Grocery NYC
Today is my Day 1.
You can imagine one of those supercuts from the film world. Elf or the TV series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Naive newbies explore a world completely foreign.
Now it’s my turn.
And it won’t look even slightly similar.
Instead of sightseeing, scoping out established restaurants and consuming chewed gum tucked underneath the Subway entrance; I consider longevity. I want to thrive here.
In a city known for expensive grocers I had a task: Where to shop? What to eat? How to save and plan out meals so I don’t spend my savings into oblivion.
Thankfully I live in a forgiving neighborhood for prices. Washington Heights.
Here is a run-down of the 3 grocery stores I have visited since my arrival:
Apparently, these guys will be obsolete soon.
Fine Fare - Washington Heights
I stopped by this local grocery on my first night to grab absolute essentials for my life in New York.
I arrived 30 minutes before closing, which added some pressure to grab only necessary items. This begs the question, what would you purchase for a completely empty pantry in a newly established home?
I thought about easy things I usually like to eat for breakfasts and lunches.
Healthy options like granola ($5.80) and greek yogurt ($6) graced my basket. Which I plan to dress up with the most inexpensive fruit i know: grapes ($4/lb here!). I also grabbed more versatile ingredients like olive oil ($16), tortillas ($2.50), shredded cheese ($3) and eggs ($2.90/6). Lastly, lox from that Brooklyn mainstay Acme ($8) and some seltzer to calm my nerves ($5.60).
Overall, the prices were definitely heftier than my hometown of Seattle. But with a 5 minute walk to the store, I had no complaints.
I saw more in that 10 minute round trip than I did in any given week of living in Seattle. Puke on the street, rats, hoards of people and the insanely clubby lights of a neighborhood dentista. I spent $60. Thankfully relieved by a very low sales tax.
4211 Broadway #17, Located inside GW Bridge Bus Terminal
Katagiri - Midtown
Officially day 1. I headed to midtown to grab some more essentials: all of the basic cooking ingredients I have come to know and love from my girlfriend. I stopped by the US’s oldest Japanese market on 59th St for this.
A 5 lb bag (all i could carry) of Nishiki rice for $8.30.
Sesame oil ($3.15), furikake ($3.50), togarashi ($2.00).
Black and white sesame seed ($3/each), a standard soy sauce ($5), Kewpie ($5.80), rice vinegar ($2.15), genmaicha tea ($5.70), shokupan ($6.50), Vermont curry ($4.00), Natto ($2.35), buk choy ($4.22/3 large), nori ($7.80), scallion ($1.70/bunch), fish flakes ($4/5-pack).
And some snacks.
All in I spent about $90 at this market. I will have essentials for weeks and months to come.
Compared to massive markets like Uwajimaya in Seattle or even smaller markets in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo District, this was easily the smallest Japanese market I have ever been in. What the shop lacked in space, it made up for in providing a tight collection of necessary product.
Currently trying to find a Japanese market within a closer proximity.
224 E 59th St
Smallest Japanese market I’ve seen in the states.
ShopFair Supermarket - Washington Heights
After a long day and an insanely greasy slice for dinner, I was craving a simple salad.
There is a ShopFair located directly across from the entrance to my new digs. And after a quick jaunt from the subway, I decided to utilize the grocer’s proximity to grab some salad fixings.
Bachata was blaring from the speakers and inexpensive produce lined gargantuan wooden shelves fronting the store.
I found the produce odd yet enticing. The largest bell pepper I have ever seen for $1.50. Surprisingly creamy avocados for a solid $1.25 a pop.
With a $5 washed spring mix, garlic (5 bulbs/$1.25) and 2 limes ($0.40) in hand, I marched across the street determined to create a salad reminiscent of my time in Seattle. I wish I could have found the pine nuts.
This may just be my new go-to. Proximity and price, ShopFair seemed like a solid everyday option.
1331 St Nicholas Ave
Warned on many occasions that city produce quality would shock me, I was pleasantly surprised by both the avocados and grapes. Good produce definitely exists here, and at a much more convenient distance from the front door of my apartment building.
Armed with the necessary ingredients to create flavorful meals, I finally feel relaxed. Ready to succeed in New York.
View from Little Island. Yeah, I had to do SOME tourist stuff.