Re: Groceries
 

Ontario peaches right now are amazing, I'm absolutely plowing through them, easily one a day, hehe. My one year old has also taken to eating half a peach by jamming it into her face, haha. They're soft enough that her tiny teeth can deal with it. It's pretty funny. Mmmm peaches. Now off to eat one!

Re: Groceries
 

The BC peaches I have bought this year so far, a few different locations and about 10 pounds in total, have been pretty sour.

Soft and juicy, just sour.

Oh well, could be my taste buds have changed.

Re: Groceries
 

Anyone tried the Lays Cheese and Onion ? They're 1.99 at most places right now and identical to Walkers/Smith's...not surprising I suppose considering they're owned by the same company :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

Any suggestions on where t get squash- not roses lime/ ribena but ideally that Robinsons 50% juice or generic equivalent.

On this summers trip to UK that was the one big discovery for the little wheels. Always nice that there's something to find- last year it was scampi.

(I'm hoping one of the ninja shoppers here will point out a walmart etc so I don't end up at the expat shoppe)

Re: Groceries
 

It's been a while since a squash thread. :lol:

I remember one or two people found it but consensus seemed to be that McCain Frozen Cool Quenchers were the best alternative.

https://az836796.vo.msecnd.net/media...7190078000.jpg

Re: Groceries
 

2009 by the look of it.

If I had a brain I'd have packed a couple of bottles of the tescos stuff.

Re: Groceries
 

My BIL and SIL bought the concentrated juice drink stuff from Metro when they were here last year. NOt quite the same as squash but it was close and good for the kids since she could super super dilute it, lol.

Re: Groceries
 

My stepdaughter called in at Costco a couple of days ago, with someone from work.

They had an offer on Balderson's 2 year cheddar.

It's not a great one but slightly better than a typical Cracker Barrel/PC slab of extra old. But it was a 750g block - other than the ones they cut from I've never seen a block like that since I've been in Canada.

She said it was $11. That's a great price for a decent cheese. The 280g size in Sobeys is $9 or $10.

Re: Groceries
 

I don't mind the Baldersons 2 year cheddar at all - had it for breakfast this morning! It's pretty decent cheddar and a huge block for a great price.

Very, very occasionally the 5-year they carry will go on sale, but even at regular price it's still a good price and it's a super-delicious cheese.

The Costco here (Ontario) also carries a Welsh cheddar called Colliers, it's a black wrapper and has a picture of a miner on it. That is also an awesome cheddar - old, sharp, crumbly. Super delicious.

Very occasionally, like maybe once a year, they'll carry Snowdonia Black Bomber cheddar. That is phenomenal cheddar. Looks like a hockey puck, comes encased in wax, but it is AMAZING. I first found that company at a food festival in London, they do a load of different flavours of cheddar and it's so delicious. Costco only carries the Black Bomber, but occasionally the grocery stores will carry some of the others (for a ridiculous price). Online Shop | Snowdonia Cheese Company

Now I want cheese.

Re: Groceries
 

That would only require half a brain.

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Still beyond my means :(

Re: Groceries
 

Giant Tiger has 2 little sirloins (440g pack) for $6, and theyre pretty good, I bought a bunch to freeze, and been eating steak like I haven't for years!

Re: Groceries
 

One of the stores I miss from my time in Ontario, used to go there a lot.



I went to Safeway today to look at their clearance stuff (they always have a lot of dairy on clearance 50% off.) and they have reduced their prices quite a lot.According to the sign its not a sale and everyday lower pricing.

Some of the pricing is now on par and lower vs Wal-Mart.

Re: Groceries
 

Didn't Sobeys buy safe way in BC and the praries?

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We did last night, thought they were lovely!!

Re: Groceries
 

They did a couple years of ago, they however operate under the Safeway brand


The purchase of Safeway however has not gone smoothly, the changes they have made have not been met with excitement and customers have generally not been happy, and they have also been having a logistics issue.

This article explains some of the issues.

How Sobeys screwed up Safeway in a messy takeover that left empty shelves, massive losses, and drove customers away | Financial Post

Re: Groceries
 

Inspired by the UK. :lol:

My mother in law bought a bag on Saturday and didn't like them. So I've been nibbling some.

They're okay - and I don't want to sound like one of those who say Cadburys/Heinz/whatever here is not the same - but they're not as I remember them. But then I was never a great fan so maybe I'm just not expert enough.

Nice in a sandwich though :thumbup:

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Darn. I'm quite fond of my Freshco!

What I need is another one of those mental 8kg ham for $14 deals.

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Ruined my source for decent sausage rolls. :frown:

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Their smokey bacon and their roast chicken aren't too bad either.

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Crisp butty with white bread and lots of butter! Yum!

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They look at me like I'm mad when I do that here. Of course I have to tell them it's a potato chip sandwich. :nod:

Do you press the bread down to hear that nice crunchy sound before eating?

A whole lotta lamb
 

Something I noticed for the first time in my local Costco - An entire frozen lamb carcass. For $139 if memory serves. Now lamb is horribly expensive here so we rarely eat it & that price for a whole animal is attractive. The mechanics of butchering it while frozen rather escape me though. Turning to t'internet I found some discussion on how old the frozen lamb was (i.e. its butchering date) before you would buy it which is rather off putting. Anyone bought one though?

Re: A whole lotta lamb
 

I believe dbd buys whole or almost whole but not frozen.

Boneless leg comes around at a not bad price in Superstore occasionally. Big enough for four for $14 or so.

Re: Groceries
 

While searching through the "other" category in kijijistjohns.com, thinking I might be able to help if I could find a supplier of farmgate lamb, I came across this account of Newfoundland pest control. It isn't being posted as an advertisement, for entertainment purposes only.
The story of how I caught this d*mn rat | other | St. John's | Kijiji

Re: Groceries
 

YES. I saw that in my Costco this week as well - took a picture as I was completely shocked by it! Check it out.

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Looks like it could be spit roasted, Robin Hood and his Merry Men style.

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lo...01/B001333.jpg

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Hahahahaha Absolutely!

Re: Groceries
 

http://britishexpats.com/forum/data:...aWjbCz1amMyv/Z
Without a bandsaw butchering a frozen lamb would take a bit of work. I've been at a bbq where a whole lamb was roasted, took an insane amount of briquettes.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/data:...aWjbCz1amMyv/Z

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Did you email him back as requested?

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Yum. :nod:

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Oh yes!

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A cheese and crisp butty!

I taught a Canadian friend's child about crisp butties. I often get blamed for being a bad influence.

Re: Groceries
 

Technically not a grocery item but nicely illustrative of easy savings.

Low dose ASA. Typical, non offer price is $14 for 120. Offer price can be as low as $8, like 2 weeks ago at Sobeys. 3 packs for $24 is virtually a year's worth.

This week, the 'offer' (also at Sobeys) is $18 for 180. Or $36 for a year.

That's quite a difference and it applies to any number of grocery/household items that last quite a while; ketchup, mayo, detergent, dishwasher tabs, Olive Oil... Coffee's a great example. Could be $15 a tin and another time $8 or $10.

I'm not really sure how long a tin lasts me, 2 or 3 weeks maybe? I generally have three tins when they're $8 so about $144 a year instead of up to $270 if you miss the deals.

No calling at multiple stores to get the best deal, just a simple awareness of sometimes a huge price difference one week to the next and keeping an eye out when you know you're getting near the end and restocking at the best price. :thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

Also a great example of how it's more expensive to be poor. Things like that, which I use in large volumes over time, wait til they're on offer, then stock up, you need never pay full price. People who can't afford to buy multiples when they're on sale wind up paying the larger price every time, and not having the flexibility.

Some years back I was on a team working on a reduced bus fare scheme. The q was raised what was wrong with the existing bus operator's scheme - and was pointed out that although that allowed for much cheaper fares, it relied on a family being able to pony up £35 upfront in one go, which often the people most in need of the reduced fares simply couldn't, so they didn't benefit from.

Re: Groceries
 

I recall reading that the poorest people in the world pay the most for water.

But, to cheer everyone up for the weekend, Sobeys is now doing compliments (own brand) diet tonic in Cans.

Just in time for fall :/

Re: Groceries
 

Thanks to the general shiteness of Toronto Hydro our local Sobeys is largely empty. 6 blackouts in just under a month. #JeSuisCityPlace #CityPlaceInTheDark

http://i.imgur.com/cQ1bN4H.jpg

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But is it any good?

It's been a while since I had a G&T (I prefer whisky & 7up/sprite) but Compliments (ordinary) tonic water I found undrinkable.

Re: Groceries
 

Good point, I always buy Schwepp's because there's no point on spending big $ on good booze and making a substandard drink so you can save a few bux on mix. Tonic doesn't taste sweet to me so not surprised diet tonic is rare, but I'm not knocking the principle since I use Diet Coke in my rum and coke.

Re: Groceries
 

Of course, it's possible that Compliments diet tonic might taste better than their ordinary stuff given I find it very hard to drink regular coke/pepsi having got so used to the diet versions.

Odd thing...I don't mind which of Sprite or 7up I use with my whisky - although in honour of Col. Henry Blake it should be 7up ;) - but when it comes to the diet version it has to be 7up. Something not quite right about Diet Sprite when mixed.