We have a relative in Chicago who shops at Aldi, and when we found a store in Hudson we decided to check it out. Excellent Dresdener Stoellen, a famous German Christmas bread that usually has a famously high price, but Aldi's and Trader Joe's were excellent. We also found coffee (a pound plus) for $4.45 and it was excellent.
We discovered there is an Aldi 22 miles from us, not exactly a hop, skip and a jump, but within driving distance. Today, being out of coffee, we investigated the store, in Raynham.
Aldi is not like other stores. You pay a quarter for the shopping cart, and when you return it, your money is also returned. This takes away the need for the cart jockey roaming thru the parking lot. You also bring your own bags and boxes to Aldi to pack up your groceries, which you must do yourself. Payment is by debit card, cash or food stamps.
Are you getting the idea?
We grabbed the good coffee and also a dozen eggs ($1.49) and some butter cheese with dill. Admired the beef filets wrapped in bacon. A good deal with a fancy dan dinner at home. Canned goods were cheap. Also, stuff like rice in bulk packages. I didn't recognize any of the brands. They must have their own. Spotted an "All Natural" ice cream that looked good. We also bought 2 lbs of carrots and a chocolate bar. I picked up 3 scrubbing sponges for 99 cents and that was it. The produce looked pretty good. Someone probably from the local firehouse was buying in quantity.
Life every other store in the country, Aldi's had lots of chips and salsa. We think it would be a good place to shop once a month to stock up on staples. It's not Trader Joe's (very limited selection of cheese), but the products were definitely cheaper than a regular supermarket. Hard to compare with Walmart, because Aldi's has their own brands. If they are as good as the coffee and the stoellen, you will want to try them.
Speaking of chips and salsa, I happen to like bean dip. It's an endangered species. Just plain old Fritos Bean Dip. Our local grocery doesn't carry it, and I have to trek to one of the big Shaw's or Stop 'n Shops. Just moving through the store is the equivalent of a workout. It cost $2.99. Salsa seems to have become the dip du jour, but I do confess to liking bean dip.
On Super Bowl Sunday, I could actually just go without, but Significant Other likes his chips and dip before the game. The Super Bowl party we were going to was cancelled, so we're staying in with our favorite Super Bowl Sunday Menu: Meatloaf with Marjoram, twice baked potatoes with sour cream and chives, buttered carrots and salad. I went all out and made a cranberry cake with a lemon glaze and a cranberry-orange compote. It rocks. Made it for the holidays. Twice. That good.
Living in the Boston area we are naturally Patriot fans, and it will definitely be a white-knuckle stress-filled evening. One needs comfort food, yanno?
I'll report back on my next trip to Aldi. We'll sample a few more products. The cheese is good, by the way. The world would be greatly diminished without cheese.
On to more profound thoughts,
The Cheeseparer
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