The Culinary Journey in a Foreign Land: Between Street Food and Avocado Hunts
How Grocery Shopping Becomes a Cultural Experience and a Journey of Self-Discovery
📍Manila, Philippines
The first thing to do when settling into a new apartment in a foreign country is to buy groceries. Like a lost child, I wandered into the neighborhood convenience store and took my time. I found myself staring at the shelves, carefully reading every bit of information on the packaging, analyzing ingredients and nutritional values as if I were a scientist in a lab.
This isn’t just grocery shopping—it’s the start of getting to know a new country. Learning about local brands, understanding the shopping habits of the people here, and most importantly, figuring out how I, with my own preferences and habits, fit into it all.
I searched for healthy food and didn’t find much. Most of the products were processed, sweetened, and heavily salted. Maybe it was just because this was a small convenience store rather than a real supermarket. In the end, I glanced at the receipt: 1,064 pesos (about $19). And immediately, I started calculating—would it be cheaper to just eat out?
Street food here costs about 10 pesos ($0.18), and a meal at a local restaurant is around 100-200 pesos ($2 ), and a western restaurant 300+ pesos. At first glance, that seems like a much better deal. But then an image popped into my head—the schnitzel stand I passed by earlier. They looked fresh and crispy, but it was impossible to ignore the blackened oil they were fried in. I thought about the food sitting outside all day, absorbing pollution from the streets and bacteria from all the flies.
I reminded myself of my go-to meal—the one that always saves me: eggs with bread. Simple, nutritious, and more than enough. I could add some vegetables, fruit, or cheese to mix it up. Maybe even turn an omelet into a gourmet dish with local spices. And all of this would cost me just a few cents.
For the first two weeks, I managed with the small shop in my building. I bought pasta sauce that turned out to be way too sweet, cheese that was too soft, and coffee that was too weak (even though I specifically picked the package labeled "Strong"). Every day, I bought a pre-packaged salad, and judging by the stock, I was the only one buying it. When it ran out, they simply never restocked.
One day, I found the last bottle of soy milk in the store, hiding on a bottom shelf in the corner—as if it had been forgotten there ages ago. Of course, I checked the expiration date immediately—who knows how long it had been sitting there alone? A few days later, another carton of soy milk appeared, looking like it had been run over. I decided to pass.
Everything changed when I arrived at the big mall. I walked into the supermarket with one goal: to find something. I suddenly realized I was missing-avocado.
Not only did I find an avocado, but I also found a massive supermarket! And not just any supermarket, but one filled with brands I know like the back of my hand—Coles, the Australian chain, right here in the Philippines!
You guys already know me—if a regular supermarket visit excites me, this time I think I actually teared up. I saw all the products I love—hard cheeses, almond milk, even cottage cheese! It felt like finding a piece of home in a foreign place.
I loaded up my cart without holding back, especially after spending days trying to figure out what to eat. I had been so used to eating at work for years, and now, suddenly, I had to cook for myself.
I started experimenting with rice paper wraps, bought fresh meat, stocked up on rice and pasta, and learned that an hour in the kitchen can give me meals for three days. Not so bad after all.
While comparing prices, I jotted down a few surprising facts:
500g (1 lb) fresh ground beef – ₪10 (~$2.70)
12 eggs – ₪7 (~$1.90 USD)
One carrot – ₪1.75 (~$0.47 USD)
One onion – ₪2.50 (~$0.67 USD)
A loaf of white sliced bread – ₪5 (~$1.35)
Snacks – ₪2.50 (~$0.67 USD)
Something is comforting about supermarkets, even in a foreign country. It’s where you can learn the most about local culture—what people eat, how they cook, and what matters to them. And maybe, through cooking and eating, I’m starting to truly feel at home—even when I’m far away.
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