Revisiting Aldi

Last fall, Aldi opened a new store in Eldersburg, Maryland, not far from where I live. I wrote a blog about my first experience shopping there. But I thought it might be time for an update as I have found some new products that deserve a mention.

Although our Maryland Aldi is not allowed to carry wine, my friend Patti was kind enough to pick up a couple of bottles in West Virginia so we could taste Aldi wine. The Winking Owl Cabernet Sauvignon costs a mere $2.89 per bottle! While my husband found it too sweet and grapey, calling it a "child's wine," I was not put off by its immaturity. Yummy, fruity, and quite drinkable, I think it would pair well with PB and J sandwiches and Hostess cupcakes. But don't take my word for it. I am very far from a connoisseur!! On the other hand, the Malbec pictured above was thin, tart, and slightly harsh on the palate.

In my last blog, I discussed some of the organic foods Aldi carries. Recently I purchased an organic whole chicken at Aldi for $2.49 per pound. This is about 20 cents less per pound than the organic chicken we usually buy at Trader Joe's. I found the quality to be great--about the same as Trader Joe's. All the innards--heart, gizzard, neck, and liver--are included. This is especially important to me as I always make chopped chicken liver as well as bone broth, using absolutely every part of the bird. If you've never tried chopped chicken liver, you are missing out on a traditional Jewish delicacy!

Another excellent organic product at Aldi: the organic large brown chicken eggs. These are $3.49 per dozen, a great price. The quality is also excellent, but check the eggs carefully as I often find cracked ones. The cashiers at Trader Joe's always carefully check the eggs for you, in case you forget, but the cashiers at Aldi are much more concerned with SPEED. They are whipping through the checkout process like they are being chased by a grizzly bear.

Produce is often the cheapest at Aldi. In the past, I have found one pound bags of baby carrots for 49 cents. This week, avocados are 49 cents while other stores are selling them for over a dollar each. Frozen baby Brussels sprouts are only 55 cents for a one pound bag.

Aldi also has an aisle for Limited Time Only bargains. I found peanut butter with ground flax and chia seeds in this special aisle. I should have purchased an entire case because the following week, it had disappeared completely. Sad face. This aisle is definitely worth perusing! The special items vary each week, but are always attractively priced.

These are just a few of the bargains you might pick up at Aldi. While you always need to read the labels carefully--because their low-priced, non-name-brand products might contain crap you want to avoid--you can often find good or even great quality stuff at an amazingly fantastic price!