Great Escape: Grocery Shopping in the Neighborhood

I recently did something I haven’t done for as long as I can remember: I went grocery shopping… alone. I should explain that I go to the grocery store roughly two to five times a week, but I always have my 2-year-old sidekick with me. 

I didn’t realize how much I missed a leisurely trip around the store without a rogue mini-cart crashing into my legs. I even relished the long line at the cash register because it gave me time to check out the tabloid headlines instead of removing gum, candy and magazines from the hands of the aforementioned toddler.

Sad? Definitely. But I’ll take my “me time” wherever I can get it.

The only drawback to the grocery store is that I have to get in the car to get there. I like to patronize neighborhood establishments as much as possible; it cuts down on my carbon footprint, and there’s something very “old world” about walking to the market to get food for the week.

Luckily, in Del Ray and Old Town, we have a lot of specialty stores that are walkable, owned by locals, and offer delicious food with expert advice. While the simple act of shopping and interacting with the knowledgeable employees provides a welcome break from the kids, many of the stores have regular events that offer another reason to head out on your own.

In Del Ray, it’s hard to miss the niche food shops because Mt. Vernon Avenue is relatively short, but in Old Town, you may not have noticed the outcropping of specialty stores that have appeared in the upper King Street area.

Old Town gourmet food stores include:

— Features artisan cheeses, charcuterie and small-production wines.

The Butcher’s Block — Attached to , this place bills itself as a European market, carrying breads, meats, cheeses, Belgian beers, value-priced wines, prepared food and take-home meals.

— The newest kid on the block offers fresh olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars from around the world. Olio’s grand opening is this Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Del Ray can meet your specialty food needs with the following establishments:

— A gourmet cheese boutique that offers cured meats and pates, unique wines and beers, and exotic antipasto ingredients. Take a break from shopping and check out the  or attend a cheese or wine class.

— A neighborhood butcher shop that offers pasture-fed, free-range and hormone-free meat and poultry. Its also offers many cuts of Kobe beef and will special order various meats by request.

If you add in the weekend , which offer produce, seafood and baked goods, it may be possible to get most of your weekly shopping done with just a walk through the neighborhood.

So next week, instead of trekking to the grocery store, pretend you’re European and try taking a stroll for your weekly order. You’ll be surprised at the wonderful new foods you’ll discover.