Read my MIL's copy of the latest Monthly, an East Bay
tabloid size magazine that comes out - you guessed it -
every month. In the issue was a rather long article on the
Grocery Outlet. Seems that the place, while selling dented
canned goods etc., also sells pretty good wine in cheapo
labels, closeouts from upscale food places, and "test runs"
of new gourmet products. The article mentioned a low-sugar
fruit preserve that sounded interesting.
I'd had no interest in exploring this place until I read the
article. Now it sounds like a kind of bargain bin Trader
Joe's, where you might possibly find gold if you show up
regularly. Such hunting is not my style - inefficient use of
my time these days - but it seems worth a try at least once.
The writer claims to have spotted Narsai David in the 4th
Street (Berkeley) store, buying wine.
The Grocery Outlet is a nationwide chain that began in
the Bay Area. It originally sold dented and almost out-of-
date cans from local food processors (where have all the
peach factories gone? Sun Microsystems, Xylinx, Auto Row,
I suppose)
In another food and equipment note, The Monthly also
interviews the founding chef of the new Fourth Street
restaurant in the old Ginger Island location, Christopher
Somebody. Restaurant will be called Eccolo. He's a Chez
Panisse alum. When asked about kitchen equipment, our chef
said he has little use for food processors or other fancy
stuff at home. No George Foreman Grill? the interviewer
asked. "No", the man answered. His favorite piece of
equipment is his cast iron pan. It costs 15 dollars, will
last forever, and does everything. "I will be buried with my
cast iron pans," he says.
I'm collecting these accolades for cast iron. Just a pet
obsession right now.