Darren72 wrote:I'm surprised a store wouldn't have shallots on hand. Cilantro too.
On the other hand, I had to stop at no less than four stores to find a Napa cabbage the other day! (Edgewater Produce won.)

That's less surprising. I've yet to encounter a store that has a broad range of cabbage varieties on hand. It's either Napa and no Savoy or the other way around.

Hi- I think H mart has many different kinds of Chinese cabbage all the time. Ik know that I can get them at the Evanston farmer's market too, but not this week. There is one farmer in particular who specializes in Asian vegetables, and he has tons to choose from every week. I still have some Japanese turnips left that I got from him the end of November.

Shallots are harder to find though this time of year. Whole Foods always has cilantro. Cilantro is hard to find at the farmer's markets in the summer, because it does not grow well in really hot weather like we had last summer. It is more of an early summer crop.

Hope this helps, Nancy

spinynorman99 wrote:

Darren72 wrote:I'm surprised a store wouldn't have shallots on hand. Cilantro too.
On the other hand, I had to stop at no less than four stores to find a Napa cabbage the other day! (Edgewater Produce won.)

That's less surprising. I've yet to encounter a store that has a broad range of cabbage varieties on hand. It's either Napa and no Savoy or the other way around.

Two Words: Fresh Farms

spinynorman99 wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:

Ramon wrote:I enjoy having Mariano's in the neighborhood (Elston) but twice since they recently opened, I had to stop at a second store afterwards for produce they should have had: cilantro and shallots. Don't like.

-ramon

I notice shallots are hard to find, period.

Always on hand at Lincolnwood Produce.

As well as Fresh Farms on Touhy.

I happened to pass the Mariano's on Northwest Highway (Mount Prospect?) and stopped in. I came, I saw, I'm done. It seems very nice but since I'm closer to so many other great places I can pass on going back.

I just can't understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to Mariano's. I visited there exactly once and was not the least inspired to return. Whole Foods for me.

I am loving the Mariano's near us (Harwood Heights, on Lawrence). Maybe not the fish and produce selection of Fresh Farms, or the fancy supplements of Whole Foods, or the individual upscale servings of Trader Joe's... but every single employee I've spoken with seems to not only love working there, but is also committed to making sure I get anything I need or am looking for. The produce and cheese folks know me on sight and will approach me to find out what is new in my garden or kitchen. I love the range of gluten-free ingredients they offer. The place smells clean (the nasty odors of Fresh Farms on Touhy have chased me off, as well as their move to the idiotic tiny carts and their total lack of customer care), is easy to navigate, and it is just plain more fun to shop there.

I know it can be pricey... I look for the deals and try to take advantage of them, and I do buy many of my family staples at the nearby Aldi on Harlem. For the ethnic things, I head to H-Mart, Mitsuwa, or Fresh Farms. But if I just need some kale and bread, then I head over to Mariano's. My interactions with their customer service folks have convinced me that they WANT me there, and that they'll work hard to keep me there. I do not get that sense from any other store, and while I'm probably paying a little more for it, that's OK with me. It's nice to be wanted!

I have generally liked what I see at the new Wheaton Marianos. I like some of the breads, the produce, the meat looks good but I have not tried it yet...I love the pistachio gelato. The Sicilian pizza is good when its fresh and the smoked brisket was good for coming from a grocery store. I like the fresh squeezed juices. I think Whole Foods salad bar is better and I am not impressed with Mariano's hot bar which I'll occasionally run in when I don't have time to cook. The fried chicken is good, standard grocery store fried chicken but some of the other items are not good at all.