Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 64
Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
Hi all,
As we get closer to our one way flight tickets, we're starting to strangely miss home already and find ourselves worrying about food, groceries etc. From our holidays in America - we've always struggled a bit with quality food in supermarkets ... Especially in terms of sausages, tea etc ...
So can anyone recommend what in their opinion are the best stores that might make take some of the homesickness away ...
Thanks 😊
As we get closer to our one way flight tickets, we're starting to strangely miss home already and find ourselves worrying about food, groceries etc. From our holidays in America - we've always struggled a bit with quality food in supermarkets ... Especially in terms of sausages, tea etc ...
So can anyone recommend what in their opinion are the best stores that might make take some of the homesickness away ...
Thanks 😊
#2
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
Trader Joes, which is owned by Aldi I believe. Apparently there are a couple of branches in and around Thousand Oaks. I'm not impressed by their tea, but their coffee beans are good and reasonably priced. Good, cheap (and not so cheap) wine. All kinds of yummy foodstuffs including frozen delights (pizzas, Indian, etc.)
#3
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
If you get hung up on perpetually trying to find British groceries you are going to end up spending a fortune on imported foods, and IMO are likely to only end up reinforcing the homesickness.
If you are here for the long term, IMO you should "go native", as you would if you moved to France or Italy, and treat grocery shopping as part of the adventure. Confine your purchase of marmite and chocolate digestives to occasional treats. FWIW our local Kroger-owned chain now sells PG tips .... though I had managed for 13+ years without until we discovered them relatively recently.
I have ever understood the complaint about American sausages. American ones are stuffed with meat, unlike ordinary British sausages that are mostly filled with fat and breadcrumbs.
If you are here for the long term, IMO you should "go native", as you would if you moved to France or Italy, and treat grocery shopping as part of the adventure. Confine your purchase of marmite and chocolate digestives to occasional treats. FWIW our local Kroger-owned chain now sells PG tips .... though I had managed for 13+ years without until we discovered them relatively recently.
I have ever understood the complaint about American sausages. American ones are stuffed with meat, unlike ordinary British sausages that are mostly filled with fat and breadcrumbs.
Last edited by Pulaski; Sep 18th 2016 at 12:42 pm.
#4
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
I agree. You are no longer living in the UK, and whilst it's nice to get some familiar items, it's best for your wallet AND your sanity to acclimatize.
Trader Joe's is great for some items as mentioned. You can get crumpets and many other great items. I'm not a tea drinker, so I can't comment on that.
Publix, if you have them out there, has an international foods aisle and, depending on how many Brits there are around, has a selection of sweets (Mars bars, Crunchie, Lion bars, etc.), biscuits, sauces (Patak's curry sauces and the like as well as HP), Bird's custard, Ambrosia rice pudding, and more.
America is the land of relatively cheap 'fake' food. You can buy 'whipped topping' for next to nothing, but whipping cream (known as heavy cream) is crazy expensive in comparison. You find a great selection of 'real' food at Whole Foods market and Fresh Market, but expect a large bill at checkout! They don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing!!
Trader Joe's is great for some items as mentioned. You can get crumpets and many other great items. I'm not a tea drinker, so I can't comment on that.
Publix, if you have them out there, has an international foods aisle and, depending on how many Brits there are around, has a selection of sweets (Mars bars, Crunchie, Lion bars, etc.), biscuits, sauces (Patak's curry sauces and the like as well as HP), Bird's custard, Ambrosia rice pudding, and more.
America is the land of relatively cheap 'fake' food. You can buy 'whipped topping' for next to nothing, but whipping cream (known as heavy cream) is crazy expensive in comparison. You find a great selection of 'real' food at Whole Foods market and Fresh Market, but expect a large bill at checkout! They don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing!!
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,620
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
With regards tea I have only ever used Sainsbury's Kenya blend and admit to buying that via The Brit store on line. (it's my only indulgence with food).
Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joes etc will be able to supply most of your needs and wants.
#6
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
CostPlus World Market. Some nice packaged goods
Bristol Farm's. Very good for packaged goods, meat, fish, poultry et al.
I buy my Tetley's in bulk when I go home.
Bristol Farm's. Very good for packaged goods, meat, fish, poultry et al.
I buy my Tetley's in bulk when I go home.
#7
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
I too buy tea in England and bring it back. Better, cheaper and fresher than buying it in the U.S.
#9
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
#13
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 64
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
Lived in US for 16 years and have yet to find English type sausages .... so you might have to try something new.
With regards tea I have only ever used Sainsbury's Kenya blend and admit to buying that via The Brit store on line. (it's my only indulgence with food).
Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joes etc will be able to supply most of your needs and wants.
With regards tea I have only ever used Sainsbury's Kenya blend and admit to buying that via The Brit store on line. (it's my only indulgence with food).
Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joes etc will be able to supply most of your needs and wants.
#14
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 64
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
I agree. You are no longer living in the UK, and whilst it's nice to get some familiar items, it's best for your wallet AND your sanity to acclimatize.
Trader Joe's is great for some items as mentioned. You can get crumpets and many other great items. I'm not a tea drinker, so I can't comment on that.
Publix, if you have them out there, has an international foods aisle and, depending on how many Brits there are around, has a selection of sweets (Mars bars, Crunchie, Lion bars, etc.), biscuits, sauces (Patak's curry sauces and the like as well as HP), Bird's custard, Ambrosia rice pudding, and more.
America is the land of relatively cheap 'fake' food. You can buy 'whipped topping' for next to nothing, but whipping cream (known as heavy cream) is crazy expensive in comparison. You find a great selection of 'real' food at Whole Foods market and Fresh Market, but expect a large bill at checkout! They don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing!!
Trader Joe's is great for some items as mentioned. You can get crumpets and many other great items. I'm not a tea drinker, so I can't comment on that.
Publix, if you have them out there, has an international foods aisle and, depending on how many Brits there are around, has a selection of sweets (Mars bars, Crunchie, Lion bars, etc.), biscuits, sauces (Patak's curry sauces and the like as well as HP), Bird's custard, Ambrosia rice pudding, and more.
America is the land of relatively cheap 'fake' food. You can buy 'whipped topping' for next to nothing, but whipping cream (known as heavy cream) is crazy expensive in comparison. You find a great selection of 'real' food at Whole Foods market and Fresh Market, but expect a large bill at checkout! They don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing!!
Thank you for your response
Last edited by julymermaid; Sep 18th 2016 at 8:48 pm.
#15
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Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Watford
Posts: 1,147
Re: Best supermarkets like home in and around Thousand Oaks, CA
Hi all,
As we get closer to our one way flight tickets, we're starting to strangely miss home already and find ourselves worrying about food, groceries etc. From our holidays in America - we've always struggled a bit with quality food in supermarkets ... Especially in terms of sausages, tea etc ...
So can anyone recommend what in their opinion are the best stores that might make take some of the homesickness away ...
Thanks 😊
As we get closer to our one way flight tickets, we're starting to strangely miss home already and find ourselves worrying about food, groceries etc. From our holidays in America - we've always struggled a bit with quality food in supermarkets ... Especially in terms of sausages, tea etc ...
So can anyone recommend what in their opinion are the best stores that might make take some of the homesickness away ...
Thanks 😊
That doesn't bode well for your future experience.
Like many others have already said, accept this is America not England.
This is a wonderfully diverse country full of differences, accept it for what it is, it will make your future life a lot easier!