Where to buy a fresh, healthy food in Cabarete / Sosua?

[Ula]

Hello everyone!
While exploring the North Coast, I've been trying to make a list of places where to find products of a good quality: a meat without hormones and antibiotics, tomatoes tasting like tomatoes not like a paper, a good wine in a decent price, a fresh fish and so on.
Supermarkets are disappointing - nothing new - so I turned to some local small business.
So far I discovered:
- the German butcher at Sosua
- fisherman coming back to Cabarete from the sea around 4 pm
- some fruits and veggies street stands (still, no ripe tomatoes or Hass avocado - does it grow here?)

I am still searching for a real bread, without any softening agents, basically the bread that our grandmothers would eat without being tempted to use it as a sponge.
As always, all tips will be greatly appreciated.

 

[windeguy]

For breads try Dick's Panaderia and the Belgian Bakery in Cabarete. No commercially produced product would work for you. The only commercial one I ever purchase is Lumijor, but that sounds like it would not work for your needs. The other breads are essentially sawdust. My father was a baker.

For wine - you are what we say in America, SOL. (I really miss Trader Joe's). I have
never found a wine that is both good and reasonably priced here. This is rum and beer land, a fine
wine here is a jug of Carlo Rossi vintage last month.

As far as meats, there might be some way to get "organic" meats, but I have heard of no sourcing for those on the north coast. May not be easy at all if you need to be able to trace back the origins of the meat in this country. Not a lot of call for this.

Dominicans tend to pick tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons, etc too early.
I don't see why a Hass avocado would not grow here, but then we just get whatever type is available.

Some people swear by The Veggie Man who goes to Constanza and delivers to people in Cabarete and Sosua. That is the best I have heard of on the north coast for vegetables.

 

[Ula]

For breads try Dick's Panaderia and the Belgian Bakery in Cabarete. No commercially produced product would work for you. The only commercial one I ever purchase is Lumijor, but that sounds like it would not work for your needs. The other breads are essentially sawdust. My father was a baker.

I tried them and I guess if I want to eat a home made, real bread, I should become a baker, too!

For wine - you are what we say in America, SOL. (I really miss Trader Joe's). I have
never found a wine that is both good and reasonably priced here. This is rum and beer land, a fine
wine here is a jug of Carlo Rossi vintage last month.

I love Spanish and French wine, so Carlo Rossi is not my thing - and I am not judging anyone drinking it, this is just not my taste. Some time ago we bought a big batch of Spanish wines from the supermarket in Puerto Plata, all on sale, and shockingly all not corky, really nice. However, POP is still 20$ on the petrol to go!

As far as meats, there might be some way to get "organic" meats, but I have heard of no sourcing for those on the north coast. May not be easy at all if you need to be able to trace back the origins of the meat in this country. Not a lot of call for this.

I need to do some more investigation the famous German butcher. Heard from so many sources the meat is excellent, even cooked it last night but still, cannot judge a place after only one visit.

Dominicans tend to pick tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons, etc too early. .

That would explain why many things taste like they were not mature to be eaten.

Some people swear by The Veggie Man who goes to Constanza and delivers to people in Cabarete and Sosua. That is the best I have heard of on the north coast for vegetables.

Thank you for the tip, I will find this guy in the next couple of days.

 

[windeguy]

If you aren't satisfied by Dick's or the Belgian Bakery, you will indeed need to bake your own bread. There are no other options.

A good inexpensive wine is unobtanium here. Not possible. Not going to happen. I gave up long ago. I lived in the SF Bay area before I moved here and truly miss a good inexpensive wine. Also just about any other fruit, vegetable, meat and fish (except for chicken) were far better there than in the DR.

Good luck with the Veggie Man. Please post as to what you think about his quality and pricing. I have not used him, but if he does not satisfy, then you are truly out of options.

 

[amordecanada]

There is a couple, who live in Casa Linda and they sell nice imported wines ...not too terribly expensive. Unfortunately i cannot remember their names. Maybe someone knows who they are.

 

[Meemselle]

Hello everyone!
While exploring the North Coast, I've been trying to make a list of places where to find products of a good quality: a meat without hormones and antibiotics, tomatoes tasting like tomatoes not like a paper, a good wine in a decent price, a fresh fish and so on.
Supermarkets are disappointing - nothing new - so I turned to some local small business.
So far I discovered:
- the German butcher at Sosua
- fisherman coming back to Cabarete from the sea around 4 pm
- some fruits and veggies street stands (still, no ripe tomatoes or Hass avocado - does it grow here?)

I am still searching for a real bread, without any softening agents, basically the bread that our grandmothers would eat without being tempted to use it as a sponge.
As always, all tips will be greatly appreciated.

DR does not have Hass avocados, thank heaven. Ours are way better. Season ends soon, so get aguacates now, while they are at their peak.

You're never going to get decent tomatoes unless you grow your own. And even then, they won't be what you remember. The growing season is just different. I find that cherry tomatoes are the only ones that have that kind of snap & richness. I bought some yellow cherry tomatoes in Santo Domingo over the weekend that were excellent. Expensive. Excellent.

If you want really clean meat, order it from Chabad in Santo Domingo. But you won't get pork!

The bread aisle in the Sosua Playero is decent; you have to get there early or find out at what times they replenish the shelves. I myself am not a fan of baguettes that have been handled by countless shoppers. There is a French bakery in Puerto Plata that does very fine breads. And not made with lard. Or make your own.

 

[Polar Bear]

If you aren't satisfied by Dick's or the Belgian Bakery, you will indeed need to bake your own bread. There are no other options.

A good inexpensive wine is unobtanium here. Not possible. Not going to happen. I gave up long ago. I lived in the SF Bay area before I moved here and truly miss a good inexpensive wine. Also just about any other fruit, vegetable, meat and fish (except for chicken) were far better there than in the DR.

Good luck with the Veggie Man. Please post as to what you think about his quality and pricing. I have not used him, but if he does not satisfy, then you are truly out of options.

What would you call a good and inexpensive wine?

I'm no expert just an enthusiastic hobbyist and I've found Super Super in Sosua as just one example, to offer decent Argentinian, Chilean and Spanish wines for under 500 pesos, definitely under 750 for something I'm happy to drink. IIRC the same applies to Super Polo and even Playero….the larger store.

I realize that leaves out most Italian and French wine but I tend not to look for those when in the Caribbean.


The "Veggie man" has excellent produce https://www.facebook.com/TheVegeMan/

 

[william webster]

Nello's - Carnes Selectas in Sto Dom

Excellent meat
once you have a relationship - they will ship to you....

https://www.google.com/search?q=nel...4.69i57j0l7.4871j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[windeguy]

What would you call a good and inexpensive wine?

I'm no expert just an enthusiastic hobbyist and I've found Super Super in Sosua as just one example, to offer decent Argentinian, Chilean and Spanish wines for under 500 pesos, definitely under 750 for something I'm happy to drink. IIRC the same applies to Super Polo and even Playero….the larger store.

I realize that leaves out most Italian and French wine but I tend not to look for those when in the Caribbean.


The "Veggie man" has excellent produce https://www.facebook.com/TheVegeMan/

When I lived in California, I never had to pay more than $5 for a quite good bottle of wine at Trader Joes.
They had their own varietals back then called 2 Buck Chuck, which were overruns from local wineries, and which a wine connoisseur on DR1 had guests taste versus his own wine cellar of very high end wines, and the 2 buck bottles fared as well as any. I know why, because they tasted quite good.

Now those 2 buck Chucks are all the way up to 3 dollars back home. Trader Joe's also had very reasonable wines from all over the world, most in the several dollar range. I never tried Argentinian wines. I have tried some Chilean wines and for some reason find them lacking, but maybe I didn't go up to the $15 (as in 750 peso) ones and I probably never will. I tended to like the Californian wines better. Here I just don't drink wine that often because I can't find a reasonably priced one I like.

 

[Polar Bear]

When I lived in California, I never had to pay more than $5 for a quite good bottle of wine at Trader Joes.
They had their own varietals back then called 2 Buck Chuck, which were overruns from local wineries, and which a wine connoisseur on DR1 had guests taste versus his own wine cellar of very high end wines, and the 2 buck bottles fared as well as any. I know why, because they tasted quite good.

Now those 2 buck Chucks are all the way up to 3 dollars back home. Trader Joe's also had very reasonable wines from all over the world, most in the several dollar range. I never tried Argentinian wines. I have tried some Chilean wines and for some reason find them lacking, but maybe I didn't go up to the $15 (as in 750 peso) ones and I probably never will. I tended to like the Californian wines better. Here I just don't drink wine that often because I can't find a reasonably priced one I like.

Definitely give Argentina a try, especially but not limited to the Malbecs. They can be as bold and strong as the full bodied Californians.

FYI Carlo Rossi IS from California

 

[Ula]

What would you call a good and inexpensive wine?

I would be very happy with a good rioja below 600 pesos and a good pino grigrio below 500 DOP. I am not keen on merlot, shiraz; dislike chardonnay and in general prefer European wines. Will definitely check Super Super, thank you for the tip.

The "Veggie man" has excellent produce https://www.facebook.com/TheVegeMan/

I will contact him tomorrow, thank you!

 

[Ula]

When I lived in California, I never had to pay more than $5 for a quite good bottle of wine at Trader Joes.

When I lived in Spain (continental and islands) I never had to pay more than 4eur for a good bottle, so I understand you.

 

[Polar Bear]

When I lived in California, I never had to pay more than $5 for a quite good bottle of wine at Trader Joes.
They had their own varietals back then called 2 Buck Chuck, which were overruns from local wineries, and which a wine connoisseur on DR1 had guests taste versus his own wine cellar of very high end wines, and the 2 buck bottles fared as well as any. I know why, because they tasted quite good.

Now those 2 buck Chucks are all the way up to 3 dollars back home. Trader Joe's also had very reasonable wines from all over the world, most in the several dollar range. I never tried Argentinian wines. I have tried some Chilean wines and for some reason find them lacking, but maybe I didn't go up to the $15 (as in 750 peso) ones and I probably never will. I tended to like the Californian wines better. Here I just don't drink wine that often because I can't find a reasonably priced one I like.

When I lived in Spain (continental and islands) I never had to pay more than 4eur for a good bottle, so I understand you.

Similar to Italy where even in most good restaurants you could get good house wine for 5 euros and up a litre. Of course it's cheaper when you are there. No transport and tax costs to get it on the island and no travel damage.

 

[whirleybird]

Meatwise, nothing was better than our own raised and bbq cooked whole piggy roasts or the home reared and cooked lambs!

 

[LindseyKaufman]

"The famous German butcher in Sosua" also provides his meats to Playero and Janets. I saw him at Janet's today. Just read packaged labels carefully or ask which meats are his.

Lindsey

 

[william webster]

Yes LK---
same liverwurst w/ him and at Playero

 

[windeguy]

Definitely give Argentina a try, especially but not limited to the Malbecs. They can be as bold and strong as the full bodied Californians.

FYI Carlo Rossi IS from California

I will have to try some Argentine wine. Yes, I understand the comedy of Carlo Rossi being a California wine. Two, now Three Buck Chuck is infinitely better but not an option here.

 

[marcosalm]

What about bread and meats in Santiago? Does anyone know of anything other than Nacional???

 

[windeguy]

What about bread and meats in Santiago? Does anyone know of anything other than Nacional???

Price Smart, perhaps. People from Cabarete and Sosua make the occasional pilgrimage there to feel like they are in a first world warehouse style store. It is a Latin American version of COSTCO.

 

[william webster]

PriceSmart, Inc. is the largest operator of membership warehouse clubs in Central America and the Caribbean,
and has recently entered the South American region with clubs in Colombia.
Wikipedia