apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

$855 plane ticket for 2

flew home to L.A. to eat Mom's steamed fish and chili lobster

cheese
organic fruits and veggies
and... mangosteens. But I live in Canada, where they don't have to be irradiated, so they're only a buck or two.

Fiancee's parents sent us a pair of jumbo live Maine lobsters to celebrate our engagement. I have no idea how much it cost, but hot damn they were yummy.

The one food category for which I will happily research, drive across town, spend top dollar, and eat pasta for the week is pet food. I can't do raw diet, though, for many reasons (esp. time) but I buy the absolute best kibble and cans I can get my hands on.

For humans, I splurge on fresh seafood for several meals a week.

When we do charcuterie night (about once every 2 months), we go all out on hams, saucissons, and cheeses.

I cut back on rice, couscous, flour, spice and herb costs by buying them in the bulk aisle (where they cost pennies). I cut back on other pantry items by going to the megamart.

Some nights we'll do the local HEB-brand frozen pizza (which we like better than all others, including local fresh) for a super low-cost meal (about $2 a person).

I've also saved money by remaining largely ignorant about wine. I'm fine with a $6 bottle, thrilled with a $12 one.

I live in Berkeley, so I don't really have to spend a huge amount to get good produce (I don't think I do, at any rate). But I will spend on olive oil (I don't go for the top of the heap, but I'm willing to go up a ways) and on other kinds of oil as well. Also, I don't mind spending extra for good whisky (or tequila/mescal, or vodka, or gin), cheese, and meat. I also spend a little extra to get Strauss organic milk, not least because the glass bottles are returnable. Except for the oils, I don't consume any of these items in huge quantities.

I live in Kentucky, so I splurge on Bourbon. And cheese for alfredo...

Food is the one area in which I do not feel guilty splurging! I splurge when I see something special from my farmers' market vendors, like crosnes. I also splurge on raw cream, French butter, balsamic vinegar, Big Tree Farms peppercorns, and, like renata, pet food.

I used to splurge at the farmer's market but since I joined a CSA, I save a lot on good, fresh produce (shameless plug, I know). Otherwise, I do splurge on cheese when I buy it, sometimes on olive oil, sometimes on proscuitto. I spend more on tea than most people I know, but I love tea. One of my favorites that comes in bags is Mighty Leaf, which goes for $9/15 bags. Mostly I splurge though when I see something special, for instance, if I go visit a local dairy, I splurge on their cheese, or if I stop at a specialty olive oil shop I'll buy a bottle, whenever I'm in Quebec I pick up their ice wine or maple whisky (and chevre!!). My boyfriend splurges on tequila.

But otherwise I'm like chiffonade-- I very rarely feel guilty about my food purchases (at least groceries). I can't beat myself up over some wonderful looking raspberries or scallops or cheese if it means eating at home and really enjoying my food. If the food is an extravagance calorie-wise (hello to you, ciao bella gelato) I want to really, really enjoy it. If it's not, well, then I'm buying really great healthy food. Win-win.

Oh, but all that said, I always looks for sales (particularly at Whole Foods). Sometimes my favorite creme fraiche is on sale, sometimes it's apples, or grapefruit, or kale, and I try to take advantage of those. I don't ever splurge on everything.

This sounds so snobby, but at our house we refuse to drink cheap wine. Mind you, we don't spend gazillions per bottle or drink more than about a bottle a week. But life is just too short to drink crappy wine! We do try to cut costs by buying reasonably priced wine by the case, saving a few dollars per bottle.

My partner likes to splurge on good parmesan cheese and olive oil. My indulgence is raspberries. They're super expensive in Australia but they're so tasty with a bit of cream!

Our real splurges are when we go out to eat, but that's not advocated on this site, so let's just pretend I didn't mention it, shall we?

I definitely splurge on good-quality meat--mostly because I eat so little of it that when I have it, it better be good! Although I didn't really think of it before reading the comments above, I also don't skimp on alcohol--whether it's wine, beer, or liquor, spending a few extra dollars makes such a difference in quality.

Oh, and I 'accidentally' spent a stupid amount of money on a half ounce of Norwegian smoked salt at the farmer's market the other day. I thought it was the same price as the other (not-inexpensive) salts....woops! The aroma of smoky saltiness was just too good to pass up...

Not food exactly, but still grocery - coffee beans.

I always "splurge" on meat--as in I'll spend good money for the good stuff--not that I'm always buying the most expensive cuts.

Also, cheese and local, organic produce--it's worth it to me to buy better stuff that I'm excited to cook/eat, especially if it keeps me away from even more expensive restaurants.

I try to stay away from expensive "gourmet" products like salsas, jams, sauces--I can rarely use up the entire product and I can often make my own for significantly less.

Also--$6 heirloom??? Where did you buy this? Was it worth it?

I normally splurge on every single food and produce that I purchase. The fish is always fresh from Grand Central Market, the veggies and fruit are always from the Farmers Market in Union Square, and frech break from the neighbourhood bakery and organic meat from the local butcher. When I don't have time I buy the cheese at Grand Central, but when I have time to go to Soho, I have to stop at DiPalo's for cheeses and for sausages and procciutos.. The Parmiggiano Reggiano is what it is, it always costs at least $20 a pound, so is their sorpresatta... But I love mostly their freshly made mozzarella and their freshly made ricotta. Oh I wish I had some now...

Yes, heirloom tomatoes are expensive, last Wed they were 4.99 per pound, and some being large and all they can cost that much, I spend $40 in heirloom tomatoes, but the way I see it, it is heaven. Every time we eat the heirlooms they smell like real tomatoes, and then you can get them only now in the summer, so what the heck... go for it. Just drizzle good greek olive oil and you are done. Oh, and I grew up on greek olive oil, which can be real fruity, not like extra virgin italian that can be a bit too plain for me... But again it is a taste thingy.

Like Erin, I stay away from buying salsas and stuff like that. We make them with fresh ingredients and they are good for one week. We make an eggplant spead that is to die for and grilled peppers with garlic and olive oil - great for munching on. My mom sometimes make quicy jam and orange jam and I'll use those.

Oh, the most expensive thing that I bought lately was a jar of almond butter - at $12 for a small one... Not too much, but it is the best bcs the almonds are roasted first and it adds depth to the flavor.

I spend lots of money on food in general, but it's my main indulgence, since I don't own a car, don't smoke and don't go out much. At least, that's my excuse :). Biggest regular purchases: Artisanal bread and expensive chocolate. Also, good wine (although it's possible to find decent wine for less than $10, but it's not easy).

I tend to splurge on wines, cheese and gourmet items. Staples I get cheap elsewhere and produce at the asian market (i'm half asian and half black) are always pennies on the dollar.

But I love me some exotic artisan cheese and any cheese for that matter...and good wine...yes, the libations and spirits are my weakness.

Butter.

I just won't do margarine no matter how many times my husband compares the price.

Organic Whole Wheat Flour and bottled water.

To make Levain (Sourdough) Bread from Beranbaum's Bread Bible. It doesn't work without it.

And occasionally a good fresh cut of meat or fresh seafood.

Cheap food is totally a false economy! Unless its stuff like pulses, bulk-buying spices etc which just happen to be cheap.
Things I always spend more than strictly necessary on but are so worth it:
Tea
Coffee beans
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Chocolate
Jam
Bread

Having said that, economy price peanut butter, dried noodles and crumpets are always fine! At Sainsburys anyway!

I always splurge on:
Oils
Coffee (we save by roasting our own though)
Chocolate
Vinegars
Organic dairy

Actually, I "splurge" on quite a few items (too many to really list.)

I agree with tin_angel that cheap food is false economy. In most countries people spend a much higher percentage of their wages on food then we do here. Besides, good food is an investment in health, why not get the best you can afford?

We choose to either save and/or buy in bulk:

spices/herbs
butter
olive oil
baking powder/soda
vinegar
jasmine rice
dried pasta

We choose to splurge on:

Bonnie Bell ice cream
produce
seafood (esp. shrimp- BF refused to buy "farm" shrimp and instead we pick up several pounds of shrimp from the shrimp boats whenever we go to the coast)
meat (esp. chicken)

We also save lots of money in the end on fresh fish, venision, pork, and assorted birds because my BF loves to hunt and fish and we keep/freeze everything and eat it throughout the year.

tin_angel - ah Sainsburys... :-) It is nice that they have that lovely organic department. The food is so much better in the supermarket in the UK. Here one has to go on a trek sometimes to find good quality stuff. Although I do like the idea that here I support individual vendors, the butcher, the bread maker, the fishmonger, and the lady that has the best heirloom tomatos in the farmers market.... I like that despite the fact that I pay with time. But grocery shopping can be an art form :-)

Anusha that's so right it really can be an art! Hee hee dear ol' Sainsburys! It is convenient, i like to get stuff from individual, independent shops too but sometimes its so much easier to get everything in one go. On the subject of british supermarket stuff, I should add baked beans to the list of things-not-to-economise-on, has to be Heinz or nothing! Not as lovely as coffee beans and olive oil, but useful to have!

Like Renata and others, I splurge on cat food for my little felines - organic, made in the usa, full of ingredients you can understand.

For me, I always splurge on cheese, olive oil, dark chocolate, bottled milk (tastes much better!) and usually get meat from my local italian grocery. I'm happy with Cavit Pinot Grigio but do occassionally like to splurge on a more expensive wine.

My next splurge will be french butter. I live in Wisconsin, so finding anything other than boring old butter is a bit hard. Any recommendations for online sites I can check out to order?