June 12, 2007 – mmm-yoso

Editor’s Note: Major Market is no longer affiliated with the Independent Grocer’s Alliance and is a freestanding market, with some supplies (mostly dry goods and some refrigerated products) still being purchased from the IGA.

Kirk eats, Cathy eats. Each of us blogs about what we eat, where we eat and where we get supplies for eating when we do eat at home. Enjoy this episode of mmm-yoso!!!.

Hi there. Cathy here, just adding some variety in your day.

About 3 years ago, my Friend, Mr. G., told me about this *really cool* supermarket in Escondido. I had seen it, actually, and ignored it, and had gone to the Trader Joe’s in the same parking lot. Big mistake. Huge.

See, it’s an IGA. There used to be an IGA in Santee…the building it was in turned into a church; it wasn’t a fun place to shop, had a lot of store brand (Springfield) stuff and the prices were not competitive and really, it was not interesting.

Now, I know that there are five IGA’s called "Food Land" out there and they have great Panderias (bakeries) and Tortillerias and even Taquerias inside…but those are in El Cajon and National City and South San Diego. This is in Escondido- Centre City Parkway(the next exit after North County Fair)- and, well, I wasn’t thinking there would be anything interesting…WRONG. Oh, so wrong.

Kobe hamburger? Here is the meat counter…and then the sign over the meat counter.

USDA Prime.

3 lobster tanks, sold by size.

Oh, this isn’t all. I could not take photos of everything…

Here- the fresh baked stuff.

I like the fresh baguettes and scones. The pastries are wonderful and there is a whole coffee bar area next to the bakery area, with tables (the ham and cheese croissant is wonderful, BTW). Next to this area is the meat/salad/deli area, where they will make sandwiches for you. Dietz and Watson meats. (I did not take a photo- I promised the two managers on duty there would be no people in any pictures) . There is a small (made in store-fresh) Sushi area, a hot foods/steam tray area. This, rotisserie chickens and carnitas area…BBQ and side dishes.

None of these photos are of the complete areas. Keep that in mind.

For example, in the aisles…this photo is not quite the complete selection of canned fish.

There are many unique items throughout the store, as well as everyday items.

An example of something unusual is this- Isboks- boxed water from Iceland, $10 for 5 liters…I dunno. But it is there, if you want to try. Of course, the most interesting things are on end units-Food from other countries, arranged by Country. Frozen foods from Great Britain (see the flag above the display?)

Italy, Scandinavian countries…there are whole end units of German and French products also, along with more unrefrigerated stuff from Great Britain.

Oh, and this is about half of all the marinated by the pound stuff- although mostly olives sold, the rest of the marinated veggies are in this photograph…