We've moved on to the second closest grocery to my apartment, Vons Hollywood. Not sure why they name themselves 'Hollywood', as the store is in Los Feliz. I guess everyone wants to be a star.
Like the Albertsons reviewed last week, this Vons has undergone a recent face lift. Hey, maybe it is Hollywood, then! They sure are trying to fit in. Face lifts for all! Seriously, they did a good job on this one. The store is clean, current, and very inviting.
Like the Albertsons reviewed last week, this Vons has undergone a recent face lift. Hey, maybe it is Hollywood, then! They sure are trying to fit in. Face lifts for all! Seriously, they did a good job on this one. The store is clean, current, and very inviting.
MEAT & POULTRY
Once again, we find ourselves lost in industrial meat and poultry land. Tasty, environmentally conscious eating animals are nowhere to be found.
The poultry section is given largely to Foster Farms. Despite they're clever TV commercials, it's big industry meat. Pollution filled, and not very kind to the chickens. This, of course, affects their health & flavor, which is not good for us. A better option is the O Organics chicken. The store-label organic brand is available in all cuts, including whole birds. Boneless, skinless breasts go for $8.99/lb.
It's downhill from here. The best looking beef is under the Rancher's Reserve label. I'm not really sure what that means, as no information on quality of cut or location of beef farm is listed. Safe to assume that this is an average choice, at best. New York strips are priced at $11.99/lb and rib eyes sell for $11.49. Not too expensive, but I imagine you're getting what you're paying for. There is a large variety of cuts on sale, which is nice. Also, Coleman's organic ground beef sells for $6.59/lb. That's expensive, and it comes pre-packaged & delivered, which I'm not very keen on. Ground beef is best ground the same day.
Pork fairs no better. The meat is a pale pink, with no marbling. Selection is mediocre. However, they do sell pork fat, so that's nice! No info on source of pork.
Grade: C-. The organic chicken & pork fat are nice. After that, there really isn't much worth buying here.
Once again, we find ourselves lost in industrial meat and poultry land. Tasty, environmentally conscious eating animals are nowhere to be found.
The poultry section is given largely to Foster Farms. Despite they're clever TV commercials, it's big industry meat. Pollution filled, and not very kind to the chickens. This, of course, affects their health & flavor, which is not good for us. A better option is the O Organics chicken. The store-label organic brand is available in all cuts, including whole birds. Boneless, skinless breasts go for $8.99/lb.
It's downhill from here. The best looking beef is under the Rancher's Reserve label. I'm not really sure what that means, as no information on quality of cut or location of beef farm is listed. Safe to assume that this is an average choice, at best. New York strips are priced at $11.99/lb and rib eyes sell for $11.49. Not too expensive, but I imagine you're getting what you're paying for. There is a large variety of cuts on sale, which is nice. Also, Coleman's organic ground beef sells for $6.59/lb. That's expensive, and it comes pre-packaged & delivered, which I'm not very keen on. Ground beef is best ground the same day.
Pork fairs no better. The meat is a pale pink, with no marbling. Selection is mediocre. However, they do sell pork fat, so that's nice! No info on source of pork.
Grade: C-. The organic chicken & pork fat are nice. After that, there really isn't much worth buying here.
CEREAL
Like most large grocery stores, the cereal selection here is massive. You'll be able to find any major label cereal here. Sadly, prominent display is given to many high sugar cereals. These are a treat from time to time, but, as much as I love some Cinnamon Toast Crunch (!), a treat is still a treat. There are a few organic options by O Organics and Kashi. Honey Nut Cheerios sell for $4.99, and Organic Kashi Go Lean! (no Kashi Autumn Wheat- bastards!) is $4.59.
Grade: B. Standard selection with not a lot of upside.
Grade: B. Standard selection with not a lot of upside.
SPICES
Vons Hollywood has a decent spice section. Very similar to the display at Albertsons. You'll find whatever you need here. O Organics has a limited line of organic selections on display. No mention of fair trade. McCormick Gourmet (no Spice Islands to compare) garlic powder sells for $7.59, and McCormick Gourmet vanilla beans for $12.99
Grade: B+. You'll find what you need plus a little bit better.
Grade: B+. You'll find what you need plus a little bit better.
DAIRY & EGGS
Once again, we find failure in the dairy case. Perhaps we ought to bring back the milk man.
Egg selection is OK. O Organics, Horizon, and Land 'O Lakes supply organic eggs by the dozen. No local / small farm brands available, which is sad. O Organics sell cheapest at $4.49 per dozen.
Things stay pretty industrial in the milk case. Land 'O Lakes drops out (they still do butter!), leaving O Organics and Horizon as our organic choices. Since we know Horizon is industrial, best to stick to the O brand, which (bonus!) is not ultra-pasteurized. It might or might not be local, too. You can pick up a half gallon for $4.39. There is also Broguiere's, a local dairy, which by all accounts takes great care of its cows. A quart sells for $3.29.
The yogurt selection pretty much sucks. O Organics has a few organic choices on display. After that, it's all mass-marketed, high fructose corn syrup junk.
Grade: C+. The O Organics yogurt/milk/eggs and the Broguiere milk keep if from slipping lower on the bell curve.
Egg selection is OK. O Organics, Horizon, and Land 'O Lakes supply organic eggs by the dozen. No local / small farm brands available, which is sad. O Organics sell cheapest at $4.49 per dozen.
Things stay pretty industrial in the milk case. Land 'O Lakes drops out (they still do butter!), leaving O Organics and Horizon as our organic choices. Since we know Horizon is industrial, best to stick to the O brand, which (bonus!) is not ultra-pasteurized. It might or might not be local, too. You can pick up a half gallon for $4.39. There is also Broguiere's, a local dairy, which by all accounts takes great care of its cows. A quart sells for $3.29.
The yogurt selection pretty much sucks. O Organics has a few organic choices on display. After that, it's all mass-marketed, high fructose corn syrup junk.
Grade: C+. The O Organics yogurt/milk/eggs and the Broguiere milk keep if from slipping lower on the bell curve.
DELI
Not too shabby. They have a large selection of sliced meats, and make a pretty decent sandwich. Nothing too fancy, mostly the Primo Taglio store brand. I imagine it won't be too long before O Organics finds their way behind the deli case, too. Sliced Black Forest ham is $7.49/lb and swiss cheese is $7.99.
Decent selection of fancy cheeses, too. You'll be able to make a pretty good cheese plate if you wanted to. Parmigiano Reggiano sells for an fairly expensive $19.99/lb.
Grade: B+. A little more in the organic department would be nice. Overall, though, it's good stuff.
Decent selection of fancy cheeses, too. You'll be able to make a pretty good cheese plate if you wanted to. Parmigiano Reggiano sells for an fairly expensive $19.99/lb.
Grade: B+. A little more in the organic department would be nice. Overall, though, it's good stuff.
PRODUCE
For a large chain, Vons Hollywood has a pretty good produce section. The recent remodelling is best noticed here. Wood floors, great smells, you could almost be lulled into thinking you were buying straight from the farm. The produce looks really nice, too. Organic selection is pretty large. You won't be able to find everything, but you'll find a lot. However, you'll pay for it. Organic peaches sell for $3.49/lb., a dollar more than farmers' market prices. Organic raspberries go for $4.99 per package, $2 more than I payed the other day at the same farmers' market. Some locations of origin are labeled.
Grade: B. The looks, smell, and variety are great. I'd like to see lower prices and locations of where my produce comes from.
Grade: B. The looks, smell, and variety are great. I'd like to see lower prices and locations of where my produce comes from.
BREAD
No angry face today. Still, I can't help thinking that the expression "The best thing since sliced bread" may be an insult these days. Sliced bread just isn't that good. Milton's has a prominent display and sells for $4.29 per loaf. There are a few other choices without lots of chemicals and high fructose corn syrup, if you're willing to spend a minute and read the labels.
Vons also has a fresh bakery, where you can get rolls, whole loafs, and a few other things. It's not amazing, not terrible.
Grade: C+. They should have better options. At least it's not all crap, though.
Vons also has a fresh bakery, where you can get rolls, whole loafs, and a few other things. It's not amazing, not terrible.
Grade: C+. They should have better options. At least it's not all crap, though.
OTHER OPTIONS
They have free wi-fi. That's nice. I'm not sure why I would need it, other than to look up a previous grocery review to compare notes, but, hey, everyone loves free wi-fi!
Good selection of wine & spirits. Beer selection is fair.
Beware the Eating Right line. The packages are very nice, but they're not really that good for you. You're never eating right with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives!
Good selection of wine & spirits. Beer selection is fair.
Beware the Eating Right line. The packages are very nice, but they're not really that good for you. You're never eating right with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Vons Hollywood is part of a large chain of stores that include Vons, Safeway, and Pavillion's.
For being part of a large chain grocery, Vons Hollywood does a pretty good job. Sure, the store is filled mostly with junk. It seems to be slowly changing for the better, though, and that's a very good thing indeed. I'd like more organic choices, but at least the store brand O Organics covers most areas.
However, all Vons are not alike. This is one of the better ones.
Final Grade: B
Vons Hollywood is part of a large chain of stores that include Vons, Safeway, and Pavillion's.
For being part of a large chain grocery, Vons Hollywood does a pretty good job. Sure, the store is filled mostly with junk. It seems to be slowly changing for the better, though, and that's a very good thing indeed. I'd like more organic choices, but at least the store brand O Organics covers most areas.
However, all Vons are not alike. This is one of the better ones.
Final Grade: B
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