A New Romance!
"I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!" - Buddy the Elf
Yeah, you read that correctly.
I’ve found a new love in my life, one that I wasn’t expecting, especially in the small Texas town I currently live in. Life is surprising like that!
Spoiler: it’s a grocery store. I struggled to find a clever, dramatic punchline to break the news I wasn’t in a relationship, but I’d rather just tell you straight.
It’s Aldi. I. Love. Aldi.
Before I get into my long-winded “why”, I’m going into grave detail about my first grocery love, HEB.
True Love or Positive Reinforcement?
My love for HEB stems from my childhood. My mom would always take me to HEB with her, and every time we’d go, I’d get something from the pastry case in the bakery section. My go-to was the “zebra” donut, 9 times out of 10. I’m no parent, but I will say if your kid wants to throw a fit in the store, GIVE THEM A DONUT.
Both my mom and my Siti shopped similarly, and have passed down their habits to me.
Making a paper list: it sounds silly but I can’t go to the store without one, I refuse.
Always starting in produce, then deli/bakery, then everything else.
While I couldn’t say for certain if my Siti loved HEB, she was a frequent visitor. She’d always pay with a check too, which I don’t even think is an option today. A part of me wants to believe when she went to HEB, she’d think of her family-run grocery store in our hometown during the 70s before HEB came into the picture.
One thing that made me think of my Siti while writing this is how funny trips with her were as she got older. Funny now, stressful then. She’d always insist on buying way more than she needed, “just in case any of the kids come over”. Girl, who are the kids? And why would you prepare ten pounds of rump roast or pork chops for them? Was I going to question Siti? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I remember she always went in the mornings before the busy crowds, where she could take her time and look at everything the store offered. That’s how I like to grocery shop too. I love to wander and go down every aisle if I’m able. When I first moved out, one of my favorite comforts was going to HEB. My first apartment complex was 2 minutes away from our HEB, and one of my FAVORITE things was going shopping early in the morning, before the crazy crowds and any of my classes.
Going shopping in the morning is a completely different atmosphere. Time goes slower, people are kinder, it’s very relaxing.
HEB reminds me of my hometown, old friends, and familiarity wherever I go in Texas. But recently, it hasn’t felt the same. This is probably too dramatic for what it is, it’s literally a grocery store, they honestly, only want my money. But, no store does more, right?
Reasons Aldi has taken the lead in my love of grocers…
Cheaper goods all around. In this economy? I’m not going to complain! The produce at Aldi is what surprised me the most. The quality of what you pay for, for the most part, is a great deal.
Fun unheard of brands. This sounds sarcastic, but I think it’s hilarious. I have never in my life heard of the majority of the brands at Aldi, but I’m not complaining!
Eco-friendlier! If you’ve never been to an Aldi, you have to “pay” to use a cart by inserting a quarter into the cart’s handle. Once you’re finished shopping, you click your cart back into the station and get your quarterback, it’s genius. Also, no plastic bags! They encourage you to bring your own or have paper bags to buy at the register. We love to see it.
Trader Joes-Esque? Debatable. Listen, if Trader Joe had a socially awkward friend who’s actually cool, but gives off bad first impressions, it’d be Aldi. Some of the products you find in Aldi (especially seasonal) reak of creative liberties exercised by Mr. Joe, but not always greatly executed. A for effort, though!
THE BEST CHEESE SELECTION, HANDS DOWN. If you are looking for fun charcuterie board ingredients without spending your entire paycheck, Aldi is your girl. Their cheeses are high quality at a low price, along with their cured meat selections. Their cracker/bread selections are fun and cheap. Also, their three-dollar wine to finish it off? Not too shabby!
95% of this board was purchased at Aldi and was spectacular.
In the end, I will always love HEB.
As I was writing this, I actually went to HEB for groceries and was reminded of how much I really do love her. She’s friendly, she reminds me of the people I love most, and she’s everywhere I go (at least in Texas). I always think about how if I move out of Texas, I’ll be losing her, but that’s a future problem for the future me.
For now, I’m thankful for zebra donuts, good cheese, and cult-following Texan stores.
With love,
Cara