Where's your favorite place to sample food?

Maybe it's just me....and maybe I'm a kook...but I love sampling food at Farmers' Markets and such. There's something about trying little bits of all the different foods. I even like the sampling at Costco.

Where's your favorite place to sample food?

I absolutely love the Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. They've got every type of "butter" (apple, peach, pear, peanut, pumpkin, etc), every type of jam or jelly that you can think of, salsas, dips, relishes, lemon/raspberry/orange curds, schmears, pickles, BBQ sauces.....they've got it all and you can sample everything they've got...you really don't even need to have lunch or dinner if you visit them. They also have another shoppe where you can sample some cheeses, sausages and pretzels.

I'm sure there are other places out there like this. Let me know your's so I don't feel like as much of a freak.

Buddy Roadhouses car trunk.

Great topic!

I like the Taste of LA, but the "samples" cost at least $5 each after paying a fortune to enter.

I also like Costco because I can taste things I'd never buy.

There is a place here called Marina Farms where you can have small slices of different types of fruit.

I think my new favorite is Shield's where I ate many different types of dates. 

Jungle Jim's gives out samples at times - which are delightful.

If you hit Costco at the right times, they have great samples.  We also love Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor MI.  They have samples of many of the products they sell, and we try hard not to make pigs of ourselves.  The chocolate covered cherries are especially seductive. 

 I agree Cosco is my favorite because they give out the most samples. Busy weekend days seem best and many  of the samples are real tasty along with a frozen yogurt  on the way out.       Buddy

I do not sample food.

My kitchen, or a restaurant.

Mine is Fresh Market. Last year they had a whole Thankgiving Dinner to sample with all the fixins.

How do you sample a whole Thanksgiving Dinner?!?

A sample here is only 2 or 3 peanuts
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/fb.ashx?m=552484

They had a turkey cut up, mashed potatoes w/gravy, dressing, cranberry salad, rolls and pumpkin pie all in small serving cups. It was very good and my grandaughter was amazed.

A few weeks back Sam's had a small plate of pot roast, nice chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes. The lady served up individual plates from a very large roaster. Hit the spot on a cool day.

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.  Weekends especially you can practically make a lunch out of how much stuff those two places lay out.

Shoot man. I was at Wegman's yeterday, and like Michael I don't usually take any samples. But I tried the cranberry-orange bread, the rosemary-olive oil sourdough, and some sweet peppers stuffed with pork sausage, and I bought all three. And I don't feel taken; they were all really, really good.

If only I lived close to a Costco. Then I could sample my way through a free lunch every day.

Davydd


If only I lived close to a Costco. Then I could sample my way through a free lunch every day.

I don't know,
 
based on past photos of Davydd's saturday night pizza's, it would seem that the best place to sample food would be Davydd's house.

I'm making pizza tonight instead of Saturday because we are going out partying tomorrow night. I am cheating though. I bought a pre-made dough at a new Trader Joe's that opened last Friday. One dough ball ready to form after 20 minutes out of the refrigerator costs $1.19. If it is any good it would be hard to beat considering I put a lot of time in making mine.

stricken_detective


Buddy Roadhouses car trunk.

I'll second that motion and add that it's got to be in a dicey neighborhood to enhance the flavor!

My next favorite place to sample food is seated at a long table, surrounded by fellow members of The Contingent, passing plates around, pulling off nibbles and bites from each.

Dang, we know how to have a good time, don't we?

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse


My next favorite place to sample food is seated at a long table, surrounded by fellow members of The Contingent, passing plates around, pulling off nibbles and bites from each.

Dang, we know how to have a good time, don't we?

Buddy

 
That's my favorite way to sample, too.... So....when's the next outing?!
 
Maybe a "Taste of Kenosha" trip one of these days?  

Davydd


I'm making pizza tonight instead of Saturday because we are going out partying tomorrow night. I am cheating though. I bought a pre-made dough at a new Trader Joe's that opened last Friday. One dough ball ready to form after 20 minutes out of the refrigerator costs $1.19. If it is any good it would be hard to beat considering I put a lot of time in making mine.

???!!!

quijote

BuddyRoadhouse


My next favorite place to sample food is seated at a long table, surrounded by fellow members of The Contingent, passing plates around, pulling off nibbles and bites from each.

Dang, we know how to have a good time, don't we?

Buddy

 
That's my favorite way to sample, too.... So....when's the next outing?!
 
Maybe a "Taste of Kenosha" trip one of these days?  

X1 has been pushing for a Greek dinner at Mykonos in Niles, IL.  It's not far off I-294, on Golf Road.  You guys pick a date (Sundays preferred) and let's do it.  Maybe a pre-holiday get together (or post New Years) for The Contingent...

Buddy

Hands down, this is the best place (and my favorite place) in all of NJ to sample food, at thier once a month open house.

They even have wine samples!

http://www.oleolefoods.com/main/

I don't have a favorite place. Plus, little bits of things don't do it for me, although, what I have tried from the samples put out at Dakin Farm, in Vermont, is quite, quite good.  

    But you know what drives me nuts?  I'll tell you:  People who think they have a right to stroll around the supermarket eating not samples, but stuff from the shelves...essentially whatever  isn't tied down, and without paying for it: A plum here, several scoops of various things from the salad bar as if they were at the buffet at a wedding, maybe a loose roll or two, etc., etc. 

  OK, if they're poor and hungry, that's another story.  However, these moochers look well-heeled and aren't at all skinny.

  Some folks figure they have it coming to them...because the supermarket "can afford it." It gets my goat, not necessarily because it's theft, albeit petty, but because it's just unseemly, undignified. What gives you the right?   The Arrogance! Yecch...drives me nuts.

   Wanna plum? take it up to the register and pay. 

   There. Now I feel better.  

   The Bear

I'll agree withthe first post...Kitchen Kettle is fun..and we go often...their jams and jellies are great and fun to sample,,,,and I also agree....Costco is great...at ours, however, if the senior villages are in the building, the lines for the samples get very long....but the variety and quality is great!!!

I am Costcophobic.
 
Lines for samples. What a place.

BuddyRoadhouse

quijote

BuddyRoadhouse


My next favorite place to sample food is seated at a long table, surrounded by fellow members of The Contingent, passing plates around, pulling off nibbles and bites from each.

Dang, we know how to have a good time, don't we?

Buddy

That's my favorite way to sample, too.... So....when's the next outing?!

Maybe a "Taste of Kenosha" trip one of these days?  

X1 has been pushing for a Greek dinner at Mykonos in Niles, IL.  It's not far off I-294, on Golf Road.  You guys pick a date (Sundays preferred) and let's do it.  Maybe a pre-holiday get together (or post New Years) for The Contingent...

Buddy

 
Sounds good to me. Did the owners of this Mykonos once own a restaurant in Milwaukee's East Side (Prospect Mall)? Whatever the case may be, the menu of the Mykonos in Niles brings tears to my jaded eyes: http://greekrestaurantschicago.com/  And it sounds like the place is kind of close to Mitsuwa, hmmmm....  

Actually, much closer to Super H (Korean market at the corner of Oakton and Waukegan in Niles) as opposed to Mitsuwa (Japanese market on Algonquin near Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights).  Both of those places, BTW are excellent sources for sampling. 

See, we brought it back around and on topic for the thread.

Buddy

I haven't been to Super H yet, but you're spot on about Mitsuwa. Food courts don't get a good rap in the U.S. (for good reason), but Mitsuwa's does it right: a sushi stall, a dim sum stall, a noodle counter, a Korean grill, a few other counters with various foods, the bakery section right nearby, and the supermarket itself--quite a feast for the senses, and a great way to try a variety of different things.

I'm curious about those who stated they don't sample. What is your reason for that?

ScreenBear


    But you know what drives me nuts?  I'll tell you:  People who think they have a right to stroll around the supermarket eating not samples, but stuff from the shelves...essentially whatever  isn't tied down, and without paying for it: A plum here, several scoops of various things from the salad bar as if they were at the buffet at a wedding, maybe a loose roll or two, etc., etc. 

  OK, if they're poor and hungry, that's another story.  However, these moochers look well-heeled and aren't at all skinny.

  Some folks figure they have it coming to them...because the supermarket "can afford it." It gets my goat, not necessarily because it's theft, albeit petty, but because it's just unseemly, undignified. What gives you the right?   The Arrogance! Yecch...drives me nuts.

   Wanna plum? take it up to the register and pay. 

   There. Now I feel better.  

   The Bear

Haha, I love the rant! It's funny that you bring that up. I just read some articles on the rise of "middle-class" shoplifting:

http://www.dailymail.co.u...-class-shoplifter.html
http://www.chiswickw4.com...age=shoplifting001.htm

Quality cuts of meat, fresh fish and high-priced cheeses are being taken by mostly middle-class women from specialty food and convenience shops, where thefts have risen sharply in the past year.

Costco.

ces1948


I'm curious about those who stated they don't sample. What is your reason for that?

I shop at stores and bring the purchases home. I have no desire to sample food on a toothpick or in a pill cup that I have no intention to purchase in a store  and shudder when some of giddy sample set decide to be so gracious as to leave their toothpicks  pill cups and food all over the store.
 
They should set a sample area up and run it like timeshare sales pitches. 

CCinNJ

ces1948


I'm curious about those who stated they don't sample. What is your reason for that?

I shop at stores and bring the purchases home. I have no desire to sample food on a toothpick or in a pill cup that I have no intention to purchase in a store  and shudder when some of giddy sample set decide to be so gracious as to leave their toothpicks  pill cups and food all over the store.
 
They should set a sample area up and run it like timeshare sales pitches. 

Not to be snotty but I've not tried everything in the store and sometimes appreciate something different without committing to a whole package etc.  I'm also trying very hard not to become too set in my ways as I approach elderlyhood

The free samples are a sport...for some.
 
 http://www.blacktable.com/keller050407.htm
 
People who drop their junk should be arrested and detained in Costco jail. An orange jumpsuit and 30 days of picking up sample trash left behind.

Larry David wouldn't like me much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8jzHOEHtes

It has gotta be the food court at the mall.  Almost every court restaurant offers you a sample of whatever they have.  Some will let you try several different types.  A trip around the food court is almost a full meal for  me.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7


It has gotta be the food court at the mall.  Almost every court restaurant offers you a sample of whatever they have.  Some will let you try several different types.  A trip around the food court is almost a full meal for  me.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

For whatever reason the only freebies we see at food courts in southwest Ohio are usually being offered by Chinese and Japanese food purveyors.

My favorite spot to sample food is the Rogue Valley Creamery in Eagle Point, Oregon near Medford, oregon. Lots of designer cheese samples and a knowledgeable staff to help you.

mr chips


My favorite spot to sample food is the Rogue Valley Creamery in Eagle Point, Oregon near Medford, oregon. Lots of designer cheese samples and a knowledgeable staff to help you.

I love trying all the delicious cheeses, Whole Foods is good for this...usually the "cheese guy" is pretty knowledgeable too. I've got to get out to WI and OR and do some sampling!

Has got to be Jungle Jim's. Need to go on a Saturday as that is when they have the most samples out, Sundays are rather disappointing.

What I like about Costco is that sampling is an every day event. We don't have to go there on the weekends and fight the bigger crowds.

I didn't realize Jungle Jim's only had sampling on weekends.