I love that line from Shrek 2. I just happen to think it's funny. And it makes a nice segue to talk about today's shopping adventure at Fiesta Food Mart (#10) in Houston.
I had passed the thing for years before I ever stopped to shop. A visit to the Fiesta store in Austin actually broke the ice, so to speak. It was a special errand that showed me whole new options for shopping. Not that I ever get to shop at Fiesta in Austin--it's really too far away to be a practical option.*
The Fiesta here in Houston, however, is so close that I have no excuses not to try it out. Once I finally did, it has become a regular stopping place for fresh vegetables and certain canned goods.
Today's visit came at the end of a series of errands that had left me limping. I was just too tired to go any further, but I still had to get enough food for a couple of important meals. This is usually the point at which I start looking for an electric cart.
I've used one once before at this Fiesta, so I knew where to look. There were two available, but one was out of order. The second looked like it had been through a war. I asked for assistance and--as usual--promptly got it from management staff. She checked the machine, assured me that it worked, and then left me to it. I had to take a moment to reorient to the quirks of the controls, but enjoyed sharing that moment with a little girl who was taking her first ride on the mechanical pony. I waved as I pulled out and said, "Ride 'em, cowgirl!" She waved back, having shed her initial tears for a happy grin.
I should point out that the ambience of this store begins on the sidewalk outside. There is a small trailer that sells roasted ears of corn and other delights. There is a long outdoor clothing shop with everything from cocktail dresses to jammies for the kiddos. The piped in music is lively, usually vintage rock and roll (I'm not the only one who has felt like dancing in the aisles at Fiesta).
Inside, there is a snack bar, an ice cream stand, and other amenities which make this grocery store more like a mall. You can, after all, buy more clothes inside as well as dishes and other household items, including refrigerators!
It's the food that attracts, however. Fiesta does the best job in this part of town in stocking a wide variety of fresh vegetables. There is more emphasis on tropical and south-of-the-border fruits, veggies, and peppers (lots of variety there), but zucchini and other "regular" items are available. I have been pleased with the quality as well as the variety. I even like the plastic bags that Fiesta provides for your produce--easy to open gets a gold star in my book. (Yes, we recycle or reuse the plastic.)
Two "treats" awaited me in the produce section today. One was hearing a cricket while I was picking out new potatoes. I know that the thought of critters in a food store is a major "ick factor," but crickets make me happy. If Sam's Club can have birds flying around the rafters, I guess it's okay for Fiesta to give us a little serenade among the vegetables. The second "treat" was seeing a bin of Black Diamond watermelons. This watermelon has always been "it" for me. I grew up with this variety, indeed didn't know that there were other varieties until I was a teenager, and miss its sweet flavor every time I am disappointed by whatever else is being made available these days. These melons were on the small side and priced per melon ($4.99). I would have bought one regardless of the size or the price if I hadn't been so tired.
My other "mission" at Fiesta was to snag some of their canned tomatoes. I have been quite satisfied with their house brand (Fiesta) and delighted with the wide variety of tomatoes available in the house brand: Italian style, southwestern style, diced, diced with green chiles, sliced, whole, and the list goes on. I picked up several of each variety. Why shop in Houston to haul back to Austin? Even with gas prices what they are, Fiesta has the best price in the state. At 2 cans for $1, we are still saving money. So I loaded down the basket on my cart with as many cans as I could.
At check out, yet another manager stepped up to help me unload. The people at this store have been uniformly friendly and helpful to me. On a day like today, they were appreciated more than they knew. Jose's help to the van was especially helpful on such a hot day.
One issue that did arise was trying to figure out the expiration date on the canned tomatoes. There is a code on the bottom of each can but no clear date. Even the manager was stumped by this one. I will have to call Fiesta's corporate offices to get the key to the code--or at least let them know that these codes are not appreciated.
I guess I will take the opportunity, when I call, to let them know that I really wish that they could get their sale flyers up on the internet. That way I can make a printed list of sale items that I want to get before I go to the store. (More on this subject later on.)
*It seems there is now a second Fiesta in Austin. Sadly, this new one is too far east for us. An occasional visit is not out of the question, tho. I'm glad to see that Fiesta is expanding in Austin again.
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