Canadian vs. American PB, and grocery stores

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't think we have SuperFresh, as I've never heard of it. Around her we've got Vons, Albertson's, Ralph's, Trader Joes and a WholeFoods. Those seem to be the main. I'm starting to find some store brands in those that aren't too bad. I am one of the lucky ones in California with year-round seasonal produce, though honestly, I was never one to notice what was or wasn't in season. LOL

I miss the Real Canadian Superstore as well. Those were great. Though I admit I'm really liking Trader Joes!

there is Fresh and Easy too.. it is a fairly new chain but they have lots of stores already.. they are kind of like a Trader Joes/Whole Foods but with slightly cheaper prices

[Kimbear 53]

Up in Rockford illinois we have Kroger..omg it sucks cheap store brand stuff sure..but the taste is bland and the coffee tastes like cigarettes...why can't i find any decent coffee? And i dont care if your cheese comes from wisconsin i want non plasticised cheddar cheese slides from kraft not this american ####### and wtb extra old cheedar bricks k thx bai And yes give me back my cdn heinz ketchup...the regular original one..not this low sodium made with immitation salt stuff. blech!

on a side note..i do a lot of shopping belive it or not at walmart...sure beats the hell out of jewel and domicks prices. And i dont need to sign up for any stupid cards to put on my keychain..got enough of those thanks

sigh..i so miss loblaws.. my presidents choice cookies. when i got back to canada for my interview i told david we are stocking up on some stuff to bring back end of march..for one..i want my LAYS KETCHUP CHIPS...can't find em anywhere in illinois.

one question though...in canada our meat says 100% canadian..why is it i buy ground beef chuck or whatever the hell it's called ( i have a grumble about that too lol) and it says "product of 5 diff countries" o.O???

[darkchilde794 5]

The one thing I dooo loooove about shopping in the American stores is ice cream is sooo dang cheap! I got 2 Haagen Dazs pints and they were 2.5 a piece! The only time I can get ice cream that cheap is if Breyers went on sale at Shoppers, and their ice cream is just not good. (Do note, since I didnt have a car in Toronto, I almost never went to Walmart or those big box stores where I assume ice cream is cheap too.)

sigh..i so miss loblaws.. my presidents choice cookies. when i got back to canada for my interview i told david we are stocking up on some stuff to bring back end of march..for one..i want my LAYS KETCHUP CHIPS...can't find em anywhere in illinois.

GASP! I miss it too!!!! How much there is no ketchup flavored chips here???? Or if there are, where are they?

[Kimbear 53]

What i've been doing is goign to all the manufacturers websites..seeing what the products for each country are. Like proctor and gamble. i love my tide douwny bounce. but i can't find my "citrus and light" scents in each one at most places. and my garnier hair color is different down here too. shades names are not the same.

OH OH i actually found up here tetley "classic orange pekoe" tea. small square bags with the little string on em. so i'm goign to see how close to canadian tetley that is compared to the "british blend".

And yes..if anyone finds any ketchup chips..please for the love of all that is good in this world..let me and darkchilde know!! Cuz i'm ordering a case at this point!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You've just hit the nail on the head.....now you know exactly how your wife will feel when she moves down. I don;t mean that ina mean way, it's exactly how many of us felt moving to the states.

Why do simple things like Ketchup, KD and Miracle Whip have to taste different? We could go on for hours (and we have I believe.... )

ps - the lack of 'American syle chicken wings' might be because you're not in America ...just saying

So, I thought this would be an interesting topic to see what others think. and to maybe cause a little trouble

So myself as an American, being in Canada to see my wife plenty of times has some observations about store food brands and grocery stores in general.

I LOOOOVE peanut butter. Always have. What is up with Kraft PB? It's not that good. Peter Pan PB without a doubt is the best. I am constantly complaining to my wife about that and that the individual containers of yogurt are SOOOO small! Come on! And the lack of chicken finger subs in the niagara region of canada, as well as American style chicken wings (deep fried, and breaded). Not just deep fried and skinless.

But I do give canada props on some of the yogurts that are out there, they are pretty good - the ones in the big containers. I also give Canada prop for Kelsey's Buffalo Chicken Sandwich...awesome!

Cheers for Zehs - it's a pretty nice grocery store. Not as good as Wegmans though! Wegmans has that nice earth tone going on, like chapters books or Barnes and Noble book stores.

Jeers for discount grocery stores such as price choppers, no frills and good basics (actually I think some of these are in the states too, just not near me) I seriously get depressed going into food basics and no grills, the yellow walls are disgusting and they are always out of items that are on sale. While I'm thinking of yellow, what's with no name brand and the yellow, bleh!

Jeers for bagging my own groceries and paying a nickel for them. lol

I keep razzing on my wife about these things, now curious what others say!

[Kimbear 53]

You've just hit the nail on the head.....now you know exactly how your wife will feel when she moves down. I don;t mean that ina mean way, it's exactly how many of us felt moving to the states.

Why do simple things like Ketchup, KD and Miracle Whip have to taste different? We could go on for hours (and we have I believe.... )

ps - the lack of 'American syle chicken wings' might be because you're not in America ...just saying

Just say the word and i'll keep going going going just like the energizer bunny!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

The one thing I dooo loooove about shopping in the American stores is ice cream is sooo dang cheap! I got 2 Haagen Dazs pints and they were 2.5 a piece! The only time I can get ice cream that cheap is if Breyers went on sale at Shoppers, and their ice cream is just not good. (Do note, since I didnt have a car in Toronto, I almost never went to Walmart or those big box stores where I assume ice cream is cheap too.) ?

No no no...ice cream IS a heck of a lot cheaper in the U.S. A 2L carton of Breyers is $7.00 up here, on average. Down there it's $4.00 on average...and I've even seen it 2 for $6. They have so many more varieties of ice cream too. Usually their selection takes up half an aisle in the frozen section. Here it's rarely more than 1/4 aisle.

This is actually a BAD thing for me though, since ice cream is my biggest vice. Though I've got a few bad food vices lately.

I will definitely be getting Heinz Ketchup and KD shipped from Canada on a semi-regular basis. I'm a major ketchup user to begin with, and I don't know if I could ever get used to the U.S. facsimile of ketchup! Damn you, HFCS.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I can't really taste the difference in ketchup anymore. It doesn't bother me. I'm an equal opportunity ketchup lover. Haha.

Ice cream is really cheap in NY too! We only buy it only sale, but it's almost always on sale. We just bought Edy's for $1.79! It's crazy.

I think for the most part, I've acclimated to the taste of food here and don't notice a lot of difference I did when I first got here. I'm glad that has happened because it's making me feel more at home.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I would like to say that for the first time in 2¼ yrs...I opened a bottle of Miracle Whip and I thought to myself 'this tastes normal'......congratulate me, I am finally moving on!

My brother brought 8 boxes of Cdn KD in November which I have covetted in the closet since then, but i am finally out.

Wyatt - Organic Heinz down here is relatively the same recipe as the Cdn so I'm good with that.

Edited February 24, 2010 by Udella&Wiz

[The_Dude 1,142]

I will definitely be getting Heinz Ketchup and KD shipped from Canada on a semi-regular basis. I'm a major ketchup user to begin with, and I don't know if I could ever get used to the U.S. facsimile of ketchup! Damn you, HFCS.

Seeing as Heinz is an american company, wouldn't that make the canadian version the facsimile? I'm just saying......

I don't get the facination with canadian KD. It's ok, I prefer the U.S. version because that's what i'm used to, but beyond that, velveeta and stouffers make faaaaaaaar superior products.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

You've just hit the nail on the head.....now you know exactly how your wife will feel when she moves down. I don;t mean that ina mean way, it's exactly how many of us felt moving to the states.

Why do simple things like Ketchup, KD and Miracle Whip have to taste different? We could go on for hours (and we have I believe.... )

ps - the lack of 'American syle chicken wings' might be because you're not in America ...just saying

NICE!

You just gave Validity to my argument!

Vanessa doesn't like Miracle Whip and I simply tell her, "it's because you are eating the Canadian version"

[SapphireDreams 71]

Seeing as Heinz is an american company, wouldn't that make the canadian version the facsimile? I'm just saying......

I don't get the facination with canadian KD. It's ok, I prefer the U.S. version because that's what i'm used to, but beyond that, velveeta and stouffers make faaaaaaaar superior products.

Velveeta mac and cheese is pretty awesome. So is the Deluxe Mac and Cheese.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Velveeta mac and cheese is pretty awesome. So is the Deluxe Mac and Cheese.

Never heard of Deluxe Mac and Cheese, who makes it? (I mean the parent company)

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Seeing as Heinz is an american company, wouldn't that make the canadian version the facsimile? I'm just saying......

I don't get the facination with canadian KD. It's ok, I prefer the U.S. version because that's what i'm used to, but beyond that, velveeta and stouffers make faaaaaaaar superior products.

The first time I heard about KD I was laughing... I mean KD for Mac N Cheese? How in the hell can you sophisticate something like Mac n' Cheese by calling it, "Kraft Dinner?" lol..

And yes, Velveeta is far superior indeed.

Never heard of Deluxe Mac and Cheese, who makes it? (I mean the parent company)

Kraft.

[Peachey 10]

GASP! I miss it too!!!! How much there is no ketchup flavored chips here???? Or if there are, where are they?

I'll bring some down to you!