Bread, milk and toilet paper top stormy shopping lists, you might think. With the dangerous deep freeze expected to hit the Chicago area beginning Friday, we’re definitely prepping our personal pantries on the Food & Dining team. But what are local shoppers actually buying up in grocery stores?
“The most popular items are staples — milk, eggs, bread, bottled water, bananas and chicken, whether it is packaged chicken breast or whole roasted chickens from our rotisserie,” said Amanda Puck, Mariano’s director of strategic brand development, via email. Pizza, popcorn and wine also made the storm watch shopping list, said Puck.
As for your Food & Dining team, we’ll still be eating out. Chicago Restaurant Week kicks off Friday, so watch for our reviews daily.
But here’s what we’re sure to have at home before the deep freeze sets in:
“Milk,” said Phil Vettel, Tribune restaurant critic. “Because if Paula’s home and there’s no milk. … I don’t want to imagine the consequences.” Paula Vettel is Phil’s wife, and a scientist.
“Barrel-aged barleywine,” said Josh Noel, Tribune beer reporter and author of “Barrel-Aged Stout & Selling Out.” Look for the recently released Revolution Brewing Straight Jacket.
“Hot water!” said Grace Wong, Food & Dining reporter. While Grace is a Millennial, she’s also Chinese-American, so defers to the traditional Chinese winter beverage, sometimes adding instant hot cocoa mix. “But seriously, I like to know I have milk, pasta and things to make a tomato sauce,” she added.
“Coffee beans,” said Food & Dining editor Joe Gray, who makes a big pot at home every morning.
“Beer,” said Nick Kindelsperger, Food & Dining reporter, who’s currently on a burger quest, so meanwhile he’s gone vegetarian at home. It’s unclear if the below-zero windchill will help or hinder his meat intake.
As for me, I stocked up on kimchi and kombucha Thursday night, will do an Aldi run tonight
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, and still plan to make my restaurant week reservation in the morning, with enough leftovers for the weekend.Twitter @louisachu
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