Supermarket Smarts: What $40 Can Get You at Seattle's Mekong Market
There is a world out there beyond Kroger and Safeway and their warehouses full of expensive processed food. Asian markets in Seattle are a good alternative for those seeking to go beyond a room full of products that are essentially all sold by the same handful of conglomerates.
Here’s $40 well-spent at Mekong Market in Seattle. I have rice in the pantry and add that to this hoard and we have at least three family meals, or 12 servings, at under $3.50 per meal - and we’re talking Nirvana Wok feast meal here.
Ground pork, chicken breast, pork tenderloin, Chinese broccoli, meat-filled Thai mystery pastry treats, bell peppers, green onions, ramen, dill, cucumber, bean sprouts, mushrooms, cilantro, Sriracha sauce, onions and shallots.
A Small Donation
A common sight when I’m out and about in Seattle or in this case in front of Mekong Market: someone hunched over smoking fentanyl. This always reminds me of one of Kurt Vonnegut’s descriptions of post WWII Europe, where he talked about countless middle aged and elderly people with no family or home or money or prospects, wandering the bombed out streets. He wasn’t being cruel when he called them “nameless, shapeless rag bags,” just accurate.
This guy. Discarded by society. An addict. Very few options — in our age of austerity — for anything other than incarceration. I gave him five bucks. Doesn’t solve any long term problems for anybody, but maybe it gave him temporary comfort.
Billionaires should pay their fair share of taxes.
—Alex
From Ballard Market (I asked them what happened to my hot lunch):
"Hi Willis,
I'm sorry you forgot your wallet the other day! I'm not sure what you meant about your hot food, but I can explain what we typically do if people forget their payment method. Usually we ask if you will be back within an hour and if you will we hold your groceries in different locations in the store depending on if they need refrigeration or kept hot so that when you come back we can pull up your order and it's ready to go. If you're not coming back we re-stock the merchandise. Unpaid for hot food goes back to the Deli to dispose of. Hopefully I was able to answer your question. Thank you for shopping at our Market!
Sincerely,
Jenny"
Went to Costco last week to check out their organic items. A fair selection. Veggies were CHEAP. Of course everything packaged in Clamshells. Spinach and lettuces were cheap. Cheese is really good price 17.79 for a big ass chunk of Italian parmesan. Of course being a vegetarian is great for food prices. PCC is like shopping on Rodeo Drive!