$20 @ Guercio's

by Christa Glennie Seychew

It seems that no matter how often I shop at Guercio’s I come away amazed by how little money I’ve spent for the giant box of food I leave with.

I think that fresh produce and the deli counter are the place where I notice the price difference the most. It is really remarkable how affordable it all is. Root vegetables are easily only half the price per pound as they are at the big stores right up the street on Grant and Amherst. Additionally, Boar’s Head deli meats, perhaps the best brand available, are about the same price as the off-brand meats offered at corporate owned deli counters in the city.

A day or two ago, I decided to spend $20 at Guercio’s. Not on anything in particular, and not in an attempt to buy as much as I possibly could for $20, just to pick up things that I needed or thought I might like to have in the pantry. Here’s what I came home with:

A giant spaghetti squash, a butternut squash, 3 large yams, a head of rappini, a loaf of fresh bread from Luigi’s, half a dozen giant button mushrooms, some scallions, a deli container full of unpeeled garlic, a package of nero di seppia (squid ink) tagliatelle, and a bottle of Guercio’s own balsamic vinegar dressing.
I also bought a small bunch of grapes and one of Quaker Bonnet’s elephant ears that are for sale at the front counter, but they didn’t make it home for the photo.

The gourmet ingredients and plethora of fresh bread from local bakeries (Luigi’s, Le metro, etc.) also make Guercio’s worth the trip. In all honesty, a visit here will not circumvent your need to visit other shops. But they have a parking lot across the street, are always friendly and willing to help, offer things you just can’t find anywhere else, and during the week you can buy a great deli sandwich for $3.
So, as you plan your shopping list for this upcoming Thursday (or any other day), consider stopping at Guercio’s.

Guercio’s
250 Grant Street
Open Monday-Saturday 7am – 6pm