Grocery list

This weekend in Quebec City, I chanced upon the oldest grocery store in North America, J.A. Moisan. The quality of its produce, prepared foods, and imported goods inspired me to list the top five grocery stores I've ever been to -- an act that would undoubtedly do Rob Gordon proud. Here in Washington, it's nearly impossible to shop at a single grocery store if you want quality ingredients at fair prices. And don't talk to me about Wegmans. Sure, it's got everything truffles to peanuts, but the variety simply isn't worth confronting the throngs of people or driving out to Chantilly. No one wants to drive in Northern Virginia. But the places below come close to doing it all.

1. Ralphs Marketplace, Santa Barbara, California and various locations throughout California. Combining a high cost-to-quality ratio with virtually everything you could ever want, Ralphs Marketplace is the best. The fruits and vegetables are stellar and reasonably priced, the meats are fresh and varied, and the place is open 24 hours a day. The standard of Ralphs is what chain grocery stores should strive to reach.

2. Albertsons, Morro Bay, California. Owing to its Central Coast location, the Albertsons in Morro Bay not only carries fantastic quality produce and meats (including tri-tip) at fair prices, but its wine selection is one of the best in the state -- and thus in the country.

3. Lazy Acres, Santa Barbara, California. I have never seen a better produce and wine sections than the ones at Lazy Acres. Plus, it carries Straus Family Creamery butter, which I have already confessed I could eat by the stick. My only problem with the place is that you can't by a bottle of Coke there. Why is it that the fancy organic places deny us simple comforts?

4. J.A. Moisan, Quebec City, Quebec. Although Moisan is small, the prepared foods are excellent, and the import selection superb. Want lavender syrup and fresh leeks in January? It's OK!

5. Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So, it's not a grocery store per se. But the old market pulls together wonderful meats, vegetables, and personalities under one huge roof. Obscure cheeses, quality hoagies, and Mennonites, oh my! It would be higher on the list, but you can't buy wines there -- and, no, Blue Mountain Vineyards doesn't count.

Honorable mentions
Trader Joe's, all locations that sell wine. Nobody doesn't like Charles Shaw.
Publix, Florida's wonderful supermarket chain.
Whole Foods (high quality, but simply too expensive for daily use).
Shoppers Food Warehouse, Alexandria, Virginia. Very high cost-to-quality ratio and an extremely complete international food section. Plus, I once saw the Iraqi president shopping there.