The food section at Target
The cereal shelf.
If someone just sort of randomly told us that there was interesting -- fun, even -- food shopping buried deep in the back of the local Target, we're not sure we'd believe it.
But it's true.
Now, the food section at Target doesn't rival a gourmet food shop in any way. And you could never do all your grocery shopping there. You have to keep your expectations in check. But it does have a surprising number of interesting food items, mostly from Archer Farms, Target's store brand. (Maybe it shouldn't be a suprise -- as we found out earlier this year, there are some quality companies making Archer Farms products for Target.)
Here are a few things that have caught our eye -- and taste buds -- on recent trips deep into the heart of Target:
Archer Farms cereal
They have a bunch of interesting flavors, including banana walnut bliss and pecan sticky bun. Our favorite, though, is cashew apricot -- that is some tasty cereal. Some of these can be kind of expensive by weight, though. (2 for $7)
Archer Farms chips
They come in both baked and traditional. The quality is comparable to the name brands, but the flavors are definitely a bit funkier. The baked come in garlic rosemary, smoky bacon cheddar, and Jamaican jerk (these were a little too something for us, but we're happy to know they exist). Traditional chip flavors: maple barbecue, wasabi mustard, Maui onion, parmesan garlic. (3 for $7)
Archer Farms frozen pizza
There's a ceiling on how good frozen pizza can be, but the AF ones aren't too far from it. And you could do a lot worse when all you want to do is open a box and turn on the oven. Varieties include barbecue-style chicken (surprisingly not bad), buffalo mozzarella and roasted tomato (a nice try, but not quite there), spinach and goat cheese (actually pretty good). Think about that for a second: a spinach and goat cheese frozen pizza from a mass market discount store that's not terrible. That says something about the current food culture. (1 for $4.99)
The Target food section carries name brand products, too. And sometimes you can score good deals on some of them. The last time we were there Kashi cereals were 4 for $11 (the shelves had been almost completely picked clean of them).
But a lot of the interesting stuff is from the house brand and at not bad prices.
Yeah, it surprised us, too.
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Comments
I find myself swinging by that section every time I'm at Target now. The tortilla chips are great, especially for the price, and bread (Freihofer's whole wheat) is much cheaper than Hannaford, plus the milk prices are competitive. It often saves me a trip elsewhere, although those tasty-looking snack-lined aisles aren't good for your diet.
... said Craig on Sep 17, 2008 at 1:20 PM | link
This was a few months ago and things may have changed since then but I got the best prices ever on their chocolate chips - semi-sweet and white 'chocolate' chips. I'm talking close to a dollar a bag cheaper than I get in Hannaford - same brand (Nestle's), same size bag. I was stunned then and now thinking I need to go back...........
... said kathleen on Sep 17, 2008 at 2:36 PM | link
Target's grocery section is fantastic! Their baked chips are the best snack ever.
But even better, they sell Sriracha Hot Sauce at a cheap price!
sooo delicious!
... said TJ on Sep 17, 2008 at 3:26 PM | link
Since Herrs brand is so hard to find around here, the Archer Farms brand of potato chips is as good as you're likely to get in a potato chip in Albany. They come in less-than-obvious flavors and every one of them is in the super crunchy "kettle chip" style.
(Actually Glenville Beverages in Scotia sells Herrs, which was convenient when I lived a little hop over Freeman's Bridge in the Stockade. Not so convenient now!)
... said Tim on Sep 17, 2008 at 7:18 PM | link
The best deal at Target is their Morningstar (fake) meat products in the frozen section.
Best price on sale at PC or Hannaford is 2 for $7; Target sells them without the sale at $2.99 a box.
Veggie dogs, faken bacon... Mmmm.
... said Abby on Sep 17, 2008 at 7:36 PM | link
i can't get enough of the wasabi mustard chips. in fact, i forcibly have to restrain myself from picking up a bag every time i walk into target because the last (and only) time i bought one, i ended up polishing off the whole thing in two days.
... said jamie on Sep 18, 2008 at 1:21 AM | link
Go ahead. Try the Garlic Rosemary Chips. They are delicious.
... said Cathy on Sep 18, 2008 at 10:21 AM | link
Target really does have some good deals. Tuna packets are always cheaper than at the grocery store. Ziploc bags and raisin bran, too.
... said kerosena on Sep 18, 2008 at 2:06 PM | link
We moved back to Albany from Charlotte, NC where we lived less than a mile from a brand new SuperTarget and they have such a great selection! The food sections here are great, but anyone know if there are plans to open one here? While I don't miss Charlotte, I do miss that SuperTarget!
... said CP on Sep 21, 2008 at 7:19 PM | link