Food Prices – Precios de Alimentos: Aug – Ag 2014

This is our third food price index.  We shop around a little bit but in general the stores we buy at have the best prices, discounts, promotions and quality.

In order to offer the most unbiased inflation index the prices of the respective food categories were taken from the same stores.  We have also included a few items from the government “basket”.  These items prices are set by the government.

We would also add that we do all dairy and deli shopping at Carrefour on Mondays and Tuesdays where we earn a 30% credit.  We buy our cooking oil, white flour, yeast and mate at Carrefour with our coupons every month.

Fruit and vegetable prices were taken from “Frutería y Verdulería Ayacucho“.

Bulk, “health” food products prices were taken from “Dietética Tomy“.

Meat prices were taken from “Frigorífico El Santiagueño“.

Dairy and deli prices are a sample of the prices that Carrefour offers.

Eggs were purchased at Coto.

Este es nuestro tercer índice de precios en alimentos.   Comparamos precios y elegimos las tiendas, asi finalmente compramos dónde encontramos: mejores precios, descuentos, promociones y calidad.

Arrope de Chañar – Chañar Syrup

Dulces Valdez – Arrope de Chañar – $46 – 500 grams

We went back to the Casa de Catamarca a while ago to buy some more dulce de membrillo and we wanted to try some of the different arropes (syrups) that they have for sale there.  One of the arropes that we bought was “Arrope de Chañar” which is made from the fruit of the Chañar tree.

We sure are glad we decided to try Arrope of Chañar.  It is delicious!  We have been adding it to our home made natural yogurt.  On the one hand it reminds one of a combination of maple syrup and molasses and on the other hand the cough candy from Switzerland, Ricola.

Researching this article we found a very informative and interesting blog that describes and illustrates all the birds of Argentina and where the birds live. The Chañar is a very popular tree for birds.  They have links to another site where you can hear the birds’ calls and songs.  The name of the blog is: Compañeros de viaje.  Highly recommended.

Geoffroea decorticans or Chilean Palo Verde (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The scientific name of the Chañar tree is Geoffroea decorticans.  It is also known as the Kumbaru as well as the Chilean Palo Verde (green wood).

The wood of the Chañar tree is used to make furniture and fence posts.  The fruit of the Chañar tree is what is processed to make arrope which is used as a sweetener and is also used to alleviate sore throats and coughs.

Hace poco tiempo regresamos a la Casa de Catamarca ha comprar más dulce de membrillo y queríamos probar los diferentes arropes que allí venden.  El arrope de chañar fue uno de los que compramos y está hecho de la fruta del árbol del Chañar.

Food Prices – Precios de Alimentos: Jul 2014

This is our second simple food price index.  In order to offer the most unbiased inflation index the prices of the respective food categories were taken from the same stores.  The stores that we took price samples from were the stores with the best prices that we have found in Buenos Aires.

Fruit and vegetable prices were taken from “Frutería y Verdulería Ayacucho“.

Bulk, “health” food products prices were taken from “Diética Tomy“.

Meat prices were taken from “Frigorífico El Santiagueño“.

Dairy and deli prices are a sample of the prices that Carrefour offers.

Eggs were purchased at Coto.

Este es nuestro segundo índice de precios de comidas.    Para poder ofrecer un imparcial indice inflacionario de los diferentes alimentos, éstos precios fueron obtenidos en cada mercado.  Los negocios donde tomamos los precios fueron aquellos dónde encontramos las mejores ofertas. 

La Casa de Catamarca – Dulce de Membrillo

We have never been to Catamarca but it is somewhere that we would love to visit someday.  A friend visited there last year and had a wonderful time.  The pictures of Catamarca . . . .

Helpful and friendly – “Catamarqueños” – Serviciales y amigables

The other day we visited the “Casa de Catamarca” on Avenida Córdoba 2080; they were really nice and helpful and gave us a lot of brochures.

Most people probably do not know that there is a little store in the Casa de Catamarca that sells a bunch of different products from that province.

Baskets, crafts and wool – canastos, artesanías y lana

They sell books, wine, sweets, baskets, hats and a variety of other stuff.

Most Argentine wool is produced in Catamarca; the store has a good selection of wool products for sale such as socks, sweaters, scarves, blankets and hand woven fabrics.

The “quince sugar loaf” that they sell at the Casa de Catamarca is the highest quality we have found in Buenos Aires and is being offered for the best price as well – $25.  The ingredients are quince and sugar – that is all.

Jellies. syrups….mmm…dulces y arropes

The store sells a lot of sweet stuff from Catamarca.  We are planning on returning soon to buy some syrup made from cactus and some more quince sugar loaf.  A great gift idea.

Nunca fuimos a Catamarca pero si es un lugar que nos encantaría visitar algún día.  Una amiga nuestra fue el pasado año y su estadía fue fubulosa.  Las fotos de Catamarca . . .

Food Prices – Precios de Alimentos: Jun 2014

This is our first very simple food price index.  In order to offer the most unbiased inflation index the prices of the respective food categories were taken from the same stores.  The stores that we took price samples from were the stores with the best prices that we have found in Buenos Aires.

Fruit and vegetable prices were taken from “Frutería y Verdulería Ayacucho“.

Bulk, “health” food products prices were taken from “Dietética Tomy“.

Meat prices were taken from “Frigorífico El Santiagueño“.

Dairy prices are a sample of the prices that Carrefour offers.

Eggs were purchased at Coto.

Este es nuestro primer y sencillo índice de precios de comidas.    Para poder ofrecer un imparcial indice inflacionario de los diferentes alimentos, éstos precios fueron obtenidos en cada mercado.  Los negocios donde tomamos los precios fueron aquellos dónde encontramos las mejores ofertas. 

Fruit and Veggie Prices – Precios Verdulería

This week Ayacucho had better prices and selection – Esta semana Ayacucho tubo buenas selección y mejores precios

This week we compared prices at our regular Frutería y Verdulería Ayacucho with Carrefour and Disco.

The differences in prices were impressive.

The biggest price gap was mushrooms where the price at Ayacucho was $60.00/kg versus Disco’s price of $154.95/kg.

A big surprise was that prices in the government supermarket “basket” are very often more expensive than small sellers; for example tomatoes at Ayacucho cost $14.00/kg whereas the government implemented price at Carrefour and Disco was $29.99/kg.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are available all year round in Buenos Aires – Todo el año frutas y verduras frescos

Esta semana comparamos los precios de nuestra habitual Frutería y Verdulería Ayacucho con Carrefour y Disco. 

Fiambrería Martes – Deli Tuesdays

Bacon ‘Argentina’ style – Panceta ahumada estilo argentino

Carrefour offers their best prices of the week on deli products on Tuesdays.  The promotion includes cold cut meats, cheeses, rotisserie  chicken and pre-made salads.  They call it, “Fiambrería y Rotisería Martes.”

Carrefour issues a coupon on Tuesdays for 30% of the value you spend on deli products.  You can spend your coupon on anything in the store on your next visit.  The coupon is valid for two weeks.

Cut your own bacon and save a lot – corte su panceta ahumada y ahorre mucho dinero

 

Save even more money: cut your bacon yourself.  The regular price of sliced bacon versus the regular price of a chunk of bacon is $179.20 AR/kg versus $125.50 AR/kg.  On Tuesdays you can save an additional 30% which brings your savings to more than 50 percent.  In other words: on Tuesdays get twice as much bacon at Carrefour!

Shop at the deli at Carrefour on Tuesdays and save – Comprar los martes y ahorrar en Carrefour rotisería y fiambrería

Los Martes, fiambrería y rotisería ofrece los mejores precios en Carrefour.  La promoción incluye fiambres, quesos, pollos al spiedo y ensaladas.

Ese dia Carrefour, en caja,  le entrega un cupón “cheque” por el 30% de lo gastado. En su próxima visita puede usar este coupón en cualquier compra.  El coupón estará vigente por 2 semanas. 

Ahorrar más dinero: cortar uno mismo su panceta.  El precio de la panceta en fetas es de $179.20 el kilo, comparado con $125.50 el kilo por de pedazo entero.  Así los martes en panceta ahumada se puede hacer un ahorro del 30% más al cortarla uno mismo se ahorra un total 50% del precio original. En otras palabras comprar el double de panceta ahumada en Carrefour en martes.

Lácteos Lunes – Dairy Mondays

Dairy product comparisons – Comparación de productos lácteos

Carrefour has the best prices for refrigerated dairy products on Mondays.  They call it, “Lacteos Lunes.”

A “Lácteos Lunes” coupon – Un cheque de “Lácteos Lunes”

Carrefour issues a coupon on Mondays for 30% of the value you spend on refrigerated dairy.  You can spend your coupon on anything in the store on your next visit.  The coupon is valid for two weeks.   Carrefour has competitive prices on refrigerated dairy on a day to day basis versus the other supermarkets.

Disco has a promotion on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays where if you buy 4 Sancor products you only need to pay for 3.  This promotion is quite competitive although you have to buy 4 items to get the 25% discount.  Disco’s prices are the highest out of the “Big 3” supermarkets so the savings are about 14% on Sancor products compared to Carrefour’s regular prices.

Coto doe not offer any promotion specifically related to refrigerated dairy that we are aware of at this time.  On a day to day basis their prices are midway between Carrefour and Disco.

Los Lunes, Carrefour, tiene los mejores precios para los productos lácteos refrigerados.  Lo llaman “Lácteos Lunes”.

La Mielísima

La Mielísima – Rodriguez Peña 99

La Mielísima is a specialty food store in the San Nicolás barrio.

Their focus is bulk honey of which they have several varieties from several provinces.

If you want honey you need to provide your own container.  They also sell bulk tea and spices.

All around a pretty sweet store.

La Mielísima – Su más dulce elección

El Mielísma es un negocio de cosas especiales en el barrio San Nicolás. 

Dietéticas Tomy

Dietéticas Tomy is our favorite health food store in Buenos Aires.

They have great prices whether wholesale or retail.  What really sets Tomy apart though is the quality of their products.

A friend told us about Tomy a couple of months ago and we sure are happy he did.  Thank you Jose.

Dietetica Tomy on Thames in Palermo

Dietéticas Tomy es nuestra tienda favorita en Buenos Aires. 

Tienen muy buenos precios por mayor y menor. Lo que diferencia de Tomy de otras dieteticas es la calidad de sus productos.