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From Your Good 'Ole Bodega

Anyone else have a bodega store near them? I know what the word bodega illicits. It usually goes hand in hand with imagery of dusty everyday goods like toilet paper, soap and sponges that seem like they've been there for 3 decades. You can tell by the outdated packaging and faded branding. Actually, you might not even recognize some of the brands until you do a double take and realize that yes, it is Tide, it's just Tide from the 70's.

Why did I want to bring up the subject of bodegas? Well, I actually really like the bodega around my corner. Actually, I like both bodegas around my corner. I buy some of my produce from there like bananas, lemons, and peppers. I think I also like to just say the word bodega. Anyway, as I was setting up my Twitter account for Yummr and starting to find some of you fine Yummr contributors on there, I came across ErinCooks' neat tweets and saw that she had recently purchased a Bodega Party in a Box. Now, when you really look into it, this $25 kit is just a cookbook with a compilation of recipes, advice and shopping tips from "corner store cooking experts". I really loved the gimmicky title that the Neighbors Project chose to give this call for donations. I also like what they are about:

"Neighbors Project is a growing movement of a generation of people living in cities who want to connect with their diverse neighbors to improve the neighborhood for everyone."

I will try not to stray too far off track here and just say that I've always liked shopping at bodegas. Let me be more specific, I like to pick up fresh produce from my bodega on the way back from work. It's nice getting to know your local neighborhood shop owners. I think this book implies that it might be a bit of a challenge for some people to go into a bodega and realize that it has more to offer than chips, booze and soda but I know the one around me offers more than that. This reminds me of an activity that I had put up a few months back challenging members of Yummr to go to their 99 cents stores to see if they would be able to produce a full yummy meal. Both bodegas and 99 cents stores tend to have some sort of negative connotation to them when it comes to foodie terms which is why I suspect not too many people were up to take that challenge.

Anyone else have a favorite local bodega that they go to regularly or any other local stores in their nieghborhood that they like to support? You know, not C-Town or Super Stop 'N' Shop.

Posted Jul 30, 2008 by SuDoughName | 2 Comments | Share It

Filed under: bodegas Neighbors Project bodega party in a box