There are many, many perks to living in New York City. The restaurants, the shows, the museums, the shopping...I really could go on and on. But one of the downsides to living in New York City is the expense. It's not cheap trying to making a living in the CITY! And oddly enough, one of the most expensive parts of living in New York (besides the rent that is) is the cost of groceries in the city!
For example, on any given trip to my local grocery store, it could cost $4 for a can of soup, $6 for a box of cereal, or $8 for a quart of ice cream...with prices like these, it's no wonder we New Yorkers eat out so often!
Given the high cost of groceries in New York City and around the country, I was particularly excited when I picked up the August issue of O Magazine and I saw an article on eating "Gourmet on a Budget" by Rachel Mount. This interesting article includes 12 categories of food and wine, with tips on how to eat and drink better, but spend less. As Ms. Mount points out, we all want to eat better, but when it comes to gourmet cooking and drinking, what splurges are really worth it, and when is it OK to cut back? One example she gives is this...
"And yes, the pleasure you get form an aged prosciutto from Parma can be worth $25 a pound -- but not if it's crammed between bread and cheese in a panini (domestic charcuterie, including bacon or ham, will taste just as good). Save the prosciutto to serve with a tray of fresh summer melon and an aperitif."
Image from The Hip Hostess
Image from The Hip Hostess
Doesn't this make perfect sense?! The August issue of O Magazinewas the Big Deals Issue, and I found so many great ideas in this issue on how to live luxe for less! I will definitely share more ideas from this magazine with you in the future, but today I would like to focus on how we can all eat gourmet, shop and cook better, but also spend less. Here is an overview of Rachel Mount's tips on how you can eat gourmet but also be savvy while you shop for your groceries!
1. Fish and Seafood
Save: Buy frozen fish. Often times fresh seafood at the store has previously been frozen.
Splurge: Wild Alaskan Salmon. It's heart healthy and is ranked the "Best Choice" on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch list.
Save: Buy frozen fish. Often times fresh seafood at the store has previously been frozen.
Splurge: Wild Alaskan Salmon. It's heart healthy and is ranked the "Best Choice" on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch list.
2. Baking Ingredients
Save: Buy store brand sugar.
Splurge: Real vanilla extract! Artificial extract is made of synthetic vanillin. Real vanilla makes all the difference when you bake. (On a side note, I also learned this important tip from my SIL who is a master baker!)
Save: Buy store brand sugar.
Splurge: Real vanilla extract! Artificial extract is made of synthetic vanillin. Real vanilla makes all the difference when you bake. (On a side note, I also learned this important tip from my SIL who is a master baker!)
3. Cookware
Save: Cookie sheets and stockpots are great kitchen staples to save on!
Splurge: A top of the line skillet for recipes where the distribution of heat is an essential component of the final product. (We received a set of All-Clad pots and pans as a wedding gift and they are incredible. The quality of their products truly warrants the high price tag!)
Save: Cookie sheets and stockpots are great kitchen staples to save on!
Splurge: A top of the line skillet for recipes where the distribution of heat is an essential component of the final product. (We received a set of All-Clad pots and pans as a wedding gift and they are incredible. The quality of their products truly warrants the high price tag!)
4. Liquor
Save: When you are drinking clear liquors like vodka and gin with mixers, you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a good cocktail. Bloody Mary's anyone?!
Splurge: A fine liqueur that can top off many drinks to make them taste more expensive, like St. Germain. And when mixing cocktails, use fresh squeezed juices whenever possible.
Save: When you are drinking clear liquors like vodka and gin with mixers, you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a good cocktail. Bloody Mary's anyone?!
Splurge: A fine liqueur that can top off many drinks to make them taste more expensive, like St. Germain. And when mixing cocktails, use fresh squeezed juices whenever possible.
5. Wine
Save: Try wines that are new to you. You won't be paying for the name brand. (And my tip is to ask for help! Don't be embarrassed! If you give the person at your favorite wine store your budget and a description of what you like, you may be surprised at what they find for you.)
Splurge: Any wine you have a connection to which personally makes the high cost of the wine a wise investment for you. Also according to the authors of The Wine Trials, knowing that a wine is expensive often mentally makes us feel like it tastes better. So enjoy every sip of your splurge!
Save: Try wines that are new to you. You won't be paying for the name brand. (And my tip is to ask for help! Don't be embarrassed! If you give the person at your favorite wine store your budget and a description of what you like, you may be surprised at what they find for you.)
Splurge: Any wine you have a connection to which personally makes the high cost of the wine a wise investment for you. Also according to the authors of The Wine Trials, knowing that a wine is expensive often mentally makes us feel like it tastes better. So enjoy every sip of your splurge!
6. Spices and Herbs
Save: Buy generic, and use dried herbs in place of fresh. In dishes that are cooked, dried herbs often work very well.
Splurge: Fresh basil and parsley.
Save: Buy generic, and use dried herbs in place of fresh. In dishes that are cooked, dried herbs often work very well.
Splurge: Fresh basil and parsley.
7. Organics
Save: You can skip organic on fruits or vegetables with a thick skin, like bananas or oranges.
Splurge: Buy organic for sweet fruits and vegetables. This kind of produce is the most popular with bugs, and therefore is sprayed heavily.
Save: You can skip organic on fruits or vegetables with a thick skin, like bananas or oranges.
Splurge: Buy organic for sweet fruits and vegetables. This kind of produce is the most popular with bugs, and therefore is sprayed heavily.
8. Olive Oil
Save: When you cook with olive oil, it doesn't need to be expensive. Regular OO or vegetable oil will do.
Splurge: When drizzling foods with oil the quality of the product becomes more important. Use extra-virgin olive oil, and expect to pay at least $10 to $15 a bottle.
Save: When you cook with olive oil, it doesn't need to be expensive. Regular OO or vegetable oil will do.
Splurge: When drizzling foods with oil the quality of the product becomes more important. Use extra-virgin olive oil, and expect to pay at least $10 to $15 a bottle.
9. Coffee
Save: On the machines! An inexpensive French Press can make a great cup of coffee. And if you don't have time to freshly grind your beans every day, try Eight O'Clock coffee, it was the Consumer Reports winner.
Splurge: Freshly roasted beans, then grind them right before brewing. Fresh, fresh, fresh is what counts here.
Save: On the machines! An inexpensive French Press can make a great cup of coffee. And if you don't have time to freshly grind your beans every day, try Eight O'Clock coffee, it was the Consumer Reports winner.
Splurge: Freshly roasted beans, then grind them right before brewing. Fresh, fresh, fresh is what counts here.
10. Meat
Save: When wrapping things like shrimp or scallops with meat, it doesn't need to be fancy, simple bacon will do!
Splurge: Here Rachel cites a recent survey which showed that in a taste test of Whole Foods and Wal-Mart products, both store's products were indistinguishable to the tasters, except for the Wal-Mart factory chicken. When you buy chicken, buy organic! You will taste the difference! You also will be able to taste the difference when you buy grass-fed meat. This is definitely worth the splurge. And both of these practices support companies that are more humane in their treatment of animals.
Save: When wrapping things like shrimp or scallops with meat, it doesn't need to be fancy, simple bacon will do!
Splurge: Here Rachel cites a recent survey which showed that in a taste test of Whole Foods and Wal-Mart products, both store's products were indistinguishable to the tasters, except for the Wal-Mart factory chicken. When you buy chicken, buy organic! You will taste the difference! You also will be able to taste the difference when you buy grass-fed meat. This is definitely worth the splurge. And both of these practices support companies that are more humane in their treatment of animals.
11. Fruits and Vegetables
Save: Buy frozen when a fruit or veg is out of season. The nutrient levels are almost the same, and this way they won't go bad in your fridge.
Splurge: Take advantage of produce when it is in season, and pay extra for fresh local products. When you buy local corn on the cob, the memory will stay in your mind year round!
Save: Buy frozen when a fruit or veg is out of season. The nutrient levels are almost the same, and this way they won't go bad in your fridge.
Splurge: Take advantage of produce when it is in season, and pay extra for fresh local products. When you buy local corn on the cob, the memory will stay in your mind year round!
12. Cheese
Save: For cooking and salads you can use inexpensive cheese. For example, when you top off salads or pasta with Parmesan, a less expensive brand will do the trick!
Splurge: Splurge on cheese when you are serving it on it's own. For example, on a cheese plate, or when it is the main dish like in a cheese fondue.
Save: For cooking and salads you can use inexpensive cheese. For example, when you top off salads or pasta with Parmesan, a less expensive brand will do the trick!
Splurge: Splurge on cheese when you are serving it on it's own. For example, on a cheese plate, or when it is the main dish like in a cheese fondue.
In Rachel Mount's article she goes through each of these topics in a little more depth. If you have the time I suggest you check it out on the O Magazine website. Here's a link to Rachel's article "12 Ways to Eat Well on a Budget."
Do you have any tips on how to eat gourmet on a budget?
I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, and hopefully these savvy gourmet shopping tips from Rachel Mount and O Magazine come in handy when you are at the store this weekend!
I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, and hopefully these savvy gourmet shopping tips from Rachel Mount and O Magazine come in handy when you are at the store this weekend!
