How to shop

I gave up shopping at supermarkets for one of my new years resolutions this year. As a result the way I shop has changed dramatically. First of all, it is fun! I used to hate supermarket shopping, not necessarily the process itself but the feeling afterwards of guilt. Guilt from being sucked in once more to their ploys of buying more than you need and of spending my money in such an unethical way. Now I love going to the shops. I get a veg box delivered everyfortnight, which, although I have been doing it for years, still excites me every time it arrives! And I suppliment it with veg from the open market down the street which has a choice of organic and non-organic veg stalls. Everything else I get from local shops within a mile radius of my house, mostly within a five minute walk.

I have learned which shops sell the best vine tomatoes, where to find fresh, warm, homemade samosas, the best homemade organic sausages, sashimi grade fish and where I can get my favourite Spanish chorizo locally. I have got to know the shop owners and actually chat to people in the shops, something I have never done before. My food repertoire is expanding because I am exposed to new ingredients such as the fantastic range of rissotto rices and fresh pastas at the local italian deli and the range of pickles in little tasting pots at the Japanese store.

The quality of the food I am buying is so much better than anything I got from a supermarket. The fresh herbs that the Turkish guys down the road sell are bursting with flavour. The fishmonger in the open market gives me fish that has been caught that morning (especially if I tell him I am making sushi!). The little thai shop in the open market has lime leaves, galangal and green papaya that make me feel like I am sitting on a beach in Thailand.

I had thought that I would not have as much choice in local shops as I do at the supermarket but I have far more and I can buy things in the amount I want. The wholefood store in the open market sells all its dry goods buy weight so I can get 150g of organic harricot beans for a salad or 5kilos of sugar for making seville orange marmalade without waste or extra packaging. And I can get my own containers filled up with dry goods or cleaning products to save on packaging even further.

I realise I am lucky to have so many shops near me and as I am not working at the moment I can pop out whenever I feel like it, but I really was not aware of the presence or contents of the shops in my area until I started exploring properly, so I think that many areas may in fact hide similar hidden treasures. It will also be just as easy to do my round of shops on a Saturday morning when I start my new job. I am also aware that it might involve a little more walking than a trip to the supermarket but I am sure that it doesn't take any longer as I often spent ages staring at endless brands of flour or whatever in impersonal aisles of supermarkets. As for cost, I can no longer buy 15p tinned tomatoes or 11p doughnuts, but I also don't have to worry about the exploitation that was going on to allow for those prices. After a little exploration, I have discovered where to get the best value for money and I no longer buy things I don't need, so overall I save.

I hope that more and more people will start to shop locally as so many small producers and suppliers are having to shut down every year because of the domination of multinational supermarkets. And after all it is so much more enjoyable!

Okinami,

12, York Place, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4GU

Tel: 01273 677702
- Japanese food stuffs and cooking equiptment - great pickles, tofu and sushi lunch boxes. Try the umeboshi or the miso soup sachets!

Pulse

Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4JS

Tel: 01273 693355
- Wholesoods, organic veg, cosmetics and cleaning products - refills of old containers, dry goods by weight. Try the sugars, amazing flavour!

Fishmongers

22 Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4JS

Tel: 01273 694911
- Fresh, pickled and smoked fish and seafood. Tell them you are making sushi and they will bring out the best catch.

Thai market
Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4JS
- Thai goods, fresh, frozen and tinned and hot noodles! The fresh galangal, lemongrass and green papayas are wonderful

Shaktis store
102, Ditchling Rd, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4SG

Tel: 01273 602166
- General groceries. Fantastic homemade samosas.

Arkwrights Deli

86, Beaconsfield Rd, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6DD

Tel: 01273 552740
- Incredibly extensive collection of cheeses, cold meats, bread and artisan groceries - this is where I get the chorizo, the toulouse sausages are also great.

Italian Deli
Baker Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4JN
- Fresh and dried pastas, rices, meats and cheeses, freshly made Italian dishes to eat in or take away. Wonderful olives.

Choice Cuts

95, Preston Drove, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6LD

Tel: 01273 381616
- Organic butchers and grocery supplies - wonderful pork and leek sausages.