14861 Sat Sep 17 04:07:26 -0700 2005 19 4 Pacific Northwest 0 36457 Making a transatlantic move next Saturday, which amongst things requires me to buy virtually everything in the house. I'll be staying near PGE Park, and will have a car. I'd like to make as few trips as possible, but I have a feeling that american supermarkets won't have some things, like: --fairtrade foods (ideally coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate, bananas, etc. but I'll take whatever I can get) --biodegradable washing powder/washing up liquid/household cleaner/shampoo (in the UK the brand is Ecover) Does anyone know where I can buy these? Also, I'll need to buy all my spices. I was thinking about heading to an asian grocer for the spices but If anyone has any particular suggestions I'm all ears. Sadly, I'll have to buy most kitchen gadgets :). I'd like to get decent quality, but I don't want to be ripped off. Am bringing 1 Le Creuset pot and my iron skillet, both of which have sentimental value. Any recs would be appreciated. And finally, I've never been to a Trader Joe's but I am fascinated by the prospect. Is this a good stocking up place? I don't go in for prepared stuff, but I'll want pastas, tinned tomatoes, maybe some soups etc.. How are their spices? Actually, if anyone wouldn't mind emailing me off-chowhound about where a good place would be to get tonnes of household practical things all at once (hover, ironing stuff, bins, etc.) I would be most grateful. I was thinking about one of those warehouse places ('like on the Simpsons?' my boyfriend asked. 'They actually have those in America?') Sat Sep 17 04:07:26 -0700 2005 0 drdawn 1 36458 Welcome to Portland (and America)! For the foods, the closest source is Whole Foods down Burnside. Well, Zupan's maybe, but they're expensive. The best choice is probably New Seasons with several locations. There are others. http://www.wholefoods.com http://www.newseasonsmarket.com I think I've seen environment-friendly/biodegradable detergents, soaps, and garbage bags at most supermarkets, even Wal-Mart. Fred Meyer's is probably your best bet, though. However, Safeway is your closest normal supermarket, I think. The cheapest/biggest supermarket is Winco, but that requires a trip to the suburbs, for the most part. http://www.fredmeyers.com http://www.wincofoods.com Trader Joe's is really pretty specialized. They have very limited produce and other goods. I think they're the best place to get nuts and cheese, and decent for things like olive oil, canned tomatoes, milk, wine, etc. But it's a somewhat odd selection of goods. You'll just have to visit to see what I mean. http://www.traderjoes.com For spices, your best bet is Penzey's, though certainly an Asian market or Indian market would be good as well. All supermarkets will have spices, although Fred Meyer's generally has them in bulk as do places like Whole Foods, I believe. http://www.penzeys.com In Woodburn, OR, about 30-40 minutes south of Portland there is an outlet mall. All the stores are factory outlets. Le Creuset has a store there. *Way* cheaper. There are also three or so cooking gadget stores. I think there's a Farberware store and a Revere store. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&searchtab=home&address=&city=woodburn&state=or However, in general I like Bed, Bath, and Beyond, which pretty well describes itself with its name. But it carries good quality stuff like Henkels and Global knives, Kitchenaids, Cuisinarts, Oxo, All-Clad, etc. Also, they send out 20% off coupons like crazy and there are usually some in the newspaper as well, plus their biggest competitor Linens n Things takes their coupons and vice versa. I like BB&B better because they've been really good with returns and are a bit better with kitchen products. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com Otherwise, specialized places include Sur La Table and Kitchen Kaboodle. Both high end and a bit more expensive. Even Fred Meyer's, though, carries a lot of stuff, including Kitchenaid products and lower-end Henkels knives. http://www.surlatable.com http://www.kitchenkaboodle.com You can also visit restaurant supply stores. There are several near both sides of the Willamette River, not too far for you. No better place for Forschner knives, scoops, tongs, sheet pans, and the like. For warehouse places, CostCo is membership only, but is the ideal spot. Otherwise, try Wal-Mart. http://www.costco.com http://www.walmart.com And it's "tons" not "tonnes" now. ;-) Link: http://www.extramsg.com/uploaded_misc/portland_tipsheet.html Sat Sep 17 06:24:00 -0700 2005 36457 0 extramsg 1 36459 Welcome to the town, and to the neighborhood! For the biodegradable washing stuff, as well as (I would imagine) the fairtrade foods, I would suggest Whole Foods and New Seasons Market. There is a Whole Foods pretty close to PGE Park in the Pearl at NW Couch and 12th, and the closest New Seasons would be at 1954 SE Division St. Closer to you are a Fred Meyer and a Zupans grocers. The Fred Meyer is a typical American supermarket, but big enough to have some organic things, possibly. The Zupans is smaller and fancier, but too expensive, IMO. As for spices, the typical "asian grocer" most people use is Uwajimaya, out in Beaverton on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. However, since you seem to be from the UK, I wonder if by Asian you mean Indian/Pakistani (rather than East Asian Chinese/Japanese/Korean which is what Uwajimaya has and is what many Americans mean when they say "Asian"). If that's the case, I'm not sure where to go, except that people have been talking about the Penzey's spice place out on 82nd a lot lately. There is a Kitchen Kaboodle store close by (only a block away for me, more like 10 or so for you) to get various gadgets and cookware. It's at NW 23rd and Flanders, and close to the Trader Joe's. There is also a Sur La Table in the Pearl District where you can buy kitchen supplies. The Whole Foods mentioned above has kitchen stuff as well. Finally, a simple way to get cheap-o kitchen stuff, as well as bins, vacuums and whatever is to go to a Fred Meyer. Unfortunately, the one FM that is quite close to where you'll be is pretty much only a grocery store (they have a very weak cookware section in back). If you go to pretty much any other FM, though, or a Target, you can stock up on the cheap things, and use Kitchen Kaboodle or Sur La Table for the nicer stuff. And that's the quick rundown of buying food and supplies in Northwest Portland. I hope it helps! Sat Sep 17 06:32:19 -0700 2005 36457 0 ryan 1 36460 I'm intrigued. What's a hover? Sat Sep 17 09:46:53 -0700 2005 36457 0 pepper ann 2 36467 I believe it's a vacuum if you are in the UK, much like we refer to tissues as Kleenex. Sat Sep 17 16:00:22 -0700 2005 36460 0 Chris Heinonen 3 36487 and it's usually spelled "hoover." Sun Sep 18 23:46:24 -0700 2005 36467 0 patrick 4 36493 As in: "Hoovering the Navajos"* * Rancho Deluxe Mon Sep 19 02:31:32 -0700 2005 36487 0 Robert 5 36503 I was picturing some mystery British appliance hovering ala area 51 or Dick Tracy, which was being kept from us in the name of homeland security. Mon Sep 19 13:24:10 -0700 2005 36493 0 pepper ann 1 36461 if you want a smaller grocer, rather than a chain, that would carry fairtrade items and bio degradable goods Food Front is at NW 24th and Thurman. Not too far from you. Rodney Sat Sep 17 10:09:38 -0700 2005 36457 0 rodney 1 36464 Trader Joe's is fine for "stocking up" on canned, prepared, frozen etc but don't bother with the produce. Not organic, overpackaged, & not local. Go to the farmers' market for produce, cheese, eggs, meat. Food Front & New Seasons would be great for fair trade stuff. Whole Foods is really expensive. Sat Sep 17 13:57:23 -0700 2005 36457 0 Leonardo 2 36517 Here's my personal run-down on can't-live-without TJ's items: Though olive oil is a very personal taste, I love their Santini brand olive oil. Every year I buy an assortment of expensive oils for my crudo and other specialty meals, but I keep going back to the Santini. Fruity, olive flavor without the bitter bite (which some people like). Their whole canned tomatoes are also almost as good as the imported San Marzano's. Also love their ginger granola, and their nut prices are excellent. Cheeses are hit and miss, though cheap enough to be worth the risk to taste around until you find what you like. Their Reggiano is the same brand found at many import stores at several bucks less per pound, as is the Marcel et Henri pate. And finally, their organic yogurt is great, and their Plugra European style butter transports me to France with one whiff. Mon Sep 19 21:42:37 -0700 2005 36464 0 bugtown 1 36480 I just want to put in a big vote for New Seasons over Whole foods. While there really isn't a New Seasons directly in your new neighborhood, I vote for the drive in support of a really great LOCALLY owned business with very strong values as far as supporting the community in ways that go beyond what's found on the shelves. You are probably about equidistant to three of the New Seasons stores--Concordia at NE 33rd and Killingsworth (where you can pop across the street to the Concordia Ale House for one of the best beer selections in town, and decent food too!), the one already mentioned at SE 21st and Division, and another on SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. Another place you might check out for household items is the Cost Plus World Market in the shopping center just above (up hill) NW 23rd and Burnside. Imports from around the world from dishes to laundry hampers, mirrors and hooks, to storage bins of all sizes and types, and lots more. Have fun and welcome to Portland! Sun Sep 18 17:24:22 -0700 2005 36457 0 eva b 2 36520 If you do end up going to the New Seasons on Division and SE 20th then you could also go to Mirador and get kitchen supplies there. They have an excellent selection and good prices. Just a block up Division from New Seasons. Tue Sep 20 00:11:26 -0700 2005 36480 0 xlucas 1 36490 --Fair trade coffee etc at New Seasons & even at Starbucks, Peet's & Coffee People (coffee shops) --Fred Meyer (large grocery store) near you actually has fair amount of organics. Ask for the "natural foods" section. It also has a lot of general merchandise. --Don't miss Nancy's yogurt/cream cheese products. --Don't miss the local farmers markets. Wednesday/Saturday in the downtown South Park Blocks. We're into wild mushroom season. Google Portland Farmers Markets. --Trader Joe's is very close to you, NW 22nd & Glisan. Very mixed bag. ---Nickname for Whole Foods is Whole Paycheck. --You're in for a nice surprise: No sales tax (VAT) in Oregon. None. The price you see posted is what you pay. Enjoy your new home. Mon Sep 19 01:08:57 -0700 2005 36457 0 PDXNaomi 1 36496 wow! Thanks for all the recs. I'm excited to move to a city which seems to have some of the same food values as my own. Sorry about the stupid ho(o)ver typo; in any case I need change to vacuuming anyway... if I can spell it that is... Mon Sep 19 05:42:33 -0700 2005 36457 0 drdawn 2 36505 ha ha. you are forgiven, and i hope i am too for my impulsive proofreading. i was actually hoping to find out about a hovering vacuum cleaner soon to hit our shores (a hoovercraft?) my wife and i are also moving to portland (in about a month), and we've been researching it voraciously for about a year. so please feel free to drop me a line at the email above, should you desire to be overwhelmed with our list of resources. regards--patrick Link: http://www.pdbd.com/henwaller Mon Sep 19 15:00:34 -0700 2005 36496 0 patrick 1 36500 Hello, my name is Dudley 9dudleygaouette@hotmail.com). I live in Portland and read your post on Chowhound. Here are a couple of recommendations for you. A terrific store for all things needed for your kitchen, food prep, food service and entertaining is Sur la Table. They have a very large store on 12th and Couch Street (about 4 blocks from PGE Park) My wife Carol is the General Manager and can set you up with whatever you want. This is not a shameless plug for her store; as we shopped there for all of our home needs long before she worked there. Check it out, you will not be disappointed. A few blocks away is a grocery store (Fred Meyer). Again about 4 blocks from PGE park. In addition to being a HUGE store with top quality items, they also sell all manner of spices from bulk bins. Their selection probably includes about 80-90 herbs, spices, etc. I go there every couple weeks to stock up, or to get small amounts of whatever obscure spice needed for a particular dish. Very economical compared to buying prepackaged jars/bottles of herbs/spices. Welcome to Portland and good luck with your move. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. Cheers Mon Sep 19 12:25:21 -0700 2005 36457 0 Dudley 1 36510 Saw your post of Chowhound and was going to email you rather than post more of the same information on the board - but your email address didn't work. I would highly recommend taking a trip to Beaverton (easy trip – only about 15 minutes) and going to a big Fred Meyer for purchasing almost everything you need. Fred Meyer’s slogan is actually “one-stop-shopping”! Driving down to the outlet malls is also a great idea if you have time. You should be able to get every household thing you need down there and it is right off of the freeway (I-5) so it will be easy navigation for you. You can find organic/fair trade/biodegradable products in almost every store – Portland is SUPER eco-friendly, so it really is just a question of how “organic” you like your store. I would also highly recommend the farmers markets for fresh stuff – they are both actually within walking distance for you, downtown closer to the Willamette River. Don’t go to Whole Foods to shop – just to look. Very expensive. Same for Sur La Table – unless you need a specialty kitchen item. I think you will like Trader Joe’s and Cost Plus World Market – take an afternoon and walk to both places just to check them out. Good cheap glasswear and dishes at Cost Plus – and a good deal on wine usually. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions. I work not far from PGE Park, so am quite familiar with the area. Mon Sep 19 17:55:23 -0700 2005 36457 0 pdxfoodie 1 36548 While its a little further from downtown there is a Trader Joe's on SE 39th (just south of Holgate)with a store called Limbo right next door. Limbo has a great selection of local and organic products (fruits, vegetables, herbs, vegetable starts, coffee) and one of the best selections of bulk spices in the city. They have a wall of spices in canisters, which I've never counted, but I'd have to guess number well over a hundred. I have purchased many spices here, and have found them to very fresh. Hope you and some of the other Chowhounders will give them a try, they deserve the business. Wed Sep 21 00:58:56 -0700 2005 36457 0 Steve 2 36549 Yes, I agree about Limbo! The downside to the opening of the NE TJs on Sandy, in my neighborhood, is that while it's close, there is no Limbo next door! I miss them! Wed Sep 21 01:49:08 -0700 2005 36548 0 Eva b