Supermarket vs. Wet Market

Shopping Like a Chef

It's ever so easy for a single person or a couple to overspend at the market so I spent the last couple of weeks cruising the markets with chefs to find out how they shop for their home meals.

Supermarkets

These stores almost always put fruit at the front of the store because it's colourful and gets you in the mood for serious shopping. At this point you are probably so used to it you don't even notice, but right after fruit are all the premium cuts of meat, to catch you at the beginning of your stroll through the market with an empty cart but a full wallet, so decide before you go in if you're really in the mood for sirloin steak that night.

The best thing to do, and all chefs do this, is make a list and stick to it, allowing yourself maybe one impulse buy or two. Then save your bill and start making a budget for yourself for the particular month; it's amazing how few people actually do this. I didn't even realize all the weird impulse buys I was making until I checked out all the interesting condiments in my fridge that seemed like a good idea at the time; I still haven't even opened the horseradish I bought some weeks ago. Soon your fridge becomes a little mini coffin for all these treasures, especially if you only have a bar fridge.

Many Asian countries did not even have fridges for the common family until the last few decades, and it was uncommon for people to live alone. Since most of our flats are tiny, things like dinner parties are uncommon and many people eat out at restaurants nearly every day of the week, not counting takeaways. Of course, we have some of the best restaurants in the world so why not? I know I did the first several years since coming here, but that was largely a part of my job as a food writer and restaurant critic. I started to really miss cooking for myself or friends and thus the market cruising began.

Luxury Supermarkets

If you have deep pockets and prefer more variety along with exotic ingredients for ethnic dishes you'll find yourself at the huge temples of food, usually in our of our big malls. Tip: Many items are cheaper after 6pm, such as the sashimi and sushi and most kinds of takeaway foods. For example, a sushi platter that was $80 at 5:59pm will be taken down to $50 a minute later, and the sandwiches are usually have price after 9pm.

Wet and Fish Markets

I live right by the Graham Street Wet Market and have to say I understand why some people prefer a big, clean, hygenic supermarket. But then I noticed these people were the real thing, waking up in the middle of the night to sell produce, fish, meats and whatever else you might need just like in the old days when people would go shopping twice a day to get whatever was freshest. I'll admit the meat counters a quite a sight to behold, with hundred of dripping red meat on display, or the fishmonger stalls with those big styrofoam crammed with fish, water spilling all over the ground that create rivers of fish scum you have to navigate.

The vegetable and fruit ladies, however, are very different. Find a favourite lady and stick to her for your produce needs, and you'll start finding a few extra apples or a nice handful of extra straberries. And yes, it's true there are 'two prices', so just disregard the listed price; but as you get to know your veg lady, suddenly the quoted price on those cardboard cards becomes more for those not in the know, and since you are very likely to be one of the only expat customers, she will quickly come to remember you. Don't expect this special treatment the first few visits, but probably by the third or fourth you'll notice a difference. The same principle works for the butcher and fishmonger, who will even save particular cuts for you if given advance notice, or if every Friday is fish night. 

If you really want a great deal try showing up around 4am and if you're the first customer you're in for a treat, as traditionally it's good fortune to start the day as quickly as possible. Not so in a supermarket where the prices are iron-clad and often filled with part-timers who treat this a job, not a living. Nothing wrong with that, we all have to earn, but it's not like your buying from a family.

One of the elements you're reminded from in the Wet Market vs. the big stores is you're a fan of the whole 'buy local' philosophy, this is it. These people farm everything themselves, haul it to the market fresh everyday and you'll be supporting a particular family, not some huge conglomorate, and help keep a great part of Hong Kong culture from disappearing.

My solution? I buy my produce and sometimes meat at the Wet Market, and pretty much all my 'luxuries' such as that horseradish at the biggies. If only the fishmongers would learn how to make sushi (fresh fish in abundance and nobody wants sushi?) it would be almost perfect. See you at the supermarket after 6pm! And the wet martket at 4am.