Groceries

Cereal

For adult cereal, we recommend 'Post' Honey bunches of oats.  It tastes really good and you get a double pack in a club warehouse stores.  We are judging it just by taste and its not expensive. 

Coffee Maker Filter Coffee

'Yuban Original' filter coffee is the best we have tasted.  'Yuban Original' coffee does not have a bitter after taste like so many other leading brand coffee and its affordable. If you get from club warehouse like 'Costco' and 'Smart and Final' is cheaper.

Sugar

We recommend 'Florida Crystals' Demerara Cane sugar for coffee and tea and if are looking for white sugar, we recommend their brand of Carbon free Natural cane sugar.  Both taste excellent and not overly expensive.

Organic Milk, creme, cheese & Butter

We find 'Horizon Organic dairy products' to be good because its cost effective and its available all over the bay area.  They have Full fat Vitamin D,  2%, 1% and Fat free.  They also have creme, cheese, yogurt, sour creme, eggs etc...  Nowadays, even Asian and Indian grocery stores carry them.  Its always cheaper to buy from them Asian and Indian grocery stores rather than other giant chain grocery stores.  

Non dairy creamer

The best in the market so far without any artificial ingredients and which doesn't leave an after taste has to be one and only 'The Mimic creme'.  Its vegan and is made of  mostly Almond and cashews.  They have sweetened and unsweetened ones.  They are excellent for coffee, tea, ice cream and desserts too.  Try it and experience it.  The sweetened one can be served just like that as dessert.  I use the unsweetened ones for recipes calling for heavy creme.  No after taste. www.mimiccreme.com

They are not available everywhere.  You can check their availability in your area or you can order by mail.  

Yogurt

The best tasting Yogurt in the market is 'Pavel Russian yogurt'.  The have full fat, low fat, fat free, flavored and Organic yogurts.  It tastes fresh and its not gooyee and slimy like the other yogurts you get in the market and the Organic Yogurt is even better.  This culture is so good that you can use this to starter to make your own yogurt at home.

Kitchen tools

Knives

If you want to invest in a good set of knives then Cutco knives are for you.  Its ergonomic design makes it an ease to handle and it never need sharpening.  If at all you need sharpening, you just have to pay shipping and sharpening is free for life.  www.cutco.com

If on the other hand you don't want to invest on such knives you can always get ones in a nearby Asian grocery stores.  They do a good job but you may have to buy them often depending on how much you use them and how you handle and store them.

Knives Sharpening Service

In San Mateo, CA, the best place will be 'Perfect Edge'.  Great customer service, courteous and knowledgeable staff.  They also carry a wide range of knives and other appliances.  There knives are of very good quality too.  They sharpen knives, scissors & Culinary blades. Contact no: 1-800-998-3343

Cookware

CorningWare Corelle Revere is the best brand which is so versatile that it can be taken from the oven to microwave to the freezer.  It is durable, sturdy, easy to clean and the brand we trust.  Ok, now that sounds like an Ad:)

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