Kara's CSU Stan

Okay. Supermarkets.

You’d think supermarkets are the sort of thing that should be the same everywhere. Aren’t supermarkets supposed to be, like, the epitome of suburban vapid monotony? Supermarkets are where people who live in little boxes made of ticky-tacky buy identical potatoes for their au gratin.

But it turns out that San Diego and Turlock have almost completely different supermarket chains. At least going by name. Which is sort of annoying. I have a whole system worked out for which were the best places to go to buy what in which combinations…for San Diego’s North County.

So basically I got to Turlock and was all WHAT IS THIS MADNESS I JUST WANT TO BUY TOMATOES.

Um. If you already know about grocery stores in the area, feel free to skip this whole post.

Food Maxx
We don’t have places like this in San Diego. I think of it like a cross between a Costco (I figure most people are going to be familiar with Costco) and a grocery store. Great big warehouse-y place. I like to get fruits and veggies here. They also have a lot of meat. More specialty sections, like baking, have less selection than you might find at other places.

Raleys
Raleys, I think, is supposed to be the fancier grocery store. It reminds me of Ralphs, which…people in Northern California are not going to be familiar with, I think? Also the only place with self-checkout lanes in Turlock, as far as I remember. They get points with me for always having mirin, even if it’s only sad little tiny bottles. The absolute closest to the dorms. Like, really really close.

Save Mart
Pretty standard grocery store. Also in walking distance from the dorms (though a bit farther) and generally cheaper than Raley’s.

Safeway
One of those places where you have to have a card or else pay really stupid prices. I don’t really like that sort of thing because I get paranoid that some computer somewhere is tracking my ice-cream-and-potato-chip buying habits. I’d rather have the occasion with an entire can of salt-and-vinegar chips stay between me and my sore mouth. Standard grocery store.

Costco
There is a Costco in Turlock. It’s a Costco. As Costcos are. Do keep in mind that in a dorm room, that bag of chicken is going to take up the entire quarter-freezer you’re entitled to.

Target/Wall Mart
Pretty much the same as anywhere else, unless you’re used to one of the GIANT ones. Mostly not groceries, obviously.

Misc.
There are of course the general sort of liquor&market/convenience store/pharmacy places which have some grocery sort of items if you don’t require anything more than a jug of milk and maybe some chips.

International
I can’t really say anything about the various Assyrian/Mexican/Indian/Etc. sort of places, since I cook “American”/European/Japanese sort of stuff and have no idea what would make for a good grocery store outside those particular areas.

Modesto
Modesto has comparatively, like, everything. Except a Japanese supermarket, which I really wish they did. But they do have the nearest Trader Joe’s, a Sprouts, and a World Market. I should note that the only reason World Markets exist, as far as I am concerned, is for the procurement of foreign candies. And that’s why they qualify as grocery stores. So grocery shopping in Modesto is a viable option if you don’t mind going out-of-town. Of course it takes like five minutes to get out-of-town and Modesto is 15 minutes away, but it’s the principle of the thing.

The last word
Groceries!