To be honest I tried to avoid Ikea when I lived in the States. If I had to go (they are the best place for storage boxes, containers, etc.) I would get there just as the store open. When I lived in L.A. the Burbank one would be packed within an hour. No thank you.
So to get to this Ikea I had to take the bus to the metro, then another bus then walk a few blocks. It wasn’t too bad. It was a little cumbersome carrying my things on the way back but I don’t have a car. I had to get some under-bed-boxes given my closet space is ¼ the amout I had in L.A.
I don’t knw wny it make me chuckle to be a in a store that looked so familiar but everything was in Italian. I went up to an employee and asked about some kitchen item in English and then remembered where I was.
I was at the store at 9:00 a.m. when it open and was done in 45 minutes. Before going to the store I went on the Italian Ikea website and wrote down everything I needed to get. I will be honest. I did cheat a little. There were a couple things I didn't know the Italian word for so I would look on the Ikea USA site first.
One special thing I saw on the way out:
Yes! I have’t seen these in any candy srtore in Rome. There was a chocolate shop acrrose the street from my office in L.A. I used to get fish or Jelly Bellys there. Perhaps that is another reason why I’ve lost weight since I’ve moved. I’m not eating candy that often. That said I love Swedish fish and haven't had any in almost three months. I’m glad I checked out the little food area. Something told me Swedish company might = Swedish Fish.
13 comments:
Even if I go with a list I always walk out with more than I bargained for, usually all kitchen stuff!
joanne - I did buy a few little things not on the list but overall stuck to my budget. I shocked myself. ha. The kitchen area at Ikea is very dangerous.
oh i love swedish fish too! You're right about Italy though...I barely ate any candy.
Ikea is my litlle food shoppimg secret. I was pleasantly surprised. They are every where! IOts all so global.We can shop and plan here for the stuff for the new house in Sweden . Weird.
I LOVE Swedish fish...had no idea they were actually Swedish though. Huh ;)
erin - At first I was making up for it with the gelato everyday but I've calmed down now. ha
glamah16 - That is weird. The world is getting smaller.
bleeding espresso - yes it's true. A swedish company started making them in the 50s and Cadbury distributes them in the U.S. They are my favorite candy. I'm sure my dentist is not pleased.
NYC, you know what's so hysterical about this? Swedish fish are apparently almost nonexistent in Sweden currently. My Swedish daughter's sister became addicted to them when she was in the U.S. for the first time and thought it was so funny that they were called Swedish fish. Maybe they've started being more prevalent there again.
It is weird to see those signs in Italian. I was almost in an American one today. Our store in Canton, MI is the same as the Brentwood store - it's insane within one hour.
Oooh - we're going there next weekend to buy baby stuff (crib, dresser, little washcloths etc.) Since I'm half Swedish I'm addicted to Swedish food. I always get the Swedish coffee, the marabou chocolates, the herrings, the big round hardbreads, the kalles kaviar, the aquavit (ie. vodka in english), the beer, the lingonsylt - yumo. And IKEA seems to be the only place in Rome to buy this stuff.
It's always funny seeing Italians buying jars of herring too. One time I was there and an Italian lady asked me how to serve them (with sour cream, small new potatoes, maybe some boiled eggs and some dill) and after I told her she shouted to everyone "this lady is Swedish - she can tell us what do with all this Swedish food!" I thought that was kind of cute and it's nice to see Italians being curious about other cuisines.
I have no self control at IKEA and their baby stuff is so cute. I can just see myself buying a ton of stuff this weekend.
jen - A shortage of Swedish Fish in Sweden! They were invented there. Perhaps the locals don't eat as much sweets as we do.
kataroma - We used to eat herring for New Year's. Next time I'm at Ikea I should pick up a jar. I haven't had it in years. I agree with you that Ikea has such cute baby items. I don't even have kids but couldn't resist ooohing and aaahying over everything. ha. Good luck this weekend. I find having a list helps keep the spending in line (well just a little bit).
LOL I am a big Ikea sucker instead. I just love to go there and smell of the wood. I can't help it, even though I heard anything that smells could be toxic. oops!
I have been going to the Ikea store in Turin/Grugliasco for years: I'm sure it's one of the oldest in Italy, cos it was here long before Ikea started to spread all over the peninsula. And I was thrilled when the Ikea store opened in Austin, TX. A bit weird, cos it's exactly the same thing, except for two things: much larger parking spaces and free refills on drinks at their bistro. LOL
me - I have to really watch it when I go to Ikea. They are very clever about the store layout. You walk into one section and see things displayed in such a way that you start to add things to your shopping list.
very true marco!
Post a Comment