Not all the stores within the franchise chains stock the same items. Neither do the ‘Alimentaria’ which even though these mini grocery stores are all named the same thing and look similar, they are not affiliated and are privately owned. We go to four different stores regularly. This does not count buying fruits and veggies directly from the farmers at the central market (that is, all together a future post.) One store we go to just for peanut butter. Peanut butter is not commonly eaten so we get triple takes of appraising looks buying a bunch of very small jars of peanut butter and nothing else. If the purchase seems that odd, I wonder what they are thinking we are doing with all of this ‘nut paste’.
Security is important to grocery stores. In the U.S., I was usually unaware of the security because of the hidden cameras and undercover security guards posing as shoppers. Here, each store has unarmed, uniformed security guards at the entrance and exit. There are lockers for you to store your bags in before entering the storeThe entrances have metal gates that you pass through. I am not sure the purpose of the gates, I guess to keep people from going ‘out’ the ‘in’. There are also ‘no photo’ signs. I am confused by the amount of concern over the taking of pictures at the grocery store. Not only are all the stores warning against it but when I snuck a camera in to snap a picture of the amazing pastry display, a security guard stood next to me to make sure I erased the photo. This photo is my third attempt of capturing a quality pastry case delightful enough to enchant the judges at the Pastry World Cup. Yes, yes there is such a thing.
Like American grocery stores, there are sales and promotions. One day, a pack of cigarettes was being handed out to everyone who walked in the door. We were unable to explain that we did not want the cigarettes so as the personnel was trying to thrust them toward us we had to jump away.
Large fish swimming around fishtanks labeled “CRAP”. I know this translates to ‘carp’ but try telling these fish who can’t seem to make eye contact.
Hearty samples of beer. Beer is not considered alcoholic here so a free glass of beer is quenching like the Moldovan version of a drinking fountain.
An entire aisle of candies and tea biscuits. Hard fruit candies, turkish delight and a sweeping array of bags of individually wrapped chocolates. Very sophisticated chocolates. Locally made truffles and multi-layered filled candies to rival Ferrero Rocher.
The meats are in odd cuts the likes of which we did not learn in culinary school. We only eat meat a couple of times a month as we are into eating healthy but it is nice to know the animals here are raised and fed the way nature intended. Farm animals here are not genetically modified, not given antibiotics or hormones. and are free to roam. No joke about the free roaming, along the countryside highways cows graze on the shoulders of the road.
Many products are different. They have Lays potato chips but with a few additional flavor choices such as Chicken (with a pic of a big drumstick lying on a potato), Paprika and Wild Mushroom and Cream. Whoa now all my fellow mushroom lovers, do not be too hasty. Eating mushroom potato chips is a truly unique experience. When I thought of it as eating freeze dried mushrooms intended for space, it was pretty good. When my brain said, wait a minute, these are potato chips, it broke the suspension of disbelief leaving me with an earthy, woodsy taste in my mouth and a disappointed feeling in my heart.
There are breakfast cereals to go with the milk that comes in plastic bags. There are recognized cereals bearing a close likeness to Tony the Tiger and several different priced boxes of the same cheese curl shaped sugar puffs all with a different Moldovan cartoon on the front. Consumerism pitfalls are more easily recognizable when simplified to multiple packaging options of the same product. We are trying to cut down on packaging so we opt for the half size cereal bags of ‘cornflakes iced with a tasty’ and o’s labeled as ‘appetizing ringlets’.
The experience of shopping and cooking in Moldova adds excitement from the unknown. New is good. Even if we don’t care for a new flavor, we don’t want to miss the chance to try it. Isn’t it good to venture outside of the comfort zone for a new experience?
This Moldovan Life 
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