Gourmet Eating For Less

Despite raging inflation, it's possible to eat well without spending like crazy, chefs and other food gurus say. You just need a strategy. The following are excerpts from a story written for the Los Angeles Times by Jerry Hirsch, June 22, 2008

It can be tough these days to be a gourmet. With food prices rising at the fastest pace in 18 years, Marketing consultant Shawna Dawson and other shoppers must look harder and shop smarter to get the special items they want. But they say they've figured out ways they can still afford some of those premium goodies such as a double-cream brie, perhaps a juicy rib-eye steak or even a small bottle of truffle oil.

"Knowing what you want to make before you go shopping and taking a shopping list is a sure way to save money, and you will wind up throwing less food away," said Jeff Lavia, a partner and chef at Dinner MoJo, a personal chef service in Long Beach. (Cheers to Jeff Lavia of Dinner MoJo; we used his service when my father-in-law returned home from surgery; the personalized menu was delicious and well-priced.) And that will leave you more money to spend on that special bottle of wine or sumptuous Camembert that you might otherwise do without.

Learn to Cook
"You save enormous amounts of money if you sidestep the takeout department and buy your own fresh ingredients," said Lynne Rossetto Kasper, who hosts American Public Media's radio show "The Splendid Table." Lavia and Kasper are big fans of simple dishes, such as easy-to-make meals built around one high-quality item.

Buy high-quality meats, serve smaller portions
Whether purchasing a tender rib-eye or a marbled London broil, that's the strategy used by Beverly Hills real estate agent David Flate when he heads for the meat counter at Whole Foods Market." A 5-to-6-ounce portion is more than adequate, especially when you are serving more than a salad with the meal," Flate said.He's also not shy about picking a larger piece of meat and asking the butcher to cut it into smaller portions that will better fit his appetite.

Whole Foods expects people to shop this way, said Erica Dubreuil, director of perishables for the Southern Pacific region of Whole Foods Market. One of Dubreuil's favorite meals is rib-eye steak, brushed with olive oil and some salt and pepper and then a dash of herbes de Provence before it hits the barbecue grill. She serves it with bread -- warmed on the top shelf of the grill as the steak is finishing -- a salad and green or yellow vegetables.

Check out specialty retailers and suppliers
When Julie Anne Rhodes, a personal chef and small-event caterer from Hancock Park, wants really fresh fish, she goes to Santa Monica Seafood, which has retail stores in Santa Monica and Costa Mesa."It's not inexpensive, but you are getting it as close to the sources as you can unless you know a fisherman," Rhodes said.Lavia does similarly in his neighborhood, buying his fish from Long Beach Seafood Co., which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will pack the food in ice.This is how to get fresh restaurant-quality fish without dining out, the chefs say.

Go to the source
Whether it's an ethnic neighborhood or a farm, the closer you get to where the food originates or where it is eaten, the better the taste and freshness, said Kasper, the radio food guru.

Keep currency exchange rates in mind
Shoppers should look for foods from regions of the world where the dollar has taken less of a hit in value. California olive oil might be a better bargain than Mediterranean oils. In the wine aisle, you could get more for your money buying a vintage from Argentina or Chile than from France.

Play the seasons
"One of the best ways to save money is to buy what is in season," said Michael Ainslie, the development chef for the Fresh & Easy chain of small grocery stores. Or, try your local farmer's market; Shoppers will get better selection in the mornings but better deals nearer to closing. The farmers don't want to haul the produce back.

Shop with friends or relatives
Dawson typically shops for just herself and her boyfriend, but when she sees a good deal for something in bulk, Dawson will also buy it to divide up with her grandparents, who are in their 90s.