Shopping @ the Panaderia

We have already introduced you to the supermarket and the feria, so today we will continue with our "Shopping @ ______" series with the local bread store (or the Panaderia).

Walking up a half block to the main street and then one block to the left is our local bread store. Out of all the places we shop, this is the store we go to EVERY DAY.

Why? Well, simply put...Chilean bread is made everyday. Chilean bread gets too hard after one day, thus Chileans buy bread everyday. Buying fresh bread is where it's at...something Wonderbread can't beat! At the Panaderia, you can buy more than just bread, but the bread is the main reason why people go there. Desserts, lunch meat, drinks, and other grocery items are sold there. My favorite dessert is called a "Berlin". It's a cream filled sweet bread pastry.

There are many different kinds of bread one could buy at the Panaderia. Our favorite is the Marraquetas (above), or as we call it, "Bullet Bread". Marraquetas can be broken into four smaller sections that look like little bullets.

Above are several other kinds of bread you can buy. It all depends on what you want to eat. If you are eating hot dogs, you buy hot dog buns. If you need dinner rolls, you buy dinner rolls. The beauty of the bread store is that you buy to the exact quantity you need. Each type of bread is in their own bin. You just grab a plastic bag and use it to pick out what you want. Each type of bread goes in a separate bag, since the price varies for each type of bread.

I recently tried a "doblada" (seen above). They are a flat bread that is folded twice.

The workers at the bread store know our family now, since we shop there often. They love the kids, of course, due to their blond hair. The other day, the cashier noticed Kristi's "little tummy" and asked when she was due. Then another time, Kristi was 30 pesos short (which is less than .10 cents), but the same cashier told her, "oh, don't worry, just bring it the next time you come." Shopping @ the Panaderia helps us become one with the community. People are watching us and we are watching them.

In the final Shopping @ post, we will tell you about the little neighborhood grocery store. Come back again to read that post.

Shopping @ the Supermarket

Continuing with our "Shopping @ ______" series, we move from shopping at the feria to shopping at the supermarket. In Chile, supermarkets are modern and plentiful. We shop at the supermarket every two weeks or so. Here are some reasons why...

Supermarkets here in Chile are similar to a Super Walmart, Super Target, or Meijer, in that they have more than just food. You can buy electronics, clothing, household items, and more.

We buy our meat at the supermarket. While you can buy meat elsewhere, the supermarket is probably the safest place to buy meat. Above: The fish and seafood section

Know your cuts of meat in Spanish! This chart was helpful to us rookie missionaries!

One benefit for shopping @ the supermarket is that they have occasional discounts and promotions. Above: The Lider supermarket offer 6% off on your entire bill on Mondays (if you sign up for their savings card).

Chile has changed in many ways in the last 15 years (since Kristi left for college). One of the changes is that one can get a wider selection of food items in the supermarket. For example: It was harder to find peanut butter on the shelves in the past, but now it's more available (but you will pay more, since it is imported).

Above: One can always tell what's imported by the Spanish sticker that is slapped on the back of the item. Salad dressing, chocolate chips, and taco seasoning are just a few things that are imported.

Another thing that we are getting used to is that food items are packaged differently here in Chile. Tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, and jams come in large packets and not glass jars or cans.

Milk is packaged in small boxes (always remember...small refrigerators) and they do not need to be kept cool until they are opened.

Ice cream comes in long boxes and not in large plastic tubs like in the States.

Overall, the Chilean supermarket is a fun place to shop. The layout is very organized and the checkout lines are very efficient. All the Chilean checkout assistants sit instead of stand; one thing I would have liked in the States when I worked at the grocery store. There is always someone to bag your groceries and put it in your cart for you. The small catch is that you tip them according to the size of your order (mostly anywhere from $.50 to $1.00).

Since we are still without a vehicle, both Kristi and I go to the supermarket together, thanks to Jodie. Our nearest supermarket is about 6 blocks away. We take our little shopping cart with to carry the groceries home. While the cart is handy for walking, it limits how much we can buy since we have to carry everything home.
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I haven't forgotten about the Chilean bread store. It will be posted in the near future. I am still compiling the appropriate pictures for that post.

Shopping @ the Feria

Shopping in Chile is...well...different.

Next series of posts entitled "Shopping @______", I want to explain why. Back in the States, one can get everything at a Super Wal-Mart or Costco, but here in Chile, one needs to drastically change HOW you buy food.

One of the first things to understand about the average Chilean home is that their refrigerators and kitchens are typically half the size of those in the US. When buying food, Chileans cannot store a large amount of food. They buy food more often and in less amounts. There are no runs to Costco, no extra fridge in the garage, and no large stash of frozen meat in the freezer.

Every Tuesday and Friday mornings there is a local neighborhood outdoor market (called a feria). The feria is around 4 blocks away. Fruits, veggies, spices, and other stuff can be bought there. All these things CAN be bought at a large modern grocery store, but you typically pay more money.

The fruit is very fresh and extremely good due to the summer growing season being in full swing. Can you see all of the green plastic bags at each stand? You grab a bag and tell the stand owner what fruit or veggie you want and how many kilos.

Above: The guy is weighing the carrots that Kristi picked out. Cost: 1 Kilo = 300 pesos (or 2.2 pounds of carrots = $0.50) By the way, carrots taste WAY better here than in the States for some reason.

Cucumbers cost 100 pesos each (or $0.16 each)

Plums cost 200 pesos per kilo (or 2.2 pounds of plums = $0.33). Compare these prices to your local grocery store the next time you walk through the produce section.

Besides fruits and veggies, you can buy cleaning products, clothing, and used items. As a rule, we only buy fruit and veggies at the feria. This is where you should start to understand why shopping is different here in Chile. It takes more time to shop...it takes more effort to save money. We desire to be wise stewards of our money, so we have attempted to shop like the Chileans.

The stand above sells peppers, flour, garlic, and other spices.

Then there is this guy who sells powdered spices in small plastic bags. Also in the background, you can see someone selling used and new clothing.

Shopping at the market is good for the ministry. You get to know the same vendors and develop relationships. It tells the people in your villa that you want to be like them...that you like the Chilean way of life...that you want to be a part of this community. I will gladly walk five blocks weekly to interact with the same people. While shopping is different here in Chile, there is a beauty to it that lends itself to more personal contact with the same people. As I (David) develop in language skills, daily shopping will be intentional and have duel purpose (buying the fruit and talking about my Savior).

In the next "Shopping @" post we will expose you to the wonders of the Chilean bread store!