The other day we went to the Lidl to buy sunscreen – they carry a brand I like. The Lidl is a mid-sized market that seems to buy odd lots of things in bulk. It’s something in between a gourmet supermarket and a warehouse store, if you can imagine. It’s a good place to buy pasta – they get fancy pasta from Italy and sell it for less than our local supermarket – and snacky things. Also, sometimes, housewares. Or office supplies. Or digital gizmos. It varies. When we were there, they had gingerbread from Germany, good yummy stuff, and not expensive. Husband asked me if I wanted some.
“Absolutely NOT!” I said. “I get my gingerbread up the road at the Bad Aussee Lebkuchen factory!”
I then went on to list the other items I insist on getting from the source in Austria. “I get my shoes from Th!nk, my skis from Fischer, my pretzels from the bakery in Aigen, my juice from that farmer that drives up on Tuesday mornings, and my cake from the Zauner in Bad Ischl. Unless we are in Vienna, and then we go to the Demel.”
“You are quite the princess,” husband replied. “And kind of a snob.”
I did not disagree.
I have a theory about that. I think it’s living in Seattle for a long time that does that to you. I am very particular about things, and that surprises me because I think of myself as being quite flexible and able to live in a wide range of different environments. I know several folks in Seattle that do that, and they all have one thing in common: Seattlelites! We are a spoiled bunch (in a good way). I find myself all the time choosing local companies over big chains, whenever I can afford it. Like buying gear from Pacific Trail (http://www.pacifictrail.com/) and having all vegetables and fruit delivered from Biohof Adamah (http://www.adamah.at/). What bothers me is that I haven’t found locally roasted coffee beans, but I will one of these days….And I do honestly hate being snobbish, but I think living in Seattle I just got educated about lots of things that they don’t preach/live somewhere else.
So when it comes to these things embrace your inner snob I say! And you’ve worked hard enough to allow yourself to be a princess :).
Hmmm. I dunno if I’d put it down to living in Seattle, though maybe because it’s a lefty town there are an inordinate number of critical, lefty consumers.
Though when it comes to being snobby about skis, well, that’s just snobby!
I thought that only Irish people found Lidl a complete paradox – that it was cheap and high class. I assumed it’s because we’re not sophisticated and drink coffee that granulated in a jar. But it’s not only us.
Nope. The Lidl is insrcutable to me. I go there because they have the pretense of gourmet products. But also, it’s just really freakin’ cheap. And I do not drink my coffee “granulated from a jar.” Bleh. Ptui.
Our coffee come from the Eduscho, which ALSO confuses me. Whole beans and, oh! Look! This month it’s a yoga theme with workout clothes and yoga props and videos! I SO do not get it.