Grocery Shopping in Brussels

I know that shopping for provisions is not one of the most enviable tasks for many of us. It is a routine chore that cannot be avoided.

It is easy to walk around open-air markets in India for groceries. The market place is full of fresh produce and many vendors. With a little bit of bargaining, we can get the best food items for a reasonable price.

Supermarkets in Brussels offer a wide variety of produce also. I usually go to different shops during the week to compare and contrast the items and prices. The supermarkets are quite large with different departments for fresh produce, stationary, clothes and even furniture.

In these department stores, everything is sold under the same roof. All the items are sorted and placed in racks. The shoppers can walk around this endless maze of shelves to pick and choose whatever they need.

I am a slow shopper in comparison to Frank, my husband. I like reading all the labels on each of the items. Ofcourse, all the labels are in French and Dutch. It takes a long time for me to translate the labels and register them into my memory. I also like buying new products or different brands each time.

On the other hand, Frank is a frantic shopper. He scours through the shelves in no time. He manages to pick up most of what we need within minutes. I think he is slowing down a bit now a days when we are together to adjust to my pace.

I am now used to grocery shopping in Brussels. I get to know a great deal more about the origin of the produce from the labels. Banana from Equador, grapes from South Africa, oranges from Spain and a host of other items from all around the world are up for grabs.

There is an entire section in the store dedicated to wine also. We are still trying to find some sweet wine around here. I am sure its available but we will have to sift through the shelves and find the right french words.

I especially like the 'Boulangerie' (Bakery) counters in these markets. There is an endless array of tarts, cakes, croissants, baguettes and freshly baked breads for sale. There is often an instrument in the bakery area for slicing the bread that looks like it was taken from medieval times.

I do enjoy the supermarket experience in Belgium. It is nice to find everything you need stacked in the same space.

Retailing is becoming a phenomenon in India as well. Carrefour, Metro, Field Fresh, and Reliance are vying for a share of this market. Hopefully, by the time we return to India, we may even have the same stores in India.