For those looking to ease the anxiety often associated with grocery shopping, the key may be to arrive early—before 8 a.m. Making your way to the store at this hour allows you to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer customers and no lengthy checkout lines. Plus, you might even snag some significant discounts on items like chicken and other proteins through “manager’s specials” that can help trim your grocery budget.
If you’re in the right mood—meaning neither you nor the cashier is feeling cranky—you might even squeeze in some light-hearted conversation.
However, that warm exchange is nearly impossible during busy midday and late afternoon hours. Moreover, such interactions are virtually non-existent in the self-checkout area.
But after arriving before 8 a.m., the experience can shift positively, especially with a familiar cashier—the friendly and efficient woman you’ve greeted during countless shopping trips. These encounters can provide much-needed social interaction, entertaining us even in brief moments.
In my personal experiences, these conversations often revolve around my culinary plans.
“What do you plan to make with these?” the cashier inquired one morning as she held up a bundle of leeks secured by a blue rubber band. This sort of exchange typically never happens during busier times. Yet, between 7 and 8 a.m., while assisting a lone shopper, there’s plenty of opportunity to chat.
“I chop them up and add them to soup,” I replied. “Alternatively, you can slice them thin and sauté them in butter, or mix them in with mashed potatoes.”
“The whole thing?” she asked, clearly interested.
“Mainly the tender white part at the bottom. I sometimes save the green tops for making stock,” I explained.
On another occasion, she picked up a bunch of Andy Boy broccoli rabe.
“What are you going to do with this?” she asked. “What does it taste like?”
“It has a slightly spicy flavor,” I noted. “I wash, chop, and sauté it with garlic and olive oil.”
“Oh really?”
“Some people prefer to blanch it first to soften it,” I explained. “But I try not to overcook it. It’s also delicious on pizza. Although it isn’t the cheapest green, it’s a nice change if you’re tired of kale.”
“I might have to give that a try,” she responded, her curiosity piqued. “Now what about this? Have you ever tried this?”
At that moment, she held up a frozen flank of salmon that was already seasoned. Though I don’t typically buy pre-seasoned items, I found the product’s packaging appealing.
“No,” I admitted. “It’s my first time seeing it, so I thought I’d give it a shot at $9.99.”
“How do you usually cook salmon?” she asked. “On the grill?”
“I’m not particularly skilled in grilling,” I confided. “However, if I do, I use those grilling planks made from cedar.”
“We have some at home, but I haven’t tried them yet. Are they effective?”
“Absolutely, they’re much better than using aluminum foil because they impart a nice wood flavor to the fish,” I replied. “But my favorite summer method is to poach a whole filet in salted water with a hint of white wine, lemon, and bay leaf. Then I chill it and serve it cold with a sauce…”
“What goes into the sauce?” she asked, intrigued.
“You can use sour cream or mayonnaise, combining that with finely chopped cucumber, plenty of dill, perhaps some minced onion or shallot, a splash of olive oil, and lemon,” I detailed.
“That sounds delicious.”
“It’s my preferred way to enjoy salmon during the summer months. I highly recommend trying it.”
She then noticed the large jug of white vinegar and two packages of store-brand salt I placed on the conveyor belt.
“What are you planning to do with all that? Making cleaner?” she joked.
“Actually, it’s for weed killer.”
“Really?” she replied, clearly surprised.
“Yep. If you mix vinegar with salt and some water, you have an effective weed killer that works wonders.”
“No way?”
“Trust me, in hot weather, it can turn weeds brown within 24 hours. Just be careful to apply it directly to the weeds you want to eliminate, avoiding any nearby flowers, as it is quite potent.”
As I wrapped up my transaction, I noticed another shopper had joined the line and seemed interested in our conversation.
The cashier completed my bill and informed me of the final total. Curious about whether my frequent-shopper rewards had been applied, I inquired about it. These rewards can be used to lower your grocery expenses or reduce the gasoline price at Shell stations.
“No matter what, they really get you,” I remarked, drawing a laugh from the other customer.
“It’s tough out there,” the other shopper echoed, “but what can you do?”
“Well, you could vote for someone else,” I suggested, eliciting laughter from both the cashier and the customer as I pushed my cart away.
“Have a great day,” the cashier said with a smile, “and let me know how that salmon turns out.”
“I’ll be sure to update you,” I replied, leaving our friendly exchange behind.
Dan Rodricks writes a weekly column for Baltimore Fishbowl. He can be reached via danrodricks.com
