Fairway vs.Fresh Direct
Living in my neighborhood has it’s drawbacks… local food shopping is limited to 2 stores:
Associated and Bravo.
Associated has lately included a larger selection of organic produce and frozen packaged foods.Not that I am into Organic so much as fresh.
The bane of my existence truly is a store that cuts corners with freshness in it’s produce.
I’m talking about soft potatoes and onions covered in bitty little flies(gnats?I don’t know).
Which is pretty much what you’ll find at my closest market,Bravo.Although to throw them a bone they do tend to always have fresh herbs like cilantro and thyme and parsley on hand…even if their tomatoes are kind of sad!
So even though I said a good cook should be able to make do,she shouldn’t have to deal with soft onions and potatoes and sad tomatoes.right?
This is where the 2 stores Freshdirect and Fairway come into the picture.
Long ago are the days that I could walk out my front door and have a multitude of farmer’s markets and the best meat store ever,Big Apple Meats(40th and 9th avenue) home of the 9 dollar filet mignon 4 pack, to shop in.
I’m talking about the old days when I lived in Hell’s Kitchen.If I missed The Big Apple(they closed at 7 pm) I could always get to Western Beef on 14th and 9th–even if I did have to pass rather fancy folks in outdoor cafes to get there.At Western Beef one could buy an entire filet mignon in a cryo bag for around 25 dollars.
Now that I live in Fort Greene and on the edges,to be honest,I have to be a lot less lazy and spoiled if I want to find edible ingredients for our meals.Which was how Freshdirect got my business.My problem with them is that they are expensive and especially with meat.But they deliver, on time for only 5 dollars and if you ever need to move, after a few months of steady delivery from them, you would be certain to have plenty of boxes! But due to their high prices-I’ve only ordered from them twice-months apart.
Fairway is one of those places that awes you with sheer selection.But you have to be careful not to go too crazy or you’ll be out 100 bucks easy when checking out at the register.And I wouldn’t count on them too much for good meat prices either, as they seem to fluctuate as often as a manic depressive’s moods.
So far for the financially restricted but discerning foodie,frustrated by meager selection and high prices, the best alternative is definately Trader Joe’s.
Located on 14th street and Union Square,they have quality and lots of it and I couldn’t believe how inexpensive their meat was.I know I go on and on about meat and money but really, the 2 are inseperable.If you love filet mignon as much as I and my boyfriend do–you too will be knocked out by their sirloin filets.And when I wanted an easy meal I threw into the oven the pre-seasoned boneless leg of lamb.It was absolutely delicious!And cheap.
Next door at Trader Joe’s wine store I was finally able to get my hands on 2 bottles of Guenoc’s wine.I’d bought a bottle of Petit Syrah at the winestore in Grand central a couple of months ago and hadn’t been able to find it again at any other store.I love this wine maker.I don’t know anything about them but that all their wine tastes really good-white or red-chardonnay or Cabernet and it costs 9.99 a bottle at Trader Joe’s wine store vs 15 bucks at the Grand Central store.
Any meal is enhanced by a glass of wine.
And it is even better if it costs 9.99!
I’ve heard of 2 buck chuck but wasn’t brave enough to try it.Although here in NYC it’s more like 4 buck chuck.