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American food in local gorcery stores

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Joe10156

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Joined: Apr 06, 2003
Posts: 139

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Posted: June 30, 2003 - 11:24 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

in shanghai are there any american type food in local grocery stores I am trying to look for some of the same food I used to buy in the united states and wanted to know of any in shanghai besides pepsi and coke if there is even any its a long shot but I thought I would ask Very Happy

lawdude

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Joined: Sep 20, 2002
Posts: 687
Location: No longer in Shanghai, PRC
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Posted: June 30, 2003 - 12:13 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Hi, Joe10156:

It depends what you\'re looking for. I\'ve found a fairly wide variety of U.S. snack foods available in Carrefour, a French-based grocery chain, as well as canned soups, pasta, fish (sardines, tuna, etc.--though not as large a selection as in the States). City Supermarket, located on Nanjing Xi Lu, has even more U.S.-branded items, but is pricey and overall a relatively small store. What I haven\'t found here (that ate often in the U.S.) is all-beef hotdogs and a good selection of cheese. But, Shanghai has such a variety of other foods that I have to say I don\'t think you\'ll go hungry or want for more variety.

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Michael

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Posted: June 30, 2003 - 12:46 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

There are a range of things.. Carrefour and City Markets are probably the best. There are things that city has the Carrefour doesn\'t and visa versa. The other option to learn how to make things to fill in the holes.

I regularly make salsa, granola ( will not pay 60RMb for junk sugar cereal). Helps to have an oven.. then you can make cookies and brownies and such.

Do take advantage of the the best local stuff as lawdude mentioned.

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Joe10156

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Posted: June 30, 2003 - 11:02 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

ok thanks I do have an oven in my apt it is fully furnished with dishwasher and a full range stove I might have to buy a microwave but that is easy

yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18054
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: July 01, 2003 - 04:00 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

My recent shopping trips to a few local markets (City Mart @ZhongShanBeiLu, and NewWorld DeptStores Supermarket@ZongShan park-ChangNing&DingXi) have garnered me quite a few home sourced US foods. This includes Mac and Cheese, Frosted Flakes, Miracle Whip, Betty Crocker cake mixes and pancake mix, Mary Ellen Jam, and McKormicks spices. I would recommend NOT expecting to find these things everytime, but I am glad to see that many local chains are starting to realise there is a market for these imported foods, even if Frosted Flakes (yes, not even \"Frosties\") cost me somewher in the neighborhood of 58rmb. I was still happy to eat Frosted flakes today AND read the box. Never thought that wopuld be a luxury.

Otherwise, Carrefour and City Super fill in some other blanks.

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PhatAV8r

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Location: Qingpu District, SHANGHAI
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Posted: July 01, 2003 - 07:27 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Another place that I haven\'t seen anyone mention is Metro. Unless something has changed, they used to stock a fairly decent assortment of western foods. I can remember getting Lay\'s potatoe chips, Pringles, miracle whip, ketchup, mustard, honey, Frosted Flakes, a kind of Coco puffs, and a number of other things. They also have a great MEAT room where they stock Hormel branded meats in packages. You can get hot dogs, bacon, canadian bacon, ham slices, and other things. With a little imagination, you can be eating BLT\'s or ham sandwichs just like at home. (Expecially since they also have wheat bread in loaves.).

Joe10156

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Posted: July 01, 2003 - 09:17 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

mostly what I am looking for is stuff to make cookies frozen pizza mac and cheese hot dogs stuff like that photo chips peanut butter grape jelly for sandwhices etc etc..... oh and pasta lots and lots of pasta and tomato sauce would be awsome to and of course coke pepsi sprite etc etc :D

[Edited on 1/7/2003 by Joe10156]

PhatAV8r

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Posted: July 01, 2003 - 09:22 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Michael,

Where do you get cilantro for your salsa? Do you grow it yourself? or does City Market have it in their vegetable stand?

yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18054
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: July 01, 2003 - 11:52 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Quote:

[Edited on 1/7/2003 by Joe10156]

Frozen pizza...hmmm, that will be a challenge. probably will cost close to a dozen local meals if you do find that...then again so do my Frosted Flakes!

Most stuff can be gotten, just not as convenient as we are used to. Then again, you may take a liking to some of the foods they have readily available here and braoden your horizons. Cool

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cornsey1011

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Joined: Mar 23, 2003
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Location: Shanghai...looking for a new abode
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Posted: July 01, 2003 - 12:06 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

I\'ve bought cilantro at Carrefour but you have to know what you are looking for as it is also known as Chinese Parsley and Coriander. Don\'t mix it up with regular parsley...you can tell by the smell.

Where is Metro? What I wouldn\'t do for some canadian bacon. It would be part of a great cure for the regular saturday maoming morning hangovers.

Michael

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Posted: July 01, 2003 - 12:20 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

I have never seen a good frozen pizza.. mostly I would just have one delivered if you are in PuXi .. that should not be a problem.

I have never had a problem buying cilantro. City Market has always had it.. Carrefour at GuBei often ( not all Carrfours carry the same stuff- by far the most \"expat\" product variety is at the GuBei).

I had a certain shopping groove... Gubei Carrefour for staples.. egs, milk bread, PB meat, oatmeal ( for making granola) fish frozen dumplings, any canned.. most pasta noodles. For tomato sauce.. there is a very cheap very good chinese brand in a small red can. I supllemented with vegies from City Market along with all the heavy stuff ( drinks, water, cat litter).. because they delivered COD. Their meat was also good. Was usually able to get a good cheese there including feta.

The closer Lian Hua supplemented vegies, BBQ pork, milk and other basics.

Once month I would stop by Shanghai center ( now the City Market instead of the welcome market) just to browse and pick up other stuff.. different drinks, Gold Medal flour from the US ( there is a difference in bread baking), good chewy french bread, cookies, cat food alternatives.

I woulld always pick up croissants at Croissant de France when ever I walked by.

There are several foreign companies here on joint ventures.. FritoLay ( you should be able to get a good price on potato chips), Hormel ( the only real bacon I have been able to buy).

There are still some big holes.. tortilla chips.. those over salted homogenized Dorito crap doesn\'t cut it, good cookies ( make your own).. mixes like cake and pancake.

So what local food should people try.. what are the local favorites?

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Joe10156

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Joined: Apr 06, 2003
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Posted: July 02, 2003 - 07:37 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Wow thanks for the information I will be sure to check out some local grocery stores this is usefull but mostly I think Iwill eat out its cheap heck pizza hut is 55 RMB for one person for delivery they will get to know me well hehe Very Happy

hkbookworm

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Joined: Aug 06, 2003
Posts: 6
Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Aug 06, 2003 - 01:55 PM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

If you want to make fab cookies, you can make them easily from a cake mix. Mix dry cake mix, 250 grams melted butter or margarine, two eggs togather. Add nuts, choc chips or crushed up candy bars, all work, then just mix togather. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet or tin pan for a small oven bake at 350 degrees F. You can also form into a roll and either put in fridge or freeze. If you use butter, the cookies will be crispy, if you use margarine, then they will be chewy. (you must use a 2 layer cake mix like Betty Crocker...) They are just like Mrs. Fields or as my collegues tell me, better than Mrs. Fields.....

MaryR.

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Joined: Aug 26, 2003
Posts: 317
Location: Shanghai!
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Posted: Aug 27, 2003 - 05:22 AM
Post subject: American food in local gorcery stores

Can you get chocolate chips?

I?m in Germany now, and I always load my suitcase up with them when I come from the states. I was hoping I could quit doing that at some point!!