they think it's a hoax meant to make the pres look bad. As if he needs any help with that!

>>I wonder what the other 5% are thinking?>>

The 5% doubtless included the 400 idiots who got together for a giant party on 4/11 in Bakersfield, CA that ended in six people shot:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/12/us/bakersfield-california-shooting-stay-at-home/index.html

Good grief!!!

DH had to go out for a survey (driving only, not getting out), says the grocery stores are packed, Lowe's, Home Depot, packed and rarely sees anyone wearing gloves, masks. Still. Nothing has changed much here.

After I posted about the black beans, I realized I didn't pay enough attention to the original question. "Can't live without" - nothing, thus far. Not to be a paranoid, but I wonder if that will change over time. When will it be considered 'safe' to go out, to be with others? When there's a vaccine? I don't mean to be a full on alarmist, but given my belief many people will go back to work (many out of sheer necessity) soon, and my belief (yeah, I know, I'm really sounding like an alarmist now) that this will start new waves of spread, we might have more serious issues later on. At that time, we may have more serious "can't live without" problems. No, not an alarmist, but I do like to think of future scenarios, to be as prepared as possible.

We went to Gelson's in Rancho Mirage yesterday and were able to get everything we needed. I chose that store because it is high end and is in a very high end neighborhood, which also has Lamborghini and Ferrari dealerships. I was able to get a rolling pin there for $7 and we also stocked up on various types of Brie. They have a very good selection there, and the regular grocery stores will only have one or two brands, and the Latin markets have none at all. I also bought some Jarlsberg cheese, bread flour, a baguette, fresh Ahi tuna, sushi, etc., but I did forget to buy toasted sesame oil. I do have garlic-chili sesame oil that I bought at a Japanese market in L.A. and brought with me, however. I did try to bring as many Japanese ingredients with me as possible, including my favorite Japanese soy sauce, as there are no Japanese markets in the Coachella Valley, but stores like Gelson's do have an international section with a few items. Gelson's also has the best sushi.

I feel less anxious about food now because Gelson's was well stocked, and they also have very strict safety measures in place, including sanitizing the checkout counters frequently. They did this while we were in the store shopping. No one is allowed in without a mask, and Kevin and I both wore disposable rubber gloves as well. The only problem with Gelson's is that it is rather expensive, but it's worth it to feel safe.

2Many, it's not alarmist. If what they're working on now comes to fruition, it'll be at least a year before there's a vaccine. They don't yet know if the antibodies imply immunity, or if the virus mutates quickly. Something that can't be known yet is if there a significant mutation, if it will negate any immunity to the old version. The experts have been saying they expect a resurgence in Fall and/or Winter.

In California, they've posited that part of the slowing of the infection rate is that the virus was here, and thought to be part of a difficult flu season, before anyone knew or recognized it. We have a lot of connection to China, plus are a major port of entry for people from China. They think covid-19 might have been here as early as last September. Stanford University is studying the matter and trying to figure it out.

If that's true, it says something for "herd immunity" slowing the rate of infection. It seems evident from what has been said (but I don't have scientifically analyzed numbers) that many people can have exposure and develop antibodies, perhaps immunities, without ever getting sick. If that's the case, in places with current high infection rates, and if it turns out that there is immunity, will have a better chance of being more normal later.

Remember, the current good news of the slowing of rate of infection, of "flattening of the curve" only means that everybody is getting it, but not as fast, not that people aren't getting it. Throw people back together like the old normal now will just raise the rate of infection, unless and until there is some herd immunity or a vaccine.

The scramble for basic supplies will level off as the "new normal" ticks along. People who have recovered will return to work as others become infected.

To the original question of what can't you live without: Turns out for me it was wheat flour. I have quite a bit of grain, but shouldn't eat the the bran, and I don't have the right kind of sifter for separating it. I've gone off flour entirely for short periods as a trial to find out what works and doesn't. I don't care about other starches. Wheat makes me happy. :) I was going to buy flour from Central Milling before all this started. At first, I just stopped. Then I decided I might as well, and ended up with at least 6 months worth of flour. I also got a big amount of yeast because I hadn't been feeling well (unrelated), and was much better able to deal with commercial yeast than sourduogh wild yeast. It's fast and easy and doesn't need to be fed.

Yes, I can live without flour/yeast. But having a large supply of flour on hand makes me feel a lot better. And bread hasn't been an issue here. One can buy bread and other bakery items. But I feel better having the flour! (I'm just waiting for Passover to end to get into it.)

Has anyone ventured out to their local restaurant wholesaler? I saw it mentioned earlier (or on another thread). I see the largest chain, Restaurant Depot, is now offering day passes. Huge quantities, so get your pantry and chest freezers ready.

So, the local grocer... finally ... got some TP in. [what was all that about, anyway?]

no packages. But single rolls, individually wrapped ... $1 each. Limit 1.

Plenty of coffee filters ... stocked up.

Actually Gelson's had individually wrapped Scott's TP rolls yesterday. Today they had boxes of Scott's tissues. I don't know what that's about, but I picked some up for a grateful friend. Another friend was at Costco yesterday and scored a jumbo pack of Bounty for me. I was delighted, I only have one more roll left and we're using it saturated with disinfectant to wipe down counters etc.

The store manager told me his supplier gets odd shipments, but still can't get yeast

Plllog, the suggestion that California got some kind of herd immunity in the fall has been debunked. It was promoted by a doctor who isn't an infectious disease specialist and by the anti-social distancing crowd. See:

https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/04/03/already-had-covid-19/

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200414/California-COVID-19-herd-immunity-theory-debunked.aspx
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/california-coronavirus-herd-immunity-early-spread-stanford-expert-interview

Many California counties put in place social distancing / shelter in place early and then the whole state did it which has helped slow the spread. Even before that, many were cancelling gatherings.

We have had some significant outbreaks when people ignored the orders. For example, 70 cases were linked to a church in Sacramento that delayed stopping services and continued gatherings in people's homes when they stopped services at the church. That was a large percentage (a third?) of the total cases in the county.

Compumom, I've read that part (most?) of the reason for the toilet paper shortage is that normally about 40% of TP sales are to non-residential customers, e.g. bathrooms at offices, hotels, restaurants, stores, other public places. That is often produced in different factories with packaging capabilities for those markets like the pallets of individually wrapped rolls and the super big rolls used in some public bathrooms. So many sheltering in place has shifted where the usage is happening and the industry can't adapt quickly enough to prevent shortages.

Perhaps Gelson's has gotten some of the non-residential product to distribute.

I got a 24 roll pack of TP a while back, and more recently (also at curbside) a 4 roll pack (just wanted to see if the other was a fluke). Nothing that remotely resembles a disinfectant, though. Beans are still short here, as are other items.

DH and I took a drive Saturday, and you'd think nothing was going on... hardly anyone wearing masks, very little distancing, if that. We live in the South East. There have been some protestors to re-open non-essential businesses. Someone was quoted as saying there was no pandemic.

Nuts and crazy I found myself low on a few things thinking it was no biggie. 5-6 weeks ago...then did not risk shopping any markets. (help) Crazy the wholesaler starts home delivery, lol. I have quart, 1/2 gallon, gallon of all those needed ingredients. I'm not necessarily hooked on staples and usually make do...lol.

Thanks to the wholesalers I have quarts, half gallon and gallons of all these.

I just fill up from the downstair pantry.

I need to go to world market and stock up on EVOO and my Mae Ploy chili sauce ... and whatever else hard-to-procure item/s catch my fancy ...

Cloud Swift, they seem to be going back and forth on it. It seems to have been spreading here much earlier than was previously reported, though not to the 60% of population that is the lowest point for a real immunity--and they don't even know if this disease has immunity yet.

My latest don't want to live without is bananas. :) Can't live without is high protein sources (meat, poultry, eggs). (This is a me thing--mostly plant based have complications for me.)

Good news is there are Delivery times for when I want them....

Olive oil. I haven't been able to get it last 2 curbside pickups. Maybe the shoppers are messing with me! I have avocado and canola, so I'll live! Oh, I was shocked to find toilet paper in a porta potty today! You'd think someone would have stolen all three 1-ply, stiff as paper, rolls. LOL! I was helping DH empty his hanger and I could not wait. I mumbled to myself as I entered that no way would there be TP, so when I saw it my first thought was to take a photo for this thread.... But I just had to get outta there fast.

bragu, world market stores are closed but it looks like they are shipping (with some things delayed because of demand). Maybe you can get your things shipped (free shipping over $49).

Plllog, from what I've read, earlier than they thought as in early February or maybe January - which makes sense. But not in the fall as in the theory of the anti-shelter-in-place guys.

Not "can't live without" but white vinegar which we use in the laundry has been impossible to get.

Some things are getting easier - last order from our regular grocery we got a carton of eggs and all the milk we ordered for the first time since this stuff started. (We'd been able to get them from other stores so it's just been inconvenient.)

I got 50 pounds of good bread flour from Central Milling.

Oh! I didn't know about the anti-shelter-in-place guys pushing this!! Ugh! I'm so over the people who are so self-involved they think their immediate wants trump the public good. If they were the ones desperate for food, I'd have compassion (I do have compassion), but, like most revolutionaries and rabble rousers, they're mostly of comfortable means. I was just talking about the Stanford studies trying to track it down. Makes sense that they'd go back as far as September because they just didn't know, so it's best to go well back from where you think the starting point is to make sure to capture it. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes a lot farther back than the two in Santa Clara in February--in fact it must, probably people who didn't have any or much illness, because neither of the SC deaths had obvious points of contact.

Cloud Swift, the store I've been getting my groceries from has a couple kinds of white vinegar, so maybe look around for that too. Which flour did you get?

Artisan Baker's Craft - one of the ones you suggested. Today, I found out it's what my son has been using too & he's really happy with it. Like you, he prefers it to KA.

olychk:

Haven't been to the big city in weeks. I figured if TJ is open, WM might be too. That's okay, I'll take TJ olive oil. Things sound like they will be loosening up some, soon. I figure they want me to spend my stimulus funds ...

I suppose cheese is on my list of 'can't live without'. I doubled the order this time to avoid needing any for some time and lessen shipping charges. And a fear they may send replacements. But they had all I requested.

I don't need to open what I already have with long fridge dates. YOYO snacking for mid-day tiny lunch. Once-twice a week we just have dinner green salads and a small shared charcuterie plate.

Still can't get curbside or delivery dates like we did early March. (and when we did they came missing 1/2 requested).

That's quite a haul!

I've divided my cheese needs into three main categories: Something soft and funky for bread or crackers. Something sliced for sandwiches (has to be good--no rubber!). Blocks for casseroles and other cooking.

Charcuterie plates sound fun, but wouldn't go over well here. :) I'm glad to enjoy the idea through your posts. :)

2ManyD: Sur la Table has a really good EVOO, and you can order it from them if you get desperate.

Started out with a full stock of most of my needs. And so far been lucky that I have been able to restock a few things used up. One thing I never want to be out of is my Darjeeling tea! But Upton Tea is online for easy and fast shipment. But my #1 can't do without is hand sanitizer and that can't be found anywhere. I use it most during my IV med/pump changes every two days. I am on this 24/7 pump for Remodulin treatment for Pulmonary Hypertension. I also use it for once a week IV port dressing changes. The last thing I want is a line or site infection. I got a big refill bottle in late March, but it's really getting low now. My monthly pump supplies come with two boxes of alcohol wipes which help but the sanitizer is extra insurance for avoiding infection. My Pulmonologist specialist and hospital that deal with this is two hours away. My daughter is on the hunt during every shopping trip.

So sorry to hear anyone having trouble for necessary medical needs. I had DH stock up on his necessary eye drops that he hesitated at the time, early March... They send a 6 month supply, way more than normal. Refrigerated and dates are good.

That's quite a haul!

CypresGrove HumboltFog is a favorite here. Usually just a treat a few times a year. It has three lives. Fresh, then semi creamy as it ages, then slightly funky, ...over a couple of months. Can't have a one-on-one with the cheese monger at this time, so having a couple wheels is a no-brainer. Never would buy it at the semi-delicious-funky stage from the get-go. All stages have their uses.

I don't think Humbolt Fog fresh is worth the money--other cheeses can sing the same part for a lot less. :) I've only bought it by the webge, but usually fairly well down the funk road, when it's getting really good. When they don't have any, and I get the fresh, it tends to be gone before it fully ripens, but that's not the cheese's fault. :) So are you going to do different storage temperatures to have different stages of ripeness?

My grocery order for tomorrow includes a Red Hawk. It has a distinctive flavor fresh, and develops an excellent funk.

We have never had the luxury to shop even weekly working so many hours. I like the option having most fresh, then letting it ripen at home. Enjoying all stages like I mentioned. (far from retirement, but might be forced into it now)....and fine with that going over finances.

I don't want a 'ripe' wedge from a grocery shopper if I could even get that.

Did love the one-on-one with the cheese monger...tasting, suggestions...trying something new. Not happening anytime soon.

For those looking for high quality EVOO, we love Pasolivo which grows olives near us and would probably be happy for the business. https://www.pasolivo.com/shop/olive-oils.html

Right now the only thing I'm running low on is a want.. good olives. I'm a bit of an olive junkie at the best of times and right now my pantry is at tinned black and commercial jar stuffed green olives. Oh the woe, lol.

Another running out of and more serious.. my base garden starter pro-mix. Lucky that I started my last major seed trays. And bought a bunch of random bricks of cocoa on clearance last fall to help stretch a wee bit.

I love Humbolt Fog at all stages.

eta: A local fine dining restaurant serves a wedge of it warmed on a green salad. Yum.

I'm not short or in danger of running out of anything. Stores here have everything I need. Even paper products and cleaning supplies are back in stock, although not in overwhelming quantity.

rosewitch, I'm sorry you are having trouble getting the medical supplies you need. I don't know where you are, but you might have your daughter check at any local/small artisan breweries. One locally here has stopped brewing beer and is using supplies to make hand sanitizer, which they have donated to the local hospital.

2many, my favorite olive oil is from California, a place called Sciabica's. Long ago we had "swaps" here on the Cooking Forum, and Diana out in California sent me a sampler. I was hooked on the Marsala Olive Oil. I signed up for the newsletter and bought some more. One morning my phone rang and it was a lovely elderly gentleman, Mr. Sciabica! He wanted to make sure I didn't run out of olive oil, LOL, and reminded me that it was also a wonderful facial moisturizer. (grin) We had a nice chat, it's a small family owned business since sometime in the 1930's and you know I like to support that. Anyway, here's a plug for them:

https://www.sunshineinabottle.com/family-history/

Annie

laughing Yeah, Sleevendog, I get that about the wedges. :) I should say, I used to get wedges, back when we were allowed to go to the grocery store. The Red Hawk is only sold as a whole, wrapped cheese. Depending on the stocking at local stores, I may be turning to iGourmet, soon.

Annie, thanks! You just reminded me that one of our local beer distilleries was teaming up with the state to make sanitizer. They were going to prioritize it for state workers and private health entities like the local hospitals. And as the supply increased for postal workers. I need to check into if they are now making enough so we can get some. Many thanks for the timely reminder. Take care and stay safe.

Well, now I'm really confused as to which EVO to order : ) Nice conundrum to have!

rosewitch, I hope your local distillery can offer you a supply. You should mention why you use it, if you feel comfortable doing so. I would. We have more moonshine distilleries locally than I can keep track of - one of which I know is making hand sanitizer for hospital workers. I can't purchase it, but I am pretty sure if I were using it to change port dressings, they'd be happy to sell me some.

I'm thinking you mean legit distilleries making traditional moonshine? Not grandpa with a home welded still out in the woods? You gave me a really big grin pasting a mental picture from the movies with bottles of hand sanitizer with hand drawn first aid labels. :)

While looking for other things online last week (or the previous? How are we supposed to mark the passage of time?), I found a list of CSAs here which included one that delivers organic. Previously, the only CSAs near me were on the school based pickup model which just didn't work for me. Some of our people, in other regions, have used this one, at least in the past, and at the time liked it. The alternative I really wanted to make work are really much more commercial oriented--not a CSA, but a box directly from a farm company. Their minimum buy for any particular item was more than I can handle. They have more interesting offerings, but their comparable box to a CSA was too much of the wrong stuff.

The CSA also have customizable boxes--you sign up for a minimum spend per delivery period, but can get whatever you want that they have available. I think it sounds like Misfits do that, though this is farm share, rather than the unsellables, and direct delivered, not shipped by carrier. I don't need lemons like most people do--I have a fruitful tree--but they have plenty of other interesting things to choose instead. I love the idea of local-ish, supporting farms, getting what's right on season, etc., and choosing from the supermarket delivery, other than very basic things is really hard because you have to know what to ask for. My first box comes Saturday and my choices include green garlic. I've never seen it and look forward to something new. And they have small maker hand sanitizer. :)

So not fair plllog!! LOL! I can't find anything like that here. I am so happy for you! Passed a local farm stand a few times the last two weekends - at least 10 cars at the tiny stand. People milling about everywhere. And frankly, a lot of what they are selling in our area now is greenhouse veg, which is fine... but I'm not risking all those maskless people!

Ha! Well, there are a few non-legal moonshiners 'around these parts' but I'm not saying how I know : ) But yes, legal distilleries, and in fact the first legal moonshine distillery was here, where I live. I'm just so proud of that fact...LOL! Truthfully, I am proud that they are now making sanitizer for the hospitals.

rosewitch, send me a private message if you want. I've got a link for you to buy hand sanitizer. Tried to message you, but apparently I can't see them even when enabled.

rosewitch, if you have any issues with the link, message me again. I'm assuming you know how to copy/paste, but if not, I'm more than happy to help you : )

My local Aldi chain opened up delivery service a couple weeks ago. Not sure which one of the two about the same distance from me the order will come from.. but I got an early afternoon tomorrow window for delivery. I've shopped often enough at both of them till recently to know their produce is good.. and I'm almost out of shelf stable ghee, and I like theirs a lot.

Found out the delivery service by me offers the option of tipping, with a base suggested amount of 5 %. I upped that to 10%, rounded up, because I live in the boonies a bit and happy just to have deliveries out here.

Backing off a meal subscription service I was gifted with and now drifting on with a bit. The produce took a dive real quick unfortunately.

And my biggest missing it right now... good eating olives. And miso, dead out of miso.

Nothing I can't live without though I couldn't find any fresh basil this weekend and needed it for a recipe. I threw some pesto in instead and the dish was fine. Hopefully I'll be able to find some plants to grow my own once it gets warm enough. My stores have been pretty well stocked and I just make do with whatever I can find. I think it may be harder if you don't go to the store and shop entirely at home and some items say not available online but if you're in the right place and the right time you can get them in the store.

So, my grocery delivery came. To my neighbor two doors down. At first she thought someone had bought them for her, but it was meat more than anything else, and that's not her thing, whereas I have the CSA box coming Saturday, so I only had one bag of produce. And at that, most of what I didn't get at least an approved replacement for was salad fixings. I added a bunch of broccoli to my CSA order to make a little broccoli slaw with, and it has lettuce and watercress (yummy watercress). I have some spinach.

I feel bad for people who never needed to know how to cook. At least here, so far there's plenty of real food, if not one's first choice. Still plenty of organics. My sense is that there are many less grab and go type things. There's a lot of heavy advertising for meal delivery services, both diet and just the kind meant for busy folks. I don't know if that's because they've had a decrease in sales with everyone stuck at home with time to cook, or if it's that they're capitalizing on higher demand for prepared foods to just show up.

2Many, check out Local Harvest for your area. That's where I found my CSA.

Talking about diet meal delivery services, Elery says he's going to be seeing two other women before this is over: Betty Ford and Jenny Craig!

Annie

plllog, so glad your neighbor didn't keep your box! Aw, watercress, how wonderful!!!

We have no Local Harvest CSA's near us. The closest is 156 miles, and they don't deliver - you pick up. You have to buy almost $800 worth up front, no cancelling. Oh well.

We have a Tyson chicken here in TN, which is now closed due to employees having Covid. News says food will remain available, but 'what food' will change. I'm guessing pickles and... well, pickles.

TN got a D- for social distancing. I'm surprised, I'd have guessed an F, but according to GPS tracking of phones, my county got a B-, which again, shocks me, as I'd have guessed an F.

I agree, I feel for those who never had the need to learn to cook. Initially, pre-cooked foods were available, but now they are diminishing.

I'll order more flour, more chicken (Whole, which is now the only way to find it, and then it's iffy. Apparently many do not know how to break down a chicken), and any other necessities I might worry about running out of. I'll try for EVO again this week, but if not, I'll have to order it.

beesneeds, you remind me I still have a little miso left, and I can only order it (can't buy it locally) in the winter. I'd best make good use of it!

I've alway been a CSA supporter. We have a fantastic one less than ten miles away. Some can even volunteer a few/8 hours a week to help pay down the high advance money required. Pick-up hours are awkward, and it coincides with my own garden I've had for 30 years so I have no need for similar produce. I support the business plan but have not joined without a need. Why Misfits works taking produce from more southern farms well ahead of my garden season.

Betty Ford, JennyCraig, lol.

Oh, Annie, thanks for the olive oil link. I may need that and do like Cali OliveOil. I have two back up evoo and two avocado. My two go-to for everything. And a big tub of un-opened coconut.

I like their box packaging and only 5$ shipping. Good company to support.

wow. Just paid almost $20 for four boneless/skinless chicken breasts -- ordinarily they'd be half that price. Crazy high prices and limited (or no) availability on so many things here.