Staying in Simpson Bay and looking for a supermarket to buy good meats (hoping for usda) and to have a variety of other grocery items. Rented a condo in Simpson Bay and we just love to cook and chill. Any suggestions because we have not been to St Martin in about 10 yrs. Thanks

You have a couple of choices in Simpson Bay, as well as several other choices if you travel a bit further.

The closest large supermarket in Simpson Bay is the Market Garden. Frankly, I don't recall that I've ever purchased meat there, because I think their prices overall are very high. It is a large supermarket though, with basically anything you could want. Be advised that they do not provide plastic bags though, so you should bring some or prepare to pay for them.

In Simpson Bay proper, other than the Chinese groceries, the only other super market is the Gourmet Grand Marche. They don't have only gourmet items, they have regular items, but it's a smaller store than the regular GM's, and frankly, never purchased meat there either, as their selection isn't very large.

If you travel a bit further from Simpson Bay, you have a lot more choices. You have the Grand Marche in Cole Bay, which is a large store and carries everything, with some emphasis on French items, but they have a large selection of meats of all kinds. I personally prefer the Grand Marche by the roundabout on the way to P'burg, possibly because that's the one we have gone to for years and years. They have everything, including nice meats. You also have the Fresh Market, in Cole Bay. We haven't been there in a while, but they used to have the best produce on the island. Never bought meat there, although they do have a nice selection of everything. The BEST deals on the island right now are at the Super U, which is in Marigot on the French side. It is where the Match used to be, years ago. They have the best prices, wonderful selection, and also a lovely selection of french products. You also have Simply in Hope Estate on the French side--basically by the roundabout for French Cul de Sac. I've never purchased meat there, but it is a large, full service store. Oh, and I forgot, you have Cost U Less, by the Grand Marche at the roundabout, which is basically like a Cost Co. They have larger sizes of many items, but their meat is generally first rate. Lots of choices!!

there was mention of usda meats......but don't rule out some of the argentinian beef that comes into the island also. Usually softer, and more flavorful than a lot of the usda stuff!!!!

The Grand Marche and Cost-U-Less have USDA graded beef, but check the label because not all are USDA.

Well, I was trying to upload a picture of all my directions for the various super markets but I can't figure it out. If you reply with your email here or message me with your email I'll send you a copy.

Basically there is a Cost U Less on Bush Road that is like a Costco that had good soda prices, bulk meats, nice boxes of mixed crackers for cheese (like Carr's), reasonable liquor, etc.

Near it was a Grand Marche that was large and had a good selection of stuff but I didn't look at the meats. The Carrefour store brand was pretty good.

There is a Grand Marche on Union Road that was a much nicer and cleaner store than the one on Bush Road. These stores have a large selection of wines in all price ranges. And this one had nice fruit and vege displays. The bagboys work solely for tips, like they do at military commissaries.

The Super U in Howell Centre in Marigot had really nice looking veges and seemed to have a different assortment of stuff, including interesting things like whole chickens, and I mean whole, with feet and everything.

Behind it, in Howell Centre, was a Pain Gourmande bakery store that had excellent prices on baguettes and croissants and those croissants were my favorites of all that I tried.

The Simply Market on Sandy Ground was all French and had the most wonderful cheese and meat cases with packages of odds and ends of different cheeses, meats, pates etc. They had the most wonderful terrines in huge crocks that looked really interesting. They also had the best prices on those decorated fifths of locally made rhums, only $7. For cash they were 1€ = $1. I also thought this store had the best meat prices and they had some really fresh fish on ice, but not a large assortment of that. They charge 4¢ a bag so bring your own.

The Gourmet Marches are very limited, like a C-Store.

The Market Garden right next to Burger King on Welfare Road where we were staying at the Atrium was a bit dingy and dirty, and expensive.

The Dutch cheese store in Philipsburg had really nice Goudas of all flavors.

As you can see, we are totally into visiting different markets and like to cook and eat in ourselves, lol.

If you are renting a car like we did I found it easy enough to go to all these stores while sightseeing.

I don't mind driving as growing up we lived about 20 miles away from the Air Base my father was stationed at and we made the 20 mile trek every week to shop on base.

Here I would say all of these places were within 5 - 20 minutes of the Atrium.

Hope this helps

I'm curious if anyone else has noticed, but some of the cuts of meat appear different to me among the various Grand Marches. The ones in Cole Bay had different looks, some beef cuts were even whitish, while the ones on Bush Road looked like the meat I find in stores at home. All were US sourced, but I didn't pay any attention to the USDA label, if any.

Yeah, I spend too much time just looking around food stores when we travel because I find it gives a different insight into their culture. Usually, though, I don't get beyond the wine displays.

We stay in Simpson Bay area (SBR) and I will agree that Cost-U-Less usually has a decent selection of beef and fish...and, also, we have never bought meat at the market down the hill (Welfare and Billy Folly) but do get other supplies there. Never thought it to be dingy and dirty...

the Cole Bay market is our favorite though...

In defense of Market Garden I have to say while it is dimly lit for a supermarket I have never found it to be dirty or dingy. I stop in there fairly often since that is my supply line to my addiction to Diet Peach Snapple. I know they have it at Grand Marche but it is never fresh & has no flavor. Market Garden is bringing theirs in every week or so & not buying it from old inventory at Sam's club like Prime/Grande Marche. We buy meat (chicken cutlets, pork chops & ground beef) at Market Garden almost weekly. My husband says that they also bring in fresh caught fish twice a week & will tell you what day it is coming. Mike does most of the shopping & cooking so this is from the guy who goes to at least two different markets almost every week. We have found the meats & usually the vegetables & fruits to always be fresh, good & within reason, price wise for the island. I will say in general products there can be much higher in price but Mike said the veggies & fruit are often less expensive & better quality.

I agree Sharon. I like that market. I shop there often even though it is over the hill for me.

We like it too, mostly because it's convenient for us. A lot of their fresh produce comes from the Rasta farm, so it's much fresher than anything imported.

At the Market Garden the first day we shopped, on September 12, there were about a dozen double crusted banana pies with "use by" dates of September 15. The last day we shopped there was September 24 and those same pies were still there....

Perhaps because it was slow season, or whatever, stocks of assorted items were still being sold well past their dates. That doesn't mean there weren't also fresh items available.

We shopped at all the stores I listed. We did not find any to be in such a state that we wouldn't shop there, but that doesn't change the lighting, or the perception that dim lighting imbues

We provisioned our boat there. They were very nice, even asked if we were provisioning and they gave a 5% discount. The big liquor store next door needs to change their name, sign and advertising. We found it 3 weeks into a months trip, thought it was a night club. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> They did have great prices and selection.

I've never noticed that about the lighting, but I certainly don't doubt your statements. We've found that you need to check the expiration dates of all products that you purchase, regardless of the store. Apparently there's just not as much monitoring of those dates on the island as we're accustomed to here at home.

Do you have to buy a membership to shop at Cost-U-Less?

No you do not buy a membership like sams club. It is open to the public.

we've been to Cost U Less a few times but never have been to Prime in Cole Bay...are they basically the same?

No. Prime is a lot smaller store, not nearly as much stock, definitely not for meat and produce. They do have really good prices on their liquor and wine, that they have, although they have a fairly small selection.