BuddyRoadhouse wrote:The implication was that they were baked from fresh, but I can't confirm that.

Buddy

"Baked Fresh" or "Baked in house" often means "just baked but the pre-formed dough came in frozen in a "big cold truck". Sort of like the Christmas tree lot near me that has "Fresh cut trees" that sit there for weeks. Well, they were "fresh" when they were cut."

chicagojim wrote:

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:The implication was that they were baked from fresh, but I can't confirm that.

Buddy

"Baked Fresh" or "Baked in house" often means "just baked but the pre-formed dough came in frozen in a "big cold truck". Sort of like the Christmas tree lot near me that has "Fresh cut trees" that sit there for weeks. Well, they were "fresh" when they were cut."

In Germany, Aldi placed a bread oven in many of its stores and was shipping frozen dough to these stores. the store would proof the dough, bake, and package it .... all a very low Aldi price.

It was my understanding that German bakers union filed all sorts of actions to stop this but in the end, Aldi won the battle.

Give the folks in Geneva credit if they can come up with a way to offer good fresh baked goods in the store.

===========

To this date, the ONLY supermarket that comes close to Aldi's price on staples is Boise based Winco Foods.

jlawrence01 wrote

It reinforces what I have heard from a couple of my "contract manufacturing" friends tell me that the lowest quality ends up under the Great Value brand.

Makes me think back decades ago to when I worked for a railroad. One of the veterans told me that railroaders never bought meat from A&P. (For you youngsters A&P -- the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company -- was the nation's first grocery chain and at one time the world's largest retailer.)

His reason was that when a refrigerated car had a failure and the meat had to be sold as salvage, A&P would usually be the buyer.

George R wrote:For you youngsters A&P -- the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company -- was the nation's first grocery chain and at one time the world's largest retailer.

This mention of A&P makes me so happy. As I recall, and I hope I am not just imagining this, there was an A&P in Highland Park when I was growing up. I can still picture it. On First Street, not far from the car wash. Can anyone back me up on this?

Years later, when my dad was in the hospital after a stroke, he enjoyed messing with the doctors who came by to check on his cognitive skills by saying, in response to questions about what he used to do for a living, that he was a bagger at A&P. He actually taught American history at New Trier for 40 years. A doctor once asked him who was the third president of the United States. My dad told him, and then asked him, who was the seventh vice president? Aha!

Hi,

The A&P on First Street was later Arnie's Restaurant and now roughly where Once Upon a Bagel and other businesses are located.

I remember it was the least energetic grocery store in Highland Park.

My Mom had a baby soon after we moved to Highland Park. My Mom was an ace shopper who like to cherry-pick all the deals. Except she was not going to the store as often, so this job shifted to me.

I was too young to drive. My Dad thought everything was walking distance. I was given a wire granny cart to do the grocery shopping.

I would begin at Jewel, then go to Sunset, the gas station across from the car wash where UPS store resides now, and A&P. The gas station had the least expensive milk, otherwise I was not buying gas.

Fortunately, my best friend in that era, another Cathy, often came to keep me company.

Yes, I remember A&P.

Regards,

I remember the HP A&P well. I frequently went there with my mom and that was the only coffee we bought.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

The A&P on First Street was later Arnie's Restaurant and now roughly where Once Upon a Bagel and other businesses are located.

I remember it was the least energetic grocery store in Highland Park.

My Mom had a baby soon after we moved to Highland Park. My Mom was an ace shopper who like to cherry-pick all the deals. Except she was not going to the store as often, so this job shifted to me.

I was too young to drive. My Dad thought everything was walking distance. I was given a wire granny cart to do the grocery shopping.

I would begin at Jewel, then go to Sunset, the gas station across from the car wash where UPS store resides now, and A&P. The gas station had the least expensive milk, otherwise I was not buying gas.

Fortunately, my best friend in that era, another Cathy, often came to keep me company.

Yes, I remember A&P.

Regards,

My mother was another of those "shop the sales" people, I'm lucky I never needed to pinch hit, or I would have just lied and gone to one store. Milk was also always cheapest at the corner gas station in our case.

I did have to ride along from time to time, I guess when school was out and I was too young to stay home alone. She'd spend hours looking at the ads and making her lists. Then off to each store to buy just the loss leaders. They must have hated to see her come in the door.

I guess I should actually thank her for what she did. Raised four of us while Dad worked in a not very high paying job, and put us all through parochial school.

chicagojim wrote:My mother was another of those "shop the sales" people, I'm lucky I never needed to pinch hit, or I would have just lied and gone to one store. Milk was also always cheapest at the corner gas station in our case.

Do you really think you could get away with lying?

Part of the joy was reading the receipts later. If there was a pricing error, my Mom would jump in the car to set it straight!

***

A friend I long ago lost track with was really an ace saver. She felt every dollar saved was non-taxable income. I always thought her approach was brilliant.

Regards,
Cathy2

There used to be an LTHer that was quite the coupon clipper. I remember her posting about getting stuff for near free with the proper techniques. I can't remember her screen name, though.

Was it NFriday?

nr706 wrote:Was it NFriday?

Yep.

Regards,
Cathy2

A & P!!!!
Yes. In the thread regarding Ashkenaz, I believe I erroneously identified a different store at the back of Edens Plaza, but it was A & P!
My short-term memory is so bad these days, no wonder my long-term is as well. Thanks for the memories!
I shop at no less than 6-8 store a week. I am obsessed I guess with the pricing differential at different stores. I wish I could find an iPhone app that would help me track, as my memory is so bad. I have resorted to taking pics on my phone! I also love finding new products I do not know of.

jilter wrote: I wish I could find an iPhone app that would help me track, as my memory is so bad. I have resorted to taking pics on my phone! I also love finding new products I do not know of.

There's a Reminders app for the iPhone. Very easy to use.

I hear the location at 2431 W. Montrose is finally open, although the grand opening is on April 13: https://www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/gran ... hicago-il/

One of my favorite cheese varieties is available this week at ALDI. It's a white Cheddar with flecks of black truffle strewn throughout. Good sharp Cheddar flavor, complimented by the musky funk of the truffle.

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:One of my favorite cheese varieties is available this week at ALDI. It's a white Cheddar with flecks of black truffle strewn throughout. Good sharp Cheddar flavor, complimented by the musky funk of the truffle.

Buddy

The store at Clybourn and Scheffield area doesn't have it, but I definitely see its variant upstairs at the same Trader Joe's so I'll get that one instead and report back.

Well, I was about to open cheese and read the label. I was pretty surprised to see anchovy paste. I don't eat fish so not a big deal I will return it but yikes if you are allergic to fish. I don't think many are used to looking for fish in their cheese.

pairs4life wrote:

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:One of my favorite cheese varieties is available this week at ALDI. It's a white Cheddar with flecks of black truffle strewn throughout. Good sharp Cheddar flavor, complimented by the musky funk of the truffle.

Buddy

The store at Clybourn and Scheffield area doesn't have it, but I definitely see its variant upstairs at the same Trader Joe's so I'll get that one instead and report back.

Well, I was about to open cheese and read the label. I was pretty surprised to see anchovy paste. I don't eat fish so not a big deal I will return it but yikes if you are allergic to fish. I don't think many are used to looking for fish in their cheese.

FWIW, ALDI's version does not contain any anchovy paste. I just checked the label carefully, rereading it twice to make sure. No fish or seafood of any kind.

Buddy

Hi,

At a recent visit to Aldi, I speculatively bought a can of Herring in a Pineapple Curry Sauce. I bought it for my Mom who likes herring, pineapple and curry. I bought one can, because I was dubious what herring, pineapple and curry might taste together.

I still don't know, but my Mom loved it.

There was also a variant featuring herring and mango, too.

Regards,
Cathy2

We have a newly expanded Aldi in Wheaton and more refrigerated space for produce. That was one of my big beefs is the produce was just sitting there. The store is nice and expanded but they were limited in how big they could go because there was limited parking lot space. Aldi will stretch you food dollar far and most of the stuff is good, or as good as what you can get in a supermarket.

toria wrote:We have a newly expanded Aldi in Wheaton and more refrigerated space for produce.

My Aldi (on Harlem in Harwood Heights, or is it Norridge?) is closed for remodelling until 'July 2017.' It's in a stripmall so the space can't really be expanded. I wonder what it will look like when reopened.

I've come to prefer Aldi's grapefruit scented water,Vie, to the La Croix product it knocks off. The grapefruit is a bit sharper.

BrendanR wrote:

toria wrote:We have a newly expanded Aldi in Wheaton and more refrigerated space for produce.

My Aldi [is] in a stripmall so the space can't really be expanded. I wonder what it will look like when reopened.

From what I've read, back-room space is being sacrificed for retail floor as part of the master plan.

Hi- We don't have as many people posting here about Aldi. Does anybody here buy their meat from Aldi's? Over at mashupmom where I also post, Rachel has written a book about Aldi's that is available on kindle at Amazon. She does the majority of her grocery shopping at Aldi's now, although a Mariano's just opened up in Lombard, and she went there for their grand opening, and spent a total of $14 on lost leaders.

NFriday wrote:Hi- We don't have as many people posting here about Aldi. Does anybody here buy their meat from Aldi's?

The bacon wrapped filet mignon is very good;the ground beef is alright.Biggest hangup about it is the packaging;once you open it either use it up or put it in another container.Haven't tried any of the other meats recently but I will as the closest Aldi in Skokie on Oakton near the Yellow line just re-opened with a remodeled store with way more choices in everything.

I was very apprehensive about Aldi's meat. But after buying it, its really just like any other ordinary supermarket meat. Its not high end like some butcher shop, but is comparable to supermarket meat. They have grass fed ground beef now. I also like their wild caught Alaskan salmon filets in the freezer. They are individually wrapped and make for an easy quick meal. I've actually found the frozen salmon to be somewhat fresher than some you might get at a place like Marianos.

Is their salmon processed in China? The last time I looked the salmon came from Alaska, but was then processed in China to save money, which is a deal breaker for me. I know a lot of people love Aldi's smoked salmon, which they typically sell in November and December. It is from Norway, which is ok. Right now WF has fresh salmon fillets on sale through tomorrow for $9.95 a pound. As I mentioned in the Jewel post, Jewel has O Organics grass fed ground beef on sale for $3.99 a pound, and there is a $2.50 coupon in the big book of savings, minimum $5 purchase.

I don't eat a lot of meat, but I just like the taste of the air chilled chicken I can get at WF, and I love their rotisserie chickens, which are now $7.99 all the time . Hope this helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Hi- We don't have as many people posting here about Aldi. Does anybody here buy their meat from Aldi's? Over at mashupmom where I also post, Rachel has written a book about Aldi's that is available on kindle at Amazon. She does the majority of her grocery shopping at Aldi's now, although a Mariano's just opened up in Lombard, and she went there for their grand opening, and spent a total of $14 on lost leaders.

I buy their country style pork ribs frequently.

I find this cut very versatile -- make them as ribs; butterfly them & grill or pan fry; slice & pound into medallions or paillard, bread & fry; cube or cut into strips for stir-fry. They are boneless, tender, lean and pretty inexpensive. I usually find a package of 4-5 ribs cut 2" x 2" x 5" for around $4. Cheap, quick & versatile.

They are building a new Aldi at Harlem & 55th St where Joe & Frank's was. Should be done by end of October. Looks like a big one.

Aldi’s world-famous $8 rosé wine returns to stores starting Wednesday, but it’s not actually the same wine that won the award, again. Though it is made by the same winemaker, Julian Faulkner of Jules Wines in the south of France, and it’s the same 2016 vintage, the wine coming to stores Wednesday is a special limited run, said an Aldi customer service representative.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct ... story.html

Food is All wrote:

NFriday wrote:Hi- We don't have as many people posting here about Aldi. Does anybody here buy their meat from Aldi's? Over at mashupmom where I also post, Rachel has written a book about Aldi's that is available on kindle at Amazon. She does the majority of her grocery shopping at Aldi's now, although a Mariano's just opened up in Lombard, and she went there for their grand opening, and spent a total of $14 on lost leaders.

I buy their country style pork ribs frequently.

I find this cut very versatile -- make them as ribs; butterfly them & grill or pan fry; slice & pound into medallions or paillard, bread & fry; cube or cut into strips for stir-fry. They are boneless, tender, lean and pretty inexpensive. I usually find a package of 4-5 ribs cut 2" x 2" x 5" for around $4. Cheap, quick & versatile.

They are building a new Aldi at Harlem & 55th St where Joe & Frank's was. Should be done by end of October. Looks like a big one.

I never purchased much meat at Aldi other than the whole Tyson chickens which were always a good price. Most of the other meat prices were not good bargains.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-grocer ... 1506004169

excelsior--

Unfortunately, the story is paywalled. The WSJ is implacable about that. Too bad, I'd have enjoyed reading it.

Geo