@Cathy- yes they should be shopping buddies . Oh well , we can just hope to win !

I can’t wait to shop at this hypermarket. I had better send this blog entry to Marissa F., you know. I could relate to Butch’s shopping experience — especially since they sell food you can eat at home, and it’s gourmet Filipino food (with stingray? Now, that’s exquisite and exotic!).

Here in the US, the closest hypermarket experience for me is actually in Chicagoland (the term for Chicago suburbs) at Meijer, a family-owned and operated grocery and general merchandise retailer operating stores throughout the Midwest. http://www.Meijer.com. Talagang value, better than Walmart, with extensive supermarket and department store finds at incredibly low prices.

In San Francisco, space is such a premium that I have to shop at several places. I’ve taken Lauren to my favorite Trader Joe’s, best known for its private-labelled organic produce and its very popular food sampling area. I’ve shopped at Trader Joe’s since 1990 (my first purchase was a package of calamata figs at their Thousand Oaks, CA store). I believe Lauren enjoyed her shopping trip because I taught her how to cook my favorite couscous dish delicately flavored with miso soup mix, and dotted with toasted pine nuts. I think I also introduced her to Spanakopita (phyllo dough, feta cheese, spinach mixture). I am such a fan of Trader Joe’s that I shop there every other day. Originally branded as yuppie food, it’s increasing its clientele base since they truly have better pricing for some items (compared to Safeway Supermarket, across the street, where I shop for staples). http://www.traderjoes.com.

My late mother-in-law (who was a gourmet chef, had studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and with Marcella Hazan in Italy) had introduced me to Whole Foods (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) and Central Market (www.centralmarket.com) in Austin, Texas. These are two places that are high up on my shopping destinations in an ideal situation since they truly offer fresh, and mostly organic food. Whole Foods is too far away for me in the South of Market! I’ve given up on going to Costco Wholesale because it’s too much for two people’s budget.

When you come back to San Francisco, I’ll take you on my personal 1-1/2 mile walking tour of North Beach (a great tour for a foodie!) — and perhaps, the neighboring Chinatown, where we can eat at the famous, no-reservations, long-queued House of Nanking on Kearney Street, by Columbus Avenue. So you’ll see naman where I buy my favorite proscuitto, one of the world’s best truffles (French chef-husband with Filipina-entrepreneur wife), the neighborhood’s focaccia bread, the truly awesome Sacripantina cake that’s to-die-for, among the many. I’m such a foodie! Now, I’m hungry.

Hopefully, SM HyperMarket will decide to be a leader in organically-raised food. Slightly more expensive but definitely worth it!

Butch, do check out one of my published articles from 2004: (copy and paste) http://radiantview.com/blog/2006/12/04/a-busy-couple%e2%80%99s-inter-cultural-kitchen-adventures-2/

I’m looking forward to your kitchen adventures and experiences. Better yet, you and my hubby can cook for us, ladies.

Praises to your writing talent, Butch. I can actually hear you talk to me (too bad it’s not in Harley Davidson bike language ).

sis-in-law,
Lorna

I enjoyed reading this post – it’s like a walk-through. With matching stalker of course! Interesting experiment, butch. I think i will attempt it too.

But, this is episode 2 pala? LOL, readers, you should take a look at episode 1 (the stalker followed the shopper to the parking area!)