Friday, October 09, 2009

Cross Border Shopping & Lunch at Rancho Chico

Last week my dad and I went cross-border shopping to Colville, Washington, where there is a huge Wally World. Is Wally World the root of all evil? YES! Do I shop there anyway? YES - because I live on a very small budget, and the dollar was at almost 92 cents that day, so basically even with 10% added to the prices of the things I bought, I was getting a good deal. Here are some examples:

  • 1 gallon milk (3.81L, so slightly smaller than the 4L jugs I buy at home): $2.34, which is about $2.60-ish CAD. The cheapest I can get milk for around here is $4.51/4L at Safeway, but usually I get it at the local overpriced grocery store (LOGS) for $4.99.
  • eggs, 1 dozen: $1.32. For God's sake, the cheapest around here is $2.71/doz. at Safeway, but, again I usually wind up getting them at LOGS for $3.29.
  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 5lbs for $15. There were 10 breasts in a package, so this works out to not only $3/lb but also $1.50 per breast. This is ridiculously cheap. I'm lucky if these go on sale around here for $4.99 - 6.99/lb, and even then, I don't usually buy them.
  • whole roasting chicken: $0.98/lb. This is un-effing-believably cheap! Here, a good sale price on a piddly little fryer is $2.29/lb!
  • ricotta cheese, 2lbs: $3.69. I pay maybe $4.99 minimum for half that amount here.

Not everything is cheaper, and you really have to know your prices in order to make this work out for you. Also, you do have to be aware of how much the limits are at the border. It's $20 for chicken, and about that for dairy products. And we've been dinged before, let me tell you. Apart from the limits, there is no duty on grocery items. If you go over your limit, at least on dairy, the duty is 300%. I stayed within my limits and I was fine.

Now, on to lunch. We always go to Rancho Chico because the food is great, the portions are huge, and the service is fast!

My dad had Arroz con Pollo - it was excellent. I've had it before and really enjoyed it.

I had the Chicken Chimichanga - which is what I usually get, because it's so good.

And for a sweet "dessert" they bring around these deep-fried tortilla thingies that have a simple syrup on them, as well as whipped cream and strawberry sauce - yum!
All in all, a great day out!

13 comments:

Coleens Recipes said...

Our food prices have gone through the roof lately, I'd love to have the prices you found.

Donna-FFW said...

OOOHHH, that deep fried tortilla 'thingie' looks wonderful. You got some great deals.

Palidor said...

300% on duty? Are you joking? Ahhh, that's insane!! I'm glad you found good deals, and had a nice lunch too.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know there were limits on food. 300%! wow.

Your lunch looks great. That chicken stuff your dad had....yum. And yup, looks like you didn't go away hungry!

Heather S-G said...

300%!! Wowza, that's insane! The chimi has me droolin'...looks yummy :D

Cathy said...

I so need to get across the line to stock up on cheesecake instant pudding.

Bob said...

Oh man, I love chimichangas! Those price differences are nuts.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I see those prices and I ache for you... Rent a big refrigerated truck, save up for a year and come shop with me in Kansas

;) Lunch would be on me

Chris said...

Both of those dishes look phenomenal to me. I LOVE arroz con pollo, it's my favorite mexican dish. And chimichangas, deep fried burritos - how can you go wrong with that?

Reeni said...

Such inflated prices!! I like a trip to Wally World every now and then too. But even their prices have gone up. The chimichanga looks amazing!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I also buy lot's of butter when I'm in the States and freeze it. Can't compare the price with the prices on the Island.

Unknown said...

chimichangas are my weakness. (i initially typed "weekend" for some weird reason...) One day a few weeks ago, I had them for lunch, and dinner...not a good day for weight loss! and the "deep fried thingies" are called sopapillas

I guess we do have good food prices in the US...never really thought of it that way!

Unknown said...

Jesus Christ! I had no idea you guys were screwed over so bad on food! Those prices are nuts! I'm glad you were able to get some good deals. Your meals look fantastic! I'm kinda partial to Mexican food, so I'd be all over that!

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