Supermarkets are depressing. The big ones I mean; repetitive isles of uninteresting products, hopelessly packaged in arctic jackets of polythene; lurid packets of cheap sweets; vegetables bland and uniform, too perfectly coloured; pre-prepared packets of dinner death; special offers that trap you, willing you to buy more; cold lack of air, lack of light; queues of tired faces; cashiers asleep and robotic; rushing and shoving your bag packed under a ticking clock. You leave uninspired, hating your bodily need to eat.

This is wrong!

Food is pleasure, and a trip to buy it should remind you of that. A shop should be as lovely as picking a bedroom colour.

But we ‘supermarket’ because we believe they are cheap and convenient. But this is an ingrained idea, needing challenge.  

There are alternatives. No more expensive, and far kinder to the soul.

Banish Lidl,  Aldi, and Tesco from your ‘go-to’ retrivance. Look out for Polish food-stores, Halal shops, Chinese stores and Co-ops. Their stock is novel to newcomers. Selection is expansive, opening hours generous, and ownership more local than foreign giants.

In particular, Moldova, in Rathmines (and also a branch in Dublin 7) has most of your basic needs, loose and seasonal fruit and veg, a good selection of rye breads, manifold pickles, fantastic pasta, a butcher counter offering cheap and interesting cuts like beef shin and brisket, chicken hearts and livers. Wine is good too.

Opening hours from 10am to 9pm

Moldova Shop, 133 Lower Rathmines Road

Illustration by Holly Moore.