A Better Costco
I am not a member of Costco. Why? I don’t like having to pay a membership fee to be able to shop. Also, I don’t think by shopping there for food only a couple of times a year, I ever break even or get ahead. Also, I find I have to buy too much.
Instead, there are other options. There were always food warehouses in Montreal – in order for restaurants and depanneurs to stock up. I like Mayrand in St-Leonard. Why? Besides the groceries, not only do they have a cheese and meat counter where you can buy pre-cut cheeses (500 kinds) or deli meats, but you can actually ask a human to slice some fresh for you. In their meat area, you can buy regular supermarket grades of beef or restaurant-grade Angus beef – filet mignon, rib steaks, etc in the quantities that you need – not for a family of 8. They make homemade sausages and marinated products (chicken, pork, beef) – how about cajun tomato basil souvlaki?
There’s a large freezer section which includes ethnic foods and they import their fresh produce themselves – no middleman. It’s fun to shop around and find items like pails of Berthelet apple pie filling, an entire prosciutto ham or smoked meat, 1 kg Jello chocolate pudding, 15 kg honey, 10 kg. Skippy peanut butter, 3.5L bags of chocolate chips, pop-up aluminum foil sheets or 6 X 1 kg. bags of espresso coffee.
Location: 5650 Metropolitain est
Corner: boul. Lacordaire
Phone: 514-255-9330
Hours: Mon-Wed 6:45-4:30, Thurs & Fri 6:45-9 pm, Sat 6:45-4:30 Sun 9-4
www.mayrand.ca