C'ville Market

Finding a grocery store in Charlottesville isn't hard. There are lots of them, from the large (Sam's Club) to the boutique (Feast!) and everywhere in between. I tend to go to those closest, Foods of All Nations (which often translates as "Foods of All Prices" because much is often dear) and Harris Teeter (which is kind of like Nugget Markets for you West Coast readers). But I've enjoyed venturing off now and again. I stop in at Food Lion off the I-64 5th Street exit (they have a lot of Latin food items and at better prices than the specialty stores), Reid Supermarket (for the variety of cheap meats), and Integral Yoga (always has a variety of local apples the other stores don't, plus a better variety of wheat "meat"). I love the shopping experience at Whole Foods, but it's almost as out of the way as Sam's (which I refuse to join; solidarity with the downtrodden workers and all that).

Also a little out of the way, but well worth the trip, is C'Ville Market. It's in a warehouse-looking strip mall on Carlton Avenue, on the southwest side of town. You come in the doors, however, and it looks like a little country store, only with better service, and a walk-in refrigerated produce section, a treat in itself on summer days.

Yes, I'm a fan. And you can check out the specials each week on their site, http://www.cvillemarket.com/

Food on the block

Move over hunters and gatherers, and make way for those with the numbered paddles. According to the Associated Press, grocery auctions are gaining in popularity as an easy way to cut costs. The sales operate like regular auctions, but with bidders vying for dry goods and frozen foods instead of antiques and collectibles. Some auctioneers even accept food stamps. 

One story I read in the Baltimore Sun about a week ago on using up your pantry staples was interesting on its face, but when I called it up, I realized the only item on the list that had ever gone bad on me was tahini. (There's only so much hummus and tahini dressing two people can use, even if you throw parties regularly.) Here's the rest of the list; for suggestions on how to use them up before they go bad, click here.

Bananas - Capers - Carrots - Celery - Chipotles in adobo sauce - Cilantro - Cilantro - Coconut milk -Cottage cheese -  Egg whites - Egg yolks - Garlic - Mayonnaise - Oranges - Pumpkins - Ricotta cheese - Romaine lettuce - Scallions - Sour cream - Tahini - Tomato paste

Photograph: Auctioneer Kirk Williams calls out to costumers during a grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., earlier this month. As consumers seek relief from the recession and spiraling food prices, grocery auctions are gaining in popularity as an easy way to cut costs. (Matt Rourke / The Associated Press)