| Groceries |
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Grocery shopping in Gozo will probably be unlike what you are used to in North America. There are no huge supermarkets with aisle after aisle stacked high with the newest, most improved products. On the other hand, you will experience a new level of freshness and service when buying food. Obviously, European meats and cheeses are the default here and food prices for many of these items are less than you will pay in North America. This article outlines the information you need to know to get the best food for the best price. It also includes a comprehensive list of grocery prices. Grocery Stores: Each village in Gozo has several small grocery stores (think the size of a North American convenience store but with all the grocery basics). These little grocery stores generally have a wide variety of canned and packaged food items, cleaning and household supplies, freshly baked goods from several local bakeries, a small fruit/vegetable section, a small dairy case, a freezer section with some frozen meats and ready-to-heat meal items, and a deli counter. In Victoria there are also a few larger supermarkets with a greater selection. The Arkadia food store in the basement of the Arkadia complex on Fortunato Mizzi Street is the closest thing to a North American style supermarket that you will find on Gozo. Arkadia has roomy aisles, big carts and multiple checkouts. The Arkadia Complex is adjacent to a parking lot with a 90 minute time limit and the complex has elevators, making it a good choice on the island for anyone with mobility issues. We go there for some premium brand foods that are hard to find elsewhere, but we find that the prices are a bit higher on everyday stuff. Shop around and find your local store and then you can supplement with periodic shopping trips in Victoria. Butchers: Every village also has several butchers and again you should visit them all and find your favorite. Standards of neatness and service vary, but once you find a good butcher you will be set. These butcher shops are like the ones that were standard in North America 50 years ago, where you can ask advice and chat about the best cut of meat for a particular recipe, and have your purchase trimmed and prepared to your exact specifications. For selection in meats and fish, nothing beats the big Miracle Foods frozen food store on Fortunato Mizzi in Victoria, which has large cuts and portion cuts of beef, pork, veal, poultry of all sorts, game meats, seafood, and also other frozen food items. Fruit and Vegetable Trucks: One of the first things you will want to ask your new neighbors about in Gozo is the schedule of the local fruit and vegetable truck. These trucks spend most of the day going from street to street in each village selling fresh and imported fruits and vegetables, eggs, homemade (unpasteurized) sheep's cheeses, homemade wine, and so on. You will get the best prices and freshest goods from these street hawkers, whom you can also find in the mornings in most village squares and near the bus terminal in Victoria. We never buy our fruit and vegetables at stores unless we have missed the truck and are in need of some particular item. Bakeries/Confectionaries: If you are simply looking to buy a loaf of fresh bread or some rolls you may just as well buy from your local store, where it will be just as fresh and nearly as cheap (bread is a bargain in Gozo). Fancy pastries such as pies, cakes, and individual assorted pastries are much less expensive here than in North America and for this you can visit one of the confectionaries or dolcerias (almost every village has one) to choose from their mouthwatering display cases. Fish: There are fish trucks that make the rounds several times per week. Rather than just honking his horn like the other truck vendors do, the fish man's resonant voice calls out his wares. Also, a wide variety of frozen fish is available in grocery stores and at the Miracle Foods frozen food outlet in Victoria. Typical Food Prices (in Maltese currency: Update to reflect Euro pricing COMING SOON):
Canned/Packaged: Bakery: Meat and Fish: Dairy: Deli: Fruit and Vegetables (truck prices): Alcohol: |
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