Community Chat

[4kitties]

I am downstate Illinois.  

The two stores I just shopped this morning are fully stocked.  There had been a shortage of saltines and oyster crackers at all my stores a bit ago.  But no shortage now.  Lots of fruits, veggies and produce.  I was able to get all items on my list.

[novamc1]

I've visited Costco two times recently wanting to replenish our supply of frozen red snapper filets and crusted codfish.  No luck either time.

Yesterday, Costco had THREE different versions of frozen Mahi Mahi fish.  The three types were filling space that ordinarily would have included other types of frozen seafood.

I wound up with some "beer battered cod" which I guess is good and tasty, but not necessarily wanted.

Somebody tell me if Mahi Mahi is good, because I've never had any and it appears the supply is more than plentiful at Costco.

[aroc3435]

@novamc1   I had mahi mahi for the first time during a visit to Long Beach, California as a late teen, and again in  November, 2000 in Key West, Florid, on a three week vacation.  I enjoyed it so much that I ate it several times on that visit and have purchased it in the market when I can find it.  I  think you will like it.

It is perhaps not quite as mild as cod is (and haddock would be my preferred substitute for that) but it is really good.  It is also referred to as "dolphin" sometimes but it is NOT dolphin!

I like red snapper, too, but the flavor profile, if I am recalling correctly, is not as similar to cod.

Hope this helps.  Oh, and since you are a fish lover, if you ever see monkfish tails--known as "poor man's lobster"--you might try that for a fish dinner. 

My nearby Harris Teeter closed in January so now I have to walk to Safeway and I am not as impressed with their seafood selection--fresh or frozen.  So now I do a Giant home delivery order (known as Stop & Shop in New England and the northeast) and they cryovac their fresh seafood and I've been been pleased with their cod and other fish.

Best,

aroc3435

Washington, DC 

[Sooner]

@aroc3435 I would sure mourn the loss of a Harris Teeter!  I loved to go there when we were in Charleston!  

[Duckncover]

You may want to check online for the dry cat food. I ordered it before COVID for my cat....Purina One Indoor Advantage. It should be available lots of places.... it guessing shipping will be more now. 

[Duckncover]

Gas is higher than a year ago nationwide...some places, even more. We were having problems with getting grocery stores stocked before the gas prices started going up. It's a mess all the way around. It seems some politicians,etc.  are wanting people to panic and start hoarding food, etc. I think " the sky is falling" reports are nonsense. I know we keep extra bottled water on hand and non perishables...always have....but am not ready to build a bunker just yet. It's always good to be stocked up anyway. 

[novamc1]

@aroc3435 

Thanks for the Mahi Mahi info.  Might give it a try.

 I used to occasionally  visit the  Harris Teeter store in North Arlington, but normally shopped at Giant in McLean and elsewhere.  Did all HT stores close?

Harris Teeter had a large variety of items, but prices always seemed a bit higher, and the tiny parking lot was a nightmare---sort of like all Trader Joe parking lots no matter what town I've been in.

Gotta hand it to Harris Teeter for one thing.  After a severe hurricane struck the DC area and knocked out all electricity for days, we wandered into Arlington to see if we could get lucky finding some ice.

Suddenly, a big truck  from North Carolina (home of HT heaquarters)  showed up in the store parking lot with free bags of ice  for anyone who happened to be at this unannounced event.

We were among the lucky folks who got ice for a cooler that was keeping our bare bones food supply from spoiling.  With no restaurants open for miles around, we at least could charcoal grill a few things.

[Lipstickdiva]

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@Bri369 wrote:

I never know what will be out of stock or in low supply when I go to the grocery store.  I've become so accustomed to it that it's just a normal part of grocery shopping for me now.  

I know on Mondays the stores are not well stocked.  I try to go mid-week.  

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@Bri369 same here.  I generally do a pick-up order.  I place my order and then wait for all the texts telling me what they have and don't have and asking me to approve the substitutions.  

For the past several weeks I've had to go to 2 stores because I can no longer get everything I need from 1.

[aroc3435]

@novamc1    Heavens, no.  Only the Harris Teeter--Jenkins Row--nearest me, Potomac Ave., Capitol Hill East closed.  They still have many DC locations, but none in walking distance--it was like one and half blocks away even when I moved to a different townhouse in 2021.

Their prices were high on some things but they had excellent variety across  departments and with only  a couple of rare exceptions I found the employees to be gracious and helpful.

I think when the new Safeway on 14th and E, which was completely demolished and then rebuilt and reopened in summer, 2020? I think, that was the death knell for this location that was quirky in its design underneath a condominum building.   The floor plan was unique because of this.  It did have underground parking.

One product's price that floored me when I moved here in autumn, 2017, was the price of ham--Carrando, Smithfield, Cooks, or even a store brand.  I had been paying say, $2.59 per pound--tops--for a ham to roast and usually in any  store down here it was consistently closer to $5, 6, or 7 and change. 

In CT these hams were often on sale for as low as $.99/lb for shank, and maybe $1.29/lb for butt and not just on/for the typical holidays.

Anyway, I do miss the store.  Nice to chat with you.  I think you are the lady who was looking for Crab Imperial recipes about two years ago and I gave you the one I used from a no-longer-in business DC restaurant.  And the next year you posted one that had mustard in it.  I incorporated that into my recipe and it made it more piquant, so thank you for that.

Hope you enjoy a great long weekend with fine weather.

aroc3435

Washington, dC

[novamc1]

@aroc3435 

You have reminded me about the bizarre two-story layout of the HT stores I've seen  in Arlington, Pentagon City and Vienna/Tysons Corner area. 

I bought some items at the Tysons location one day and thought it was ridiculous to haul groceries into a dark scary garage.

That's one way for stores to maximize bang for the buck when occupying real estate in expensive urbanized areas, I guess.