But Chef Unk is still out here collecting XP and trying to level up!
One of the biggest adjustments to living in Prague has been grocery shopping. You wouldn't think buying a few groceries would be that different from back home, but it certainly is! Throughout Prague, there are little corner stores that I call bodegas, which is what we call them in New York. They sell drinks, candy, snacks and sometimes sandwiches or hot food. They're convenient when you need something quickly, but I've generally found them to be some of the more expensive places to shop.
Then there are express grocery stores, which remind me of smaller neighborhood supermarkets back in the United States. Finally, there are larger supermarkets offering more choices. What surprised me is how grocery stores here tend to focus primarily on food. Back home, I could walk into Walmart and buy groceries, a television, new socks and a bicycle all in one trip. Here, I've found myself visiting different stores for different things.
As a chef, I find grocery shopping to be one of the most interesting ways to learn about another culture. What people buy, how stores are organized and even the sizes of packages tell you a lot about everyday life.
Here's a question for you: How would your family's shopping habits change if you couldn't buy almost everything at one store?
