A few years ago, I was road-tripping around Europe. We started in Belgium, traveled through France, down to Switzerland, up to Paris, and ended in Scotland. It was one big, beautiful loop and one of the best trips of my life. In the south of France, we stayed at an old gypsy wagon on a farm. That alone had us giddy. There was nothing around us. Despite that, the local boulangerie made house calls and warm croissants were delivered to our door at 8am. When your lips are soft with butter and your sweater is speckled with flakes of croissant, you overlook the instant coffee. It was pure bliss and a moment I’ll never forget.

In Paris, we ditched the car and stayed in a gorgeous flat with lofty ceilings and bold red curtains that framed a view of an old cobblestone courtyard. One day, we decided to picnic at the Tower Eiffel (that’s how you say it in France). We spent the day walking from shop to shop selecting a variety of cheeses, breads, dips and fresh produce. First, we went to the patisserie for a treat and bag of chouquettes. We ducked into the boulangerie for a fresh baguette, which is different than a pastry shop. They specialize in bread. We stopped at a few marchés for fresh produce, wine and other delicacies. And finally, the fromagerie for cheese. We drank along the way. First coffee and then a spritz. It took us most of the day to collect items for our picnic, and our bags were full of delicious, fresh, locally made products.

When I’m home in San Diego, one of my favorite things to do is bop around my neighborhood and shop at the local stores. I feel a sense of pride when I support local shops and learn about their new business endeavors or menu items. I frequent the farmers market where I grab my CSA box and a few other goodies like sprouts, granola, bread, yogurt and garlic spread.

On the weekends, if I’m headed to the Little Italy’s Farmers Market, I’ll stop at Home Ec. It’s a great spot for home cooks. They have the best chili oil (that’s also local), Rancho Gordo beans and shelf-stable provisions. Side story: When I was in Home Ec last month for Pi Day (March 14) picking up a veggie pot pie from Leetsy, we chatted about the amazing chili oil I was stocking up on. The owner Carynn introduced me to the owner of Mnemonic Coffee shop in Bankers Hill. They serve a Relic Bageri pastry filled with Step Ladder Creamery Cabrillo Cheese & the Karanchi Chili Crisp. That’s what I’m talking about, San Diego!!

A picnic in Paris may only come once in a lifetime. But when I take the time to enjoy my city, it makes me feel a bit like I’m on vacation. I urge you to take the time to visit these shops. When you get home and put together your meal, I promise you it’ll taste better. Close your eyes, taste the butter on your lips, and you’ll be transported to the south of France. Or Italy. Or Mexico.

Must-Visit Specialty Grocery & Provisions in San Diego

Pancho Villa Farmer’s Market (City Heights) – Once you’ve had their flour tortillas, you’ll dream about them forever. They make them fresh every day and they’re still warm when you get home. Bonus, no lard. Pancho Villa has great marinated meats like carne asada, al pastor, pollo asada, and tongue along with a deli with tamales, pork chops and queso fresco. Their rice and beans are also incredible. And you have to grab a bag of chips to round out the meal. Some would even argue that their carrot cake (although no longer sold by the slice) is the best and their pan dulces are delightful along with their bolillos.
Also try: El Nopalito in Encinitas, Gabriela Tortilla

Iowa Meat Farms (Grantville) – A meat-lovers paradise. This is your go-to place for all things meat, grilling and smoking. They also love a celebration. Lamb, ham, pork loin, standing rib roast and corned beef in the spring. Sweet Onion & BBQ Festical in May and the Hatch Roasting Festival in August. They even do a turducken, goose, and smoked turkey for Thanksgiving. All year, they have porterhouse, pork butt, short ribs, filet mignon, meatloaf and so much more.
Other places to grab meat: Valley Farms, Tip Top Meats, Sepulveda Meats

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market (Seaport Village) – Support your local fishermen and head out to the dock on Saturday between 8am-2pm (or sold out) for an immersive experience of locally caught seafood. You will find a number of fishing families selling their fresh catch. You can buy whole fish or take it to the cutting booth and let their team break down the whole fish for you. Dockside Fish also serves up poke, fisn ‘n chips, uni bowls and ceviche.
Also check out: Catalina Offshore

Wayfarer (Bird Rock) - Is it better just because it’s a pain in the ass to get to Wayfarer? No, it’s just better. If you’re there, grab a pastry for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, a loaf or two of bread and a salted chocolate chip cookie. They also have an assortment of natural wines and some great giftable items. They sell out often, so try to make it there before lunch time.
Other bread shops: Prager Bros, Secret Sister, Companion Bread, Wildwood Flour Bakery

H-Mart (Kearny Mesa) – We love H-Mart for the snacks and prepared banchan! Everything from chili crabs to kimbap to warm buns and fried tofu. They have a wide assortment of kimchi. The bachan options vary, but try the namul (veggies with simple sauce), spicy cucumber salad, tofu all ways, japchae (sweet potato stir-fried noodles with veg), dumplings, seafood pancake, shishito peppers, Korean omelet, and hard-boiled quail eggs in soy sauce. My favorite snacks are the Bin Bin rice crackers. My bestie Sandra (and her kiddos) love the steamed red bean bun, shrimp rice crackers, roasted chestnuts and Dduk (sticky rice cakes).

Just Peachy (Leucadia)- A local bodega with Leucadia prices and a Middle Eastern twist. A great stop to grab a few key ingredients for dinner or snacks for the beach. They have freshly made guac, salsas, and dips, along with a variety of fresh and seasonal ingredients. Their produce is always high quality and fresh. You’ll find popsicles, kombuchas, alternative dairy and more.

Venissimo (Mission Hills & North Park) - Bury me here, and I’ll die happy. You can sample and buy any cheese by the pound or a small cheese plate. Venissimo offers cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses of over 50 varieties. They even offer tastings, pairings, and educational seminars. Take a look at your receipt when you get it. It’ll have a description of your cheese and what drink to pair it with. We love you, Venissimo.
Lazy Acres also has a great selection of cheeses.

Mona Lisa (Little Italy) – Mona Lisa is a timeless, small Italian grocery shop with a deli on one side and snacks, ingredients and cookies stacked high on the other. A great place to pick up an Italian sub or sopressata sandwich, fresh made pasta and meatballs, cheeses, jarred olives, Calabrian Chile peppers, a bottle of cuvée, and a box of Italian cookies. 

Mitsuwa (Kearny Mesa) – A Japanese marketing with a variety of items including produce, household ingredients, along with a few shops serving crepes, tableware, ramen, and sushi. They have a lot of pre-made grab-and-go dinners. But best of all, this is a place to take the kiddos. We love the candy section. Juicy fruity gummies, candy with toys, Pocky.

Clos Wine (University Heights)- We know Clos as our neighborhood natural wine retailer. However, their assortment of tinned fish has grown into a handsome collection to match their wine selection. I use the same deciding factor when choosing my wine when I choose my fish: varietal and label.
Other wine shops: Bottlecraft, Vino Carta, Mission Bay Beach Club, The Rose, Little Victory

Specialty Produce (San Diego) - Go. Specialty Produce is a farmer’s market that is open seven days a week. Two times a week, they source produce from Santa Monica’s Farmer’s Market, as well as all the San Diego farms. They have the freshest local produce in San Diego. They also have a great assortment of dry goods and EVOO. Go. And keep going. They also have a customizable CSA for you to support local.

Habibi Sweets (El Cajon) – My brother turned me on to baklava at a recent holiday party. He brought six different flavors of baklava, and we couldn’t choose just one. Their customer service is also top-notch.
Also check out Baklava King and Shakira Baklava

Seaside Market (Encinitas) - If you don’t live in Encinitas, you go to Seaside for one thing: Cardiff Crack, a marinated tri-tip steak that’s $14.99 a pound and perfect for grilling. Get twice the amount you need and freeze half. It’s called crack for a reason. If you are local, you’re picking up fresh fish, sausages, a sandwich, or something from the deli. On the weekends, they sell Cardiff Crack sandwiches from a 10x10 tent in the parking lot.