Supermarket Sweep!

Today being Saturday i had actually managed to arrange my experiments so i have a pretty easy day - makes a change! This gave me enough time to head into town for a wander and also call by the supermarket (or Superstore!) to pick up a few odds and sods - i'm planning on wowing my colleagues with some baking on Monday so had to get the essentials. Anyway, there are quite a few to choose from. We've heard of WalMart in the UK (the huge chain that took over Asda) but there's also K-Mart - described as being like Walmart's annoying baby brother. Then there's Harris-Teeter (surnames of the founders?), Publix (don't know about this one) and finally....Piggly Wiggly. Now, you have to wonder what the guy who came up with THAT name was smoking. I can see it now....sat in a chair, mulling over possible names for his new store and then it hits him. "That's it, goddammit!! I'll call it PIGGLY WIGGLY!!" Anyway, i digress. Having paid a visit to all of these stores on arrival, they are all very much of a muchness - like the chains in the UK. They all have their own little clubs where you can get bonus points for every fifth doughnut or whatever you buy and so on. So, you might ask, how did i fare today?

Well, it was quite tough. Not only are there the brands that are familiar but different (Nescafe=Taster's Choice, Walkers=Lays) and then there are the brands that aren't and then there are just the strange things. Example - i've been unable to find orange squash (cordial) as they sell it ready diluted in the stores (apparently turning the tap on is too much for some Americans - by the way, any US citizens reading this, feel free to help me out). There are no baked beans here - or, at least, baked beans in the way the UK know them (here they come in a water and molasses sauce). I spent some time wandering around looking for icing sugar - it's Confectioner's sugar - and the bread here....well, don't get me strated. I now go for what is called the European-style bread. It's a bit more expensive but is actually bread - was opposed to the sweet stuff that you get here (it doesn't go well with ham, believe me). And then there's the checkout.

Now, i hate packing up stuff as much as the next person - so it's nice that they have someone do it for you. Except they can't pack to save their life. I left the store today with six bags that, after a moment's rearranging, became three - important as i was walking back home. So, remember....when you hear the beep (beep, beep!), think of the fun YOU could be having on Supermarket Sweep!