Shopping Independent Grocers in Eastern DuPage County, Illinois

Shopping Independent Grocers in Eastern DuPage County, Illinois - Always on the hunt for interesting and inexpensive fresh foods, I've pushed my cart through various specialty markets and ethnic grocery stores. These alternatives to the big supermarkets in the area (Jewel, Dominick's, and Cub Foods) offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats that are often higher in quality, and less expensive, than what is available at the major grocery chains. Recently, my favorite grocery store has been Villa Park Fruit and Meat, located on North Avenue at Addison Road (302 W. North Ave, Villa Park, IL). I don't expect to find Whole Foods quality produce in the same shopping mall as the 5 Star Swap Mart and the Homeowners Bargain Outlet, but that's exactly what they have.

The store is an old-school fruit market with an emphasis on Hispanic foods. Painted signs in the windows advertise the specials (Queso Cheese, 2 for $5!). Inside, the produce is arrayed neatly, stacked Whole-Foods style, but without the fancy lighting. The produce department is exceptionally well-stocked, though with an emphasis on herbs and foods popular in Mexican cooking. Last weekend when I visited, I filled my car with two kinds of mangos, grapefruit, strawberries (2 pounds for $3), plantains, and knob onions.

The meat department, which is well-staffed by people who know how to trim meat properly, offers fresh meats at very low prices. Cuts are skewed towards what would be popular and useful in Mexican cooking. Seafood is fresh and varied, with unusual choices such as whole fish and fresh octopus. On the day I visited, I saw fresh, never frozen head-on shrimp. A deli offers sliced cold cuts for prices well less than at the Jewel ($5.99/lb for sliced Sara Lee turkey).

The packaged food, dairy, and bakery departments are skewed towards the store's target market, but the quality and low prices make it worth a special trip for anyone.

If you are visiting North Avenue in Villa Park, it's a good idea to also stop at the Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, at 220 E North Avenue. This small shop offers a much more diverse array of fresh, frozen, and smoked fish than is available at the grocery store. Prices are not necessarily lower than at the Jewel or Dominicks, but the quality is very high, and the selection is far, far better. The staff behind the counter is knowledgeable about the products sold, gives details about the product and when it was caught, and can recommend fish for planned dishes. The smoked salmon and whitefish, while expensive, is very good.

Supreme Lobster and Seafood is a large area wholesaler of fish and seafood to restaurants and grocery stores in the Chicago area-they really know their fish. Their trucks (the ones with the red lobster on them) can be seen making deliveries to restaurants throughout the area.

If you are heading to Villa Park Fruit and Meat, a fun side trip is a stop at nearby Orchids by Hauserman. Here, you can walk through 3 1/2 acres of greenhouses displaying orchids, gawking at the gorgeous blooms. This is a particularly welcome detour in January.

La Rocco Meats, at 4933 Buttefield Road in Hillside, is just over the line in western Cook County. This specialty butcher offers beef, lamb, and poultry in a small, no-frills shop. The store is clean and the quality very good. They offer a higher level of service than expected at the grocery store and top-quality meats. The prices are not particularly low, but the company does sell a fair number of expensive cuts of meat.

When I went into the store, I asked for a piece of beef that I could slice thin and stir fry. The staff member there recommended a specific, and unusual, cut of meat that he brought from the back. When I took it home, sliced it, and made fajitas, my husband pronounced it "excellent." They were also willing to special order a capon for me to cook for Christmas.

Fruitful Yield, in Elmhurst on North York Street and at other locations throughout DuPage County, specializes in vitamins and natural foods. The store window of the Elmhurst location displays bright green reusable shopping bags. When I visited, staffing was somewhat limited. Though I had to wait for assistance in finding an item, the clerk was very helpful when it was my turn. In addition to vitamins and probiotics, the store stocks whole grain foods, cruelty-free personal care products, and some of the same brands of packaged food one would find at Whole Foods. In a small refrigerator and freezer, there was organic milk, eggs, and cheese. Prices were generally lower than for comparable products at the Jewel grocery store near my house.

The Whole Grain Fresh Market is a large Asian grocery store at 665 Pasquinelli Dr in Westmont, IL. Like at Villa Park Fruit and Meat, I've found lots of very fresh and inexpensive produce, meats, and dry goods specific to the target ethnic market. There are 20-pound bags of rice, fresh tofu, live crabs, and a whole aisle full of seasonings. There are also pre-made dumplings ready for seasoning and the very delicious Chinese noodles. Unlike at Villa Park Fruit and Meat, there is not always someone behind the meat counter who is fluent in English. The produce while fresh and varied, is more limited to Asian favorites and less artfully arranged than at the store in Villa Park.

Interesting things to try at the Whole Grain Fresh Market are the black and red rice, the very good fresh Chinese noodles, and some condiments and sauces. The store's selection of dairy items is not particularly strong. Some reviewers have given Whole Grain Fresh Market negative reviews, but my experiences there have all been good.

Also worth a stop while you are visiting International Plaza is the food court next door, which serves highly authentic, and tasty, Chinese dishes.