The 5 Items You Should Always Buy At Piggly Wiggly, According To A Food Editor

I’m going to be honest here—Piggly Wiggly isn't my favorite grocery store. My neighborhood Pig is kinda shabby, in a nostalgic, old-school grocery store kinda way. They can't seem to keep their cilantro from wilting, their deli meat slicer is only in operation 40 percent of the time, and their ice cream is inexplicably freezer burnt.

However, when it comes to these five items, my local Piggly Wiggly does better than any other grocery store in town, even my beloved Publix. Here's what I always pick up at the Pig.

Certified Angus Beef

We all like to save money, but meat is something that you shouldn't be cheap about if you can afford it. Piggly Wiggly carries Certified Angus Beef, which is more expensive than basic store brands, but worth it. The farmers are held to additional standards that insure their beef is of proven provenance with superior quality and flavor.

Local Tomatoes

I’m not saying Southern tomatoes are better, but yes I am. One of the things I love most about my Piggly Wiggly is that that they do a good job of sourcing produce from local farmers in addition to their commodity produce. If I need good heirloom tomatoes and I missed the weekend farmers' market, the Pig is a lifesaver!

Specialty Condiments

From gourmet vinegars to my favorite condiment in the South—Alecia's Tomato Chutney—the Pig is superior when it comes to stocking local and specialty condiments. Fancier chains may stock every flavor of barbecue sauce in the Kraft catalogue, but when it comes to sauces that are super Southern and flavorful, the Pig is where it's at.

Coffee

I’m guilty of relying on Publix to support my daily coffee addition—whatever’s on BOGO is what I’m drinking that week. But whenever I have a commodity coffee breakdown, I treat myself to a stroll down the Pig’s coffee aisle. From local and regional roasters to big-name single-origin beans, the Pig ranks highest when it comes to fancy coffee.

Wine

Folks around here love the Pig because it’s very down home, but it has the most sophisticated wine selection of any grocery store in town. Their wide selection of natural wines, niche varieties, and perfectly chilled rosés really puts our local Publix to shame. Somebody really ought to teach Publix how to stock wine. Bless their hearts.