One thing that being a being a mom has taught me, is that I have to have a plan… for everything. Gone are the carefree days where an extra trip to the store was a 10-minute affair, now including the meltdown on the way in and the foodstuffs opened in the grocery store aisle any little jaunt to the store costs me quite a bit of time and money.
Lucky for me I have some great shopping strategies that the pros use. Not only about efficiency, shopping like a chef helps me get the best quality ingredients, and then use them where they count. (You know, so people ooh and ahh over your fab food.)
1. Have some things delivered
This is a GREAT idea. Chefs don’t run around buying everything they need at stores, they get the staples delivered, usually on auto reorder. Most people are always running out of SOMETHING – butter, eggs, lemons, flour? What is it at your house? Find a deal and set that up to get automatically delivered at your house, now you won’t have to think about it. Chefs use food purveyors but you can set this up with Amazon Box, Door to Door Organics, many local farmers even deliver as part of a community supported agriculture program!
2. Don’t be afraid of generics
In a recent study, chefs were 12% more likely to buy generic items than lay people. What does this mean? Well consider this, a chef’s reputation relies on his food, so if a generic is used, it must not make a difference. This also frees you up to purchase where the best deals are instead of chasing down a name brand.
3. Spring for a few luxury ingredients
Since you aren’t brand loyal and saved a few bucks on the generics spend some money on a few things to push your meal over the top, great tasting olive oil, interesting spices or maybe an amazing cut of steak!
4. Go with a plan, but don’t be afraid to deviate
Make a grocery list, take stock of what you have at home and go to the store with a plan of what you are going to make and a list of what you need. Once you get to the store take a look at what’s there, if you planned for green beans but the asparagus looks awesome and fresh and/or is a great deal do that instead. Be flexible.
5. Appreciate fresh
This is definitely the best tip of all. Think outside the grocery store! Local farmers cultivate all kinds of wonderful things right in your backyard, and the close proximity means the food is much fresher and more flavorful than what’s trucked in from far away. There are tons of farmers markets to visit (even winter markets) and many farmers who are still selling year round. Chefs cultivate relationships with local farmers and get the best/first of the crop, and you can, too. Seek some out, be friendly and ask questions.