked dinner for my host while I was in Italy. Shopping for the ingredients was a challenge I enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteWe rented apartments in Yorkshire and Normandy on a couple of trips, we had shared access to a kitchen in Rome for a couple of days but I didn't cook.
DeleteLucky man and what a sweet mother to provide Vernors !
ReplyDeleteI can't find it here,
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