I’m staying in an apartment with a kitchen so shopping for groceries and cooking is part of the plan. Most Italian towns have little grocery shops (Alimentari) that sell daily essentials as well as fresh produce, some of them sell wine as well. Crates of seasonal produce can often be found on the sidewalks outside of these establishments. The produce is usually super fresh and super tasty. Two days ago I stopped in one of these shops for a bottle of wine and some cheese for my pasta. A decent-sized wedge of Parmigiano cost me 2.50€ and a very good bottle of wine, 9.50€. The shop owner was almost apologetic about the price of the wine. You can get an excellent local vintage in Italy for about 4.50€ a bottle.
Yesterday I finally made it to the local InCOOP in Soriano Nel Cimino. Coop is a system of Italian consumers’ cooperatives that operates the largest supermarket chain in Italy. This supermarket was on the smaller side but well-stocked. Prices for some products were a lot cheaper than what I would pay in the Hudson Valley, NY, and others higher. Fruit and vegetables, wine, cheese, pasta, and bread, were noticeably cheaper. Anything imported such as American cosmetics and toiletries were a bit more. I took quite a few pictures for my own edification. I couldn’t believe the price of shallots. We are paying $8/lb for them back home versus 1.33€ for 2.20 lbs (1kg). The price for gluten-free bread was a lot less than what we pay back home. But guess what…I can eat gluten in Italy without any problems. It’s one of the joys of being here.
The reason I noticed shallots is that we love roasting them with a balsamic and honey glaze but the cost has made this prohibitive. We’ve been using red onions instead.
Here are some pictures of the supermarket. Keep in mind that the prices are in kilograms not pounds. One kilo is about 2.2 lbs.
Shopping in Italy is mostly the same as back home with some very important differences. In Italy, it’s almost taboo to fondle the produce with your bare hands. This is not just a COVID thing, it’s a cultural thing. So let me explain how this works. If you’re shopping at a small store or at a stall, always ask permission before touching the fruit or veg. It’s customary for vendors to handle the produce for you, just ask for what you want. Some small groceries stores will give you a paper bag which you can fill and bring to the cash register, but larger stores such as supermarkets have rules. Rule #1: Use the gloves provided to handle the produce. Rule #2: Weigh the produce on the electronic scale using the proper code and affix the sticker on the bag before you arrive at the cash register.
Shopping carts in Italy cost a coin to use. To get your coin back, you have to put the cart back. Easy, peasy. Aside from carts, there are rolling baskets available usually by the door. Supermarkets sometimes require you to scan your receipt on the way out so if the exit doors aren’t opening, you know why. If you don’t buy anything, you may have to find a member of the staff to let you out.
Something else that we’re not used to–unrefrigerated eggs. In the US, eggs that aren’t refrigerated could cause salmonella poisoning—meanwhile, Europe considers it a health risk if eggs are refrigerated. This cultural difference stems from the way eggs are processed before they reach stores. American farms wash eggs to strip the cuticle, or outer protective layer, which prevents contamination outside the shell. Without the cuticle, eggs must be refrigerated to combat bacterial infection from inside. In Europe, it’s illegal to wash eggs, and instead, farms vaccinate chickens against salmonella. With the cuticle intact, refrigeration could cause mildew growth and contamination. Once you buy eggs, make sure to leave them on the counter. Here is something you may not know; eggs last a whopping 21 days on the counter. Refrigerated eggs last 50 days, but the eggs can absorb odors and flavors from other foods in the fridge. Countertop connoisseurs claim that room-temp eggs taste better. I’ll have to test the theory while I’m here.
I was missing my cat and spent quite a bit of time in the pet aisle to see the prices and the variety. Prices are comparable, variety was OK. If ever the Sugarloaf finds herself here, she will have to munch on Italian crunchies. 😀 Like back home, there’s a run on pet food here as well.
Italy will charge for bags to encourage you to bring your own. I had a cloth shopping bag (a busta) in my backpack, so I didn’t need to pay for one. Then, I made like the townsfolk and lugged my grocery bag up a lot of hills and stairs to my hotel. Cardio, baby! Yesss…..
For dinner, I indulged in some spinach and ricotta ravioli and a glass of red wine. For dessert, I cracked open the strawberries and–OH MY GOD!–the flavor!!! These strawberries from Basilicata were divine. They were sweet like candy. Is this what strawberries are supposed to taste like? I think so! Truly, the produce I bought from the tomatoes to the mandarines was special. The flavors here are fantastic.
How different can it be… well let me tell you. I ate the whole container of strawberries in one sitting. These berries were juicy and tart, and just perfect. And they cost 3.43€–what!?? My husband bought the same quantity of strawberries yesterday and paid $6.99 for bland ones.
In closing, I’ve posted my supermarket receipt so you can see the prices.
I sense more strawberries in my future.