Grocery Shopping in Roswell

I’ve often wondered what defined a “foodie.”  Does it define how well you cook?  Or about your level of interest in consuming food?  Or how much you eat?  Or is it about the amount of delight you get when you bite into something you love?

I met a couple a few weeks ago that are recent Roswell transplants.  In getting to know them, I felt the need to educate my new-found friends on where to get “the best . . . .”  We got into the subject of grocery shopping (which came after restaurants and then favorite foods) and it was at that point that I realized I do have an “educated palate”.   At the same time, I’m probably more conscious that most about what I put into my mouth, my body.  With that said, I still don’t know if I’m a foodie, but I do know that I have very high standards.  So let me weigh in on my weekend grocery shopping experience.

Kroger – Usually less expensive than Publix and where I buy most of my staples.  From time to time, you can find an incredible deal on California wines too.  Don’t forget your Kroger Plus Card or the deals I’m speaking about won’t apply.  In regards to the Kroger Plus program, I think it’s actually great targeted marketing.  Every month I get mailers with coupons for the brands and products I actually purchase. With that said, it does seem that the variety of brands and products that they carry keeps shrinking.  At the same time, the Kroger brand is growing . . . imagine that.

Publix – I think Publix is overpriced for the most part, but if I get into a position where I can’t make it to Harry’s for my vegetables, I go here first.  But only when I am forced into it.

Harry’s Farmers Market on Upper Hembree – LOVE this place for all produce, meat & fish.  It is more expensive to buy here but there is absolutely no comparison when it comes to the freshness and/or organic choices.  I promise that your fruits and vegetables will last two to three times as long as that bought in any grocery store.  They also have a great selection of international products, cheese, oils and wines.  I don’t buy a lot of prepared foods but they have a huge selection – oh yes, and an olive bar to die for.  This is one of the stores that I try to pick up a basket and fit everything in there – because if I don’t, my cart will be overflowing with “wants”, and not “needs”, when I leave.  While this store is now owned by Whole Foods, it still has the assortment and expanse of the old Harry’s.

Trader Joe’s – Let me lead with this is BY FAR the least expensive grocery shopping experience to be had in Roswell.  My #1 choice for good but inexpensive wines – the Trellis Cabernet at $6.49 a bottle cannot be beat for an everyday wine.  The value is obvious upon first taste.  Also my #1 choice for bread (huge assortment of healthy and organic), coffee (at half the cost of any grocery store), frozen entrees (no preservatives), cheeses, nuts, and green cleaning products.  If you are into organic, this is the store for you!  One word of warning though – I’m not so crazy about their fruit & vegetables – they always seem to be on their last legs and go bad quickly.  Oh yes, their flowers are less expensive too!

This was going to be a short article but, as usual, when I start talking about food I can get a little long-winded.  So does excitement about all things “food” make me a foodie?  Whatever!

About the Author

Mia Hannah is a local Roswell resident who loves to share your knowledge of the local market with Roswell residents as well as wannabe Roswell residents. Mia is a rockstar Realtor specializing in the Roswell real estate market. Contact us if she can be of assistance with your Roswell home search.

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With two months left until the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and the $6,500 move-up homebuyer tax credit expire, it’s time to get serious about your Roswell real estate shopping list. Now while the tax credit is a nice little incentive, you’d also like a great deal as well, right?

So we’ve compiled a list of the hottest new Roswell foreclosures for you. We have some high-end luxury foreclosures in neighborhoods such as Chatham Park, Cambridge Walk and Stonewyck priced anywhere from $600,000 to $1.6 million.

In addition, we have some foreclosures priced perfectly for the Roswell first-time homebuyer in neighborhoods such as Magnolia Walk, Foxhall, Brookfield Country Club and Horseshoe Bend.

Click here to see a complete list of Roswell foreclosures available right now.

Our team specializes in Roswell real estate and we’ll be glad to meet with you to get you started toward owning the perfect Roswell home. Contact us today to get started.

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Time for a little recap of 2009 for Roswell Georgia real estate. You probably hear more chatter at the office water cooler about how bad the Roswell real estate market was in 2009. Seems for fun to talk about bad news. But in reality, Roswell homes still sold in 2009, in fact 800 homes sold.

It’s always interesting to see which neighborhoods buyers were attracted to during their Roswell home search. Where were people buying Roswell homes in 2009? Well, let’s find out. Here are the Top Selling Roswell Neighborhoods in 2009.

Please hold your applause until all winners are announced and let’s hope that there aren’t any long-winded acceptance speeches. Just can’t stand those long acceptance speeches.

Top Selling Roswell Neighborhoods in 2009

• Martins Landing
• Horseshoe Bend
• Brookfield Country Club
• Willow Springs
• Barrington Farms
• Saddle Creek
• Wildwood Springs
• Crabapple Lake
• Westchester
• Wexford
• Edenwilde
• Litchfield Hundred
• Loch Highland
• Mountain Creek
• Crabapple Walk
• Foxhall
• Roswell Green
• Whitehall
• Centennial
• Chickering
• Habersham Woods
• Hadfield
• Highland Colony
• River Terrace
• Spring Ridge
• Elgaen Place
• Hembree Grove
• North Point
• Pine Valley Estates
• Stonebridge

So there you have it. Our 2009  Top Selling Roswell neighborhoods. If we can be of assistance in your Roswell home search, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Gullah Culture and Cooking with Sallie Ann Robinson

February 27, 2010, 11:00am-3:00pm

Author and cultural historian Sallie Ann Robinson will share good stories and sample good food in the kitchen at Barrington Hall.

Her tales of growing up in the Gullah Culture on Dafuskie Island, SC are truly a glimpse into a vanishing way of life.

Besides being the author of several books on Gullah food and culture, Ms. Robinson has the distinction of being a former student of Pat Conroy (author of the 1972 book “The Water is Wide”) when he taught school on Dafuskie Island.

Ms. Robinson will be available to sell and sign books, share her special Crab Rice or just visit.

This event is free and open to the public.

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• January 18, 2010 -- 5th Annual Roswell Reads Program (0)
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Barrington Hall Presents Cooking Classes with Chef John Wilson

Tuesday Nights: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Join Roswell’s own Chef John Wilson in the kitchen at Historic Barrington Hall for an entertaining and engaging evening of gastronomical delight!

Chef Wilson will present a full array of classes based on classic European cuisine and cooking skills. Reservations are required and space is limited so make your reservations today! Cost is $50 per person per class.

For reservations, call 770-640-3855

Class Schedule

February 9 Couples Cooking for Valentines

• Mixed Greens with Pears, Cranberries and Walnuts/ Blue Cheese Toasts and Vinaigrette
• Rack of Lamb with Apricot Jus
• Whipped Russet Potatoes and Celery Root Puree
• Individual Chocolate Mousse Cakes

February 23 Winter in New England

• Smoky Clam Chowder
• Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Cider Sauce
• Blue Cheese Potato Gratin
• Cinnamon Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries

March 9 Western Cooking

• Western Rubbed and Mopped Flank Steak
• Baked Potato Cheese Pockets
• Wyoming Zucchini Saute
• S’Mores Pie

March 23 Spring in Italy SOLD OUT

• Spring Farro Salad
• Baked Eggplant Rolls
• Braised Pork Tenderloin in Onion Sauce
• Fresh Berry Crostata

April 6 California Cooking

• Baby Field Greens with Mignonette Dressing
• Roasted Gilroy Garlic Whipped Potatoes
• Vegetable Topped White Fish
• Chocolate Bread Pudding with Raspberry Sauce

April 20 Couples Grilling

• Roasted Corn, Green Bean and Grape Tomato Salad
• Bourbon and Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin
• Rosemary Skewered New Potatoes
• Balsamic Glazed Red Onions
• Grilled Pineapple Slices with Chutney Glaze

May 4 Cinco de Mayo Festival

• White Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Spicy Black Bean Salad
• Corn and Three Pepper Salad
• Natillas (custard) with Fresh Fruits

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• December 11, 2009 -- Roswell Candlelight Tour 2009 (0)
• January 31, 2010 -- Eighth Annual Tea and Hat Fashion Shows (0)
• January 18, 2010 -- 5th Annual Roswell Reads Program (0)
• August 18, 2009 -- The Southern Trilogy Hosts “Trilogy Trolley Crawl” (0)
• October 17, 2008 -- Taste of Roswell Food Festival at the Roswell Town Square (0)
• October 7, 2008 -- Roswell’s Historic Museum Home, Smith Plantation, is Celebrating Fall Farm Days (0)
• October 7, 2008 -- Roswell 58th Annual Frances McGahee Youth Day Parade (0)

Smith Plantation is planning the Eighth Annual Tea and Hat Fashion Shows in conjunction with Roswell Roots: A Festival of Black History and Culture on Saturday, February 20. Two seatings are planned at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The shows will include an informal tea and a fashion show as our guest speaker, Vernell Washington, shares her knowledge of hat design and the relationship between women and their hats. Washington is returning as a presenter for her sixth Tea & Hat Show. Washington will bring the fashions of Nigerian designer Grace Mark’s Chapeaux as part of her presentation, as well as a discussion of the history of hats and the art of headwrapping.

Women are encouraged to wear their hats while enjoying tea and light refreshments.

Space for teas is limited. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Smith Plantation office at 770.641.3978.  Admission is $15 for ages 8 and above.

Smith Plantation will be closed for regular tours during this event.

Smith Plantation is owned by the City of Roswell and operated with support from the Archibald Smith Plantation Home Preservationists, Inc. For more information on Smith Plantation, please call 770.641.3978.

Read related posts:

• February 3, 2010 -- Gullah Culture and Cooking with Sallie Ann Robinson (0)
• February 1, 2010 -- Cooking Classes with Chef John Wilson (0)
• January 18, 2010 -- 5th Annual Roswell Reads Program (0)
• December 11, 2009 -- Roswell Candlelight Tour 2009 (0)
• October 17, 2008 -- Taste of Roswell Food Festival at the Roswell Town Square (0)
• October 7, 2008 -- Roswell’s Historic Museum Home, Smith Plantation, is Celebrating Fall Farm Days (0)
• October 7, 2008 -- Roswell 58th Annual Frances McGahee Youth Day Parade (0)

On February 13, 2010, the Shredfest event hours will be 8AM until 12 noon or until the truck is full, whichever comes first.

This is a perfect opportunity to safely dispose of sensitive documents like old tax returns, junk mail with personal information, dated documents with personal information, dated pay stubs with personal information, etc.

Shredded while you watch!

Limit: 5 boxes or 200 pounds of documents per vehicle. Roswell and non-Roswell residents are welcome to participate.

Shredfest takes place at the Roswell Recycling Center, 11570 Maxwell Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009 .

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• April 6, 2009 -- The City of Roswell and Keep Roswell Beautiful Light Bulb Exchange Event (0)

Recently re-elected Mayor Jere Wood has finally gotten his way. The Roswell City Council, at the insistence of Wood, has voted to impose term limits on the mayor’s position.

Under the measure, the next mayor, whether it’s Wood or someone else, will be limited to three terms.

The irony of this is this is that Mayor Wood began his fourth four-year term last month. But in his defense, Wood has tried previously to convince the city council to approve limits, but was unsuccessful.

Wood argued for the limits, saying they force mayors to have to become leaders, rather than becoming complacent.

The Roswell City Council passed the term limits with only one dissenting vote.

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The City of Roswell’s Transportation Department will hold a public information open house where staff will be available to discuss the pending roundabout intersection improvements at the Grimes Bridge Road/Warsaw Road/Norcross Street intersection.

The meeting will be held on February 4, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Adult Recreation Center located at 830 Grimes Bridge Road . The public is invited and encouraged to attend to review the improvements and discuss the roundabout with City staff.

The roundabout will allow the removal of the traffic signal and allow traffic to move freely and safely through the intersection. There is strong evidence from across the United States and in Georgia that confirms roundabouts:

• reduce accidents and injury crashes
• provide increased pedestrian and bicycle safety
• reduced vehicle delay and fuel consumption
• improve air quality by reduced vehicle idling
• reduce electricity usage (by removing existing traffic signal) therefore less cost to the city
• reduce road noise
• provide a sustainable, aesthetically pleasing improvement

In terms of the Grimes Bridge/Warsaw/Norcross roundabout project, it is important to note that:

• Modern roundabouts are safer than a traditional intersection with a traffic signal
• No houses will be taken or demolished as a result of this project
• No significant specimen trees will be removed or harmed due to this intersection improvement project
• The construction of this project requires no road closures
• The construction cost is estimated to be $950,000

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Enjoy an evening of wonderful entertainment unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, join us for “Slammin’ in the Suburbs”. This is Roswell’s 6th annual poetry slam during which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience on content (discretion encouraged) and performance. Hosted by award winning spoken word artist, Ayodele Heath.

A $300 cash 1st Place prize sponsored by the Georgia Poetry Society will be awarded as well as a $200 2nd Place and a $100 3rd Place Prize.

For details on the rules and how to participate, email lrhodes@roswellgov.com.

“Slammin’ in the Suburbs”: Roswell Poetry Slam will be held on Thursday, February 18, 7 p.m. at the Red Door Playhouse.

February is Black History Month and to celebrate, Roswell will host the 9th Annual Roswell Roots festival throughout the month. Roswell Roots is the largest and most comprehensive Black History celebration in the state of Georgia and celebrates black history and culture by sponsoring a variety of art exhibits, history and cultural events.

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