Cook the Book: 'The Food Life'

A Jersey girl at heart, now living in the South, quality supermarkets are far and few between. (Sorry Krogers!) While, weekly shopping is done at the local Publix, where free coffee and courtesy "empty your cart" service is always a treat, if you live in the Atlanta metro, as I do, the ultimate supermarket is by far Harry's Farmers Market. Now owned by Whole Foods, the displays alone make you salivate. You cant beat the organic selection and prepared tasty treats. Always a great shopping experience.

DanielleS at 1:57PM on 07/14/08

Well, quite honestly- Fairway.. Perfect mix of great and varied produce, quality meats, cheeses, great seafood- good spice selection.. olive bar. It is what whole foods should aspire to.

LIRC at 1:58PM on 07/14/08

I've only been once, but I fell in love with Wegman's. Other than that, I love Schnucks, a local St Louis grocery.

sharsd at 1:59PM on 07/14/08

having never visited a fairway..i would have to say most ethnic supermarkets just because i get to see new and varied things!

sassysprite at 2:01PM on 07/14/08

definitely Chinese/Asian grocery stores .. my favorite one close to where I live is Maxim Supermarket in Rockville, MD.

mrsbao at 2:03PM on 07/14/08

Here in Boston, it's gotta be Russo's. Not full service, but for produce, cheeses, deli, pasta, it is the best around, with the wide selection and low prices close to what they offer thier wholesale customers. Last week I bought chanterelles and morels for $15/#.

dikaryon at 2:06PM on 07/14/08

I'm in California, so I'm lucky enough to have access to all kinds of amazing and FRESH food. Of course, this can sometimes cost a pretty penny. My favorite place is Sprouts Famer's Market, a place with incredible weekly deals on produce. Just yesterday I bought 4 heads of sweet corn for $2, a deliciously ripe canteloupe for 99 cents, 2 cartons of strawberries for $4 and a head of cabbage for 50 cents. The fact that every person working at Sprouts is friendly and helpful also makes for a great shopping experience.

swaaaan at 2:07PM on 07/14/08

In Washington State, Top Foods is easy to deal with, and here in Boise, home of Albertson's AND WinCo, I go to Fred Meyer, because my boyfriend's a meat cutter, and I'm quite loyal.

sakuraa at 2:09PM on 07/14/08

Where I live, Wegman's is the only option if you are looking for much of what you wouldn't find in your average grocer's. While it has everything another store might, it also has a full-out organic section, an international foods section, hard-to-find produce, an incredible candy selection, etc. The list goes on. There are, however, some quite nice farmer's markets that occur sporadically as well.

deenarae0 at 2:23PM on 07/14/08

Wegmans.. because of their service.

awtane at 2:29PM on 07/14/08

Hmmm...I don't think I have just one place where I do my shopping. We frequent Fairway, Whole Foods and the farmers markets, and in case of emergency, I run to Waldbaums two minutes away. I guess if I had to choose though, I'd go Fairway. Huge selection and I love their international stuff!

tkln at 2:29PM on 07/14/08

Living in small town Ohio pickings are slim, we often shop an hour from home because our local stores aren't up to snuff. I love Whole Foods, their quality is hard to beat, the prices I could change a bit.

And of course the West Side Market in Cleveland is like a year round farmer's market with real people who want to provide great food at awesome prices. Plus they have a fantastic pierogi stand!

bobcatsteph3 at 2:42PM on 07/14/08

hmmm I must say I enjoy almost any grocery store I go to, even if their selection isn't so great, since strolling the aisles is always rather relaxing for me. I guess the first grocery store that really blew me away in terms of selection and quality was Berkeley Bowl, although I don't live close enough to shop there on a regular basis.

banana at 2:46PM on 07/14/08

Whole Foods! Still haven't found a place that beats their meat, seafood and cheese counters.

bitchincamero at 2:50PM on 07/14/08

Bay Cities in Santa Monica, CA for the Italian, Spanish, and Greek specialty foods. In terms of full service supermarkets, I'd have to go with Whole Foods.

amaLosAngeles at 2:52PM on 07/14/08

I mostly go to Asian supermarkets and Pathmark, because their prices tend to be decent -- but I'm a kid in a candy store whenever I go to Trader Joe's! They have pretty unique/tasty stuff...

cochon at 2:52PM on 07/14/08

I'm gonna cheat a little and say Sahadi's even though it is more market-size than supermarket-size. If I were to choose based on name it would clearly be the original -- Piggly Wiggly.

sloppy at 2:59PM on 07/14/08

Wegman's, Trader's Joe's and Bristol Farms have always been favorites of mine. Unfortunately, I no longer live near any of these. My choices are now, Harris-Teeter, Fresh Market and Publix. Publix has fabulous customer service and will always special order anything I ask for.

lattelatte at 2:59PM on 07/14/08

Stanley's - it's a small veggie and fruit store in Chicago. I love their prices - super cheap for the city!

laur_uic at 3:03PM on 07/14/08

I'm gonna have to say Whole Foods too; I don't go there for everything (too pricey) but I often go there to graze from their salad bar. I am a lazy shopper and like their pre-made stuff that I can just grab and eat. I always wind up buying way more than I meant to. Though Trader Joe's is coming in a close second these days.

rachelkramerbussel at 3:09PM on 07/14/08

Trader Joe's is hard to beat in all areas except fresh produce. For fresh produce, I'm a farmer's market/ roadside stand kind of girl... which is easy to do here in Indiana!

shalomblack at 3:11PM on 07/14/08

My fav supermarket is Roach Bros. But I also have organic produce delivered weekly by Boston Organics (although, technically not a "supermarket"). I also stop any any local farm stand/farmers market whenever possible.

Jadie15 at 3:24PM on 07/14/08

Hmmmm...favorite ever is probably Stew leonard's in Norwalk, CT, purely for nostalgia (and ice cream) reasons. My most-frequented here in the city is Agata & Valentina at 79th and 1st.

MegB at 3:26PM on 07/14/08

Trader Joe's for the basics. Whole Food's for the hot/salad bar and people watching. And the local fruit and veggie stand at work for produce. btw, i also think Publix has fresher meat than Koger's. I also fell in love with Wegman's on a trip back home to PA.

_greenbean at 3:29PM on 07/14/08

whole foods

ceforrester at 3:32PM on 07/14/08

I love my co-op. It feels like home.

Fiksu at 3:41PM on 07/14/08

Wish we had a Fairway up here in Ct..
I'd say we do the bulk of our shopping at Stop&Shop and Waldbaum's. I understand that A&P is merging with Stop&Shop and they're going to call it "Stop&Pee".

We are lucky enough to have 3 Whole Foods (which I do love), Trader Joe's and Stew Leonard's which is truly the Disneyland of grocery stores.
A great place for the lids, too.

bessfour at 3:57PM on 07/14/08

I love Publix Supermarket .

cherierj at 4:19PM on 07/14/08

Woodmans in Wisconsin. Warehouse type store that carries everything you can think of. All the food I remember from growing up that I can't find anywhere else. The microbrew selection alone is worth the 90 minute drive from Chicago.

thotfulspot at 4:22PM on 07/14/08

I love Trader Joe's, every visit feels like a treasure hunt.

catalu at 4:25PM on 07/14/08

I love markets (super and otherwise) generally. Whenever I road trip, I bring a cooler and plan to hit a local supermarket before I start my return trip in order to obtain local specialties.

In New Orleans, that means Central Grocery for cold cuts and a large Kroger to stock up on many sizes of shrimp and crawfish, tasso by the pound, assorted Tabasco and Zatarain's products only available in Louisiana (including the gumob mix without rice), and anything else I might need.

In New York, I love Zabar's for cheese, smoked fish and caviar. Note that they will pack to travel!!!

In Chicago, I hit Fox and Obel (plus a stop at Giordano's on my way out of town for three half-baked and frozen stuffed spinach and cheese pies). Fox and Obel has great olive oil, tea, and chocolate selections. Follow with a stop at Sam's Wine and prepare for a feast upon returning home!

I love the Stew Leonard's in Brookfield, CT near my parents. It generally is one of the highlights of any visit there. I always have to get a slice of the eggplant parm pizza on the way out.

Shopping experiences where I live are not nearly as exciting, but there is a new two-story Whole Foods that opened recently and it certainly is something to see. I do enjoy the adventure of shopping at the local international market called Global Foods. Every aisle is a country and they seem to have everything a person could want to cook authentic Thai, Schezuan, Yunnan, Japanese, German, Indian or you name it! There also is an Asian market in town called Seafood City. Once you get past the fish smell, the highlight of any visit there is picking your own blue crabs out of their tank by hand, dropping them in a paper bag, and then getting them home for a crab boil!

Now I am hungry . . .

Mizbee at 4:30PM on 07/14/08

I love Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. The cheese and veg departments at WF are amazing. Also the meats and fish. If I'm in the mood for something "funky" then it's TJ's for the fun of it. I don't go there for serious shopping, just when I'm in the mood....

linda at 4:47PM on 07/14/08

I agree with the suggestion that in Boston, Russo's is very good. I also like Trader Joe's and, despite the price, Whole Foods

BostonDiner at 4:50PM on 07/14/08

I loves me some Fairway. Except on Sunday afternoons. Do not go then.
Whole Foods is fantastic but, along with Zabar's, I've learned only to buy certain things there: namely, things I cannot find elsewhere. The antipasto bar at the one in Columbus Circle is amazing. I'm a Barney Greengrass man when it comes to my smoked fish.

VoraciousMatt at 4:53PM on 07/14/08

I always find something new and cool at Trader Joe's, but I love visiting Whole Foods to check out all the dairy products and chocolates.

threedogkitchen at 5:01PM on 07/14/08

While I will always point out that asian supermarkets are awesome, I'm always looking out for the good ole' neighborhood general supermarket. And I found that in Hannaford, a chain that has branches in parts of New England. It's very very fresh produce, with a wide selection to rival Whole Foods, without the pricing increase associated with those type of supermarkets. I love Whole Foods and whatnot, but my wallet doesn't. =(

uninorth at 5:02PM on 07/14/08

asian markets

hedgehog at 5:06PM on 07/14/08

fairway's is my favorite, even if it is always insanely crowded, plus its open late.

sustarz at 5:09PM on 07/14/08

Close to home, I like Trader Joe's for eggs, milk, and quick lunches at work, and Sprouts for their wonderful and oft-times local produce. Far away, I love Uwajimaya in Kirkland WA.

madball911 at 5:13PM on 07/14/08

Here in Austin, we're very fortunate to have both Central Market and Whole Foods and two locations of each. It's difficult to pick a favorite, but I live closer to Central Market and shop there more often.

lisal at 5:31PM on 07/14/08

I am a Publix lover! They have wonderful customer service and remember your name! I even got my wedding cake there - the BEST bakery ever and they make the cake the day of the event, not weeks ahead like most places!

manali98 at 5:55PM on 07/14/08

Supermarkets are special places to me-- it's like guilt-free shopping ("I have to have more shoes!" doesn't work quite like "I must eat!")! I shop Fairway for practical stuff, Trader Joe's for snacks, Whole Foods when I feel ritzy. Norcal's Safeway always brings back fond memories of the late night college life and good old Han Kook Mah-ket in Glendale, CA for Korean goods. Oh, and Oakville Grocery for their prepared sandwiches!

jojojett at 5:55PM on 07/14/08

There is no really good supermarket where I live! There is decent produce at El Mariachi Super Mercado, and an excellent Asian market is Super Cao Nguyen, but there is no winner among the general purpose supermarkets around here. I usually shop at Crest for the prices and the decent selection of local products, but I prefer to buy most of my food from the local farmer's market and coop.

leegwebb at 5:56PM on 07/14/08

I've only been to Wegmans once but I was super impressed!

PoignantTuna at 6:37PM on 07/14/08

Corti Brothers in Sacramento! Owned and operated by the same family since 1947... this place is still fantastic! Long before the gourmet/foodie/epicurean thing became a movement for the masses.... there was Corti Brothers, stocking high quality gourmet and ethnic goodies and providing superior and fantastic customer service. I learned more about cooking meat and planning for groups from their butchers than I ever did from a book. And the ladies at the deli counter have introduced me to a delightful variety of cheeses from around the world. And then of course, there is Darrell Corti's wine department - amazing! And he or his well trained staff are always around to help guide you to the perfect wine for any occasion. (He's recently been inducted in to the Vintner's Hall of Fame)

I love Nugget Market, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Mollie Stone's, Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market.... but nothing will ever take the place of Corti Brothers for me...

hmneilson at 7:09PM on 07/14/08

Trader Joe's for most things, Rainbow Market for grains, beans and organics, local farmer's markets for produce, Tower Market for meat and fish...it's so hard to pick in San Francisco: too many good choices!

gorzd at 7:37PM on 07/14/08

Heh another bay area girl weighing in- Corti Bros in Sac is cool, they make a killer deli sandwich and their wine section is magnificent. Here in SF, I like Bi-Rite waaaaaay better than Rainbow- I'll take house made guanciale over piles of supplements and body products, and I think their produce is nicer. Trader Joe's is always a fave, and I still miss both Shoppers Corner (best meat loaf mix EVER) and Deluxe in Santa Cruz/Aptos, as well as Marina and Sun Lion in San Jose (both excellent asian markets with good prices).

Ravara at 7:59PM on 07/14/08

I really like Sunflower Market for the amazing fresh produce and open-air feel and good bargains. I also like Vitamin Cottage for their extensive bulk section ~ great deals on bulk spices, snacks and grains, etc. Edge to the Sunflower Market though.

chimaybabe at 8:28PM on 07/14/08

trader joe's! Their fearless flyers are hilarious.

musicalpandibear at 8:46PM on 07/14/08

I go to Whole Foods once or twice a year—rather like going to an amusement park. I allow myself one ride in the cheese department, one at the meat counter, and two in the produce aisle. For everything else, I just rubberneck and sigh.

tereza at 9:36PM on 07/14/08

Fairway for all the reasons already mentioned.
Honorable mention to:
Agata and Valentina (in my nabe, for the peerless produce, burrata and fresh ricotta, bread, and jamon Iberico...)
Sahadis for the joy of experiencing the craziness of the bulk foods dept on a Saturday morning
Hong Kong Supermarket in Plainfield NJ; best Chinese market I know

Most importantly, all of these places have *soul*, which I'm sorry to say I find lacking in Whole Foods and its ilk!

meisen at 9:40PM on 07/14/08

I like little mom 'n pop grocers and ethnic markets because you can find odd quirky stuff there that the chains don't stock.

dbcurrie at 10:02PM on 07/14/08

My favorite food store is Ben's Market on Knoll's Crescent in the Bronx. They are always helpful, friendly and have an organic section. When I want to know if a pineapple is ripe, the produce staff member is helpful. In addition, the staff peeled a turnip for me at my request.

SEFB9118 at 10:27PM on 07/14/08

Jimbo's...Naturally (local to San Diego County), Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods.

edinat at 3:50AM on 07/15/08

Blooming Foods in Bloomington, IN. They have the best of everything and the staff are totally helpful.

Aisling at 6:31AM on 07/15/08

I like my hometown Shoprite. It's very clean and well-stocked.

cdziuba at 6:56AM on 07/15/08

I always stop by Trader Joe's when I'm in the U.S., if only for their cheap Greek yogurt and shelf-stable Indian food. But here in Toronto, I have two favourites: Loblaws/Superstore, for their variety, affordable organics and President's Choice brand; and P.A.T., the Korean supermarket where I can buy quarts of kimchee and giant bags of fortune cookies for a few bucks.

piccola at 7:02AM on 07/15/08

With the cost of food today, my favorite place is the cheapest place and thats Super One Foods.

mnsteph at 7:16AM on 07/15/08

When I lived in NJ Shop Rite did it for me. I just loved that store. Now in Florida I have to sy Publix is the one to beat. and vacationing in GA or SC Ingles is the winner

sweetjudyblue at 7:39AM on 07/15/08

Food Lion--unfortunately the one closest to my house closed. But I love their MVP prices.

herrinfamily at 7:39AM on 07/15/08

Wild Oats in Portland OR has the best organic produce. There prices are outrageous though.

susanchester at 7:57AM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's for sure. I always spend less than I thought I would and it's not as frantic as our local Whole Foods. But, we are getting another Whole Foods here in the Ann Arbor area so hopefully that will change. The Kroger nearest my house is pretty crappy, particularly for produce but they do have some decent meat on occasion.

Rottenmom at 8:14AM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's for the basics. Whole Food's for the hot/salad bar and people watching. And the local fruit and veggie stand at work for produce. I fell in love with Wegman's on a trip back home to NY.

annpa at 8:24AM on 07/15/08

New Pioneer co-op, Iowa City, Iowa

carusoc at 8:29AM on 07/15/08

Well, it used to be Fairway, but now I have to go with Berkeley Bowl. They honestly have the greatest selection of produce (regular, organic, etc.) and some of the best prices. I end up paying half as much there as at any regular supermarket and for far far superior product.

Phil W. at 8:35AM on 07/15/08

Must say that I like Trader Joe's a lot....a lot of different foods and they are constantly cooking up free samples to hand out. Also their fresh flowers are reasonable and last the longest.

Teeeveee at 9:15AM on 07/15/08

It's Fairway, of course. Heading to the flagship on the UWS in a couple of hours for their brown rice sushi for lunch, some sausage for dinner tonight. Couldn't live without the place. Wonder if they have the 8-buck lobster roll like the Red Hook store?

Dee at 9:36AM on 07/15/08

I'd have to say the Amish stand at our local Farmer's Market, great selection too. This looks like a wonderful book; thank you so much for the contest!

Tina12312 at 9:42AM on 07/15/08

Ah, I had a bit written about a small market and my local farmer's market before I realized that the question was about SUPERmarkets. In that case, I'll go with Trader Joe's as my favorite. They do place a bit more emphasis on prepared foods than I would prefer, but their prices on wine can't be beat, and the cheese dept. has some nice selections.

Nicholas H at 10:06AM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's. I love the unique items. The prices can't be beat. Great store.

jashelep23 at 10:09AM on 07/15/08

When I went to NYC I loved the minimarkets and the street food vendors...here where I live we live in walmart country and there is nothing but walmart to shop at :( no trader joes, no 10 grocery stores to shop from...its sad to shop here when there is no variety

sandy89 at 10:25AM on 07/15/08

I love Whole Foods and a local store, Bylery's/Lunds. I don't shop at either one as often as I'd like though because while they have great items, they are certainly not inexpensive.

tanners12 at 10:29AM on 07/15/08

In Georgia my favorites are Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. When I was in NYC I loved Gourmet Garage.

taxichick at 10:30AM on 07/15/08

Anderson's General Store is the place for produce and homemade breads in Columbus, Ohio.

osugrad at 10:35AM on 07/15/08

I like Wegmans and Whole Foods.

JudyH at 10:36AM on 07/15/08

We shop at Ralph's because we have our prescriptions there but I prefer Whole Foods if there was one in our area.

patschraier at 10:45AM on 07/15/08

Maybe Whole Foods, even though I love my local co-op 500 times more.

shannasanders at 10:51AM on 07/15/08

Freed's. It's very small and my disabled self can get a few things.
Acme - delivers.

PerkyMac at 10:57AM on 07/15/08

My favorite supermarkets are both in the Atlanta area -- Publix and Harry's. Harry's is what I wish Wegman's was -- huge and packed with an enormous variety of things. Wegman's just seems to have more shelves of the same old things.

Messily at 11:20AM on 07/15/08

I shop at Safeway almost exclusively. The produce, meat and fish departments are loaded with items and everything is totally fresh. The pharmacy takes care of my prescriptions and lets me know when I should renew a prescription. The deli and bakery are great and they even have a bank, DVDs and a Starbucks.

CarolHarrity at 11:20AM on 07/15/08

Safeway. Best selection and good prices.

MajaMeza79 at 11:36AM on 07/15/08

Best buy in the Bay Area - Manilla Oriental Market in Daly City. Tons of fresh produce at ridicilously low prices (fresh apricots @ 79 cents a pound!)
Although I am not a fish lover, the selection is wide and most importatnly, fresh. They'll even cook one on-site for you!

gregsmom at 11:46AM on 07/15/08

Harris Teeter, because when we go there it means we're on vacation.

gratefulted at 11:51AM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's, for their collection of awesome chocolate at decent prices.

Jekyl at 12:11PM on 07/15/08

I like Publics. It has a nice combo of being a traditional supermarket with some great extras in the produce, bakery, meat, and seafood departments. Also, nice wide aisles.

fangirl at 12:22PM on 07/15/08

In Las Vegas - Whole Foods, yep.

AnnArtiste at 12:23PM on 07/15/08

I wish we had a Trader Joe's here in San Antonio. I shop Whole Foods for breads and cheese, Central Market for fish and produce (besides my CSA and Greenlings) and sausage, sometimes other meat and deli, and Ali Baba for bread, spices, lamb, condiments and dairy. My regular HEB is for the rest.

dksbook at 12:48PM on 07/15/08

My favorite supermarket is Scott's (purchased by Kroger recently) because they triple coupons up to 50 cents, always have a great selection of clearance items, and have genuinely friendly and helpful employees :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

MoonMaiden at 12:51PM on 07/15/08

Whole Foods - I can get everything I need in one stop! Or V. Richards (I wish I could support local businesses more...)...

amwhiteh at 1:10PM on 07/15/08

Frankly, WalMArt's fine with me. I'm a simple man, who likes to spend as little as he can

dwarzel at 1:21PM on 07/15/08

In Ottawa Real Canadian Superstore and Herb and Spice. In Montréal it was Warshaw but now it's closed...

PeanutButter at 1:45PM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's, with a stop to our local produce market for better/fresher produce.

sfgoo at 2:07PM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's provides a culinary surprise for each visit.

pjlein at 2:21PM on 07/15/08

I'm in Minneapolis, and my favorite grocery store is Lund's/Byerly's....it's a local market, and it's known for it's wonderful selection and service. It's always a pleasant experience to shop there.

starsmom at 2:38PM on 07/15/08

I love my neighborhood Kroger

louiseb130 at 2:46PM on 07/15/08

Millers Market. My friends dad does the sausage and it is amazing. I can also get the chicken corn chowder that is usually only avaliable at the Firehall during carnival season, or when someones Grandma makes it. YUM!

Linz0 at 2:49PM on 07/15/08

Henry's Farmers Market in La Quinta, Ca.....lots of fresh produce

toastworthy at 2:54PM on 07/15/08

Hy Vee has great Chinese food.

susan1215 at 3:37PM on 07/15/08

I gotta second Woodman's in Milwaukee for the liquor department, but Brennan's in a Milwaukee suburb for cheese and fresh produce.

Nezrite at 3:45PM on 07/15/08

I love publix. all the employees are helpful and willing to go the extra mile for you. they have great specials. I just love them.

teechbiz at 3:46PM on 07/15/08

Fairway Red Hook! Cheap, over-the-top selection and quality, and socially conscious to boot. No trip to Fairway is complete without a sandwich from the counter and some quality boat-watching time.

savecara at 3:48PM on 07/15/08

I have three:

Whole Foods,
Trader Joe's, and
Roche Brothers

All three are clean, bright, loaded with good stuff, and have friendly, helpful employees.

Brownie at 3:54PM on 07/15/08

Molly Stone's .... great seafood selection.
gkstratos@ yahoo.com

gkstratos at 3:59PM on 07/15/08

My favorite is Whole Foods but I like Wegman's and Trader Joe's as well.

alycep06 at 3:59PM on 07/15/08

Heinen's they ahve the best homemade meals and food offerings and an ecelectic selection of foods

agordon10 at 4:03PM on 07/15/08

Whole Foods and Trader Joes are my absolute favorites, as well as the Farmers Market every week when it's in season! Also, the Sendik's chain, in Milwaukee, WI is a great grocery store, and I try to shop there whenever I'm home.

amydistel at 4:04PM on 07/15/08

Mollie Stone's is probably my favorite, but I rarely go there because of the prices.

Tactful_Cactus at 4:04PM on 07/15/08

I like Earth Fare. It is a local (started/headquartered in North Carolina) natural food store chain. Lots of variety, a staff that knows their stocked items, and they can get you special orders if you need them. And they play great music while you shop! I can dance down the aisles if I choose. They are in NC, SC, GA, and I think TN.

TriciaA at 4:21PM on 07/15/08

Aldi's is my fav grocery store - they save me SO much money, but they don't always have everything I need, so my second fav is Wegman's - they always have everything !!

ktgonyea at 4:24PM on 07/15/08

H-Mart, a local Korean chain. I get most of my produce there - it's high-quality and priced at fall-off-the-truck prices, though I supplement what I get there with bulk goods and, for some staples, items bought at Trader Joes.

KarynMC at 4:26PM on 07/15/08

Holiday Market in Royal Oak, MI - nice selection of cheese, great meat department with fantastic housemade sausages and wine gods who will happily point you to the best wine to have with grilled cheese and tomato soup.

LauraII at 4:27PM on 07/15/08

I'd have to say our local VONS is my fav -- they have a variety of vegetarian and ethnic selections (our 'hood is populated with Orthodox Jews, Latinos, Africans and Asians), affordable locally grown produce, and friendly staff.

Lorena at 4:28PM on 07/15/08

Wegmans is the best! Wish I were there right now:)

jhoefl88 at 4:31PM on 07/15/08

Kowalski's They have an olive bar that makes me very happy

bobfole at 4:44PM on 07/15/08

Prisco's Fine Foods, in Aurora, IL - this is my local grocery store with a delightful emphasis on Italian foods

aburke at 5:04PM on 07/15/08

AJ's Fine Foods in AZ.

AlbinoRockstar at 5:12PM on 07/15/08

Kroger because it is easy to find things

vmkids at 5:23PM on 07/15/08

I like to go in Whole Foods and just salivate.

Bebemiqui at 5:26PM on 07/15/08

Farm Fresh. They have great sales, good produce, a good bakery and deli and a Starbucks.

ksh123 at 5:31PM on 07/15/08

I love to shop at Trader Joe's. It is so much fun to browse and see all sorts of new products. Plus they give out food samples everyday of something new to try. Everyone dresses in Hawaiian shirts too. It is just fun.

drala625 at 5:42PM on 07/15/08

Trader Joe's for sure...their selection is great.

europa1080 at 6:28PM on 07/15/08

Raleys and Trader Joes: the former because of the location, products and friendliness of the staff and the latter because of the even better products.

rosielucchesini at 6:55PM on 07/15/08

Giant Eagle has the best all-around grocery store in the Columbus, Ohio area. They're not the cheapest, although most prices are comparable, but they are the cleanest, well-stocked, and have the best staff. I definately prefer them over Meijer and Kroger.

amylou61 at 7:24PM on 07/15/08

Wegmans, they have everything there!

rffoodie at 7:51PM on 07/15/08

love save mart, they've got the best prices

chromiumman at 8:07PM on 07/15/08

around here its Meijer for me

zekks at 8:20PM on 07/15/08

We don't have many choices here - Kroger & Wal-Mart.

I like Kroger, because they give 10 cents off per gallon of gas for every $100 you spend in a month.

susitravl at 8:35PM on 07/15/08

Whole Foods, I could spend 3 hours in that store drooling

ReneeRobinson at 8:48PM on 07/15/08

Whole Foods/Wild Oats. Wish I could afford to shop there all the time.

ky2here at 8:59PM on 07/15/08

holiday market in royal oak michigan
the best!

Indigo608 at 9:21PM on 07/15/08

If we're talking cheap, I say walmart. For nice produce I have to choose Marketplace.

tmf315 at 9:30PM on 07/15/08

I love Huckleberries. Our store is quite small, but I know that the food is organic and to top it off they have a great deli.

Renee G at 10:10PM on 07/15/08

Fairway- good coffee at great prices

winkyj at 10:52PM on 07/15/08

The Jewel chain store by school - I was floored that they actually carried some actual Asian brands.

miamia at 12:57AM on 07/16/08

Walmart... well, you just can't beat good ol' wally world.

ghostamongyou at 1:21AM on 07/16/08

Holiday Market, here in Royal Oak, MI. Great market, been shopping there for 32 years myself

tcjanes at 1:22AM on 07/16/08

Jungle Jim's International Market in Cincinnati Ohio--You can go NUTS in this 6 acre grocery store!!!
www.junglejims.com/

Erinay77 at 1:30AM on 07/16/08

What a great concept for a cookbook! Our family lives in the Midwest and our two favorite grocery stores are Schnucks and Dierbergs. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy at 2:57AM on 07/16/08

my favorite is kroger because I have gotten bad food quite a few times at the other chains.

jchic45102 at 4:34AM on 07/16/08

Stop and Shop...clean, always well stocked, everything is fresh...everytime I go in, they are rotating or getting rid of old food, great employees and service...
Thanks for gret contest

mama43 at 5:22AM on 07/16/08

I'm in Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit and we are blessed with not only a thriving "Farmers Market" but a fantastic family owned supermarket called Holiday Market. This place has everything from the best selection of "prime" meats, with a butcher on hand for special cuts, to a huge gourmet cheese counter, a fantastic in house bakery, and they stock any obscure gourmet item you can think of. They have even recently opened a gourmet cooking school!

anyang at 7:49AM on 07/16/08

My favorite supermarket is my backyard: We are currently able to grow enough veggies in our urban garden to satisfy us. Unfortunately, the city won't let us keep pigs, so we have to go to the gas station on the corner to get bacon.

beano at 7:59AM on 07/16/08

My fav is United. lucky to have this here.

bb97036 at 8:22AM on 07/16/08

I loved the Smith's (part of the Kroger network) by our house when we were students at Brigham Young University--they offered a student Plus Card that gave us 5-10% off our grocery order in addition to all of the Plus Card deals! It was a great value.

daveandcat at 8:51AM on 07/16/08

My favorite supermarket is my own well stocked pantry and deep freezer. Obviously I've enjoyed numerous trips to Stop n Shop, Shaw's, Hannaford, Roche Brothers, Market Basket, etc. when they have sales, and these great buys are showcased nicely just minutes away from my kitchen.

Boscompb at 8:58AM on 07/16/08

ALDI, because basic ingredients are dirt cheap and easy to find there.

grahamred at 9:32AM on 07/16/08

We have a great many wonderful stores here in the Metroplex (Fort Worth Dallas) but for all around quality and ease and most likely to have the most things on my list, it has to be Tom Thumb. Central Market and Market Street fill in for oddities and Walmart for "stuff". Kroger is closest and houses my pharmacy so they get a lot of my grocery dollars as well. When cooking is your hobby, you buy a lot of food. Thank heaven for the wonderful options.

ocarol at 9:49AM on 07/16/08

I would have to say Trader Joes and Whole foods. They have great unique foods and the basics.

gervitsd at 10:15AM on 07/16/08

Dillon's Marketplace in Wichita KS. Dillon's is a Kroger store. Very nice cheese selection! Thank you for this giveaway>

dglitter at 10:18AM on 07/16/08

I love Bi-Rite Market in SF for managing to stuff pretty much everything you could think to ask for in a space that seems no bigger than a broom closet, but when I need to make a big run it's all about TJ's.

tortor at 10:26AM on 07/16/08

1. Bristol Farms, Pasadena CA
2. Russo's, Watertown MA
3. Whole foods, Las Vegas
All three have incredibul cooked food and superior cheeses!

4. Trader Joe's, Newton MA
5. Belmont Beverages, South Bend IN
Cheap booze..need I say more?

RMiller at 10:37AM on 07/16/08

This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web's Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!

sweepsmaster at 10:40AM on 07/16/08

Trader Joe's for almost everything.

elysek at 10:44AM on 07/16/08

My favorite is really Fairway in Redhook, Brooklyn. As soon as I walk in, I get a good feeling. They have a great selection of items I personally need; for instance, I don't know any other place that sells authentic parmasiano reggiano cheese with kosher certification. And I appreciate the wide array of other kosher items. I salivate just thinking of their semolina baggettes, warm from the oven! And what's really fun, is when I go with my grandchildren, we have a picnic on the outdoor tables overlooking the most beautiful scenery on the Brooklyn waterfront. As soon as we get outside, my youngest grandson exclaims "I see the Statue of Liberty!" All in all, it's a really fun place to shop.

SavtaShayna at 11:08AM on 07/16/08

My favorite grocery store is "ShopRite", because they have the lowest prices, the best sales, and the best deals combined with double coupons!

LIDARKSIDE at 11:14AM on 07/16/08

I live in a town of 5000 so I do not have a lot of choices, but I sure look forward to the weekly farmer's market. Thanks for the chance.

idahomom at 11:16AM on 07/16/08

has to be henry's- like a farmers market and healthfood store in one

misternat1 at 11:43AM on 07/16/08

New Season's-Great organic foods!

dove1960 at 12:12PM on 07/16/08

Eddie's Market -- local grocery store in Baltimore, right around the corner from JHU. Maybe not the greatest deals ever ever, but for convenience and sheer randomness of exotic foods, can't really beat it. =)

kfarrel3 at 12:14PM on 07/16/08

Although I would LOVE to shop at Whole Foods ( can't afford it ) , I'm very happy with Stop & Shop markets . They have a great selection on all items , lots of good sales , fresh foods and a nice clean atmosphere . I can usually get everything I want in one stop .

foodie51 at 12:22PM on 07/16/08

Kroger
THANK YOU GOD BLESS

bigtim60 at 12:34PM on 07/16/08

fairway on the upper west side -- because the first few times i walked in there, despite having lived in new york for years, i was too intimidated to negotiate the checkout lines. i still feel like i've passed some kind of test when i actually manage to get my groceries and pay for them without some altercation along the way.

also because the stuff there is so jumbled and so dense that i am still discovering things that i never knew they sold every time i go.

cybercita at 12:51PM on 07/16/08

My favorite store is Town and Country - it is our local supermarket and is small but has a bit of everything!

kaylee8 at 12:58PM on 07/16/08

When I lived in Rochester I wouldn't think of going anywhere but Wegman's.

iyamapotato at 1:05PM on 07/16/08

Growing up- Harry's Farmers Market in Atlanta. I now live in Virginia and I long for a grocery store half as great...

fetacrackwhore at 1:26PM on 07/16/08

KROGER. It's the closest and I walk.

LINDALSHOT at 1:47PM on 07/16/08

I live in a rural area where supermarkets are few, so I would have to say Safeway.

Sunnyvale at 1:55PM on 07/16/08

I tend to prefer Ralph's here in SoCal, mainly because there are enough locally that there's near always a store right next door. -- But I also love Sprouts!

bansidhe at 1:59PM on 07/16/08

I'll just say Whole Foods. For the most part I am not all that impressed with the local chains here in Florida. Publix is alright but seems expensive. I was impressed with Safeway when we were out in Oregon.

kevlney at 2:00PM on 07/16/08

I guess I would have to say Hannaford since we don't really have all that many choices. Shaws is just way too expensive and Walmart well yeah its Walmart.

skynkatesmom at 2:08PM on 07/16/08

Favorite supermarket is definitely Whole Foods. I could walk around Whole Foods for hours, seriously. We get all our Thanksgiving sides there because my family is super lazy :) And don't get me started on the "brewery" at the Houston St. NYC location. But, as a recent college grad I lack the funds to shop there more than about once a month, so the rest of the time I'm a Trader Joe's girl. An endless supply of tasty frozen dinners is pretty much all I need. I've never been to Fairway and REALLY need to get my ass over there.

sarahlucy at 2:13PM on 07/16/08

my favorite is Raley's because it is laid out perfectly

LBSGONE at 2:30PM on 07/16/08

I have quite a few favorites for different reasons. I love the freshness of the food and each supermarket has their own "uniqueness". I could easily spend some time in a supermarket wandering through the aisles. Also, I love it when they give out free samples- it's a great way to get introduce to a new product.

In no particular order, here goes: Whole Foods, Mitsuwa (Edgewater, NJ), Fairway (Redhook, Brooklyn), Super H Mart (Ridgefield, NJ), Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Stew Leonards (Yonkers, NY), Hong Kong Supermarket (Flushing, NY), and Costco, hey they have the authentic saffron for $26. There are also a lot of specialty markets I love like Di Paolo (NY, NY) and Sahadi's (Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn).

mchow at 2:41PM on 07/16/08

Wegman's, because of the international foods and the produce.

AliceBlue at 2:43PM on 07/16/08

I live in the Rocky Mountains, so I appreciate any grocery store that isn't Albertson's, Safeway, or Smith's. In Casper I like Alpenglow and in Laramie I like the Whole Earth Grainery.

lo82070 at 2:45PM on 07/16/08

I shop at Albertsons. I love it because they take competitors coupons and I can get the best deal there.

mogrill at 3:17PM on 07/16/08

Any Asian or Indian market. They feel so exotic and I always come home with fun things.

aharste at 3:25PM on 07/16/08

Central Market here in Dallas... the butcher knows our name, and on Monday nights we can usually get a free cookie or scone from the bakery!

jimbojones at 3:49PM on 07/16/08

Metropolitan Market in Tacoma.

GregWA at 4:13PM on 07/16/08

Locally it has to be a regional chain, Meijer. Produce and meats are always fresh and the prices are lower than Kroger.

Trader Joe's was my first thought but I don't get there very often, as the closest store is 70 minutes away.

cher48603 at 4:33PM on 07/16/08

biggs in Cincinnati, OH

jknepfle at 4:36PM on 07/16/08

Trader Joe's for basics. Their prepackaged vegetables are a turnoff, though.

ricedream24 at 4:43PM on 07/16/08

Wegmans...reminds me of college

nschmun1 at 4:45PM on 07/16/08

i moved from pittsburgh to tampa and miss the giant eagle, which will always be my favorite grocery store

maweisberg at 4:51PM on 07/16/08

My favorite grocery store in my tiny town of Milledgeville, Ga, is called Johnny McDade's (or MACK Dade's, as they say on the radio ad). Fresh local produce in baskets line the aisles and are by the checkout. The drink cooler has bottled Coca-colas and Dr. Peppers, and the butcher shop (one of the only ones in town) has fresh sliced rind bacon, house ground sausage in three flavors (mild, medium, and hotter than hell) and fresh chicken cut to order. The best days for chicken is Tuesday and Friday when the chicken truck comes in. Oh year, local ground cornmeal and grits on the shelves, and don't forget the lottery ticket! I shop there over Kroger any day of the week!

GingerCM at 5:26PM on 07/16/08

there is a little family owned grocery store called Ideal Foods that have been around since the 20's. love the old squeeky carts and the little old guy in the produce section that bags your green beans for you.. it has the old style meat counter with the best meat.. I swear there is a cow in the back the meat is so fresh. they also have an eclectic mix of the basics and stuff you cant find else where. They are my fav. absolutly

Colengal at 5:57PM on 07/16/08

We have a local fruit market where I live and they have the best fresh produce! A couple of years ago they added a meat counter, so now I can get even more of my shopping done there!

Teresa690 at 6:01PM on 07/16/08

Wegman's

gb944 at 6:51PM on 07/16/08

Wegman's, the variety and fresh foods are phenomenal.

gb944 at 6:51PM on 07/16/08

If I'm talking today, and being boring, I will say Costco, because it has a bit of everything and finding a farmers' market (which I prefer) has become too hard when I work every day. But as my favorite "supermarket" of all time, I'd have to climb in a time machine and travel to Zabar's in the late 60's and early 70's. The place was small, cramped, and smelled of a mixture of freshly ground coffee and David's chocolate chunk cookies. (Now there's a tragedy--the current online versions being pathetically pale imitations of the original.) Regular supermarkets were awful, but a once-a-week trip to Zabar's made life worth living.

Teachertalk at 7:20PM on 07/16/08

I've only been to Fairway once, as it's not anywhere near where I live, but I LOVED it! I think it would have been better had I not gone at all, because now when I go to my supermarket, I feel disappointed at what they don't have. Oh well...

delilahhhhh at 7:32PM on 07/16/08

I drive an obscene distance to the food coop because the food is fresh, local and most of the time not more expensive. Safeway, more often than not, has food on the shelves that are well past their pull date, and their produce section is also past it's pull date! Yuck! Winco, on the other hand, is better and cheaper, but everything (even the milk) is from very far away. Nothing local there. So the Moscow Food Coop gets my money!

sel123 at 8:57PM on 07/16/08

I am a mom on a food budget and I love our Caputo's. Great prices on produce and deli items. Fun bakery for the kids. Pleasant employees. One problem, you have to shop before 10:00 am or it is just too busy! Sign of a successful business, I guess!

cbdileo at 8:30AM on 07/17/08

my little mini-mart around the corner in manhattan, its got everything and get to support the little guys and not the big corporations.

yyeres at 9:18AM on 07/17/08

wish we had a trader joe's around here-the best around here is Woodman's which has a great selection

dpripps at 10:23AM on 07/17/08

i really liked my local wild oats.. until whole foods bought them out and closed my location!! instead of being bitter, i've just converted to whole foods... lots of similar good stuff without the neighborhood feel of my old wild oats.. :(

chon76 at 10:49AM on 07/17/08

I almost always stop by Wegman's when I visit my parents, but in my area the best place is called Zeytinia—it's a small Italian market with lots of international fair and the best salad bar.

Stufsocker at 10:55AM on 07/17/08

C-Town - it does an excellent job of catering to a diverse ethnic community. Meats include chicken feet, pork bellies, and various internal organs from cows, pigs, chicken and sheep. Vegetables include a wide variety of greens, peppers, and fresh herbs. Also cactus and a few other things I haven't learned what to do with. Canned goods include things like three kinds of tahini, and the largest cans of hominy I've ever seen.

sjwoodin at 10:59AM on 07/17/08

Meijer because they have everything and great sales. Plus its close.

kewpiedoll04 at 11:41AM on 07/17/08

Meijer one stop shopping and great everyday low prices.

bockad at 12:16PM on 07/17/08

Lowe's Foods is my favorite grocery store in my town (there are only 3). Lowe's has better looking produce and doubles coupons everyday.

tercannon at 1:21PM on 07/17/08

Wegmans - the best produce department around!

mepolo at 1:23PM on 07/17/08

My first encounter with a Wegmans was when I went to school in upstate New York. It was pretty interesting just to roam the aisles, but tough to shop as a no-income college kid.
Still, I stick to Chinese markets in Chinatown NYC.

namepl at 1:32PM on 07/17/08

whole foods

nichole at 1:34PM on 07/17/08

i shop at a warehouse-sized fish supermarket near my home that supplies restaurants. it's almost always empty and smells like a wharf, but all the seafood is amazingly fresh

cdcdcd at 2:04PM on 07/17/08

i live in central florida......an hours drive from any big towns.....Sweetbay is my #1 choice....the best meats in town....publix has the best bakery....and winn dixie is just nasty....

onepercent99 at 2:21PM on 07/17/08

In Ohio, I know really fresh seafood is not an option but my favorite for meats has got to be Carfagna's in Columbus. They focus on Ohio producers. After that, it would be the North Market near downtown Columbus for...most everything else. Yes, there's a fish shop, cheese, wine, italian, an amazing chocolatier...

For the veggies...in the growing season, I depend upon our local farmers markets and a few roadside farm markets, and of course...the kindness of strangers, families and friends.

thewrighttaste at 3:16PM on 07/17/08

Vince and Joe's in Shelby Twp, MI - Their produce is always fresh and their prepared food counter is divine. The food always looks so good and tastes even better.

msvandy at 4:03PM on 07/17/08

I have yet to find a quality grocer. We have a locally run one here, reasonable prices but I miss the open air markets

MonCherie at 4:17PM on 07/17/08

I like AJ's beacuse it is pretty upscale and has the best meats and produce you can find in PHX.

sln123 at 4:30PM on 07/17/08

I've seen better ones in other places, but our best local option is Woodman's - the prices are good, the produce is generally nice and the selection is pretty decent. I like Valli Produce a lot, but it's not always the most practical choice.

worldcupfever at 5:32PM on 07/17/08

In Boston, Russo's has the best produce selection around. When I lived in Brooklyn my favorite was Sahadi's. I still miss it for its wonderful spice and olive collection and a guaranteed great browsing experience.

apisoni at 5:42PM on 07/17/08

The Berkeley Bowl is really unique and I am lucky to live only 1.5 miles from it and my schedule allows me to go early and avoid the crowds. I've never seen another produce section like it, though Wegman's in the Rochester area is pretty amazing, too, both because of its sheer size and the number of samples given out.

alixwall at 6:18PM on 07/17/08

My favorite store is Rouse's. This is a Louisiana owned and run family grocery that carries the freshest and best local food to be found anywhere in Louisiana. On Fridays you can go and pick up hot cooked seafood with all of the fixins'. Yummy.

SeahorseLady at 11:17PM on 07/17/08

Here in Pittsburgh, I'm lucky to live near Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Giant Eagle, all within walking distance of each other and a five minute drive for me. When I grocery-shop, I start at Trader Joe's for the cheaper stuff (like Niman's Ranch bacon and Fage yogurt), then to whole Foods for the good stuff (fresh-ground beef, great produce), then to Giant Eagle for the nasty stuff (like my husband's supply of Diet Coke).

If I could only choose one, it would be Whole Foods, and hubby would have to make do with organic cola.

lkasenter at 12:30AM on 07/18/08

In NE Ohio - Heinen's - family owned - smallish, but high quality selection.

maialisa at 11:07AM on 07/18/08

The Real Food Company in SF (Filbert & Filmore). Their prepared foods section woos me every time, and they carry an extensive selection of my favorite hummus (Haig's Spicy Hummus!)

shandon at 11:35AM on 07/18/08

Whole Foods.

marieinla at 1:50PM on 07/18/08

99 Ranch

salty at 1:58PM on 07/18/08

I'd have to say the Fairway in Red Hook. Even with the maddening crowds at Ikea, it's easy to get to, not crowded (even when the parking lot is full), and has a great selection. And the deli counter and cheese counter crews are always willing to give my toddler daughter a taste of whatever she wants. Unfortunately, I haven't recently found a counter where they will give you a taste of whatever you're ordering without asking (now, I really feel old). And, I haven't tried their lox, yet.

Last time I got lox, it was at Balducci's. The packaged stuff at Whole Foods isn't worth the plastic it's wrapped in.

alden at 2:57PM on 07/18/08

Fortunately, I live in the South and have access to fabulous roadside produce. Unfortunately, the best grocery for miles is Publix.

AsthmaMom at 3:32PM on 07/18/08

Fairway uptown

rockandroll at 4:00PM on 07/18/08

Fairway uptown

rockandroll at 4:01PM on 07/18/08

Cub for savings and reasonable variety, although I get as much as I can from our local coop and farmer's markets.

hungrylikethewolf at 4:22PM on 07/18/08

Fairway Plainview

deefine at 4:45PM on 07/18/08

In Boston (Allston) area: Russo's for all our produce and Whole Foods for pretty much everything else (well, except Diet Coke).

foodisme at 5:08PM on 07/18/08

When I lived in the Twin Cities (late 70's), it was Byerly's...not even sure if they are still up there. The aisles were carpeted and the carryout was a drive-through where baggers loaded your groceries into the car. Great idea for snow country!

Kimc54 at 5:53PM on 07/18/08

Fairway Uptown; because it's Fairway, and because it's uptown, and because the cheese guys are nice to me.

thdx3 at 7:21PM on 07/18/08

KingSoopers is high end here!

Lindsey

GlacierNan at 7:39PM on 07/18/08

I like Martins because it's big enough to have great sales and prices but not so big that it's a veritable warehouse and attracts huge crowds of people. It's comfortable in size and price and location.

blueviolet at 8:05PM on 07/18/08

Goos 'ole Kroger

kaaas at 8:25PM on 07/18/08

food coop

tracker at 9:01PM on 07/18/08

I love my local independent grocery store, Hyde Park Produce (I live in the Hyde Park neighborhood of South Chicago) so much that if they weren't right next to my apartment, I would probably move.

meeralee at 9:39PM on 07/18/08

Between the Union Square Farmer's Market and Trader Joe's I can get much accomplished. Staples I get from Fresh Direct. All in all good stuff.

SaraAlv at 6:56AM on 07/19/08

My favorite market is Roche Brothers because this is a small local owened chain that always has the freshest produce and meats.

sweetkute at 8:40AM on 07/19/08

Oh my gosh !! We have a grocery store here in Ohio that is soooooo
awesome. It's called Jungle Jim's and it's located in Fairfield,Ohio.
It's an international grocery store and it's soooooo huge. The produce area has loads & loads of items from all over the world. Browsing Jungle Jim's is an all day event and the best part,on weekends they have loads of food tastings....love al the free samples !!!
Here is their website :
http://www.junglejims.com/
I hope you enjoy the website !
Pamela

pamelakrest at 8:42AM on 07/19/08

whole Foods only there is not one near by me!

cdrury at 12:39PM on 07/19/08

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods... when I went to the Outer Banks and couldn't find one near our hotel, I freaked out. I was searching around their neighborhood store, like, where's the cave-aged gruyere?

caviarandcodfish at 12:41PM on 07/19/08

meijer. i seem to be able to get in and out of there fast

deckit at 2:44PM on 07/19/08

WholeFoods. Excellent quality and selection.

Catrona_sweeps at 3:48PM on 07/19/08

Sorry to say, the area I live in does not have a lot of options. There is an Asian market about 50 minutes away that I go to when I need something special. Otherwise, it is a trip to my local Publix.

SharonSabina at 3:49PM on 07/19/08

I loving a store that just opened in my area...Sunflower Market.
As they say Silly prices and double ad Wednesday.

slcrose at 4:19PM on 07/19/08

Whole foods, only there isn't one in the area but have been to a few out west

diamath at 5:22PM on 07/19/08

My favorite grocery store is Winn Dixie. They are the only store that I know of the has buy one/get one free deals on meat. Everything from chicken to steak to porkchops.

My other favorite store is Sav-A-Lot. I did a price comparison of them and the super Walmart. Sav-A-Lot is anywhere from 5-10 cents cheaper on items. They also take coupons on any name brand items.

VLTampa at 5:27PM on 07/19/08

My favorite grocery store is Publix. The store is always fully stocked, clean and the staff is friendly.

TraceFL1@embarqmail.com

TraceFL1 at 9:07PM on 07/19/08

Aldis it is the cheapest place for food in our area wish we had more options

hansenpj5 at 11:27PM on 07/19/08

Fair Share and Fairplay are a couple of my fave supermarkets because they have good sales and everyday low prices.

purplepassion126 at 11:35PM on 07/19/08

I have to say I love Publix and the commissary. I get awesome deals at Publix and the meat is always fantastic at the commissary.

debswild at 12:01AM on 07/20/08

Whole Foods because it is full of organic and bulk foods and health care.

pwhite98270 at 1:11AM on 07/20/08

I like Sentry Foods because of the double coupons.

yellowlabs at 8:13AM on 07/20/08

H mart for Asian ingredients , fresh fish and Kulustyan's for exotic ethnic ingredients

cinnamongirl at 11:09AM on 07/20/08

My favorite is Great Harvest.

arvard at 11:12AM on 07/20/08

My favorite grocery store would be Trader Joes, great prices, atmosphere, service & free samples. :)

mich0825 at 11:49AM on 07/20/08

I love Kroger simply because they have a great selection of organic foods.

mleinart at 1:23PM on 07/20/08

I like Publix even though it is too expensive for me to do my everyday shopping there. When I am in the mood to treat myself, I get me something from Publix Deli. It is the best! Plus they have the best cakes in their bakery.

simplyjld at 2:24PM on 07/20/08

I like trader joes, safeway and sprouts beacuse I like all the deals they all have

sln123 at 2:36PM on 07/20/08

my favorite is the People's Food Co-op in Ann Arbor. best selection of locally grown and organically grown fruits, vegetables and meats.

dwolber at 3:33PM on 07/20/08

Trader Joes; unique comestibles and I have a fondness for their peanut butter filled pretzel bites.

saturdaynightfever at 3:45PM on 07/20/08

I love Wegmans because it has more variety than other stores in this area and the prices are comparable. Its also the closest to me!

mariana at 5:50PM on 07/20/08

Fairway is the best because of its wonderful selection!

fshapiro at 8:45PM on 07/20/08

It used to be Sunflower Market (but it closed down) now it's Giant Eagle...plus my son works in the dairy department there!!

Teena29 at 8:51PM on 07/20/08

I like Trader Joes because they have unique products and they are pretty cheap.

sx2143 at 9:35PM on 07/20/08

I like Albertson's, because their bakery rocks!

Nesie at 9:44PM on 07/20/08

We have a local place called La Chiquita, or The Little. They have a great selection of meats and fruit.

nostrilb at 9:57PM on 07/20/08

My favorite is Food Lion because the location is handy and they have good specials.

FIBERONE at 10:42PM on 07/20/08

Trader Joe's is the best of a bad lot in my neck of the woods. Much better produce than any of it's competitors.

AICORP at 11:09PM on 07/20/08

I like my local Schnucks, great produce section and pretty nice staff....can find tons of things there, as well as all the international foods that I love.

january1981 at 11:20PM on 07/20/08

It's a fun place to shop! So much great, wholesome stuff you can't get anywhere else!

steevee at 12:17AM on 07/21/08

I love our local farmer's market. I wish I could shop there all year long!

laralin2266 at 12:25AM on 07/21/08

We used to shop at Ralphs, but now do most of our weekly shopping at Costco, and do follow-up trips to Stater Bros.

yousedwhat at 12:56AM on 07/21/08

Walmart is my choice - great value

JOYVEN at 1:12AM on 07/21/08

I can't afford to shop at Whole Foods, Central Market, or our Farmer's Market. I don't even like to go in - it is just too depressing. I have 3 major chain grocery stores, a Sam's Club, a Super WalMart and 2 Super Target stores within 5 miles of me. I go where I can get the best bargains. Actually, I do a majority of my shopping at an independent store not far from my house. Their produce is usually better and cheaper than the other stoes, bread is always cheaper, and their meat is very good (but I only buy it on sale - better prices than the other stores). Thanks for the chance to win.

bndraldy at 1:29AM on 07/21/08

I love my local Albertsons because everyone knows our family and they have ingredients for some of the ethnic dishes that I like to make that other supermarkets do not carry.

Bakersdozen at 1:50AM on 07/21/08

i like shopping at the 99 cent store, they have the weirdest food there.

samanthapayntr at 2:22AM on 07/21/08

Kroger because they are the largest market offering the greatest variety of goods and they have weekly specials. garrettsambo@aol.com

garrettsambo at 8:38AM on 07/21/08

I love shopping at Whole Foods Market because the products are high quality, and the employees are friendly and helpful.

lilyk at 9:10AM on 07/21/08

Kroger - because the more I spend there - the less they charge me for gas! Plus they track the items that I buy the most often and then send me coupons for them to use later!

Tarah716 at 10:09AM on 07/21/08

My favorite would be Wegmans - they have everything you could ever imagine...granted I don't go there regularly as I have a Giant Foods close by and quicker to get everything...Giant is good too!

rdazer at 10:42AM on 07/21/08

i love price chopper they double coupons and i save so much on my food bill :)

klp1965 at 11:13AM on 07/21/08

Super Target, lots of sales and coupons :)

gkran at 11:15AM on 07/21/08

food lion :) great prices and great people

xoeskie at 11:21AM on 07/21/08

Since we don't have a lot of variety here, I would have to say Fresh Market for variety and displays but it is almost 20 miles away. For meat I would have to say Star Market and for the rest it is a toss up between Kroger and Publix.

nicnac at 11:28AM on 07/21/08

I like jewel osco

lisacna at 12:04PM on 07/21/08

I love Lunds/Byerlys, a local store. Great products that you can't find elsewhere. Plus, the stores are always very clean.

tanners12 at 1:11PM on 07/21/08

Here in Texas, I love HEB. They have a great wine, health food, bakery, deli and sushi section. I can get almost anything there and the people are awesome!

bucbratt at 1:24PM on 07/21/08

We recently moved to West Virginia, which has stunning natural beauty and the nicest people on the planet...but the grocery stores here are terrible. Locally, my only choice is an IGA. My favorite all-time grocery store was Wegman's, which I used to be able to visit when we lived in Virginia.

AsTheNight at 1:30PM on 07/21/08

Vons is my favorite store. They usually have the things I need on sale and they still double coupons. The fruits and vegetables are high quality which you can't get in the discount stores. The meat is fresh and there is a nice assortment.

kathleenyohanna at 2:12PM on 07/21/08

I usually shop at the new Super Walmart purely because they just opened a store a mile from where I work. My favorite supermarket is Trader Joe's, but I don't go but a few times a year since 45 minutes is too long to drive to get up there. I have a feeling that I would like Whole Foods a lot too if I ever go to one, but the nearest one of those is at least an hour away.

elangomatt at 3:04PM on 07/21/08

Central Market in Houston - great prepared food and basics at good prices

ShelleyJ at 3:53PM on 07/21/08

I love Henry's market in San Diego. It's close to my house, they have great deals on local fruits and veggies, and they have $3 bottles of wine. Awesome.

inkedgal at 6:02PM on 07/21/08

i shop at albertsons because they have a lot of good sales

BBBNEYS27 at 6:11PM on 07/21/08

Ralphs, mainly cuz it's really close to us

anniehall4000 at 6:15PM on 07/21/08

And we've got our winners! Congrats to hmneilson, caviarandcodfish, apisoni, namepl, and swaaaan. Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Adam Kuban at 6:31PM on 07/21/08