The French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin once famously said, “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” When we travel, it’s easy to get to know a place through our mouths as much as through our eyes and ears. While most of us won’t ever have the opportunity to experience food on the same level as Brillat-Savarin, almost anyone can get more familiar with a destination by simply stopping into a grocery store.
Even the simplest supermarket can give you a glimpse into a culture and its people. In France, for example, eggs are not refrigerated (after all, most chickens don’t lay their eggs in refrigerator temperatures). And in the U.S., we often see signs for pork that call it “the other white meat,” while in Dubai, signs for pork on sale warn, “not for Muslims.”
Supermarkets can also be a treasure trove of inexpensive souvenirs. Candy and gum are obvious choices, but exotic spices, canned meats and dried mushrooms are all tasty – and lightweight — souvenirs to bring back home.
In a new photo gallery on Bing Travel, we visit 9 delicious supermarket destinations around the world. Shopping at high-end food halls like Harrod’s in London and the depachikas of Japan can cost a small fortune, but you can browse the aisles for free. In small specialty markets like the Oakville Grocery in Napa Valley, meanwhile, you can assemble a picnic feast of local cheeses, breads and other gourmet delights for a fraction of the price of dining in a high-end restaurant.
What supermarket discoveries have you made during your travels? Share your favorite places and products in the comments section.
The one that comes to mind is Julius Meinl in Vienna. I can remember seeing people walk with orange bags with a symbol/logo that looked like a head. I just had to know where it came from. And then I found it, it was a Delicatessen Shop. They call it an culinary epicenter and it was. Just browsing through the shop was already nice :)
I always like wandering in shops like these or even supermarkets. It's free and sometimes they can give you nice souvenirs to bring back home.
i travel and the first thing i look for is supermarket you get all the local flavor and very inexpensive out of the tuourist trap. good for sundryes and some sell wine . all kind and the local wine from the nearby vineyards. always hita supermarket you will also find friendly people and and ask questions on local places of interest. you can also see the deli department and gettake away food if you don want to eat afancy meal onenite.
France is not the only country that does not refrigerate their eggs - neither does Israel. As to the pork, no sign needed at all - no pork is sold in chain supermarkets.
When out of the country I try to find the local supermarket in the neighborhood - it's a sure sign of what the local eat and what they can afford to purchase.
Harrods was quite a sight when I first stepped in many years ago. In NY, NJ, PA and Md. there is a chain of 72 Wegman's Supermarkets that would now put Harrods to shame.
Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes before going. I have yet to make it through all the aisles.
What about the fabulous food emporiums at the New York Grand Central Terminal?? I've never seen a wider display of foods from all over the world! Not inexpensive, but a wide, varied selection.
There is a locally run, family owned, 3 store grocery here called Dorothy Lane Market. It is incredible with so many unusual items and the best quality, not to mention the importance on customer service. They have a lot of specialty items both from around the world as well as grown or made right here. This is a local treasure!!
Wegmans out of Rochester NY is unbelievable. It is really a tourist attraction. My husband travels up there for business and would shop there every time and rave about it. I wanted to go just to experience Wegmans. Now we have our own in Princeton :)! My husband still says it's better in Rochester though.
I really really miss Jungle Jim's, when we lived in Cincy I drove the 45 minutes to this place every week to shop. When we travel we love to go into the little corner grocers and see what they have, it can be a mouth watering experience!
Jungle Jim's came to my mind, too. If you're a foody and in the Cincy area...it's your own fault if you don't go.
I was surprised to not see Wegmans on your list, but not surprised to see it already listed here! I have been to many of the markets you listed in France, England, Germany and Italy - but I look forward to my trips to Rochester, NY, where Wegmans is based. Their flagship store on Monroe Ave. puts all of those other markets to shame! We have one in Harrisburg now, which has made all of the other markets "up their game". The original still the best though!
Jungle Jims!!
Be sure to check out the selection of hot sauces on the fire truck....there are hundreds of them.
Wegmans is the best store in the US. I have lived in Florida for 10 years and still miss going to Wegman's in Western New York. The store on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford is fantastic. Many times it is a topic of conversation at get-togethers, how everyone misses Wegmans. Also, when we lived there is was a place that we always brought visitors. I understand it is also an excellent place to work.
One of my first stops in a new locale is a local market or grocery store - it's a great way to see the meats and produce popular in a given area. I was amazed by the meat markets in Germany; I had no idea there were so many ways to grind and season meat as wurst (some were too gross for me to even sample, some were delicious). I also enjoyed the many bakeries in the UK, especially in Bakewell, home of the Bakewell tart.
Stew Leonards
Glad to see Wegmans on the list (Shopped their Buffalo area stores many times, still a must-visit when I am in town) but was surprised to see Uwajimaya - this site definitely has a Seattle bias. Sure, it's a decent Asian grocery store but not unlike those you'd find in many areas of the country.
