Grocery Stores

One of the best things about our new apartment is that it’s four blocks from the nearest grocery store. And this is not just any grocery store. No, this is a dream of a grocery store, a brand-new Sobey’s Urban Market, complete with a very large section of delicious-looking prepared meals and a wine bar. Yes, that’s right, our grocery store has a wine bar.

There is a whole aisle of miniature veggies, including these baby romanescos and cauliflowers.

When J and I first went in, we couldn’t stop exclaiming over stuff like the food geeks we are. “Ohmygod, jicama!” “Wow, local beets and carrots!” “Dried mushrooms!” “Chile oil!”

Vegan cupcakes in the dessert counter.

The only problem with the store is that sometimes you can’t find the most everyday items. For example, they carry several different kinds of olive oil, but no regular old vegetable oil. When we asked three different people where the tofu was, they looked at us like we were mutants. (We later discovered it tucked away near the sprouts and fresh herbs.)

There is also a larger, more generic grocery store nine blocks away, called Save On Foods. It’s like your normal grocery store, except the first time I went there I discovered something magnificent: the bulk section. Alberta does not have Bulk Barn (Oh how I miss you!) so this was excellent. I was so excited I whipped out my camera and took pictures.

My bulk food stash: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cocoa powder, raisins and almonds.

We are pretty spoiled to have these two stores nearby, not to mention the market. Oh Edmonton, you are full of wonderful surprises.