Love. Hoboken. Food.
Valentine's Day Prospects at Local Food Stores
By Cate Wells
Big Grocery Stores: A&P and ShopRite have a large selection of food and cross-section of customers. Because you never know what (or who) you’ll find at the seafood counter, consider showering first. Plus the contents of a cart tell a lot about someone. All frozen dinners and cat food? Not a good sign.
Gourmet Markets: Specialty meats? Imported from Italy? Sobsey's and Garden of Eden are great places to find something or someone unique, but beware of those on the prowl for a sugar mama or sugar daddy. Ask an attractive fellow shopper for help picking an artisanal cheese or some special produce---how about some ripe tomatillos for Salsa Verde.
Standard Corner Stores: It's easy to run into your nice-looking neighbors and start a conversation about the scary bananas or your go-to munchies---bodega pork rinds or Korean mystery snacks. But it's hard to get a sense for someone's style when everyone's in sweatpants.
Health Food Stores: Basic Food and Hoboken Farmboy are the places to go for all things healthy and whole-grain. If you don't know the difference between certified humane or naturally raised, just ask someone cute. Crunchy customers love to share their eco-wisdom. While you're at it, get some organic veggies and pasta for Rocco’s Risotto
Specialty Shops: Long weekend lines at Carlo's might give you time for some good people watching, but who's looking to meet a Cake Boss-obsessed family from Mahwah? Try the line at Fiore's instead for some good mutz and delicious local flavor. Chat up others to learn the proper way to order (hint: forget the lettuce and tomato).
Cate Wells is an Un-Valentine's Day expert and blogger at Breakup Cookbook, devoted to catharsis through cooking and sanity through sautéing. Because if you eat a slice of cheesecake, you’ll only feel better for a minute; but if you learn to make cheesecake, you’re ready for whatever comes your way. ◦
