Food for Thought

I love my apartment. It's spacious and centrally located, and just far enough away from DePaul's Lincoln Park campus that it's also quiet. However, the one problem me and my roommates have--and the most hated chore of all--is trekking to the grocery store. There's not an easy one to get to that's close or convenient, so it's always an extra chore to go food shopping.

When I first moved here, I discovered that the closest grocery store is Dominik's (a grocery store chain here--they don't have Shaw's or Stop& Shop or Price Chopper or Big Y), which is about a half mile away and at the foot of the Fullerton El stop. In my research, I stumbled across reviews of the store on yelp.com and have been scared to go there ever since. Well, with a giant snowstorm coming tonight and no food to be found in the fridge or my side of the pantry, I decided it was time to suck it up and pay the store a visit.

With coupons clutched in hand (mom, you taught me well!), I made my way straight to the customer service counter to sign up for a saver card (they actually have some surprisingly good deals if you are a card carrying member). I approached the desk prepared to be met with a scowl, but the woman manning the station was extremely pleasant. She had a tin filled with homemade flower pens and we soon became engaged in crafty (pun intended) conversation. She even told me she would bring me some beads she had when she found out I made jewelry.

I walked away with a smile, now faced with navigating the maze without a grocery list (sorry, mom, you did teach me better than that). Every corner I turned, someone greeted me and asked if I needed any help. In the chicken aisle, a female employee asked "what's for dinner tonight?" and proceeded to introduce me to just marked down roasting chickens at the bargain price of $3.49. She told me how she cooks hers, and convinced me into buying one.

Next step, finding the items I had coupons for from their flier. I asked where the milk was, and upon learning there was a second floor to the store, was also offered an escort upstairs to "Aisle 6" where it was located. I declined the help, but appreciated the kindness.

I shopped around the store with my New Year's resolution in the front of my mind. The pre-packaged sliced turkey is disgusting... the lowest one I could find packed 350 mg of sodium in ONE slice. The brand stamped with "healthy choice" and "natural" boasted 450 mg a slice!! That book will haunt me forever now... So, off to the Deli counter I went, where I encountered a woman who must be the most knowledgeable person about sliced turkey I have ever met.

And in the checkout line, the woman was friendly, asked how I was and when I picked the wrong carton of eggs for 99 cents, the bagging boy went upstairs and got me the right kind. After I paid and was geared to go, he asked if I needed help "getting these bags out to my car" and gently handed them over after I thanked him but was taking the El.

This was pretty much the most pleasant grocery shopping experience I have ever had, although there is not a wide variety or selection, it serves the purpose. And to think I was scared to go in because of what other people had said! I guess the moral of the story is... well, a whole collection of cliches: never judge something before you try it, things aren't always what they seem and you shouldn't always listen to what others have to say.

P.S... Mom, I saved $15 and spent $25! :)