Sunrise Market, Vancouver

Over the 13 years I have lived in Vancouver, I have driven past Sunrise Market on a regular basis. I have always wondered what made it special as it is always busy no matter what time of the day I drove past. Yet, I have never bothered to stop and check it out until last Sunday.

Sunrise Market is located in Downtown Eastside, near the historic Chinatown, on the corner of Powell Street and Gore Avenue. While it may not be located in the most desirable part of town, those looking for a bargain on produce should consider checking out this local hidden gem.

Many locals would be surprised to know that the proprietors of Sunrise Market are also the same folks behind the well known, Sunrise Soya Foods. My family have been long time loyal customers of Sunrise Soya Foods, a local Vancouver company who produce tofu, soy desserts, soy milk, among many other products.

Knowing that tidbit gave me the incentive to check out Sunrise Market. Well, that and the raving reviews from all the Yelpers who unanimously named it the "best and cheapest place to buy produce in Vancouver". On a rainy Sunday, I had to check out why Sunrise Market was always packed.

We parked and I walked up to Sunrise Market with a $20 bill in my jacket pocket hoping to score some good deals. As I approached the store, I spotted some signs for Chinese tangerine (Lokan) for $0.29/lb. I blinked a few times, making sure my eyes were not deceiving me. A month earlier, I had purchased Chinese tangerine at $1.29/lb for Chinese New Year. Surely, they forgot to put the 1 infront?

Then, another sign caught my eye. Bananas are $0.39/lb. That's half the price of what my local store charges these days.

It was at this point that I sprinted back to my car in the pouring rain, grabbed 4 cloth grocery bags as I had a feeling that I was about to score some amazing deals. And did I ever score some amazing deals!

1 lb box of strawberries $1.00

Green and red peppers $0.99/lb

Gai lan (Chinese broccoli) $1.39/lb

Grape tomatoes $0.79/lb

Wintermelon $0.29/lb

Tomatoes $0.29/lb

Zucchini $0.29/lb

Kale 2 for $1.00

Honeydew $1.00 each

Parsnip $0.19/lb

Green grapes $1.49/lb

I spent $12.53 on produce that would have cost me at least double if not triple the price elsewhere. I cannot think of the last time I paid $1 for honeydew melon or a pound of strawberries for $1. And they were fresh as it can be!

My loot!

The staff restock the produce throughout the day and they seem to receive deliveries regularly as most of the produce looked quite fresh. As some of the Yelp reviewers recommended, you should go earlier in the day to score the best produce. Aside from produce, Sunrise Market also has an extensive selection of tofu, meats, condiments and other usual items you would find in a grocery store. Most of it is competitively priced, from what I saw. But the best deal is still the produce.

Sunrise Market is a popular place not just for Asian grandmas and grandpas. While I was shopping there, I spotted shoppers of every age from every ethnicity. This store is packed with shoppers wielding baskets of groceries squeezing through the impossibly narrow aisles.

I should mention that there were a few produce that I saw at Sunrise Market which looked like it has seen better days. Then again, I have seen that at many big box stores who sell less than fresh produce except it is priced up to 5 times as much.

For those looking for the Whole Foods ambiance and shopping experience, Sunrise Market is likely not going to meet your needs. The lighting is awful, the aisles are narrow, not to mention it is located in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

But if you want to score amazing deals on produce from a local grocer, Sunrise Market is where it's at. While shopping there, I felt like I was joining a secret club of saavy and frugal shoppers; I have never felt more at home.

As a reformed shopaholic, nothing makes my heart pitter-patter faster (other than my little man, of course) than scoring a hot deal! When I reached my car, I plopped the heavy bags of produce in the back trunk, rushed to the passenger seat and just like the Ikea commercial, I told my husband to "Start the Car!".

Oh, Sunrise Market, I cannot wait to see you again!

Sunrise Market

300 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z2

604-685-8019

Accepts: Cash or Debit

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)

Open Daily: 8 am - 6 pm 

Apparently pick pockets love coming here too.

Frugal Living: $150 Monthly Grocery* Challenge Week 4

This week I had to really watch my spending as I had only $41.77 remaining in my grocery and dining out budget.

While shopping at Superstore, I had to calculate what my total grocery bill would be. This resulted in some items being put back and gratitude that I am fortunate enough to have money to buy food.

My grocery purchases from March 16 to March 22 totalled $33.18 (after $3.20 cash back in PC Plus points) and dining out totalled $1.45 (for the McDonald's ice cream).

Fresh produce for the week and beyond.

The breakdown for my purchases are as follows:

Produce: $16.34
Grocery: $7.66
Milk: $9.18 (we switched to skim milk this week)

Total balance remaining is $7.14 with 9 days to go. I will definitely have to be creative this week!

Frugal Living: $150 Monthly Grocery* Challenge Week 3

At the beginning of the month, I gave myself a challenge to feed my family of 3 on a $150 grocery and dining out budget for March.

Having a tight grocery budget has been great at keeping me from those impulse purchases, especially at Costco. I have found myself seeking out smaller ethnic grocery stores for produce as it can be cheaper (and fresher) than conventional grocery stores. Since the goal is to save money, I have also tried to time my grocery shopping with other errands in an effort to save gas.

My purchases from March 9 to March 15 total $31.09 (after $0.25 Checkout 51 cash back on Pineapple). The breakdown for my purchases are as follows:

Produce: $17.33
Grocery: $4.52
Milk: $9.24

Total balance remaining is $41.77 with 16 days to go! To be honest, I am a little scared that I might not have enough money at the end of the month. Stay tuned!

Every quarter counts when you have a grocery budget.

Frugal Living: $150 Monthly Grocery* Challenge Week 2

Last Sunday, I posted how I resolved to feed my family of three for $150 a month. The $150 budget includes groceries and dining out.

Late last week, we went to visit family out of town for a few days so I lucked out not having to purchase too much groceries. For the coming week, we are running out of milk and produce so I will be trying to find some good deals to tide me over towards the end of the month.

My purchases from March 2 to March 8 total $16.99. The breakdown for my purchases are as follows:

Produce: $1.11
Grocery: $6.64
Milk: $9.24

Total balance remaining is $72.86 with 23 days to go!

My receipts for the week.

How Scanning Code of Practice Can Save You Up to $10

Paying attention at the checkout pays off. Recently, I was able to purchase a 2 litre organic olive oil for $7.99 (regular price $17.99) at my local Costco after citing the Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP).

For Canadian consumers, the Scanning Code of Practice was implemented in 2002 to improve scanner price accuracy. It is a voluntary program retailers subscribe to which offers consumers up to $10 off the first item if the scanned price of the item is higher than the shelf/display price.

As mentioned above, participation in Scanning Code of Practice is voluntary. However, I have noticed many major retailers participate in this program, namely, Costco and Loblaws. Participating stores generally advertise their participation at the checkout till near the credit card machines.

There are many different types of retailers who participate in the Scanning Code of Practice:

• General retailers (i.e. Best Buy, Future Shop, Toys R Us, Home Depot)
• Drug Stores (i.e. Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs)
• Independent Grocers (i.e. Safeway, Overwaitea, Thrifty Foods)

In my experience, most cashiers seem unaware of the rules relating to Scanning Code of Practice. I have had a number of cashiers offering to correct the price on the scanned item when I was entitled to the lesser of: $10 off the first item or the first item for free. Knowing your rights can give you a free product or $10 off your purchase. Over the years, I have used the Scanning Code of Practice to my advantage and received many free items or $10 off: olive oil, cereal, sandals, among others.

From my past experiences, the best thing is to spot this pricing error as you are checking out. However, if you notice the error after you have paid, you can bring the item to customer service and ask them to remedy the situation.

For American consumers, while there isn't a federal policy outlining pricing errors, you do have some recourse through state laws. As ABC News reported in 2010, the best recourse is to first bring it up with the retailer. If the issue remains unresolved, contact your state department to register your complaint.

Tips for Success

• Take pictures, bring a calculator or try to remember/write down the price of goods purchased
• Check the scanned prices at the till (this works best if you are shopping without little ones!)
• Check your receipt before leaving the store to make sure you were charged the correct amount

If you notice the scanned price is higher than the shelf/display price:

• Tell the cashier/customer service clerk of the pricing error
• Ask them if they participate in the Scanning Code of Practice program or what their policy is on pricing errors
• Know your rights: you get up to $10 off maximum on the first item
• Be polite if this issue cannot be resolved at the store level. Canadian consumers can call 1-866-499-4599 to register your complaints afterwards

Some Participating Stores* 

• Shoppers Drug Mart
• London Drugs
• Canada Safeway Limited
• Loblaw Companies Limited (Superstore, No Frills, Extra Foods)
• Thrifty Foods
• Costco Wholesale Canada ltd.
• Home Depot Canada
• Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
• Toys R Us
• Wal-Mart Canada Corporation
• Best Buy
• Future Shop
• Overwaitea Food Group (Save On Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Coopers, Overwaitea)

* This list is not exhaustive and is only a list of stores that participate in the SCOP program that I am aware of (as of February 2015).

Let me know: Are there retailers not on my list above who participate in the Scanning Code of Practice? For my American readers: what are your state laws regarding pricing errors?

Source: Competition Bureau of Canada

How to Keep Celery Fresh and Crisp For Weeks

Does this sound familiar? You want to make a recipe and it calls for a few stalks of celery. Perhaps you are making this delicious Chicken Dumplings recipe, or you needed a few stalks for Roast Chicken. Often, the celery wilts in your fridge before you have a chance to use it all up. That sad and limp celery winds up in the trash. Shortly after, you discover you need celery again for a different recipe and you go out to buy another bunch of celery.

This scenario happened a lot in my household. So much so that I stopped buying celery bunches and started buying celery stalks (since I was wasting at least 1/3 of every bunch of celery). The downside is the cost, as buying celery stalks is often more expensive (per pound) than buying a bunch of celery.

As I was browsing through Pinterest, I saw a brilliant way to preserve celery for a long time. Some ingenious person (whoever you are, thank you!) figured out how to keep celery crisp for several weeks by wrapping it tightly in aluminium foil (aka tin foil).

So I experimented with this tip and had amazing success! See my pictures below for the results.

Let me know in the comments below what tips and tricks you have to keep vegetables or fruits fresh for longer periods of time. Or you can let me know via Twitter @frugalnutfree, Google+ or Facebook!

Supplies
Celery (stalks or bunch)
Aluminium foil

How To
1. Rip up a piece of aluminium foil large enough to cover the entire celery. Wrap tightly and store in the vegetable drawer (crisper) in your refrigerator.

Day 1 Observations

• I purchased the freshest looking celery I could find at the grocery store: green and crisp stalks with firm leaves.
• Fit for: eating raw and cooking

 Day 1: Fresh and crisp. Nothing beats a cold and crunchy celery with seed butter! Mmm...

Day 5 Observations

• Normally celery stored in the fridge (sans aluminium foil) would have shriveled up and it would be in the trash already.
• The celery bunch wrapped in aluminium foil is still fresh and crisp!
• Fit for: eating raw and cooking

Day 5: Still fresh and crisp!

Day 15 Observations

• Celery is still crisp but does not look as fresh as day 5
• Fit for: cooking (or eating raw depending on your preferences)

Day 15: Still amazingly crisp!

Source: Pinterest

Freezing Whipping Cream

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I had a litre of whipping cream that was about to expire. I made this Creamy Tomato Sauce Pasta and still had about 625 ml of whipping cream left.

I really have to start using my whiteboard for tracking perishables again. I just can't seem to remember all these due dates anymore.

Island Farms, a Canadian owned dairy company that I love had posted a tip about freezing whipped cream a few months back. I thought I had "pinned" the tip but I cannot seem to find it on my Pinterest board at all.

The process is fairly simple. You whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form, drop dallops of whipped cream onto a parchment lined baking sheet, freeze until it is solid and place it in a Ziploc bag for later use (in hot chocolates, chai tea lattes, etc).

Ingredients

Leftover whipping cream

Directions
1. In a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the whipping cream over medium speed for 5 minutes until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat the cream.

2. Using a spoon or piping bag (if you want to be fancy), drop whipped cream by the spoonful onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Freeze for at least 3 hours (cover with plastic wrap on top). Place in freezer bags. Use within a month for best results.

Ideas

• Top off homemade waffles with whipped cream:

Buying Meats in Bulk

I love buying fresh meat in bulk for many reasons. One of them is that fresh meat always tastes better than frozen. Fresh meat is also more versatile, you can use part of it and freeze the rest. With fresh meat, it also requires a shorter cooking time. Moreover, buying fresh meat means you can have a variety of different meals and you can prep ahead (and even marinate) which saves you time.

Recently, I made two big purchases: fresh pork loin and fresh chicken breast. Here's what I did with them for our family of 3.

Boneless Pork Loin - 4.11 kg (9.042 lbs) $20.76

The roast was so huge that it was as long as my sink (see picture at the end of the post).

• Divided into 4 roasts:
• Froze 3 roasts for later use.
• Sliced up 1 roast into boneless pork chops (8 pieces). I used it to make Seared Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce (recipe coming soon). The one roast was large enough for 3 meals (2 dinners and 1 lunch). 

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - 1.822 kg (4 lbs) $15.94

Fresh chicken breast is so versatile.

• Divided up for use in 6 meals:
• 2 chicken breasts to be used immediately for Chicken Spinach Pasta (recipe coming soon). There was enough food for 2 meals (1 lunch and 1 dinner).
• 3 chicken breasts (sliced and portioned out into 2 bags) for either stir fries or pasta for those nights when I need something pre-sliced and ready to go.
• 1 bag of chicken tenders (7 chicken tenders separated from the breasts) for homemade breaded chicken fingers.

The chicken breast and the chicken tender.

• 2 bags of chicken pieces portioned out into 2 bags for use in chicken noodle soup or congee.

All bagged up and ready to be frozen.

Some Important Tips

1. Make sure to buy fresh meat that looks fresh, not gray or dull looking. Make sure the package is sealed and not opened/or repackaged.
2. Check the date the meat was packaged and the expiry date. If possible, ask staff to bring fresh meat recently packed.
3. Look for sales when purchasing meat. My pork loin was $2.29/lb and the chicken breast was $3.99/lb.
4. Store meat on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. I like using my vegetable drawers to hold fresh meat in case the package leaks. The veggie drawer is also easy to clean as well.
5. Trim off any visible fats and divide into desired portion sizes. Marinate any meats you want in the Ziploc bags.
6. Buy quality freezer bags if you plan on freezing any meat. The last thing you want is frostbitten meat that you will have to toss out. Label with the date and contents. Store in a deep freezer if you have one or store it in the back of your refrigerator freezer.

Double bagged to prevent freezer burn.

For those of you curious what 9.042 lbs of pork loin looks like:

As long as my sink!

How to Prevent Apple Slices From Browning

Snacks are essential to our daily life. The little man is currently a fan of apples, granny smith apples to be precise.

Since he is still a little guy, he usually eats about 1/4 of an apple each time. The rest of the apple is wrapped up and browns very quickly due to oxidization. I have tried squeezing lemon juice on my apples but was not a fan of the result. I came across a great tip on Pinterest which helped avoid oxidization also did not leave a strong lemon taste.

Ingredients
1 apple, sliced
2 cups cold water
2 tbsps lemon juice

Directions
1. In a bowl mix water and lemon juice.

I sliced my apples into quarters instead of slices.

2. Place apple slices into the bowl. Let it soak for a minute before draining and placing the apple slices in a resealable bag.

Make sure to label with the date.

Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork

My love of Vietnamese food is hardly a secret. From Pho to Banh Mi to Bun Rice Noodles, Vietnamese cuisine transforms simple and humble ingredients to pure heavenly deliciousness.

Around 4 years ago, I discovered a recipe that tasted exactly like the lemongrass grilled pork they made at our local Vietnamese restaurants. It was in fact even better than the restaurant version since it was full of flavor and did not have any MSG.

We were in heaven! Since then, we have made this recipe countless times: for birthday parties, for gatherings and for family. It receives rave reviews and we just cannot stop eating it!

This is delicious served over rice or rice noodles with Nuoc Cham, (which is a fish sauce-lime mixture) and carrot-daikon pickles. Alternatively, you can also make banh mi sandwiches using the lemongrass pork. If you are as addicted as I am to these lemongrass grilled pork, you would eat it on its own as a snack.

Please please please go make this for yourself, or if you are feeling generous, for your family and friends.

Put the liquid into the blender first and then the lemongrass, onions and garlic. (This is a quadruple batch)

Ingredients
1.5 pound pork shoulder, deboned and cut into 1-1/2 inch thick steaks

Marinade:
1-1/2 to 2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp garlic, roughly chopped
1 tbsp yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 stalk lemongrass, trimmed to 1 inch and split in half (approximately 3 tbsp)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1-1/2 tsp dark soy sauce
1-1/2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp oil

Directions
1. In a blender, combine all of the marinade ingredients and puree until the marinade resembles a thick mixture (paste).

Blend until it resembles a thick paste.

2. Place pork shoulder steaks in a large Ziploc bag and pour marinade into the bag. Press out all of the air and seal and give the pork shoulder steaks a nice thorough massage, ensuring the marinade coats each and every piece. If using a spill proof lidded container, poke the pork shoulder steak with a sharp knife a few times and so the marinade can penetrate the meat. Massage the pork with your hands to make sure the marinade coats every piece.

3. Allow the meat to marinade for at least 2 hours in the fridge, preferably overnight if possible for best flavors.

4. Take the marinated pork shoulder out of the fridge and allow it to rest on the counter for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling (if it is in the summer, place it in a spot away from direct sunlight). This allows the pork to come to room temperature so it will cook evenly.

5. Preheat the grill to medium or medium high. Grill each side, turning frequently until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.

6. Transfer to a plate and cover with a piece of tinfoil. Allow the pork to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

7. Serve over rice or noodles. Garnish with Carrot Daikon Pickles and pour Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham) over. 

Served over rice and topped with carrot-daikon pickles with a side salad.

Source: Viet World Kitchen

TIP

• Fish sauce comes in glass or plastic bottles. Be careful not to spill any on your counters or floor as your kitchen would stink for a very long time.

• Remove the outer leaves (the tougher parts) of the lemongrass and discard.

Lemongrass smells like lemons. Do not substitute lemons for lemongrass please.

• Chop the lemongrass into small pieces for easier blending.

• If you are short on time or cannot find fresh lemongrass, there are lemongrass pastes (sold in the refrigerated section of the produce department) which you can use instead. We have tried using lemongrass paste before but the flavor was often quite weak and not as strong as fresh lemongrass.

Fun at the Richmond Country Farms

Many moons ago, my friend A, told me about Richmond Country Farms (located near the Steveston Exit on Highway 99) which sold produce at a reasonable price. Richmond Country Farms is locally owned and operated and most of their produce is fresh from their own farms. They also bring in fruit from the Okanagan, such as peaches, apricots and apples. While shopping for produce, you can also grab a complimentary self-serve drip coffee (Salt Spring Brewing Company or Starbucks). I have always found the service to be friendly and fresh, local produce that is reasonably priced.

Entrance to the animal farm

Another reason why I love Richmond Country Farms is for all the farm animals who reside right next to the farm market. Goats, chickens, pigs, cows, horses are a few you will see at the animal farm. The chickens crack me up since they are often found roaming around the parking lot foraging for food.

Awww...baby goats!

While shopping at the Richmond Country Farms in late August, I had a relaxing time grocery shopping while the animal farm kept my little man and my husband entertained. The weekend prior when we were there, the Country Farm was offering free corn and strawberry samples with live music by the Huskateers.  

Every year, the Richmond Country Farms also has a pumpkin patch in October, just in time for Halloween. The admission to the pumpkin patch includes a live band playing pumpkin picking music, a wagon ride, a Pumpkin (child size only) with a carrying bag, a visit to the animal farm, and a Spartan apple*. We are looking forward to checking the pumpkin patch out this year as the little man is more mobile.

Richmond Country Farms is open from late-April to mid-December. They are located at 12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond BC.

*Activities may change. Please call the Richmond Country Farms for more information.

Disclosure: I was not asked or compensated by the Richmond Country Farms to write this post. All opinions are my own.