Getting to know more local grocers

Rising food prices don’t affect everyone, only the majority. Yet the majority are the voiceless and it always appears to be up to ordinary citizens to find solutions to any social problem. 

One example is Creatively United. They highlight eight apps that will help Canadians curb food waste and they provide community resources for those wanting to become more engaged.

We all feel powerless from time to time but small incremental changes can result in bigger long term shifts in our practices.

So while CEOs and lawmakers talk themselves in circles and we look angrily on, what can be done today? I suggest, as much as possible, rejecting the big chains and getting to know instead your local shopkeepers who are invested in their communities. 

Give them your trade, build relationships with living, breathing people who can give something back to you in the form of a smile, the way it’s been done for hundreds of years.

I know it will be difficult to separate yourself from that robotic voice at the self-service checkout, where with every transaction you are fractionally complicit in the elimination of human jobs, but you’ll be fine. With a smile and a kind word we can nurture ourselves back to health.

This is a deep subject and it’s easy to go down various rabbit holes, but we have a tour to go on.

Lavergne Western Beef

• Name + address: Lavergne Western Beef, 3971 Navan Rd.

Lavergne Western Beef has been on the landscape for decades but I’m not taking it for granted that everyone knows of it. A dear friend, who’s spent her life in Ottawa, didn’t know it existed.

Along with freshly baked eastern European breads, they bring in naturally brined pickles and sauerkraut from Montreal each week. They support local businesses such as egg farmers ($4.49 a dozen) and carry pies and tourtieres from La Binerie in Plantagenet.

You’ll also find dozens of imported products from Europe but the bulk of the business is focused on meat.

Lavergne is a key supplier for many restaurants and they do a very large trade with the general public. I’ve shopped with them for years and they are nothing if not efficient. With the heavy traffic, they need to be. One tip: don’t go first thing on a Saturday morning. Everyone has the same idea. Late morning to noon is better.

They carry every meat generally found in the market and offer a broad selection of their own charcuterie, smoked products, and sausages. Shopping here for sandwich meats compared to chain grocers will save you a good deal money and I find their products generally better.

One extra nice feature is that Lavergne will also do custom orders for things like sausages. You can provide them with your own recipes and seasonings and they will make them for you with a minimum order of 10 kg. Share an order with friends and enjoy a different BBQ season.

Geeland

• Name + address: Geeland, 1620 Walkley Rd.

At Geeland they manage to cram the entire globe into their shop. You’ll find foods from the Philippines, Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico, China and on and on.

This is a good destination for those who like to cook from scratch. They offer a large selection of pulses, legumes, rice and spices and even offer fresh turmeric. Frozen, larger-volume boxed meats such as oxtail are available and they even carry unique sodas from India.

If you need a bite on the go, they have a selection of warm patties at the checkout counter. Geeland’s prices are fair and the selection is rather exciting.

Spice Divine

• Name + address: Spice Divine, 1541 Merivale Rd. 

I was looking to do a story for an upcoming Pizza Safari when I came across Spice Divine. I stood in the pizza shop for 10 minutes ringing the bell. No reply came and so I left for this shop next door.

The one thing that has often impressed me about Indian prepared/processed foods is how clean their labels can be with ingredients that everyone can pronounce. If you can’t pronounce it, the advice is to not buy it. . 

You see, for vegetarians this is a bit of a holiday as Spice Divine has done the work for you: everything they sell is vegetarian.This includes the entirely unique dried fruit samosas.

It’s not uncommon for people to think that all vegetarian in an Indian shop is a no brainer but as with any cuisine pre-made and frozen foods are convenience buys and often that can include meats. Psychologically it’s a benefit for the consumer knowing that they won’t have to think twice before buying.

Being a bit peckish at this point I ordered a Hakka (Indo-Chinese origin) noodle dish and lassi from their in-shop restaurant.

Both were very nice and fairly priced. The portion of noodles was substantial and while I would have liked a little more punch in flavour, it was an adequately seasoned dish with a slow, creeping heat that never overwhelmed.

Universal Grocery

• Name + address: Universal Grocery, 140 George St.

As at Geeland, Universal Grocery covers much of the map in the foods they present. Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, Asia and Southeast Asia are all represented. 

Given the state of the ByWard Market, it’s nice that they have a good selection of fruits and veggies for those looking to cook traditional dishes from their homelands.

It’s a broad selection and they even have a take-away counter of delicious and hot African foods in case you just want to eat, rather than cook, when you get home.

Mergi Shop

• Name + address: Mergi Shop, 382 Rideau St.

You will find items from China, Taiwan and Korea here but the focus is largely on products from Japan.

There was a time when they sold A5 Wagyu beef but at $40 per 100 g, I expect this was not sustainable in the business model.

They still do sell frozen meats and savouries such as these excellent dumplings made in the United States. As of this writing they are the nicest tasting frozen version I’ve yet had.

Where this shop really shines however is in all that’s bad for you. Dozens of unique sodas and juice, tea and coffee concoctions, candies galore and mad flavours of potato chips such as pork meatball and ribeye steak. 

But you ought to try the frozen packaged cakes with flavours such as Matcha or Earl Grey tea. They come from a manufacturer in Toronto and are relatively clean label but truly delicious.

Wissam Fruits

• Name + address: Wissam Fruits, 888 Meadowlands Dr. E.

Wissam is one of those produce purveyors where you’ll find all the staples, but also the occasional fruit or veg that is unique. 

Their stock does rotate frequently with much that is fresh and other items more deeply discounted when they’re close to the sell by date.

If you’re in the neighbourhood, it’s worth checking what’s on offer as the prices are very good and you’ll like the selection.

Suggested stories

• Green Fresh is downtown Ottawa’s best choice for Asian foods.

• Fab food is found at family run shops.

• Enjoy this Merivale grocery tour.