by Rachelle L'Ecuyer
TO: My Comrades In Shopping
FROM: A St. Louis Shopper
RE: End of Strike Doesn't Mean End to Striking Up Variety
Recently the grocery strike ended, and certainly we are all now surging in droves back to our favorite grocery chain. But what did we learn while we were honoring the picket line? That groceries are abundant throughout the neighborhoods of our fair city.
My first thought during the strike was to sneak out to Whole (Paycheck) Foods to get some of those must have items. I wasn't the only one with this idea, and the scene was, well, different at W(P)F. The snotty types were there wondering if they shouldn't buy more than just one loaf of hand-crafted bread, as were the kind that would take the last garlic-stuffed olive from the olive bar just because they knew that is why you withstood the parking-lot-like congestion of Highway 40, for one freaking garlic-stuffed olive….
But then I let myself be a little more imaginative, and shopping has been an adventure these last few weeks! I found myself actually enjoying the visits I made to one of the Italian grocers on the Hill, Vivanio's, to fill my cupboards with good bread, gnocchi, and saffron. I love perusing the cramped shelves and finding a delicacy I would never have seen on a chainstore shelf.
At the international grocer, Jay's, on South Grand, I purchased a 4 lb. jar of bamboo shoots, and probably for the same price that I would have gotten it at the chain. We never tire of stir fry, and this is a major component of that dish.
Fresh roasted coffee beans, sesame breadsticks, herbs, homemade hummus, wholesome cheese: these became some of the staples that sustained us during the strike.
My more traditional items for the kids, such as crackers and milk, I picked up at Straub's, a landmark grocer in the city's Central West End. It's much like a New York City market, with a fabulous deli. Straub's swelled with shoppers during the strike, and I hope to keep it on my list for regular shopping. There is an ambience here that makes it worth paying a bit more at the checkout line.
Here are some of the places where you can stock up when visiting St.Louis:
Straub's
(314) 361-6646
302 N Kingshighway Blvd.Gewinner's Market
(314) 644-2850
6413 Clayton AveVincent's 12th Street Market
(314) 772-4710
2400 S 12th StStarrs
(314) 781-2345
1135 S Big Bend BlvdKrekeler's Market
(314) 481-2435
4721 Macklind AveBlack Bear Bakery
(314) 771-2236
2903 S Jefferson AveCarondelet Bakery
(314) 638-3519
7726 Virginia AveLegrand's
4414 Donovan Ave.
(314) 353-4059Saigon Market
(314) 772-1164
3127 CherokeeLa Tropicana Market
5001 Lindenwood
(314) 353-7328Grand Chinese Grocery, Inc.
(314) 664-1688
3469 GrandJay's International Food
(314) 772-2552
3172 Grand Ave.Di Gregorio's Italian Food
(314) 776-1062
5200 DaggettJohn Viviano & Sons Grocers
(314) 771-5476
5139 Shaw Ave.Volpi Italian Foods
(314) 772-8550
5250-58 DaggettAl-Huda
(314) 481-0992
4745 Morganford Rd.Carniceria Latino Americana
(314) 773-1707
2800 CherokeeKopperman's Specialty Foods
(314) 361-0100
386 North Euclid Avenue
