Saturday Sampler supposedly coming tomorrow

Teavana Craft Iced Tea. Several flavors to choose from
https://www.teavana.com/craft-iced-tea/

You all know the drill...Clip by Sunday..Redeem by Monday.

Props to Jewel-Osco!

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces Jewel-Osco $1 million donation to city’s emergency fund for looted, damaged businesses (Tribune)

So, another quick shout out for my online shopping experiences with Jewel(s) [tee-hee]

Made a pickup order. Got home, found a few missing items and a checkout coupon code was not applied. Started an online chat session with whoever is manning their support lines, and was happily refunded the cost of the items and the coupon. It was 16 bucks, enough to catch my attention...well maybe it was because they forgot my MUTHA&^*#%$# TWIZZLERS, but we'll say it was the money.

I'm no killer, but don't push me.

Where's Artie?

Saturday Sampler
Vita Coco Coconut Water PET Bottle
16.9-oz. Limit 1.
Add deal by Sunday 06/14 redeem by Monday 06/15.

Dave148 wrote:Where's Artie?

Saturday Sampler
Vita Coco Coconut Water PET Bottle
16.9-oz. Limit 1.
Add deal by Sunday 06/14 redeem by Monday 06/15.

You beat me to it,Dave These emails usually come out during the night. When I didn't see one earlier I just assumed there wasn't going to be one.

Life is returning to normal! Coconut water has returned to the freebie rotation.

Yay!

Regards,
Cathy2

I just got back from Jewel, but I passed on the coconut water and the pringles. The coconut water I am not sure if I would like it, and the pringles I don't need. I did see bacon terminator pringles though, and with the J4U, they are only $.49.

Cathy2 wrote:Life is returning to normal! Coconut water has returned to the freebie rotation.

NFriday wrote:I just got back from Jewel, but I passed on the coconut water and the pringles. The coconut water I am not sure if I would like it, and the pringles I don't need. I did see bacon terminator pringles though, and with the J4U, they are only $.49.

Just for old times' sake I claimed my free bottle of coconut water even though I almost never drink the stuff. I didn't even consider claiming the Pringles (hate those pseudo-chips!) but if I'd known Baconator Pringles were available I surely would have.

Pringles wrote:When you’re craving all the flavors of a Wendy’s® Baconator in a one bite Pringles crisp. Each Pringles Baconator crisp tastes like a half-pound of fresh, never frozen beef, American cheese, six strips of crispy Applewood smoked bacon, ketchup, and mayo. The only thing missing is the Frosty®.

A gallon of milk for $0.99 and a case of 10 large Tommy Atkins mangoes (bland and fibrous but durable according to Mango Maven) for $1.99 made my rare-these-days Jewel visit worthwhile even without the Pringles.

Cathy2 wrote:Life is returning to normal! Coconut water has returned to the freebie rotation.

Yay!

Regards,
Cathy2

When the freebie is some brand of "Energy Drink" we'll know we're fully back to normal.

I looked at the mangoes, but they did not look like they were ripe, and 8 mangoes is a lot for one person anyway, and so I just got some bananas, one pineapple, and one package of strawberries only because the strawberries were so cheap. I bought two quarts for a lot more money at the farmer's market yesterday. I go to Jewel more than I do any other store besides the farmers market, just because it is the most convenient for me, and I am not a big fan of Trader Joe's which is across the street.

I am down to my last roll of toilet paper, and I decided I better get some, and they had it, but it was mostly toilet paper in Spanish. The only name brand they had was Angel Soft. I ended up getting a package of four rolls in Spanish, and I have no idea what it is like, but it is only $1, and I figure I can live with it for $1. The Pringles are on sale through Tuesday, and so people can still go to get the bacon terminator ones. They had lots of different pringles to choose from.

I had to get some garbage bags too, and I had to pay $10 including tax for those though. There are not any deals on garbage bags right now, but I got 45 of them, and so that should last me close to a year.

Saturday Sampler this weekend is supposed to be Talking Rain Essentials drink and
Core Organic bars.

There's a new QR code option on the Jewel-Osco app. No more tapping in your phone number on the keypad.

Here Ye..Here Ye...Lovers of SWAG and free stuff
The Word of the Day returns this Friday

Say the magic word "Buttery" and score yourself a bag of "Rold Gold Recipe Number 5"

Saturday sampler is supposed to be Lifeway low-fat Kefir...No magic word needed

I'll try to confirm these as they officially announce.

Confirmed

We have a Word of the Day on 6/26 on Rold Gold Recipe #5! Just say the word 'buttery' at the register to redeem for FREE! (Valid 1 per customer on 6/26/20 only).

Another WOD coming Sunday. 06/28
supposed to be "Power crunch kids bar" with the magic word "Protein".

Plenty of those Rold Gold Recipe #5 today at the Jewels I went to. 11oz bags

Artie wrote: Confirmed

We have a Word of the Day on 6/26 on Rold Gold Recipe #5! Just say the word 'buttery' at the register to redeem for FREE! (Valid 1 per customer on 6/26/20 only).

Has anyone else deduced that Jewel's corporate office heard on radio the Progressive Insurance spot in which "Flo" took a pot shot at the word 'butter-y'?

Artie wrote:Here Ye..Here Ye...Lovers of SWAG and free stuff
The Word of the Day returns this Friday

Say the magic word "Buttery" and score yourself a bag of "Rold Gold Recipe Number 5"

Saturday sampler is supposed to be Lifeway low-fat Kefir...No magic word needed

I'll try to confirm these as they officially announce.

Saturday Sampler is loaded in the app.

A coworker that I trust with food knowledge sent me a msg about Red Kent mangos at her Jewel: "Buy them ALL, asap."

I'm out of town, or I would have rushed to find a few. Actually, I'm gonna see if I can find any at the big grocery store where I am.

When cheap mangos "pop," I've found it to be a wildly quick swing between VERY good batches and weird, stringy batches.

Hi,

Years ago, an Indian neighbor advised 'Kent' were the best.

I will go seek them, thanks!

Cathy

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Years ago, an Indian neighbor advised 'Kent' were the best.

I will go seek them, thanks!

Cathy

Leave a few for me please.

I think I saw the Kent ones at the Chicago Ave. Jewel in Evanston on Sunday. I was tempted because they were ripe, but I would have to eat ten mangos which is a lot for one person. I think they were $3.99. Does anybody have any idea where they are from? I assume Mexico, but I could not tell by looking at the box. I have a hangup about Mexican produce. Thanks, Nancy

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Years ago, an Indian neighbor advised 'Kent' were the best.

I will go seek them, thanks!

They're not. Everyone knows that Alphonso mangoes are the best.

=R=

HI,

You have the proper knife to cut into.

Big deal.

Regards,
Cathy2

I'm not sure which ones are the best. I'm convinced that they are constantly mislabeled (with no proof other than I've gotten incredible ones labeled with the same sticker, and from the same bin as crappy, stringy, ones.)

I've always assumed Alphonos are the best, but every so often you'll get one of these cheap ones from the right bin at the right time, and they are incredible.

At the HP Jewel - Marathon brand out of Mexico. I left a few for C2.

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

You have the proper knife to cut into.

Big deal.

I probably do but that's irrelevant. I've worked in the fruit industry for over 25 years. People talk. We hear things. Alphonso is King. No one in our universe has ever opined otherwise. They are only grown in India. They cannot originate from anywhere else and legitimately be called Alphonso.

But I don't think they travel particularly well (to the U.S.) as whole fruit. They're either picked too early to avoid damage in transit or they're picked at the right time and are too soft to withstand the perils of shipping. Consider a fresh, ripe Alphonso mango to be your fresh fruit unicorn.

=R=

Where’s Artie?

Open Nature Salad Dressing is today’s Saturday Sampler.

Dave148 wrote:Where’s Artie?

Open Nature Salad Dressing is today’s Saturday Sampler.

A little bit late Didn't they give these away last summer as a 'word of the day'?

Artie wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Where’s Artie?

Open Nature Salad Dressing is today’s Saturday Sampler.

A little bit late Didn't they give these away last summer as a 'word of the day'?

Beats me. As long as it's not coconut water, I'm happy.

The impressive response to my post here in Jewel-ry has caused me to re-examine it. I am pleased to be enhancing it with previously unincluded content.

Last week, when I went out to the nearest branch of the Chicago Public Library to download software updates and Windows® 7 security patches; on the way back to the abode, I 'obtained' the week's Retail Me Not weekly ad package from the steps of an unoccupied house. (I have communicated with the business conglomerate which distributes it to add my abode to its distribution list. It still hasn't. But any number of unoccupied houses still get it.) {If it was possible to invoke audio on a LTHF post, here is when you would hear the J. Geils Band singing "give it to me".}
I mention this because I was genuinely down to two 12-packs of 12-oz. (soda | pop) cans:

1. Caffeine-free Pepsi {best by Jan. 2020}
2. Cherry Coca-Cola {best by Feb. 2020}

I could not recall the last time I bought (soda | pop). And this was a week when grocers finally had a respectable sale on 12-packs of 12-oz. (soda | pop) cans: $2.99 {but you had to buy four}. I was keen for $2.50 | 12-pack, but that hasn't occurred since the pandemic broke out.
This price was being promoted at Jewel-Osco and Tony's. Tony's is a grocer which doesn't comport with me. I think it considers itself an aspirant to Mariano's, with Mariano's-level pricing, but without Mariano's-level items. Besides, the (soda | pop) special at Tony's was limited to Pepsi-Cola and 7-Up packaged beverages. {When 7-Up beverages are put on special, this usually opens the pantry door to a spectrum of brands.}
When I want to 'cheap it out', I go to Food4Less {Kroger}; but I haven't seen a Food4Less weekly ad since February. I am not stopping in there just to check prices.
But first, I had to walk to my bank, Community Savings Bank, get some greenbacks, and pick up two money orders {free} for bills I had to mail off:

• A Prudential Insurance premium
• An invoice from Black Dirt Weeding to scythe away the weeds in the backyard here at the abode

Then, this meant I was taking out the 1987 Chevrolet Sprint and motoring to Jewel-Oscos. Yes, plural. Earlier this century, shopping at multiple Jewels (& Dominicks) was slightly more regular.
COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, when I do take the Sprint out of the garage, it is headed to multiple addresses.
The Sprint itself is back in very sound shape. It has its "June 2021" City of Chicago vehicle sticker. But not so the overhead garage door. That is falling apart. It should be replaced. But that is not in the budget for 2020.
On the back porch here at the abode was a plastic bag stuffed with flattened aluminum cans. Learning about a shortage of these contributed to my decision to haul them off to a recycling center: T & Z Metals; 4009 W. Parker Ave.; Chicago, IL. 60639
Raising and lowering the overhead garage door was challenging. (Did I mention the automatic opening capacity failed years ago?) I got the Sprint out without damage to either.
The route from here to T & Z involved Belmont Ave. to Pulaski Rd.
It appears a new grocery with carry-out foodstuffs has opened on the southeast corner of Belmont and Kilbourn. I did not get the full name of the venue. It might have started 'Mercado De La ____'. Traffic was flowing too swiftly for me to see more {so I did not previously mention this}.
I can inform you the entire 4200 W block of Belmont is being demolished. Looks like more 'luxury condominiums' will be erected.
T & Z is on Parker, one-way westbound, one-half block south of Diversey Ave. The amount recouped from the bag of aluminum cans: $1.25.
I squared off the side streets to get back to Diversey and then turn north on Pulaski Rd. When motoring, this is the Binny's where I buy my beer for home consumption. But that was not scheduled for this Monday. I shop this Binny's on a Friday, because I tie it in with the bottle shops for Off Color Brwg. and Pipeworks Brwg. further south on Pulaski. They're only open on Friday and Saturday.
Heading north on Pulaski, it was the early afternoon, and I could have stopped somewhere for a late lunch, but I temporarily forgot Smoque BBQ is closed on Monday.
I turned left on the north access road of the Kennedy Expy. and left again on Irving Park Rd.
Here are the three Jewel-Oscos I opted to shop:

1. 4660 W. Irving Park Rd.
2. 6430 W. Irving Park Rd.
3. 2520 N. Narragansett Ave.

For those of you here on LTHF who like to jump to the end of the mystery novel to learn who actually did it, here is the summation of what I bought in total:
# 12-packs - best by dates

• 3 Coca-Cola - 22 Mar 2021
• 3 Sprite - (1) 15 Mar 2021, (2) 29 Mar 2021
• 3 Dr. Pepper - F0143, F0165, F0176
• 3 Pepsi-Cola Real Sugar - 29 Mar 2021
• 2 7-Up - F0171, F0181
• 2 Royal Crown Cola - F0170, F0176
• 2 Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda* - 14 Mar 2021, 22 Mar 2021 (!)
• 1 Coca-Cola Cinnamon - 3 Aug 2020
• 1 Pepsi-Cola - 29 Mar 2021
• 1 Canada Dry Bold Ginger Ale - F0170CB
• 1 Squirt Ruby Red - 17 Feb 2021 (!)
• 1 Dr. Pepper Real Sugar - E0151P6
• 1 Mountain Dew Code Red - 29 Dec 2020

* = New! It displays "soda" - just "soda"
The reason for the exclamation points is these brands are 7-Up packaged brands with a readable 'Best by' date on them! Notice the regular Dr. Pepper packs with "F0###"? To what does that equate?

The first Jewel-Osco was @ 4660 W. Irving Park Rd. I quipped above that when 7-Up beverages are included on sale at Jewel, the pantry door usually opens to a spectrum of brands. But upon landing in its aisle at this Jewel, my hopes were dashed, and my jaw-dropped (but you couldn't see this since it was under my face mask). Where were the selections?
- No cherry 7-Up, no cherry Royal Crown Cola, no Vernors ginger (soda | pop), no Canfield's 50/50, no Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge (soda | pop) {if any brand besides Green River is associated with Chicago, it is Canfield's}, no Sun Drop citrus (soda | pop), no Big Red (soda | pop). - If this had been intended to be the only Jewel I was going to shop this day, it would have triggered a response to hit another store. Further complicating matters, the Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola offerings were quite limited also.
So what was obtained here was 1 Pepsi, 1 Coca-Cola, 1 Sprite, 1 7-Up, 1 Canada Dry Bold, 1 Dr. Pepper, 1 Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda, 1 Royal Crown. Store total = $27.09
I should mention what is advertised on the reverse of each receipt. This RTUI tape was started 23 June 2020. It is not very good. The most prominant ad is for "Cold-Calling Professionals". Somebody is hiring telemarketers that probably would call you despite you being on the "Do not call" list.
There is a smaller coupon ad for the Dunkin' (Donuts - this stand hasn't updated its brand name) @ 4245 N. Milwaukee Ave. = 50¢ off any Dunkin' beverage, $2.00 off dozen classic donuts or 50 count munchkins. Expires 15 October 2020.
Let's get out of here and on to the next Jewel.
Traffic on W. Irving Park was light. This next Jewel is not included on the one-page sheet distributed with the weekly ad. This ad has specials valid through 28 July. I deduce it is targeting {oops!} Hispanic customers judging by the other items shown. Because I was going for the Clyde's Jumbo Glazed Ring Donuts [12 count ~ there's that number again] for $3.00. Maybe this is because this Jewel seems smaller than other Jewels.
The (soda | pop) selection here was, for the most part, similarly limited. From plundering about on the regular shelves of the (soda | pop) aisle (Oh, I should mention I was wearing vinyl gloves as well.), not the end point {If you enjoy Sprite, you are not going to get it here. Whoever stacked the end point put all the 12-packs of Sprite as the foundation of 36 12-packs of Coca-Cola.} I found a remnant 12-pack of Squirt Ruby Red (soda | pop) and a remnant 12-pack of Dr. Pepper real sugar. I also discovered 12-packs of Pepsi-Cola with real sugar and a Coca-Cola variant of which I might have purchased more, but it has a 'best by' date of 3 August 2020! This being Coca-Cola Cinnamon. Again here, however - no Cherry Coca-Cola, no Wild Cherry Pepsi, no Vanilla Pepsi, no caffeine-free Coca-Cola, no caffeine-free Diet Coke, no caffeine-free Pepsi, no orange Crush, no pineapple Crush, no strawberry Crush, no lime Crush, no grape Crush, no orange Sunkist, no orange Fanta, no Barq's root beer, no A&W root beer.
So what was bought here was 2 Pepsi-Cola real sugar, 1 Dr. Pepper real sugar, 1 Coca-Cola {!}, 1 Coca-Cola Cinnamon, 1 Ruby Red Squirt, 1 7-Up, 1 Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda. Store total = $25.89*
* = somehow, I was bestowed a "BASKET" 5% discount for "National Brands" ($1.20)
Turning over the receipt. Oh - it appears RTUI is who is hiring telemarketers. So it is most likely only cold-calling other businesses to ask them to advertise on these register receipts. This tape was also begun 23 June. The only advertiser it got was Poretta's Pizzeria @ 3656 N. Central Ave.: $3.00 off any medium, large, or extra-large pizza - pickup | delivery only. Expires 15 October 2020.
Hmmm - the Burger King on the NW corner of Irving Park & Narragansett (across from Mr. Zee's on the SW corner) is offering $1.99 original chicken sandwiches.
Recall the two money orders got from Community Savings Bank? It was before 5:00 pm, so I posted those letters containing them from the U.S.P.S. office on the south side of Irving Park.
Back to the 1987 Sprint. Now I went south on Narragansett to the 3rd Jewel-Osco at 2520 N. Narragansett Ave. This is a relatively new Jewel-Osco, and it now has competition from an Hispanic grocery operation just south of it {whose name eludes me now}, an Aldi on W. Fullerton Ave., as well as the Gordon Grocery Supply shop (in the former Office Depot) at Fullerton & Grand Aves.
Here was where I bought the Clyde's jumbo glazed donuts. I despaired because the container of the donuts had a $4.69 price sticker, to the point where I queued up for customer service to have it scanned. It scanned at $3.00. Again, this will remain on sale here until 28 July, so do not get spooked if the price sticker shows something else.
It should not surprise you however, when I relay the (soda | pop) selection here was about as abysmal as the other two Jewels. What was bought here was 2 Sprite, 2 Coca-Cola, 1 Pepsi-Cola real sugar, 1 Royal Crown, 1 Dr. Pepper, 1 Mountain Dew Code Red. Total spent (including the donuts) = $30.16 - no additional discount here
RTUI did a lot better soliciting advertisers for this Jewel-Osco. I can't detect when this tape was begun. The Dunkin' @ 3039 N. Central Ave. offers any size hot or iced coffee for $1.29, and $2.99 for 6 classic donuts. The Popeye's Chicken @ 6622 W. Fullerton Ave. offers a 10-piece box mixed chicken or strips (spicy | regular) for $8.99 - add 5 biscuits + 1 large side for +$4. The Dog Stop @ 6100 W. Belmont Ave. offers a free italian beef with purchase of an italian beef, fries & drink at regular price [!- this one might actually get used]. The Pet Supplies Plus @ 1748 N. Harlem Ave. Elmwood Park will deduct $5 off any purchase of $35 or more, and $10 off any purchase of $60 or more. Lastly, but not the least, the Jiffy Lube at 2801 N. Harlem Ave. or 2401 N. Austin Ave. will perform its 'Signature Service' oil change (with Pennzoil conventional motor oil){the 1987 Sprint has had its oil changed here all these years} for $27.99. These offers all expire on 15 August 2020.

Total spent at Jewel-Oscos = $83.14

This should be enough (soda | pop) for me for at least a year or so, even if the LTHF Picnic was to magically appear in a parallel universe. If some metropolitan grocery chain was to put 12-packs of brand name (soda | pop) on sale in the near future for $2.50, I shall grimace.
The route back to the abode was east on Fullerton Ave., with a dinner take-out from Marco's Beef & Pizza @ 6008 W. Fullerton Ave. {across the avenue from one of the above Jiffy Lubes}. I bypassed the meal deals and went for two italian beefs, hot peppers, juicy. I had the second one Tuesday. It was = $14.32.
Total expenses for 6 July 2020 = $97.46.
All were charged to a Visa CC.

I am aware of other Jewel-Oscos in the collar suburbs of Chicago. Those of you who shopped there, could you please inform us of their (soda | pop) selections? I wonder if they had a better spectrum.
Again, "thank you" for the enthusiastic response.