How Target Became My Favorite Grocery Store

and the 9 best things to buy there.

Hello! I just got back from a 40 hour whirlwind trip to Austin, for a very exciting collaboration tied to my cookbook that I cannot wait to share very soon!

I didn’t have a ton of time to bop around to my favorite restaurants (you can see my Austin guide here), but I did have time for poblano migas tacos at Veracruz All Natural, which has a location at the very cute and comfortable Line Hotel, where I stayed this trip. I also popped back into Bufalina for the first time in years, and it remains extremely solid! Very good salad, including a caesar that is piled high with lots of microplaned parmesan, strong pastas, and slate of great pizzas with lovely, chewy crust. My favorite thing though? A scoop of house made vanilla ice cream topped with fermented hot honey.

pizzas at Bufalina

Both my flights in and out of Austin were incredibly early (the latter required a 3:30 wake up time =/) — too early for me to do anything but put my headphones on and go right back to sleep. The man next to me? He asked for a pre-flight chardonnay. I am not here to judge anyone’s alcohol consumption, but I keep thinking about two things.

1) how the social rules we tend to abide by when it comes to alcohol consumption goes totally out the window at airports and on airplanes — the fact that wine, beer, and mixed drinks are offered at 5am is fascinating. Then again, when you are being stuffed into tin tub and hurdled across the sky, I can see why chardonnay as the sun rises is somehow not only acceptable, but encouraged.

2) everyone seems to be obsessed with n/a drink options — restaurants, bars, grocery stores, etc — except for airlines. I know space is obviously limited, but it seems like there is a demand there, for at least one or two options. Has anyone seen an airline stocking any cool n/a options that isn’t soda or juice or the (truly gross) coffee?

Anyways, this week’s guide is going to be a little different. One of my favorite parts about living in Los Angeles is my access to incredible grocery stores, many of which have an international bent to them (i’ll do a round-up in a future newsletter!).

But, over the past couple of years, I have found myself doing more and more of my basic, essentials grocery shopping… at Target. I know the internet loves to joke about how it’s impossible to walk into Target for one thing and not walk out with 80 other things, but the chain has made a big investment in grocery and, well, it’s paying off! The in house lines like Favorite Day and Good & Gather are truly solid, and Target has some of the best prices on some very surprising items.

Here are all my favorite groceries at Target (not sponsored!):

Asian Pears
Target has become my go-to source for giant and crisp Asian pears. Depending on the market, you can get a pack for 3 pears for $6 (or $8 in more expensive cities). I live near several excellent Korean grocery stores with incredible pricing on fruit, and even they charge more than Target.

Goodles
I am obsessed with this better-for-you mac and cheese brand (lots of protein! and fiber!) and I have yet to find a store that always carries all of the flavors and has better prices on it than Target.

Asian-Owned CPG Products
Speaking of great CPG brands, Target is quick to stock some of the cooler brands. I love that you can easily find Momofuku noodles, Sanzo sparkling water, and Fly By Jing chili crisp at basically every store.

Apple Cider Vinegar 
I don’t know why Target’s house brand Good & Gather’s apple cider vinegar is so cheap but it’s usually around $1.29 for a large bottle (depending on your market). They also have an affordable organic version that is better than a lot of the better known names. Apple Cider Vinegar is incredibly versatile — great for catching fruit flies and adding acid to salad dressings — and so I love to always keep it in stock.

Cheese Curds 
When testing recipes for my upcoming cookbook, I found myself raiding the Target cheese section frequently. I have an Indian-inspired poutine recipe in the book and quickly found out that Target usually has fresh (not frozen!) cheese curds in stock. which is harder to find than you might think.

Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
I like chips with a bit of heft to them so that they don’t break under the weight of toppings like guacamole and so that they work as a great base for nachos. These happen to be my favorite tortilla chips on the market.

Taco Bell Hot Sauce & Olive Garden Dressing
My go-to hot sauces are the mild and hot sauce from Taco Bell — I genuinely love the flavor. For some reason it isn’t common knowledge that you can buy bottled versions at grocery stores. Taco Bell usually has them in stock, along with a bottled version of the Italian dressing that makes the salad at Olive Garden so good.

Chopped Salad Kits
Speaking of salads, I love keeping a chopped salad kit or two on hand for quick lunches. I used to turn to Trader Joe’s for their variety, but Target has an incredible selection in fun flavors like Citrus Yuzu, Nashville-Style Hot, Sweet Kale, and Avocado Toast.

Nuts!
The Good & Gather has great prices and fun flavors! Personally love the Hot Honey cashews and the Dill Pickle cashews.

Okay that is all for today! Would love to know if you have a favorite item from Target in the comments below.