Shopping like a local

[The Patriot]

Shopping like a local

11-01-2012 05:31 AM

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Commissary
Discovering Europe
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family
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Health & Well-Being
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Shopping like a local


by: Genevieve Northup
Stripes UK
published: November 01, 2012

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With your busy schedule, grocery shopping is sometimes the furthest thing from your mind…until you get home and realize your fridge is empty! There’s no need to rush out to the commissary which is a mad house after work. Instead, head to your local market where you’ll find many of your American staples as well as tasty local fare and fresh produce. Or set up food delivery service so you always have something in the freezer for dinner.

European Hypermarkets
Similar to a Super Wal-Mart or Super Target, hypermarkets are huge stores offering groceries, electronics, clothing and housewares. Some even have furniture, gym equipment, bicycles and camping gear. Hypermarkets typically have lower prices and larger selections than smaller stores. A trip to a hypermarket is ideal when you have plenty of time for shopping. You’ll need a cart, maybe two, to stock up for at least a week’s worth of groceries and other must-haves.

Hypermarkets vary by location, but here are some to check out: In the U.K., Tesco, Sainsbury and ASDA offer hypermarkets and smaller grocery stores. In Italy and Spain, you’ll find Carrefour. Real, Kaufland and
Globus are common in Germany, while Cora is found in France and Belgium. (There is a Cora just 7 kilometers from the German border!)

Attention gourmands: Globus and Cora are the place for you! You’ll find incredible food, beer and wine selections at affordable prices. Entire aisles are devoted to chocolate and shelf upon shelf for wine and beer. Butchers serve up fresh meats unprepared, skewered and marinated. Despite being far from the ocean, you’ll find large seafood selections, too. The cheese counters are overwhelming*and the bakeries will have you drooling. And if you love a good meal but don’t like to cook, pick up prepared entrées and sides to take home and reheat — all you need is a fork!

Supermarkets & Discounters in Europe
You would be surprised at how many of your favorite products are at your local supermarkets. And if you can’t find your favorite, try something new — you may find a new love that you’ll be longing for when you move back stateside! Europe’s grocers have more cereals, breads, packaged foods, chocolate and yogurt than you can imagine, and though different, they are still tasty and will give you a more authentic overseas experience. Europeans are serious about their ice cream, so a trip to the market is not complete without a stop by the freezer section for all shapes, sizes and flavors of a favorite treat!

Like in the United States, you’ll find a variety of grocery store options, including discounters like Netto, Penny Market, Lidl and Aldi. Though cheaper, these grocers still offer fresh products and a good variety. Many even have in-house bakeries.

In Germany, supermarkets and Getränkemarkte have extensive drink sections where you can purchase crates of beer, juice or sodas. The price includes a deposit which you receive back when you return the crates and bottles.

Local Markets Right in Your Neighborhood
In addition to these great options, check out your local bakeries, butchers, ethnic food stores and farmers’ markets for fresh seasonal produce, fresh-squeezed juices, eggs, homemade cheese, meats, seafood and regional favorites. Many specialty markets are also popular, such as bakery, wine or seafood markets.

Some of the world’s top food markets are in Europe, including Palermo, Italy’s La Vucciria, London’s Borough Market, Barcelona’s La Boqueria and Madrid’s Mercado de San Miguel. In Germany you’ll find many weekly markets in Kaiserslautern’s Stiftsplazt, Stuttgart’s*Bauernmarkthalle and Frankfurt’s Erzeugermarkt Konstablerwache. There’s a great farmer’s market in Camisano near Vicenza, Italy once a month, and if you’re stationed in England, make a trip to London’s Billingsgate Fish Market for incredible seafood or the monthly Mildenhall Farmers’ Market.

There are farmers’ markets everywhere, and a quick search online will help you find one close to you. Arrive early for the best selection and make it a family outing so that you have extra hands for carrying. You’ll find that some produce is actually cheaper than at grocery stores, while other items cost a little more, but the freshness, taste and variety are well worth it.

Delivery
Don’t have a car? Work differential shifts so that you’re off when everything is closed? Many options are available for home delivery.

Some stores offer grocery delivery service, including Tesco and ASDA. Another way to make dinner quickly and easily is to check out companies, similar to Schwan’s, that specialize in delivering frozen foods—appetizers, fish, vegetables, meats, pastries, ice cream—almost anything you’re craving. Eismann*(www.eismann.com) and Bofrost (www.bofrost.com) deliver in Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the U.K., you’ll find gourmet options: Good Taste Foods (www.goodtastefoods.co.uk) and COOK (www.cookfood.net).

There really isn’t anything more ingenious than having beer and wine delivered, a popular service in Germany and the U.K. Some supermarkets will bring wine to your door, such as Tesco. Other options in the U.K. include Virgin Wines (www.virginwines.co.uk) and Majestic Wine (www.majestic.co.uk).* For beer, check out www.beerhere.co.uk or*www.beerclubofbritain.co.uk. In Germany, visit your local Getränkemarkt to schedule weekly home delivery.

So you’re probably starving after all this talk of food. What’s for dinner?

A few tips for shopping on the economy:
•* Carry local currency because many stores and most farmers’markets do not take credit cards.
•* Bring a Value-Added Tax (VAT) form because in some locations, you can get a reduction on your grocery bill.
•* Bring reusable or recycled commissary bags because it’s what the locals do, and some markets charge for their bags.


Tags: Commissary, Discovering Europe, Europe, family, Getting Settled, Health & Well-Being, Home and Family, Personal, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, Thanksgiving, Travel, Welcome to Europe, News, Base Info
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Shopping like a local


by: Genevieve Northup
Stripes UK
published:

Share This:


Tweet

Comments
Email
Print


With your busy schedule, grocery shopping is sometimes the furthest thing from your mind…until you get home and realize your fridge is empty! There’s no need to rush out to the commissary which is a mad house after work. Instead, head to your local market where you’ll find many of your American staples as well as tasty local fare and fresh produce. Or set up food delivery service so you always have something in the freezer for dinner.

European Hypermarkets
Similar to a Super Wal-Mart or Super Target, hypermarkets are huge stores offering groceries, electronics, clothing and housewares. Some even have furniture, gym equipment, bicycles and camping gear. Hypermarkets typically have lower prices and larger selections than smaller stores. A trip to a hypermarket is ideal when you have plenty of time for shopping. You’ll need a cart, maybe two, to stock up for at least a week’s worth of groceries and other must-haves.

Hypermarkets vary by location, but here are some to check out: In the U.K., Tesco, Sainsbury and ASDA offer hypermarkets and smaller grocery stores. In Italy and Spain, you’ll find Carrefour. Real, Kaufland and
Globus are common in Germany, while Cora is found in France and Belgium. (There is a Cora just 7 kilometers from the German border!)

Attention gourmands: Globus and Cora are the place for you! You’ll find incredible food, beer and wine selections at affordable prices. Entire aisles are devoted to chocolate and shelf upon shelf for wine and beer. Butchers serve up fresh meats unprepared, skewered and marinated. Despite being far from the ocean, you’ll find large seafood selections, too. The cheese counters are overwhelming*and the bakeries will have you drooling. And if you love a good meal but don’t like to cook, pick up prepared entrées and sides to take home and reheat — all you need is a fork!

Supermarkets & Discounters in Europe
You would be surprised at how many of your favorite products are at your local supermarkets. And if you can’t find your favorite, try something new — you may find a new love that you’ll be longing for when you move back stateside! Europe’s grocers have more cereals, breads, packaged foods, chocolate and yogurt than you can imagine, and though different, they are still tasty and will give you a more authentic overseas experience. Europeans are serious about their ice cream, so a trip to the market is not complete without a stop by the freezer section for all shapes, sizes and flavors of a favorite treat!

Like in the United States, you’ll find a variety of grocery store options, including discounters like Netto, Penny Market, Lidl and Aldi. Though cheaper, these grocers still offer fresh products and a good variety. Many even have in-house bakeries.

In Germany, supermarkets and Getränkemarkte have extensive drink sections where you can purchase crates of beer, juice or sodas. The price includes a deposit which you receive back when you return the crates and bottles.

Local Markets Right in Your Neighborhood
In addition to these great options, check out your local bakeries, butchers, ethnic food stores and farmers’ markets for fresh seasonal produce, fresh-squeezed juices, eggs, homemade cheese, meats, seafood and regional favorites. Many specialty markets are also popular, such as bakery, wine or seafood markets.

Some of the world’s top food markets are in Europe, including Palermo, Italy’s La Vucciria, London’s Borough Market, Barcelona’s La Boqueria and Madrid’s Mercado de San Miguel. In Germany you’ll find many weekly markets in Kaiserslautern’s Stiftsplazt, Stuttgart’s*Bauernmarkthalle and Frankfurt’s Erzeugermarkt Konstablerwache. There’s a great farmer’s market in Camisano near Vicenza, Italy once a month, and if you’re stationed in England, make a trip to London’s Billingsgate Fish Market for incredible seafood or the monthly Mildenhall Farmers’ Market.

There are farmers’ markets everywhere, and a quick search online will help you find one close to you. Arrive early for the best selection and make it a family outing so that you have extra hands for carrying. You’ll find that some produce is actually cheaper than at grocery stores, while other items cost a little more, but the freshness, taste and variety are well worth it.

Delivery
Don’t have a car? Work differential shifts so that you’re off when everything is closed? Many options are available for home delivery.

Some stores offer grocery delivery service, including Tesco and ASDA. Another way to make dinner quickly and easily is to check out companies, similar to Schwan’s, that specialize in delivering frozen foods—appetizers, fish, vegetables, meats, pastries, ice cream—almost anything you’re craving. Eismann*(www.eismann.com) and Bofrost (www.bofrost.com) deliver in Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the U.K., you’ll find gourmet options: Good Taste Foods (www.goodtastefoods.co.uk) and COOK (www.cookfood.net).

There really isn’t anything more ingenious than having beer and wine delivered, a popular service in Germany and the U.K. Some supermarkets will bring wine to your door, such as Tesco. Other options in the U.K. include Virgin Wines (www.virginwines.co.uk) and Majestic Wine (www.majestic.co.uk).* For beer, check out www.beerhere.co.uk or*www.beerclubofbritain.co.uk. In Germany, visit your local Getränkemarkt to schedule weekly home delivery.

So you’re probably starving after all this talk of food. What’s for dinner?

A few tips for shopping on the economy:
•* Carry local currency because many stores and most farmers’markets do not take credit cards.
•* Bring a Value-Added Tax (VAT) form because in some locations, you can get a reduction on your grocery bill.
•* Bring reusable or recycled commissary bags because it’s what the locals do, and some markets charge for their bags.


Tags: Commissary, Discovering Europe, Europe, family, Getting Settled, Health & Well-Being, Home and Family, Personal, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, Thanksgiving, Travel, Welcome to Europe, News, Base Info
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