Grocery Outlet-April 2012

[jillyju]

If there is already a thread started for this month, I couldn't find it, so I'm starting a new one. Today, at Grocery Outlet Oakland, I picked up the following:

Challenge Butter- 1 lb, salted: $1.99 : These are the quarters, not a solid block of butter. Great deal.
Cauliflower- 2 for $3.00: Appeared fresh, and of good size
Cabot Cheddar Cheese: $2.49 (I think). Good price for Cabot
A few other cheeses--Edam, Fontina, Gouda but at prices that I thought were generally not as good as Trader Joe's
Kettle Chips-6 oz bag-$1.99: New York Cheddar, Fully Loaded Baked Potato, Sweet Maui Onion, Backyard Barbeque, Yogurt and Green Onion flavors
Columbus small artisan style salami, Pinot Grigio: $1.99
Hellman's Mayonnaise, squeeze bottle: $1.49: found in the last aisle above the peanut butter, jelly, etc.
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce-$2.49: I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure it was the 10 oz. size (Safeway has that size for $4.39)

[Robert Lauriston]

Berkeley store, Sacred Hill 2008 Central Otago Pinot Noir, $5.99, great value.

[jason carey]

is it lithe or extracted and deep in style?

[Robert Lauriston]

Light, fruity, balanced.

[Wheetie]

I keep hearing one of their corporate ads while shopping in the RWC GO advertising that they have Peaberry coffee for $6.99. I couldn't find it and no one at the store knew about it. Has anyone found it? If so, how was it?

[Melanie Wong]

Yesterday's purchases at the Salinas store, posted on Calif board.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7997...

[jart]

The Dublin store has Carvel ice cream cakes. Two styles, a petite one with lots of colored piping for $4.99, and a slightly larger one with "Happy Birthday" piped onto it, for $5.99 (or maybe $6.99). Both appear to be chocolate bottom layer, then choc crunchies, then vanilla layer, with white exterior.

[ML8000]

I saw this in Oakland, Lotus Biscoff spread from Belgium. Looks like peanut butter but *NO* nuts and vegan. Anyone know what it tastes like? Might be good for kids with peanut allergies.

http://www.biscoff.com/DirectionsWEB/...

[Mission]

Challenge Butter- 1 lb, salted: $1.99 :cubed Exp date May 2012

$4.29 at Safeway!

Butter freezees great!

They had lots last night.

Plus I got a $10 coupon for future shopping within a week!

Sweet!

I will go back for more of that "EO" Honey Orange shampoo that is not that cheap $8 ...but is great!

[Eris48]

Did you get the coupon from the Oakland store?

[Mission]

yes,oakland

[Melanie Wong]

Here's a current thread on the France board for Speculoos paste, which is sold as Biscoff in the US. It's made of cookies.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/837255

I saw it at the South San Francisco branch of GO, sorry I didn't buy it when I had the chance. It was next to the Nutella display.

Other items in SSF:
8 oz unsalted Lurpak butter, $1.99
Tapas crackers
Pierre Sparr Cremant d'Alsace, $6.99 - Mostly Pinot Blanc with a touch of Noir, opened it last weekend and it's as good a sparkling wine as can be found for under $12. Good to have on hand for a brunch wine and champagne cocktails.
Clover Organic plain non-fat yogurt, quart

And I got a $3 off coupon to be used next week at any GO store.

[oniontears]

This appears to be the branded version of Trader Joe's Cookie Butter http://www.sandiegosugar.com/2011/grocery-goods-trader-joes-cookie-butter/
I haven't seen it in the Oakland TJs yet, but saw it in a Pasadena location this past weekend. The Biscoff stuff is an even better deal!

Also in Oakland:
Manischewitz Coconut Macaroons: $1.99 for the usual 10oz container
Ryvita rye crips in dark/light rye, sesame rye, rye and oatbran: $1.69
I echo the $1.99 Lurpak
Boulder Canyon Hickory BBQ chips: $1.49 for 5oz bag
Boursin, garlic and herb: $1.99
Gardetto's snack mix: $1.99 for 2lb bag

I passed up the Vermont Mystic Pie company's blueberry pie ($6.99) and I had heard good things when I lived in New England. Also hounds seem to give them the nod http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/811482. I couldn't find an expiration date so I chickened out. Has anyone tried them?

[TerriL]

Cookie butter and Biscoff spread are one and the same, and they are freaking great -- especially on banana. Highly recommended.

[ML8000]

I talked to friend since seeing it, yes found it out it's the same thing. If the TJ you go doesn't carry it, ask for it and they'll carry it. That's what I was told.

[zippo]

was tempted to buy the Vermont Mystic Pie last Friday just because of the box but didn't

[annec]

Was the Vermont Pie in Oakland? I loved their frozen (empty) pie crusts. Whole Foods used to carry them but stopped.

[oniontears]

Yup! I saw them Oakland. That all-butter crust does sound promising. zippo's picture shows about how many I saw there as well (with another stack to the left). The more I think about it the more I'm compelled to go back for one.

[Wheetie]

I tastes like a very cinnamon-ey graham cracker. Trader Jose's currently has a Beligum chocolate bar filled with Speculoos. Spices used in speculoos are cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and white pepper. Tastes the same.

[annec]

Went to Oakland today on the tip about Hellmann's squeeze bottle, alas it was all labeled Best Foods that I could see. I know they are the same product, the labels are identical except for the name, and yet....I guess the placebo effect is strong with me.

Trying Hellmann's Olive Oil light mayo , or some such thing 1.99. Also Best Foods limited edition Garlic and Herbs mayo, .99 - both of those in the usual mayonnaise spot.

Choco Dream white chocolate spread over by the nutella/peanut butter/regular Best Foods mayo for $2.49. Bought it because it looked like mayonnaise and I was feeling sorry for myself about no Hellmanns. A little goes a long way.

Wholesome brand sugars, cane light, dark, and powdered, are $2.99 above the freezer case. Regular price is listed as $5.49 and I can verify that is true as I saw the same product at Whole Foods a few blocks away at the higher price. This seems like a great deal for high quality, fair trade sugar.

No good wines that I could find.

[jillyju]

Oh no! I just got caught with my Boston showing! What I bought was indeed Best Foods mayo. I just automatically, and entirely unconsciously, called it Hellman's. I apologize for sending you on a fruitless chase. I hope you will enjoy what you bought instead!

[Ruth Lafler]

Thanks for the tip on the sugar -- I'm currently out of powdered sugar.

[sydthekyd]

What is the difference if Best Foods and Hellman are the same? The light olive oil and garlic and herbs mayos sound good.

[wolfe]

Check the best by dates. I think they are next month. How long is mayo good for once opened?

[chowmeaow]

I have an opened bottle of hellman's in the fridge for few months.
Way past its date. Wondering if I should throw it out.

I did use it couple of moths ago, in some salad and nothing happened to me.
It is not tasting funny either. I guess I am just very adventurous :)
Any dangers in using it? I have always kept it refrigerated after opening.

Are there any use of mayo other than sandwich or egg salad?

[Stephanie Wong]

We're using a jar dated Jan. 26, 2010, right now. Our unopened stash is kept in a dark, cool basement & the opened jar is kept refrigerated. We use clean utensils to dip into the jar so haven't had any ill effects.

My mother used to not bother to refrigerate her opened jars, but her kitchen was unheated.

Chocolate mayonaise cake used to be a fav of my husband. Many versions are available online.

[Mission]

Most Mayonnaise food poisoning stories are like Pork can give you trichinosis stories of yesteryear.

Pure fiction!

Unless you really do many,many stupid food prep steps!

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Speaking of wine, I thought it was all gone, but it was just hiding up on the top shelf on the right before the first refrigerator:. From the K &L website:
2006 Kilikanoon "Prodigal" Grenache Clare Valley South Australia (Previously $30)
91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The dark ruby-colored 2006 Prodigal Grenache spent 18 months in seasoned French oak. The nose exhibits damp earth, cinnamon, sage, and black cherry leading to a sweet, layered, spicy, concentrated Grenache with a silky texture and enough soft tannin to develop for another two years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2010 to 2018." 91 points from Stephen Tanzer's IWC: "Bright red. Intensely floral bouquet displays scents of raspberry, potpourri, spicecake and minerals. Lush, creamy red berry flavors display liqueur-like depth and surprising clarity, picking up a tangy blood orange note with air. Weightier on the finish, which features a sweet dark berry flavor and persistent spiciness."
From the winery: "This intensely perfumed wine is a noble expression of the potential of old-vine Grenache. The nose seduces with maraschino cherries, vibrant plums and sweet milk chocolate backed by subtle mature oak spices. Ripe fruited and generous, the upfront palate delivers juicy mulberries and kirsch, lifted lavender perfume and bright acidity.
Subtle oak support and supple tannins allow the depth of the fruit to shine, finishing long and intense."
There are only 8 left after I picked one more for the road. Run, run, run!
Shelf sign says $12.99, rang up as $9.99!
This is an awesome super screaming deal and your palate will thank you for it. : )

[wolfe]

Berkeley, $2.99 coconut macaroon mix, just add to whipped egg whites and bake yield 16, not bad.

[jillyju]

Oh, I forgot to mention I noticed but didn't buy Haagen-Dazs ice cream--Bananas Foster and Cranberry Pumpkin Spice. Maybe 1.99 for a pint?