Besides me, how many others on here remember collecting change at the end of the month to go to the day old bread store and thought it was one of the best parts of the month.

 

for those that don �t know.  The day old bread store, and some had different names across America, was a place that sold bread, snacks and other stuff that had reached the expiration date on the package and a really cheap price.  As an example you buy Hostess cakes for $3.99 at the grocery store or go to these special stores and buy a package with a stamp on it expired for $1.00.  You might buy bread rich people would buy to feed the birds to have a sandwich to eat the rest of the month.  Remember Ghetto mayonaise sandwiches or straight peanutbutter sandwiches.  I remember sitting on the patio with my Grandmother disecting a moonpie to eat piece by piece.  I hope I am not the only one in this group that remembers those.

 

Now it brings into another question are there day old bread shops in other countries.  special stores that sell stuff after the expiration date.  Sadly they are disappearing from America because the fear of lawsuits.  Here is a poem of memories of my childhood:

 

A Gourmet Sandwich from a poor family

 

Listen here I have something to say

Have you heard about the gourmet sandwich?

What is it you ask?

Well it is the best sandwich

It is so good it has traveled the world

Hit the hood

Hit suburbia

But it is served only at the end of the month

Why you ask�

A good question

Some of you might know

What I�m talking about

Don�t you remember?

Moms gathering in the late month

Scrapping change together

Going to the day old bread store

Buying bulk day old bread

Stuff rich people use to feed birds

But the loafs weren�t for the birds

They were needed for this sandwich

And I know you know what I�m talking about

After a day of school

After a day of playing

We come home hungry

Like many kids before us

We open the refrigerator

With a smile we see only one thing left

A sole jar

Tall

Fat

And round.

Some of you might know what I am talking about

Our mom�s come in

To make our lunch

They pull the old bread out

Now I don�t know about you

But I like my bread toasted

Remember the old burners on the oven

You take the bread

Heat the eye

Slap that bread slice down

Just long enough

Searing in the flavor

Leaving a nice tan

We lay the bread down

Pulling that jar out

Opening it up

Taking a big glob out

Spreading it on one side

Closing the bread up

Handing to us

It smelling so good

As we bite in

Mmmmm

Savoring the flavor

My mouth waters from the thought

As I bite into my

Gourmet sandwich from a poor family

My Mayonnaise Sandwich

 

William Roney

2006

when I was a kid we used to keep stale bread and make a cheap sweet batter at the end the month and fry the bread in the batter and I think these memories are some of the best I have of being in the kitchen with my mum!

nostalgia.....

have a lovely evening all!

As millionaires? I �m not sure about that. But I can tell you that a couple of years ago Americans were definitely perceived as money bags where I live (forgive my wording). 

As to that special kind of store thanks for telling I didn �t know that. Although I do remember that some of my friends who would get food packages from their relatives from America told me (or even shared some) there would be some expired items which they probably bought in that store.

Sophia

@ Ed: Which Enttenman �s do you mean? The one in East Flatbush? I grew up in Brooklyn and I remember that one. Don �t remember if they sold stuff after the expiry date had passed although.