Okay so lemme walk you through how I hunted bargains in Belmont last Tuesday. Woke up super early cause I know these local shops ain’t playing – good stuff disappears fast. Grabbed my reusable bags (gotta save them 5 cents per bag, right?) and hopped on the Bx bus heading toward Arthur Ave.
First Stop: The Bakeries
Skipped breakfast on purpose. You smell those cannolis from a block away, man. Went straight to that pastry place next to the deli everyone whispers about. Pro tip: Go before 10 AM when day-olds get marked down. Scored six sfogliatelle for $5 instead of $12 – slightly crispy but perfect for dunking in coffee. The lady even tossed in two free biscotti ’cause I chatted about her grandkid.
Navigating The Meat Markets
Saw tourists paying $18/lb for prosciutto at that fancy corner spot. Nah. Walked two blocks down to Sal’s. Asked for “end cuts” louder so the guy behind the counter nodded. Got uneven chunks of sopressata and mortadella for $6/lb – ugly but tastes bomb. Watched him grind fresh pork shoulder into sausage right there. Bought two pounds for Sunday gravy.
Cheese Finds & Veggie Hacks
Almost got fooled by pre-sliced mozzarella water packs. Asked Tony at the dairy counter: “Whatchu trying to get rid of today?” He pulled out a wheel of slightly dried provolone from yesterday. Chopped it ugly-style for me – 40% off. Golden rule: Always ask. At the produce stand, grabbed bruised tomatoes and wilted basil for $1.50 total – perfect for that night’s pasta sauce.
The Big Win
Last stop: Teresa’s Wine Room. They had a cardboard box near the register labeled “Misc Grape Stuff”. Dug like a raccoon through loose bottles. Found three decent Chiantis missing labels (probably scratched in transit?). Cashier shrugged: “Three bucks each?” Sold. Tasted fine after breathing for 20 minutes.
Final haul cost: $37. Saved more than I spent thanks to these tricks:
- Morning bird gets stale pastry: Bakery discounts right after rush hour
- “End cuts” are magic words at butcher counters
- Find the dusty mystery box in wine shops
- Limp greens taste the same when cooked
Yeah you look like a cheapskate digging through boxes. But that $30 saved? That’s two more bottles of “misc grape stuff”. Priorities.
