Monterey Market now open Sunday.

[wolfe]

9AM, nuff said.

[sundeck sue]

Haven't been to Monterey Market for a week or two (can't exactly recall). But was horrified this AM to find everything rearranged in a confusing and discombobulating way. Vegetables were stacked above vegetables, nothing where you expect to find it. Is this the marketing ploy that forces you to go through a whole store to find what you want and not just stay in your rut? If so, that's NUTS for Monterey Market, because it's a small store, and I always went down every aisle, when I knew what I would find. To have everything switched around just messes w/ my sense of the place as home. I was so relieved when the check-out guy said, "Hi, friend."

[wolfe]

They moved the carrots. I made a left at the end of the potatoes and there were no carrots. How can there be no carrots. Fortunately they were just south of the apples.

[walker]

I was just there today and am sad to report that many items were not really fresh enough. I picked up a few of the cranberry packages and they all had some smashed/soft ones so left those. Water chestnuts not firm enough. Even those Brussels sprouts on the stalk did not seem fresh so I had to go on over to BB (new one) and finish shopping. Maybe it's because I went on a Monday. Everything was fine at BB and they had those crispy (trippy) okra things in the bulk section.

[EileenPearl]

Yes, i went there today, Sunday, November 14, and it was pleasantly uncrowded with plentiful parking in the lot . Plus, they were also giving out green Monterey Market grocery bags today in celebration of their new Sunday hours.

[oakjoan]

EileenPearl: I think you'd better cherish your memories of today''s shopping experience because in a few weeks it'll probably be just as crowded as ever.

[wolfe]

Correct and today both Country Cheese and Magnani are open. Is it the holiday or regularly due to the increased shoppers in the area?

[ernie in berkeley]

A sign in Magnani said it was for the holiday.

[walker]

The sign said the Sunday hours are 9-5.

I, too, am afraid of the parking lot; I keep driving around until I can find a spot on the street.

The last visit, a couple in front of me in line was buying produce and a case of assorted wines -- they think the wine prices are excellent, and, on their rec, bought a Sancerre for $17.95. (They drive all the way from San Jose -- my coming from SF does not seem as bad.)

Many times I've asked Scott to order narrow double decker shopping carts like at WF. He's thinking about it -- maybe if we all mentioned it to him....

My daughter was at a produce stand around Davis and bought some dehydrated (and fried??) okra that was crunchy and delicious. I have not seen that around here -- I brought a couple to Scott for him to try and he was going to ask produce people about it. Anyone know if that can be found around here?

[Joel]

Berkeley Bowl East carries the fried okra, prepacked in plastic bags. Last I saw it was a month ago, might still be there. Near the refrigerated case that has mustard and almond paste, across the aisle from all the honeys and sugars.

We thought the okra was interesting but I would not buy it again. It had a salty-sweet coating and was a bit greasy, but had a nice crunch.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[sholli]

Are you sure? Their website doesn't say anything.

[Glencora]

Oh yes, there are signs all over the store. Their website isn't updated very often.

[wolfe]

Who are you going to believe, chowhound or some silly website?

[Glencora]

Their coupons have been "coming soon" for years!

[wolfe]

I believe there are coupons for MM in the Chinook Book at the checkout stand. I can't buy it because it's too close to "shnook - A patsy, a sucker, a sap, easy-going, person easy to impose upon, gullible."

[oakjoan]

wolfe: ROTFL

[hhc]

What are items to buy at Monterey Market?

[...tm...]

Produce!!! Both the variety and the prices are really good. The olive oil selection/pricing is also quite good. In season produce here tends to have almost as much variety and be slightly cheaper than Berkeley Bowl.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[oakjoan]

Hmm, I don't find the produce to be cheaper than Berkeley Bowl.

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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[Gustavo Glenmorangie]

Local produce. Amazing local produce. It's like having a farmers market six (now seven!) days a week.

[Gustavo Glenmorangie]

Remember the wailing and gnashing of teeth that accompanied the "coup de Monterey Market" some months ago? Seems it has turned out quite well. Much about the place has improved without any obvious loss of what was (and remains) so wonderful about it.

[wolfe]

The only bad thing is my wife won't go there. She has Montereymarketparkinglotophobia, an obsessive fear of being run down in the lot, a specialized form of Aftokinitophobia

[wally]

I have the same disease and have had since they moved there. I have always parked in the streets around there. I am willing to walk and I am a firm believer in not using the rolling carts.

[dordogne]

It isn't a phobia if the fear is reasonable, and in this case it is. But street parking should be relatively easy on Sundays, since the neighboring Hopkins St. stores are closed.

[wolfe]

My wife thanks you for understanding.

[foodeye]

What's closed? Gioia recently (in the last year) added Sundays, and I think Country Cheese and the Bakery next door are both open, yes?....and Berkeley Hort is too, so you can take a nice walk there and then go back for another slice or a cannoli...

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Country Cheese
1578 Hopkins St, Berkeley, CA

[wolfe]

Magnani, Monterey Fish and I think Country Cheese, possibly the Launderette and the skin care place.

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Country Cheese
415 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA

[Glencora]

Elixir is open Sunday. Wonderful haircuts. However, you are quite correct about the MM coupons in the Chinook book.

I wonder if Westbrae's business will hurt. The only time I go there is on Sunday.

[sydthekyd]

Westbrae?

[Glencora]

Berkeley Natural Grocery

[wolfe]

dordogne, boy are you right. As I was weighting the possibly of buying one of those heavy brussel sprout stalks $2.98 I turned to see a woman pull open a car door and start berating the driver for driving over her foot. His reaction was kind of "Lady what's your problem it's not like I broke your leg."

[sydthekyd]

What has improved?

[wolfe]

What isn't better?

[wally]

They stopped selling a vinegar I have been buying for years as well as an olive oil that I had only started using. They no longer sell Frog Hollow, Churchill and other small suppliers. The carts.

[Gustavo Glenmorangie]

They upgraded the check out to actual 20th century technology, who'da thought it? The selection of produce has improved--markedly to my eye. Quality as well: things seem fresher and turnover management has improved. And the pricing remains excellent, if anything prices are somewhat reduced from the ancien régime where it seemed to me that prices were creeping up on a regular basis. I don't know about your favorite vinegar and I buy my olive oil elsewhere, so I can't comment on their choices. But olive oil has a shelf life of a year, so every year a retailer makes new choices.

As for the carts: Same as it ever was. Neither better nor worse.

As it happens, I'm walking distance to MM. I'm there 3 to 5 times a week, so I'm aware of what's going on. I was among those worried about the change in management, but it's my opinion that today's Monterey Market is a cut above last year's model. It also seems more crowded than ever, alas.

[sydthekyd]

Every time I have gone I say I wil go more often - now resolved! Looking forward to a Sunday shop. Thank you.

[oakjoan]

wally: Are you talking about Monterey Market regarding "what isn't better"? I can't tell because of all the posts about other businesses.

Monterey Market has stopped selling Frog Hollow? They had their peaches and nectarines this summer. I know because I ate about 3000 of them.