We received our first home delivery from Conad (supermarket) this weekend. Next week we will use Carrefour, as it’s the closest to us, but I couldn’t bear trying to make an order over the phone, and Conad had an order by email option. Today our local library posted the WhatsApp numbers of all of the places in our town that deliver. The two supermarkets, three butchers, the Polleria (who also has rotisserie chickens), a baker, a fresh pasta/gastronomia shop, AND the local brewery! Anyway, I sent an email to Conad yesterday.  We effectively have no “local” online options – for example, we can’t order online and pickup at a local store.  Our local stores are too small for that!

This morning I get a call that my total is about €61, and they will have an envelope for me with change from €100 – they probably know that the bancomat spits out nothing but €50s. So, I get a phone call about an hour later from the driver (have to tell her to slow her speech down a bit), give her better directions on where we are. She arrived with my groceries, and the envelope of change. We exchanged envelopes through a crack in the portone, she left the bags for me and retreated 🙂   – all in all it was perfect, although there were substitutions. I asked for 2 yellow onions, and they sent me a bag of yellow onions that was on sale (bonus). I asked for a specific brand and type of toothpaste – they sent the brand, but apparently were out of the type, so okay. Also a specific type of soap. I asked for “white”, and they sent the brand but some blue lavender stuff (which will make me crazy as it will be a mess to clean from the soap dish), but I suspect that’s also because they were out of the white. If I want white soap, I’ll specify next time that the white is the important part, and the brand secondary. Three bottles of lambrusco – yay.

My only beef. Our Carrefour does not charge for grocery bags (but we always have our own anyway). The point to charging for grocery bags REALLY is to encourage shoppers to bring their own. Conad charged me for 3 bags – grrrr.

We’re not having issues with food here in Italy that we’re aware of.  Stores are restocked daily (as usual), and the workers are so appreciated.  It is our “essential” workers, who will get us through this.  Be nice to your store workers, and send virtual hugs to all of your health and safety workers!