The Joy of Grocery Shopping (w/ celebrities)

City life is often a rushed, streamline routine. It is easy to overlook the basic joys of suburban life that I once used to gleefully partake in. Among other domesticated rituals, one of my favorites: grocery shopping. I’ve lost this affinity for several reasons, 1) my local grocery store, Christedes, offers a shameful selection of food and 2) my kitchen is so damn small! Thus I’ve become uninspired to cook at home. Not too long before I moved to Manhattan did I begin to develop a true fondness for cooking. Creating meals, finding the perfect ingredients, serving loved ones and watching them enjoy it. But for whatever reason it faded and it just wasn’t as enjoyable as it once was. We New Yorkers eat out so dang much, always trying to get a taste of the newest restaurant, that homecooking has become a novelty.

Last night after work, just before sunset, I walked over to Columbus Circle to get some groceries, where the fairly new Time-Warner building sits, aside the southwest corner of Central Park. A proud addition to New York’s Westside setting, her all glass façade beautifully reflects the fountain in which a large marble and bronzed statue stands. All situated in front of the trailing greenery of Central Park. It makes it a delight to walk by on a warm evening. I strolled by, glancing into the ground floor windows: Coach, Hugo Boss, Thomas Pink and Stuart Weitzman. Some other residents include the Mandarin Oriental hotel, CNN studios and an array of exotic restaurants, including the Stone Rose lounge.

I eventually made my way downstairs into Whole Foods where I was to execute my mission in rekindling my love for grocery shopping. As a once fervent grocery shopper I was tickled with excitement to see the mass assortment of cuisine! The entire store was designed in such an inviting manner, even the lighting was pleasing. It felt more like a european market and less like a mundane factory. Everywhere I turned produce was radiating with a freshness and ripe color. Sections of Indian food, a sushi station, dessert buffet, aromatic bread baskets…they have it all and you can’t beat it (this is the crème de la crème of grocery stores people). I picked up a shopping basket and set out for the beaming red tomatoes. Which will I pick, I thought. Plum, romaine, cherry, vine ripe? I went for the romaine. As I stood there gently squeezing, subtly sniffing, I noticed a familiar girl standing near me. I took a closer look and realized I was standing side-by-side, sniffing tomatoes with Denise Huxtable! I couldn’t believe it, so I just kept staring. Yes, I turned into one of those silly, celebrity-giddy girls. It was only a moment and she was gone. But wow, Denise Huxtable/Lisa Bonet, who woulda thought? (That never happened at the Giant in Greenbelt, MD -- that's for sure).

I ended up spending about an hour in Whole Foods. Wandering around, perusing all the ethnic fare from Ethiopian to Peruvian. Oh, and the cheeses! I wouldn't even know where to begin. I think I’ve rediscovered a love for food and in turn I feel that excitement for cooking coming on again. Environment makes a difference in our moods. In a perfect setting, the most clarifying thoughts can come to mind. I think I might let outside factors dictate my emotions too much, instead of evoking them from within. All this insight from grocery shopping?! Well, I suppose we can find inspiration in unexpected places sometimes.