Victoria grocery store and supermarket discussion

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by gumgum

I've known a couple people that have moved north for very well paying jobs. Their intentions were to work for a couple of years, cash in and leave. They are stuck up there now.

I had something come across my desk from the NWT public service - high level bargaining unit/mid-level management jobs that would be getting $65k down here are starting at $85k up there, plus isolation allowance and tonnes of incentives to help you sell up and move. If I wasn't so established here, I'd give it a shot for a couple of years.

[Danma]

Hello all,

As we just moved to Langford from Alberta, this thread provided a lot of useful information. Here's my report of what I've seen so far:

Superstore: It's Superstore, basically identical to what we had in AB. Since we shopped there in AB, this will likely be our 'regular' store. We recognize the limitations of the place (meat, seafood, produce is meh) but for dry goods etc it's a good balance of quality and price.

Market on Millstream: Wow, what a great selection, and quality of stuff seems really high (although the Asian aisle is nothing special IMHO.) Deli is superb. I cannot afford to feed my family if I shopped here all the time, but it's great for a lot of organic/unique items.

Fairways Market: It's like Safeway, but with more selection. Killer asian foods selection - I'll be coming here for special sauces and ingredients hard to find elsewhere. I still miss T&T but this will keep us going. I will come here for asian stuff only since shopping here for everything will make my wallet cry.

Anyways, yeah, that's generally my thoughts in the first week and a half here shopping for food on the Island.

[Langford Rat]

Danma, welcome to the rock. Check out Western Foods (right in the heart o Langford). They also have a great selection of Asian food and condiments. The deli is pretty good, too. I think they're one of the lower-priced super markets.

[Mike K.]

Dan, how do you find the prices here? Are they much higher than what you're used to paying in Alberta?

[Danma]

Langford Rat: Thanks for the welcome! Western Foods is right on Goldstream? We'll check it out!

Mike K.: so Superstore, apart from the additional taxes from HST has almost exactly the same prices as Calgary, like to the exact cent. The other food stores don't appear to be particularly more expensive than Safeway or Co-Op back in Calgary.

I was warned by people back in the prairies that "oh my god things are so expensive on the Island" but really, I have yet to really run into anything that has caused me major concern here besides more expensive gas and taxes. (knock on wood)

The biggest thing that's surprised me, actually, is that seafood doesn't appear to be cheaper or more plentiful. The quality at Fairways and the Market seems better, but certainly not less expensive than the prairies... is there somewhere I should be going instead?

The local produce, though... oh man, so good. The local strawberries are fantastic! Looking forward to checking out farmers' markets here.

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

Thanks for the FYI the local strawberries are out. Late this year and just those terrible ones in grocery stores. Time for a drive http://www.islandfarmfresh.com/lates...ries-starting/

[phx]

Yes, local strawberries are good this year! From my backyard:

[Matt R.]

You can't have a discussion regarding grocery stores in Victoria and not mention the Root Cellar (McKenzie @ Blenkinsop) - take a trip there, you'll know what I mean. Great prices, great quality, what else could you ask for.

A five minute drive down Blenkinsop will take you past a few farms where the produce might even be a little bit fresher.

Matt.

[Sparky]

Thanks Matt. Now we are getting some real inside information to the local favourites for this time of year. For you fresh veggie fans, if you have not been to Sun Wing Farms on Oldfield Road.....you won't get to heaven.

[Matt R.]

Second the Sunwing rec. They could up their prices by 50% and STILL be a bargain, even over grower direct wholesale prices. Don't tell them I said that.

Root Cellar carries Sun Wing products, markup is not very much either. The fact is that there is lots of great local product available at the Root Cellar year round, and a couple of the farms on Blenkinsop have stands open all year.

The Root Cellar has lots of great imported stuff too (need any burdock root or sugar cane?) and lots of local dairy and meat options.

Seems to be some demand for a year-round farmers market, this place is half way there.

No, I don't work for them, just a happy customer.

Matt.

[Danma]

Hey, awesome. I'll be sure to check those places out, I'm always up for some local stuff and at decent prices too!

Now how about seafood...?

[Holden West]

My definition of a supermarket is somewhere you can obtain the ingredients for a full meal, including fresh vegetables and meats. Red Barn Market, while very small, fulfils this role. Root Cellar has good vegetables and frozen meats in a cooler and between them and La Collina next door you can put together a nice meal although we end up at the Quadra Thrifty for forgotten or other items.

[VicHockeyFan]

Anybody ever shop at M&M Meats? They have 470 Canadian stores, they must be doing something right. I don't think I've ever been in one.

[G-Man]

Me neither. I think they cater to well-off, busy families that actually care what people eat. I could be wrong but the idea of processed meat like that grosses me out. I mean roasting good tasting chicken takes so little time. Gravy takes less.

I guess it works for some.

[Matt R.]

Finest at Sea in James Bay pretty much sets the bar. We buy a tonne (literally) of fresh fish from Satellite Fish Co. in Sidney. For crab you need to see Tim at Hi-Gear on dock 6 at Fisherman's Wharf.

I suppose Thrifty's is decent for seafood too, but they buy their good product from the places mentioned above.

I haven't bought seafood from a supermarket in many years. Sole and snapper from Costco is about as close as I would get to buying seafood from anyone other than a fisherman. Sometimes they have nice scallops, too.

On occasion, you can get some good frozen product from the supermarkets, but it's hit and miss in my opinion. Stay away from anything fresh, it usually isn't.

Matt.

[Matt R.]

M&M does a good lasagne and garlic bread when you need dinner and don't have time to cook. Generally, I'm not sure how cooking frozen product saves you any time over fresh.

Matt.

[Danma]

So we went to the Root Cellar today for groceries and wow -- great quality and great selection! The prices are great too. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

Dan

Originally Posted by Matt R.

You can't have a discussion regarding grocery stores in Victoria and not mention the Root Cellar (McKenzie @ Blenkinsop) - take a trip there, you'll know what I mean. Great prices, great quality, what else could you ask for.

A five minute drive down Blenkinsop will take you past a few farms where the produce might even be a little bit fresher.

Matt.

[Baro]

I've never heard of this root cellar place!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Baro

I've never heard of this root cellar place!

http://www.therootcellar.ca/

[Matt R.]

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. It's busy enough whenever I've gone in!

Though don't be put off by long lines, they move 'em pretty quick.

Matt.

[Holden West]

Anyone shop at the market on Quadra at View? It's a supermarket/Chinese buffet/world's worst art gallery. Check it out.

[Baro]

Ah I thought that was just some Big red barn market or something. I'm never out that area but maybe when I check out Babe's new location I'll check them out too.

[Bob Fugger]

I was in Save On Foods last Saturday to take advantage of 2 for 1 boxes of frozen chicken breasts. Now, I think I've been in that store less than three times in my life, so I didn't know what to expect.

It was just awful. Firstly, it was a ghost town. On a Saturday afternoon. That's probably because it's flyer doesn't go into effect until Sunday. Whose flyers don't go into effect until Sunday!? Everyone is generally out Saturday to shop, but there were maybe a dozen cars in the parking lot. Second, the pay carts. I know that Save-On isn't the only store to do this, but man, this is 2012 - get some perimeter carts. Third, when I went back on Sunday for said chicken boobs, I see that they quietly jacked up the regular price by $5. It made a good deal an OK deal.

With so many shopping choices in town, they do nothing to differentiate themselves. The store seemed like a downmarket Safeway (which I don't frequent anymore, either).

Though in sure the deli is par excellence.

[Sparky]

^ I struggle with this store as well.

My original pet peeve was having to have a club card in order not to get gouged with a substantially higher price for a product if you were not a member.

A little hint for you travelers out there, if you run into this situation, almost all stores have a "tourist courtesy card" in the drawer. You simply asked them to use it and they swipe it and give you the discount.

This procedure works in your home town as well.

[dirtydeeds]

When will I learn, Mrs Deeds sent me to Thrifty's at Tuscany Village to pick up a few things for lunch. Out of the 4 Deli items I picked up, cheeses and such, 3 were expired and one was expiring tomorrow! I know I should have checked and I can take them back but I was in a rush didn't think about checking. How can it not be someones job to check expirey dates every day? I was going to go to Charelli's but was driving by the Thrifty's. We have quite often had problems with their expiry dates and can't understand how they would let that happen? Am I just unlucky or do others find the same thing?