It’s no secret that in metro Phoenix AZ we often pick up expired foods and less than perfect produce at the supermarket. I doubt in ten years I ever picked up a perfect bag of potatoes from any supermarket since I moved here. I don’t do all my shopping at any one store but I was really floored when I came across all this fresh produce from the 99cent store this particular week. Don’t get the wrong impression I do note it doesn’t roll this way all the time. I came back a few weeks later and had nothing to throw in my cart so it’s Feast or Famine.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I find the produce from my local 99cent Store superior (sometimes) and cheaper than produce from my local Walmart Grocery Store. I note that I don’t know if all Walmart stores are like my local store or if it’s just my luck the one by me is the way it is.

This day I got a grocery cart full of produce for less than $20.00. Here’s my list of what I picked up for 99cents each and a rough guess to what the same amount of produce would cost like from a budget supermarket like Walmart.

At the 99CENT store these were only 99cents each………

8 limes about $2.00

3 lb bag oranges about $3.00

7 pears about $3.00

1 lb jalapeños about $1.00

5 lb Idaho potatoes about $3.00

3 lb red potatoes about $2.00

3 lbs pasilla chile peppers about $5.00

bag scallions about $1.30

5oz peeled garlic about $1.00

5oz peeled garlic about $1.00

10 oz bag shallots about $1.50

1 lb campari tomatoes about $3.00

1 lb sweet rainbow mini bell peppers about $3.00

1 lb radishes about $1.30

bag cilantro with 3 bunches about $2.25

1 smaller watermelon about $3.00

1 XL head cauliflower about $5.00

1 XL package of mixed greens about $5.00

All this produce at a place like Walmart might have cost me around $46.35…It would cost several dollars more from most of the other Supermarkets that I can shop at and it wouldn’t be any fresher (this day). I can’t even guess what AJ’s Fine Foods would sell it for….maybe double of Walmart’s Price.

All this produce from the 99 CENT Store cost me $17.82

Besides produce dry goods and canned foods the 99cent Store sells meats, wine and lots of snack food here dry goods, frozen foods, health and beauty items, house goods, houseware, things for kids and pets and party and seasonal items. I haven’t had the best experience with the $2.99 wine here but your experience may differ….so I can’t recommend wine from the 99cent store. I do have to draw the line with buying meat and fish here……I just can’t do it……Occasionally one can find find East Coast Brands of food here. Like Hellman’s Mayonnaise,  Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese and the real gem is Temptee Brand Whipped Cream Cheese. I don’t go too much for flavored yogurts but they do usually have a great selection of name brand flavored yogurts that are much cheaper than from any supermarket.

Now don’t get the wrong impression……..The 99cent store is HIT and MISS….You can’t count on getting what I did every week as I visited a few weeks later and the produce bonanza seemed to have evaporated and vanished into thin air.

About half the residents in Arizona are Mexican so it’s normal to come across Mexican Foods at the dollar store. I found Mexican Sauces, Cheeses and snacks in the refrigerated section. And….

Zombie Habanero Cucumber Flavored Corn Tortilla Snacks.

Roasted Chile Flavored Potato Chips.

Other snacks I came across was a Name Brand Healthy sort of snack food.

This bag of name brand Rice and Adzuki Bean Snack Chips goes for around Three dollars at Sprouts Grocery.

I came across these popped Edamame Chips…Betcha they came from Whole Foods and might have cost $3.99 there….YUP I sure bought these….only made from Rice Flour, Edamame, Safflower oil, Cane Syrup and Sea Salt….Those are quality ingredients…..no chemicals……Take back the $3.99… these might have been among the really expensive at Whole Foods…like $8.99…and don’t expire into many months of next year…???????? Don’t know WTFork they’re here…..? You do find some gems now and then at the 99cent Store.

Sometimes you come across very strange things at the 99cent store. On this visit I came across the strangest Kiwi Fruit I have ever seen in my life.

Aren’t they strange?…. They look very abnormal……..Each fruit weighs one half a pound….Now these I am afraid of……Are they radio-active?…..this fruit is just too strange.

You Never Forking Know WTFork You’ll Find at the 99cent Store. It can be Feast or Famine.

The Forking Truth

A Beautiful Micro sized Dessert from Kai at Sheraton at Wild Horse Pass of Chandler AZ

The second day of the azcentral.com Food & Wine Experience offered Chef Demos, sampling from around thirty of Metro Phoenix’s well known restaurants, LOTs of Booze, Beer and Wine. General Admission for Sunday was $90 and VIP $120 that got you in an hour earlier and let you into the VIP Lounge were they were pouring better wines, a few nibbles and nicer restrooms with air conditioning.

Jalapeno Deviled Eggs by AJ’s Fine Foods

Freemark Abby Wine provided by AJ’s…Possibly the best wine you could drink at the festival

Bread and Butter Provided by AJ’s

Other nibbles that AJ’s provided were Cocktail Shrimp, Foie Gras, Cheese Cake more wines, Mum’s Champagne and tables.

I noticed two Chef Demonstrations. One was Chef Alex Stratta doing a Rissoto dish and the other was the headliner Celebrity Chef Scott Conant preparing a Big Juicy Rib Eye Steak. He cut it up when it was done and nearby people got to taste it.

It seemed like more of the hotels participated on day two and that brought more steaks or steak like items to the Sunday tastings. I didn’t take any notes but this is how I remember it.

Buffalo from Kai

Beef Carpaccio from the Farm at Q

Beef Empanadas from El Toro

Moroccan Meatballs from Match Cuisine

BBQ Brisket and Lamb from Little Miss BBQ

The Little Miss BBQ Team

This was a team of two restaurants preparing Carnitas Potstickers

A Rustic Beef Stew from Virtu Honest Craft

French Toast from Scramble

Line of Alcohol

Muffulettas and Smoked Tomato Soup from Beckets Table

Pozole from The Pig and Pickle

Yummy  Coconut Curry ice-cream sandwiches from Sweet Republic

Bone Marrow with caviar and squid ink bread from  Roka Akor

I never dreamed in a million years that I’d try bone marrow with caviar but this was truly amazing…..maybe the most outstanding dish of both days…

A bar and music

Pad Thai from Wild Thaiger and Little Thaiger

Lamb Chop

Elk from Different Point of View

J & G Steakhouse – Crab Balls and Flat Iron Steak and Beef Cheeks. The Chef himself served everyone.

Pork –

Detailed Steelhead Trout and the Famous Chopped Salad from Citizen Public House

This man was disruptive and instead of using trashcans he dropped off his trash on tables with people eating said, “I don’t feel like finding a trash can”

Tasty desserts from AJ’s Fine Foods

There was more alcohol than food This is one of four lanes plus several other booths

Well nobody left hungry. Of course I couldn’t eat everything but did ok. For me it was too hot to get many drinks in. The azcentral.com Food & Wine Experience is a hit and certainly is up there with the best of Food Festivals in Metro Phoenix AZ. Can’t wait for next year!

The Forking Truth