21 Comments
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Vanilla Black's avatar

Funny and true.

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annie yu's avatar

I’m inside día every other day since it’s the closest supermarket near me. Wish I could shop more at Mercadona but día has most of what I need. I also go to Mercado de la cebada and brave the marujas getting fish

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

If I was the pesada of Mercadona I would say oh no poor you but lucky you having a market nearby it's little a free Spanish culture class.

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annie yu's avatar

I also found the most beautiful yellow and red cherries (rainier cherries) in Mercado de la cebada. Usually that variety is grown in the US so I don’t often see that type here in Spain! I love the Mercado for finding gems like that

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

Love cherry season! Wonder if they are imported.

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annie yu's avatar

I asked in the best Spanish I could muster and the guy said they are from Aragón!

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annie yu's avatar

It truly is! We notice which stands seem to be popular with the marujas and they often go at a certain time to stock up on fish. We have about 2 fish places that we go to regularly, as well as a carnicería and a pollería that we like within the Mercado

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

They know best those ladies!

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Ángel V Gonzalez's avatar

Si fuera rico iría al Sánchez Romero.

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

Te puedes casar con un futbolista!

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Rebecca Weston's avatar

I moved from Valencia to a town in northern Spain of 6500. Was surprised to see people rarely lock up their carritos here!

And yes -- the canned tomato aisle totally threw me for quite some time. As I advanced in my knowledge of the language, things got better, but--after four years in Spain --we've only been to the fish counter with people who are much more experienced 😅

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Kaila Krayewski's avatar

This was such a handy guide, Blanca. Thank you so much! I'm moving to Valencia in August, so I will be sure to save this. I've been a couple times already, I already have my shopping trolley, though I don't know if it's a rolster!!! I'm really looking forward to the supermarket trips. They just feel so much more aligned and wholesome in Spain.

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

Hola Kaila disfruta! I especially love the fishmonger part.

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Susan Bee's avatar

Am I incorrect in likening DIA to shopper’s food warehouse? I well remember your horror when I unwittingly brought you there lo these MANY years.

Loved this, BTW. 👏👏

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

Shopper's Food Warehouse is a little better in design terms but Dia has better food. That food shopping excursion left a deep scar that years of shopping in fancy food shops has not healed. Thanks for reading Susan!

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Claire Ivins's avatar

Ooh, you have brought back some traumatic memories of my year abroad in Spain as part of my degree and having to learn the etiquette of Spanish shops. (It was a long time ago and I was in a small town with no large supermarkets or Corte Inglés.) Now I adore a stroll around a Spanish supermarket, or a Corte Inglés food hall, it’s better than a trip to the theatre, and if there are pulses in little cloth bags I will get absolute cravings.

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

I can imagine shopping in a small town must come with its challenges especially if there are few guiris. You are right El Corte Ingles is like theater and now that they have a bar at many Club del Gourmet you can observe the people too.

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Steve's avatar

Mercadona also has the best fridges... the perfect place to refresh at 3pm, when all Andalucia is sleeping or baking in 40 degree heat...

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

so true...and also they are dead quiet then!

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Shawn Hennessey's avatar

This was fun. For the record I only food shop at either Corte Inglés or one of the local markets near me (Sevilla). Then again I’m not shopping for a family of six.

I think I am on my third Rolser by now, foldable cobalt blue with frozen food pocket (though I secretly long for a Reisenthel).

Maruja is also the name of a lovely manzanilla sherry. 🥂

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Blanca Valencia's avatar

El Corte Inglés is unbeatable. Hmm intrigued by Reisenthel! I also saw wicker carrito which would be a dream. I tried that sherry the other day in Faralá in Granada. It was fantastic!

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