NorCal Dollar Store Deals

DollarStoreVeg has relocated to Northern California, where the East Bay hosts 99c stores that feature several of the same deals as the Southern California chain.  Unfortunately, the bargain basement produce deals are few and far between compared to Los Angeles.  At my most recent 99c store visit this past weekend, I spotted:

• 15 oz. garbanzo, kidney, and black beans
• Fresh baby spinach, pre-washed
• West soy tetra pack 32 oz. soy milk
• Arabian flat bread (great for pita pizza or with hummus)
• Whole wheat tortillas
• Bunch of asparagus
• Balsamic, rice, plain, red wine, and white wine vinegars
• The usual other greens: pack of romaine lettuce, celery, limes, red bell peppers

A couple weeks ago I had spotted 5 oz. cremini mushrooms and portobello (~2 caps) mushrooms, too.

As for other stores with deals (not necessarily for $1), I like the Geary & 4th Ave. market (called "Farmer Market") for their good produce prices, by NorCal standards.  For example, 3 bunches of leeks were $2.99, white nectarines were 79c/lb, and apricots were 69 c/lb.  They also have capers, olives, and other specialty items. 

I also love Rainbow Grocery (around 13th/Folsom St.) for offering bulk Ener-G (around $5-6/lb.) and nutritional yeast (under $7/lb).  I bought bulk vital wheat gluten (also just under $7/lb.) but later realized that I can get Hodgson's Mill or even Bob's Red Mill brands less expensively.  In addition, they have bulk brown rice syrup, TVP, and tons of other surprises (trail mix of various kinds, dry pasta, beans, lentils, etc.).  They no longer carry my favorite Black China Bakery vegan carrot cake with the delectable soy cream cheese frosting, at least not in the past few visits there.

If you are looking for Asian style fake meat products in the freezer section, both New May Wah and Lien Hing supermarkets along Clement St. (start at 6th Ave/Clement and walk east or west) offer them at just under $4/bag or more.  My favorite soy triangles with veggies embedded in them run around $4 for 8 little triangles. Thus these items are pretty pricey but cheaper than eating at a restaurant.  For example, ~12 veggie fish filets run around $10-12.  The produce prices are hit or miss: tomatoes for 59c/lb (good) while other items are less expensive elsewhere (Fuji apples 99c/lb. vs. only 79c/lb. at other places blocks away).

It took a while for me to find mirin to use in some of Isa Moskowitz' recipes.  Food4Less (aka Foodsco in NorCal) carried it in SoCal, but the SF Foodsco does not.  However, Safeway does sell mirin for ~$4/bottle.

Stay tuned for more NorCal DollarStore deals!

Asparagus Sundried Tomato Tofu Frittata, Sesame Asparagus

From the 99c store: extra firm tofu, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, asparagus, lemons

From the 99c store: asparagus, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes

Dollar Store Deals 4/3/11

Today I found the makings of vegan crunchy tacos at the local 99c store.  These included: a dozen Old El Paso crunchy tacos, Pace salsa verde sauce, and Old California green olives. 

Other deals included: box of sugar in the raw (turbinado sugar) packets, ~30 oz. can of garbanzo beans, a bunch of aspargus, portobello mushrooms, and a 5 lb. bag of corn meal.

Lacto-vegetarians may be interested in: 8 oz. of Nestle semi-sweet mini morsels, Pillsbury Grands! biscuits, graham crackers, and vanilla wafers.

Let's not forget the Breathe-Right strips...yeah, they're vegan.  Gotta love the dollar store.

Roasted red pepper chickpea soup

This recipe came from Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes.  My local 99 cent store sells fresh red peppers (tray of 2-3) and occasionally roasted red peppers in a jar; 30 oz. can of garbanzo beans; rosemary; and tomatoes.  The soup was very good, except for the rosemary was too strong to the point of bitterness.  I would cut back on rosemary next time.

Deals of the Week 1/26/11

What's on sale this week? Most of the grocery stores I frequent have new sales starting each Wednesday (thru following Tuesday). I will attempt to regularly share items of interest and relevant recipes with you.

Ralphs (membership card required- free to join)

• Silk almond milk 64 oz. $1.99 (must buy 10 of this and/or other items in ad to get the deal)
• Kellogg's cereal 8-20 oz. $1.99 (must buy 10 of this and/or other items in ad to get the deal)
• Del Monte corn, green beans, peas 11-15.25 oz. cans 49c (must buy 10 of this and/or other items in ad to get the deal)

Big Saver

• Italian squash 50c/lb.

Food4Less

• La Moderna pasta 7 oz. bag 5 for $1
• Del Monte canned vegetables 48c ea 13.5-15.25 oz. (must by 10)

Bestway (no website, in CA, not to be confused with VA chain- also note ads may be location-specific even within CA, so check local listing)

• bananas 50c/lb.
• Fuji apples 3 lbs/$1
• Roma tomatoes 3 lbs/$1
• kiwi 5/$1
• lemons 3 lbs./$1
• green cabbage 6 lbs/$1 (Wednesday 1/26 only)
• oranges 10 lbs/$1 (Wednesday 1/26 only)

El Super (website not up yet)

• Granny Smith apples 3 lbs/$1
• Asian pears 3 for 99c
• Italian squash 50c/lb.
• broccoli 50c/lb.

Dollar Store Deals- fresh herbs, grape tomatoes

Today at the local 99c store I saw fresh 1 oz. thyme, oregano, Italian basil, sage, and rosemary for 99c each!  Basil is cheaper at Asian grocery stores ($5.99/lb.), but if you absolutely need Italian basil, this is a good deal.  These plastic fresh herb packs are usually ~$2 at other stores.

I also saw fresh green beans for 99c/lb. and grape tomatoes for 99c/pint.  Green beans can go as low as 59c/lb., but I have not seen this price lately.  Instead, green beans have been $1.50+/lb.

I sadly did not see any garbanzo beans, but I hope it is a temporary fluke.  I did see kidney, black, and pinto beans (30 oz. for 99c) and Hunt's diced tomatoes (28 oz. for 99c).

For vegetarian bakers out there, I saw Valentine's sprinkles by Cake Mate as well as a peppermint candy grinder (includes candy) for 99c each.

A lot of recipes from Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook and Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes call for these fresh herbs, so time to stock up and experiment!

Deals of the Week- 1/19/11

What's on sale this week? Most of the grocery stores I frequent have new sales starting each Wednesday (thru following Tuesday). I will attempt to regularly share items of interest and relevant recipes with you.

Ralphs (membership card required- free to join)- nothing good this week
Big Saver

• papaya 50c/lb.
• Springfield 8 oz. tomato sauce 4 for $1
• celery 2 for 99c
• cabbage 33c/lb. 

Food4Less

• Roma tomatoes 33c/lb.
• Del Monte canned vegetables 48c ea 13.5-15.25 oz. (must by 10)

Bestway (no website, in CA, not to be confused with VA chain- also note ads may be location-specific even within CA, so check local listing)

• oranges 8 lbs/$1
• roma tomatoes 3 lbs/$1
• pineapple 3 lbs/$1 
• Pagasa pasta 7 oz. 7 bags for $1
• yams 25c/lb.
• papaya 50c/lb.

El Super (website not up yet)

• lemons 50c/lb.
• papaya 50c/lb.
• white mushrooms 8 oz. 99c
• Gala apples 50c/lb.

Stater Brothers

• Quaker oats 42 oz. $1