Ciao Readers!
In looking back through this blog, it’s almost scary how much time I spend thinking about food… and here I am again (sorry, you have to wait till Monday to read about the Guggenheim!). Sometimes in life ya just gotta give in and spend some time wistfully daydreaming about things; for me that means dreaming of what I would buy at the grocery if I could (i.e., if it were available, not if I could afford it [like caviar]). Here’s the stuff dreams are made of:
Groceries I Dream About Now
- Poore Brothers’ jalapeno potato chips
- a bag of restaurant-style extra thin/crispy tortilla chips
- really HOT salsa to dip those chips in (a nice local NM favorite like Sadie’s or El Pinto)
- roasted green chiles (this time of year, ones that were fresh-frozen)
- Tostito’s queso (yeah, I know, not very glamorous, but add green chile and YUM!)
- a bag of shredded cheddar/Monterrey jack/Colby mix
- pecans
- ziploc bags
- sour cream that’s sour (and yogurt that’s got a bite)
- good quality cold cuts of the non-pork variety
- Reese’s peanut-butter cups, Andes mints, Hershey’s kisses (it’s weird, they have yummy chocolate here [though rather hazelnut-centric], I just miss my comfort candies)
- 100% juice other than orange (ooooo, maybe a nice pomegranate/cranberry combo)
(There are many other foods about which I dream – huevos, bagels, pho, pad thai – but this list was solely for the grocery store in my dreams.)
And, as it is my goal to be “fair and balanced,” I also include a list of:
Groceries I’ll Dream of Back in the States
- several varieties of fresh pesto
- many varieties of delicious prosciutto
- countless varieties of pecorino cheese
- truffle stuff! (sauce, butter, cheese, spread)
- fresh (and CHEAP) loaves of Italian bread
- dry pasta in every shape and size you could imagine (also CHEAP), and tons of fresh pasta as well
- Ciobar (ridiculously thick hot chocolate mix)
- whole rabbits (okay, that one will actually be in my grocery nightmares…)
Ah, the stuff of dreams: 
What groceries would you/do you miss if you couldn’t/can’t get them?
New Mexico to Italy 
dreckert2
/ January 11, 2013Miss list? I would add fresh tortillas!
Colleen
/ January 11, 2013Can opener for my beanless chili :(. Mexican is definitely on the list but US prime beef is probably the top. If you are ok with a connecting post, I have a long answer.
newmexicotoitaly
/ January 11, 2013Sure,a connecting post is great! The only time I don’t like those are when it’s from someone who’s never been on my blog and they’re just advertising theirs. You, however, can post away!!!
Colleen
/ January 11, 2013Arigato gozaimasu.
Colleen
/ January 11, 2013I have an idea – let’s do a lunch comparison. I’ll do Japan (Asia), you do Italy (Europe) and lets find the other places. I’m pretty sure my lunch experience (call buttons!!!) is opposite of yours.
newmexicotoitaly
/ January 11, 2013Ah, I fondly remember those machines – when they had pictures it really made ordering easier before I learned some Japanese. Lunch comparisons – fun – my memory of Japan is people eating standing up in a hurry or taking a bento box on the train; here we sit and linger with wine for 2 hours! Though I do love Japanese “fast food”! I miss all the food there, too!
Colleen
/ January 11, 2013not sure what year you were here. I was here in 2001 and never saw buttons but this year in restaurants, they are prolific! people run all the time, I think there’s an issue.
eyelean
/ January 11, 2013I love this post! Living in France, I miss all high quality American snacks! The French don’t get snacks—they call them “apéro” and they’re either really expensive or really unhealthy, which is unfortunate since they’re only eaten right before dinner. Pirate’s Booty, flavored pretzels… and anything salsa- or guac-related. And peanut-butter-flavored candy (peanut butter itself I’ve grown to live fine without).
newmexicotoitaly
/ January 11, 2013Thanks! I actually read about an American grocery store in Paris – “Thanksgiving” – plan on checking it our when we’re there (and also a Mexican restaurant and a bagel place).
Ako
/ January 11, 2013I would miss Xochitl chips (ridiculously thin tortilla chips), fritos & bean dip, Prasek’s sausage (Texas venison & wild hog sausage), Kit-Kats & Paydays, oreos, corndogs, Ranch Style Beans. While all of this list I really don’t eat except a couple times a year, I would miss not having the option of purchasing them because I can. 🙂
newmexicotoitaly
/ January 12, 2013THOSE are the chips I was thinking about – just could remember the name past the “x’!!! It’s funny, they have kitkat, twix and m&m’s here, but they don’t taste the same – darker, less sweet chocolate.
newmexicotoitaly
/ January 13, 2013I think I started others daydreaming: http://jerseyjoshii.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/the-groceries-of-my-dreams-a-reply/comment-page-1/#comment-258