Distance Shopping [online, etc]

Now that going to the grocery store is perceived as potentially risky business, we’re coming up with new ways of securing provisions.

The hope is that this thread will be a kind of clearing house for information about where one might shop for proteins, produce, etc. from a distance.

Yesterday, Greg O’Neill (formerly of Pastoral) posted a listing (from food blogger Janet Fletcher) of small, artisanal cheese producers. Ordering direct from these guys helps ensure that these cheesemakers will get the revenues they need to stay in business, and it’s also a way to get better cheese than you’ll find in many larger grocery stores. The big cheesemakers will likely survive months of downtime; it’s harder for smaller cheesemakers to stay afloat. Here’s the list of smaller cheese makers (we just bought a few pounds of Jasper Hill cheese, arriving tomorrow):

http://www.janetfletcher.com/artisan-cheese-online-alphabetically?fbclid=IwAR0dwokTV6Avgvb1D5SM33i2WvsXXHEXydoXMosHcjdAgJNrtPlGBguWTQk

We’ve also ordered a few pounds of pulled pork from Lillie’s Q (three pounds, with sauce, about $60, shipping included):

https://www.lilliesq.com/shop/barbeque/smoked-pulled-pork-1-lb/

Amazon Fresh is also an option, and it’s okay for once/week distance shopping of even some produce, but what you're going to receive is never certain: they run out of stuff all the time. And I’d rather throw dining dollars at smaller operations that are having a harder time of it right now.

I ordered a couple bags of Intelligentsia coffee yesterday. They roast your coffee when the order is received and do free two day shipping. Checked out Passion House first and the shipping cost amounted to 50% of the coffee cost so heck with that.

champs2005 wrote:I ordered a couple bags of Intelligentsia coffee yesterday. They roast your coffee when the order is received and do free two day shipping. Checked out Passion House first and the shipping cost amounted to 50% of the coffee cost so heck with that.

Last Friday, I ordered three one-pound bags of Sparrow Coffee for about $50, shipping included. That day they delivered the three bags (I let the guy who took the order make the selection, and he sent some interesting choices).

As you recognize with Passion House, shipping can kill you on these orders. I was going to order some cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm, one of my favorite Illinois cheesemakers, but for a $24 order, the shipping was going to be $20, and I'm not saying they're gouging (fresh cheese needs ice packs and special packaging), but the shipping cost felt too too high relative to the product cost.

Just ordered 6/lbs of Amish Country Popcorn for $17.37 including tax and shipping. Amish's Fill the Box or Fill the Envelope is a pretty good deal, and the popcorn is terrific.

Amish Country Popcorn, count me a Fan!

G Wiv wrote:Just ordered 6/lbs of Amish Country Popcorn for $17.37 including tax and shipping. Amish's Fill the Box or Fill the Envelope is a pretty good deal, and the popcorn is terrific.

AmishPopcorn1.jpg

Amish Country Popcorn, count me a Fan!

Agreed. I bought some in 2019 and, yeah, it popped up real good.

We eat a fair amount of popcorn and have taken to drizzling with butter and then adding salt and random spices, like cumin, smoked paprika, etc. Sometimes, that's dinner.

The Wettstein family will be in Oak Park at Buzz Café this Saturday, if you're feeling carnivorous. If you want to order, you can email Emily at [email protected] and tell her what you want -- she just emailed me the price list below (they also have eggs, but, alas, no chicken).

Beef

7.00 Ground Beef

7.00 Beef Patties 3/1 or 4/1

8.00 Arm Roast

9.00 Chuck Roast

9.00 Rolled Rump Roast

7.00 Round Roast

9.00 Sirloin Tip Roast

7.00 Chuck Steak

7.00 Cube Steak

28.00 Fillet Steak

12.00 Flank Steak

10.00 Flat Iron Steak

10.00 Hanger Steak

16.00 NY Strip Steak

16.00 Rib-eye Steak

7.00 Round Steak

10.00 Skirt Steak

7.00 Swiss Steak

15.00 T-Bone Steak

13.00 Top Sirloin Steak

8.00 Brisket

10.00 Cheek Meat

4.50 Short Ribs

8.00 Stew Meat

8.00 Stir Fry 2.50 Knuckle Bones

2.50 Marrow Bones

0.75 Misc. Bones

3.00 Neck Bones

4.00 Soup Bones

3.00 Liver

6.50 Oxtail

3.00 Tongue or Heart



All Prices are per pound





Pork

10.00 Baby Back Ribs

8.00 Brat Links*

15.00 Butterfly Chops

6.00 Country Style Ribs

7.00 Ground Pork Bulk

3.00 Neck Bones

8.00 Polish Links*

9.00 Pork Chops

22.00 Pork Tenderloin

7.50 Sausage Bulk*

8.50 Sausage Mini Links*

8.00 Sausage Patties 4/1*

8.00 Shoulder Roasts

8.00 Shoulder Steaks

4.50 Spare Ribs

7.00 Stir Fry

8.00 Sw. Italian Sausage Bulk* or Link*

8.00 Arkansas Bacon*

10.00 Bacon*

9.00 Fresh Side

8.00 Ham*

4.00 Pork Hocks Cured* or Fresh

Not exactly local but I have a couple pounds of Szalonna arriving via UPS from Hungarian Meat Market tomorrow, just in time for the Tribunal's April sandwiches

C&D Family Farms has ramped way up on home deliveries to the city and points south (I continue to be on her route in Valpo since the farm is actually not far from here.) She has run low on things here and there but does have eggs of all varieties back in stock (chicken, duck and sometimes even goose). She also carries Gunthorp chicken and beef, along with her own lovely pork products and is adding some other small farm and artisanal products in her area in the coming weeks. http://cdfamilyfarms.com/

Sitka Salmon Shares is about to start up their CSA deliveries for the season and is still taking new subscribers. They also had a special friends and family sale this month for stock they had set aside for markets that they aren’t doing due to you know what. I am awaiting delivery this week of a box of 2-3lbs each of halibut, pacific cod, king salmon and coho salmon that I purchased for $237 including dry ice shipping.
https://sitkasalmonshares.com/collections/2020-seasonal-sales

I order coffee from two great purveyors—Buddy Brew in Tampa and Methodical in Greenville SC. Buddy Brew is currently offering free shipping on any order of 2 bags or more (my current faves are the Brazil and the Mexico) and Methodical charges a flat fee of $8 per order, regardless of how many bags are ordered. I’ve loved everything I’ve had/ordered from them but my current favorites are Belly Warmer and Blue Boy.

https://www.buddybrew.com/
https://methodicalcoffee.com/collections/coffee-beans

Zingerman's remains an invaluable resource and their annual Spring sale ends today.

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:Not exactly local but I have a couple pounds of Szalonna arriving via UPS from Hungarian Meat Market tomorrow, just in time for the Tribunal's April sandwiches

Honestly was not aware of szlaoona (at least by that name; I have, I believe, heard of bacon). Preparation techniques are intriguing; while I was googling about it, I came across "Hitlerszaloona," or "Hitler's bacon," a kind of dense fruit bar that looks a little like membrillo and like that jelly could be cut and eaten by those who, like the Führer, didn't eat meat...or, in probably more cases, those who had nothing else to eat.

David Hammond wrote:

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:Not exactly local but I have a couple pounds of Szalonna arriving via UPS from Hungarian Meat Market tomorrow, just in time for the Tribunal's April sandwiches

Honestly was not aware of szlaoona (at least by that name; I have, I believe, heard of bacon). Preparation techniques are intriguing; while I was googling about it, I came across "Hitlerszaloona," or "Hitler's bacon," a kind of dense fruit bar that looks a little like membrillo and like that jelly could be cut and eaten by those who, like the Führer, didn't eat meat...or, in probably more cases, those who had nothing else to eat.

I was not familiar with it either until recently. LOL @ Hitlerszaloona. Looks tasty though.

My Szalonna arrived today. It is essentially a slab of rind-on smoked pork fat. There is not a speck of meat on it. This is what I expected/hoped to see though. Can't wait to give it a shot!

Not local but Girl Scout Cookies are available from girlscouts.org
$5/box, minimum 4 with shipping starting at $9.25

If anyone needs to stock up on delicious (and fairly local) smoked meats and charcuterie, Smoking Goose in Indianapolis is having a sale.

gastro gnome wrote:If anyone needs to stock up on delicious (and fairly local) smoked meats and charcuterie, Smoking Goose in Indianapolis is having a sale.

Thanks, just ordered way too much (free shipping over $75).

They didn't have Hitlerpalooza, though...

gastro gnome wrote:If anyone needs to stock up on delicious (and fairly local) smoked meats and charcuterie, Smoking Goose in Indianapolis is having a sale.

Thank you!! Didn’t get to the Zingerman’s sale in time but probably prefer this one anyway.

cilantro wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:If anyone needs to stock up on delicious (and fairly local) smoked meats and charcuterie, Smoking Goose in Indianapolis is having a sale.

Thanks, just ordered way too much (free shipping over $75).

They didn't have Hitlerpalooza, though...

Samesies. Actually, I recruited two others and placed an even larger order than I originally anticipated.

G Wiv wrote:Just ordered 6/lbs of Amish Country Popcorn for $17.37 including tax and shipping. Amish's Fill the Box or Fill the Envelope is a pretty good deal, and the popcorn is terrific.

Ordered on 3.31.20, just received my order, that was fast!

Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Hi- I've looked at Jewel, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods. None of them have WW or bread flour. I have plenty of WW flour, but when all this happened and I could not find bread, I decided to make my own. I was able to find yeast at Jewel. I finally ended up buying some AP flour at Trader Joe's that has more protein. It is similar to King Arthur AP flour which I have used to make bread before. The same day I bought the flour, I was able to buy two loves of Brownberry WW bread at Jewel, and so I have not gotten around to making bread. Apparently there are lots of people that are mostly staying at home right now, and so now have the time to make bread. I did not know that many people even knew how to make bread. Making bread is not a beginners project.

Have you tried King Arthur's website? I know they have been super busy lately, but they are hoping to catch up soon. Hope this helps, Nancy

King Arthur's website is out of most mainstream types of flour. Says 3-4 weeks.

Answering my own question - I just placed an order on Target's website to get shipped some WW flour. Says it will arrive by Wednesday. We will see.

For those in the city, I've found the Jewel at Roscoe and Western to be the most reliably stocked and sparsely populated store. The next door Mariano's had already grabbed a ton of their business before all this, so it's a continuation of what I've previously observed.

Management is vigilant about asking customers in line to respect social distancing. Glass covers are also there separating you from the cashier.

Never been a Jewel shopper, but I prefer going there these days to every other store.

eieileen wrote:Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Target in Villa Park on North Ave had plenty of King Arthur bread flour (no other kinds though) this morning. Also, a fair amount of toilet paper.

Target's website does a pretty good job of showing you what's available, where. It shows 7 containers of KA Whole Wheat flour available at the Evanston location. Press a few buttons and they hold it for you, might even bring it to your car.

Kid Charlemagne wrote:

eieileen wrote:Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Target in Villa Park on North Ave had plenty of King Arthur bread flour (no other kinds though) this morning. Also, a fair amount of toilet paper.

That's interesting. The website doesn't even show they carry KA bread flour. Although it showed KA Whole Wheat Flour this morning and now it doesn't. Maybe it was a timing thing or the website likes to work better for Darren than it does for me.

gastro gnome wrote:

Kid Charlemagne wrote:

eieileen wrote:Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Target in Villa Park on North Ave had plenty of King Arthur bread flour (no other kinds though) this morning. Also, a fair amount of toilet paper.

That's interesting. The website doesn't even show they carry KA bread flour.

Yeah, I had to search specifically in Google for "King Arthur bread flour Target" to get it to come up on their site. Searching on their site didn't work. All the Targets near me say limited or out of stock so I am not sure it's worth the trip.

eieileen wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:

Kid Charlemagne wrote:

eieileen wrote:Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Target in Villa Park on North Ave had plenty of King Arthur bread flour (no other kinds though) this morning. Also, a fair amount of toilet paper.

That's interesting. The website doesn't even show they carry KA bread flour.

Yeah, I had to search specifically in Google for "King Arthur bread flour Target" to get it to come up on their site. Searching on their site didn't work. All the Targets near me say limited or out of stock so I am not sure it's worth the trip.

Ah! Good thinking (and crappy website, Target).

eieileen wrote:Anyone have any leads on whole wheat or bread flour in the city or shipped? I have struck out everywhere I've looked online or in grocery stores. Got plenty of unbleached AP but hoping to fill up on some others.

Bryan Severson's Farm -- Heads up there are also wheat berries if you have your own mill so make certain you order what you want. I would do sifted/high extraction for most home-baking needs. http://qualityorganic.com/wheat.htm

Janie's Mill - https://www.janiesmill.com/

Hazzard Free Farm (Andy Hazzard)- https://hazzard-free-grains.square.site/

I have used flour and ground flour from all of these local farmers.

Good people, local, and superior products.

gastro gnome wrote:That's interesting. The website doesn't even show they carry KA bread flour. Although it showed KA Whole Wheat Flour this morning and now it doesn't. Maybe it was a timing thing or the website likes to work better for Darren than it does for me.

Click on "Include out of stock" on the left side of the screen. It will then show products that are both out of stock and limited stock. You can click "edit store" on the right and it will show the status at all stores.

Darren72 wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:That's interesting. The website doesn't even show they carry KA bread flour. Although it showed KA Whole Wheat Flour this morning and now it doesn't. Maybe it was a timing thing or the website likes to work better for Darren than it does for me.

Click on "Include out of stock" on the left side of the screen. It will then show products that are both out of stock and limited stock. You can click "edit store" on the right and it will show the status at all stores.

Thanks Darren. You really can learn something every day.