Day in the Diet of a 26-Year-Old Wine Chemist: Navigating Food Choices on a $55K Salary in Salem, Oregon Chris Lehoux, June 3, 2024 Welcome to The Receipt, a series that explores the eating habits and food spending of Bon Appétit readers. Each entry showcases one reader’s one-week food expenditure, including money spent on groceries, dining out, and other culinary activities. The series provides insight into how people from different regions, with varying budgets, manage their food costs in light of economic changes. In this edition, we explore the weekly culinary spending of a 26-year-old wine chemist from Salem, Oregon, earning an annual salary of $55,000. Read on to delve into her detailed expenditure. What are your pronouns? She/her What is your occupation? I work as a wine chemist. Previously, my career brought me to various international locations, but I have since made Salem, Oregon my home base. Apart from my primary job, I also manage a vacation rental property locally, which supplements my income. How old are you? 26 What city and state do you live in? I just moved to Salem, Oregon. What is your annual salary, if you have one? My base salary is $45,000. With harvest overtime and other bits and bobs, I’d say my total income is around $55,000. How much is one paycheck, after taxes? $1,381 How often are you paid? (e.g. weekly) Twice a month How much money do you have in savings? $10,000 What are your approximate fixed monthly expenses beyond food? (i.e. rent, subscriptions, bills) Around $1,700 Do you follow a certain diet or have dietary restrictions? None at all. What are the grocery staples you always buy, if any? I frequently find myself purchasing the Trader Joe’s Eggplant Garlic Spread with Sweet Red Peppers. Additionally, my refrigerator is always stocked with a diverse array of cheeses, commonly holding four to six types at any given time, with a record of eight. How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home? Typically, I dine out or order food once a week.</ Ruleworld.jqueryRules How often in a week did you dine out while growing up? Growing up, dining out was a bi-weekly event. I was raised in a village in England with limited dining options, including two cafes, a Chinese takeaway, a fish and chips shop, and an Indian restaurant which was a frequent choice. Later, living in a smaller village, there were five pubs within a five-minute drive, which became regular destinations. How often in a week did your parents or guardians cook at home? Home-cooked meals were the norm most evenings. We had au pairs who would often cook during the week, introducing us to a variety of cultural dishes. My mother, an exceptional cook, especially on weekends, had honed her culinary skills in France where my brother and I were born. I cherished helping her in the kitchen, enjoying it as a wonderful bonding activity. Week’s total: $136.70 Restaurants and cafés total: $28.48 Groceries total: $108.22 Most-expensive meal or purchase: Takeout dinner from Thai Orchid, $22.50 Least-expensive meal or purchase: Morton’s sea salt, $1.59 Number of restaurant and café meals: 2 Number of grocery trips: 2 Some of the mozzarella melts into the warm squash, so I fish out those superior bites and ponder life’s big questions, such as, “Why is melted cheese so much better than solid cheese?” 5:41 a.m. My morning routine begins with a trek to the bathroom, but first, I start the kettle for some coffee. I prepare the French press with Trader Joe’s Wake Up coffee blend, costing $7.99, and eagerly anticipate its effect. While I brush my teeth, I toast a slice of Safeway’s Signature Select oat and nut bread, priced at $3.79, and prepare a bowl of strawberries and blackberries bought from WinCo for $1.48 and $2.56 respectively. Sadly, I notice many of the blackberries are moldy, despite being purchased just a day before. I manage to pick them out with one hand as I continue brushing. Clothed and somewhat more awake, I prepare my breakfast by mashing half an avocado ($3.52 for four at WinCo) with salt and lime ($1.00 at WinCo), spreading it over the toast. After plunging the coffee and pouring it into my preferred mug, I add some Califia Farms Barista Blend oat milk, costing $5.49, to complete the setup. By 6 a.m., I am seated, eating, and browsing my phone. Shortly after, I leave the dishes in the sink and hurry out the door. 6:22 a.m. En route to work, facing my daily junction, I deliberate over turning left to work, risking slight tardiness, or right to a coffee stand, aggravating my lateness. Noticing the check engine light, I opt for the former, thinking of the better use for my funds. 11:48 a.m. I attempt to dodge the lunchtime crowd by preparing my meal early in the lab’s break room. My lunch, prepped the previous evening, consists of a salad with WinCo-purchased ingredients: mixed spring leaves for $2.98, mozzarella for $3.48, avocado, spaghetti squash, and a homemade vinaigrette. Inspired by a harissa butternut squash recipe and needing to use leftover spaghetti squash, I microwave the squash, mix it into the salad, and drizzle my vinaigrette made of olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and hot honey over it. I hesitate to have lunch outside. The sun shines, but it’s colder than it appears, and the benches are damp from rain earlier in the day, so I decide to eat at my desk, aware that the strong smell of my vinegar-laced vinaigrette might linger in the lab. The salad is enjoyable but it could benefit from some nuts. I remember I have peanuts at home and plan to roast them with honey later. Some mozzarella has melted into the warm squash, and I savor these bites while contemplating things like, “Why does melted cheese taste better than its solid counterpart?” I end my meal with a Pink Lady apple bought from WinCo, priced at $1.82 for a pack of five, carefully avoiding the bruised part where I dropped it earlier. I arrive home from work at 3:42 p.m. and start preparing to roast the nuts. As the oven heats up, I coat the nuts in hot honey and put them in to bake. After about 15 minutes, a roasted aroma fills my apartment. They turn out slightly burnt and not as perfect as I wished, but they’ll do for the salad. For a snack, I prepare a plate with blueberry and vanilla goat cheese (Trader Joe’s, $4.99), eggplant garlic spread (Trader Joe’s, $2.99), and seedy crackers (Trader Joe’s, $3.99). The eggplant spread tingles my mouth and even though it stings a bit, I dismiss any thoughts of an allergy; a life without this spread isn’t worth considering. 5:31 p.m. Today, I’m trying a new dish and expect it to exceed the typical 30-minute preparation time. Regularly, I visit the library every couple of weeks to borrow a cookbook to ignite my culinary creativity (support your local library!). Tonight’s selection is braised coconut chicken. As I begin to sear the chicken (purchased for $8.56 at Winco), I remind myself to buy a meat thermometer to ease my concerns about undercooked poultry. I decide to tweak the recipe by incorporating an eggplant (bought for $1.28 at WinCo) and some long-stem broccoli I found in the fridge. After setting the curry to simmer, I start cooking some rice to complement the meal. 7:07 p.m. Just as I suspected, preparing the meal took well over 30 minutes. Finally, it’s ready to serve. I separate the curry into four portions: one for tonight and three for future meals stored in the freezer. Like my grandfather who endured the Depression-era in Nebraska, I too am committed to never wasting food. My freezer stands as a testament to this philosophy, neatly stocked with containers of pre-prepared meals. The dish turned out wonderfully, the rich flavors of coconut and lime beautifully enhancing the strawberry notes of the rosé I’m enjoying. Being a wine chemist has its benefits, including access to plenty of complimentary wine. Monday total: $0 My friends and I maintain a Google doc where we exchange our favorite recipes. 5:38 a.m. The morning ritual begins with practised precision. Water boils, coffee steeps, and toast pops up at precisely 6:00 a.m., as is customary, followed by a quick exit at 6:10. 6:39 a.m. Siphoning a sample, I inadvertently slurp an air bubble, giving me an unexpected morning sample of Riesling — sweet, likely an ideal pick-me-up to start the day. 11:53 a.m. Lunch is a repeat of yesterday — a salad accented by (slightly burnt) toasted nuts that settle at the bottom, providing a crunchy finale. The persistent Oregon rain ensures I’ll be flavoring the lab air with my vinaigrette once more. 8:32 p.m. Coming home from the pottery studio, I start preparing dinner from a previously frozen dish — a pork and pineapple rice bowl. I warm the rice and steam some bok choy alongside. While dinner simmers, I prepare a bread dough to rise overnight. The meal is just as delightful as when I first made it, and it’s enjoyed while watching Below Deck. Before retiring, I lovingly check the progress of my rising bread dough. Tuesday total: $0 I cook the vegetables until they’re rich and jammy, throw in the spices, a can of tomatoes, and let it simmer. 5:36 a.m. I won’t bore you with another description of my morning and making avocado toast; it’s exactly the same as the days before. I shave off a minute on my personal best and have everything prepared by 5:59 a.m. Today is destined to be a good day. 6:21 a.m. My check engine light has turned itself off, which I take as a sign that I should get a coffee on the way to work. I say a quick thank you to whichever deity is in charge of car issues and turn right at the intersection. The barista at Well House Coffee greets me and asks if I want my usual—oat milk latte with hazelnut, please! Then I zip off to work. ($6.98 including tip) 11:58 a.m. Another day, another spaghetti squash salad. I’m thankful I’ve consumed the last of the squash and leaves. Another round would be too much. 4:03 p.m. I start preheating the oven with my cherished bright blue Dutch oven inside. During the preheat, I prep two yellow bell peppers into matchsticks, slice a red onion into delicate half moons, and crush some garlic. Once hot, the bread dough is set inside for a 30-minute bake. The aroma of fresh bread fills the air, irresistible enough that I slice a piece to savor with creamy salted louatjep. 8:47 p.m. After returning from pottery class, I begin making shakshuka. I cook the vegetables until they turn rich and jammy, then incorporate the spices and a can of tomatoes, allowing it to simmer. When the sauce thickens, I carefully crack two eggs into the pan and bake for eight minutes until the egg whites stabilize and yolks remain tender. A frozen naan is heated up to accompany my somewhat spicier meal, which is nicely offset by a leftover white Pinot from work. Wednesday total: $6.98 The shakshuka’s flavors have developed nicely overnight, but it’s still too spicy. 5:43 a.m. Without avocados, I need a change in my breakfast routine. I start with my usual coffee and then warm up a pastry from the freezer. Last Sunday, I picked up a Too Good To Go bag from Panera for $4.99, saving two pastries by freezing them. Today, I heat a bear claw in the air fryer while preparing for the day. It tastes surprisingly fresh, though it isn’t something I usually choose for myself. 12:01 p.m. For lunch, I have the remaining shakshuka from yesterday, sans eggs, accompanied by homemade bread and a Pink Lady apple. The shakshuka still has a strong flavor but remains slightly too spicy. I gaze out the window, yearning to be outside, akin to a school child confined during recess. 4:51 p.m. After a draining day, I return home feeling exhausted, hungry, and rather irritable. I initially thought about cooking thawed salmon but opted to store it back after checking several websites for food safety tips. Instead, I seize an offer from DoorDash for a discount and complimentary delivery upon signing up for a trial of their premium service, and I remind myself to cancel it later. I place an order from Thai Orchid for coconut shrimp and tofu pad see ew, costing a total of $22.50. The meal is hearty, and I eat quickly. My evening concludes with reality TV and occasional naps on the couch, and I reconcile that the day may have turned out alright. Thursday total: $22.50 This morning was filled with the task of readying a semi-sparkling wine for bottling, a labor-intensive process featuring many trips up and down the stairs carrying heavy buckets of dry ice. 5:32 a.m. I’m energetic as I prepare for work. Today’s breakfast is a pecan braid from the air fryer, whose icing solidifies unappealingly as it cools, making it tough and not very enjoyable. Thankfully, the coffee is robust and flavorful. 12:03 p.m. It’s another lunch spent indoors due to rain, enjoying shakshuka and an apple. Currently, I’m persevering through a book that doesn’t capture my interest, yet I’m too invested to abandon it. The repetitive morning task of carrying buckets up and down significantly weighed on me, so this quiet lunch break is a welcomed pause. 3:16 p… My wine tasting group is meeting tomorrow so I stop by Trader Joe’s on the way home to pick up supplies for making appetizers, plus some other bits and pieces for the weekend. I’m planning on making blinis, one with smoked salmon (Trader Joe’s, $13.99) with crème fraîche (Trader Joe’s, $2.99) and one with strawberries (Trader Joe’s, $3.49) and cream cheese (Trader Joe’s, $2.99). I scan the aisles repeatedly for crème fraîche but don’t see any. I consult Google to ask if you can buy crème fraîche in America and am disappointed to see that it may be hard to come by. I opt for sour cream instead. I’d taken some leftover mini wine bottles from work and now buy some hyacinths (Trader Joe’s, $6.99) to arrange in them; at home, the smell spreads through the apartment and makes it feel like spring. ($64.19 total) 7:53 p.m. I decide to make the blinis tonight. Once they’re cooked up, I make myself crepe-style pancakes for dinner. In England, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated with pancakes; I celebrated this past Pancake Day by introducing a friend to it and realizing that pancakes for dinner can be an any-time-of-year affair—this is adulthood at its finest. I make myself two pancakes and roll them up with Swiss cheese (Trader Joe’s, $2.84) and turkey slices (Trader Joe’s, $3.69). I have enough batter for two smaller ones, so I make lime-sugar pancakes for dessert. Friday total: $64.19 We blind taste 15 different wines over the course of the evening. 8:08 a.m. I hurry over to the shrilly whistling kettle to prepare some coffee. While enjoying my coffee, I phone my mom to hear about life in her English village—apparently, their French bulldog has amusingly herded six sheep, while their actual sheepdog remained indifferent. I then prepare a breakfast burrito with a frozen tortilla, scrambled eggs, and cheese. 3:42 p.m. I head to Varnum Vintners, a wine shop and club I belong to, for a Cinco De Mayo-themed gathering. The wine is excellent, affordable, and true to their ethos of “Wine made to drink, don’t over think.” We taste new releases including two non-alcoholic varieties and enjoy chicken tacos. The rainfall enhances the warmth of the small, bustling tasting room as everyone tries to get the attention of the store cat. I collect the 12 bottles I prepaid for last week ($282). 6:13 p.m. Next, I join my wine-tasting group in Portland. Our theme for May is “May the Forced Carbonation Be With You.” Throughout the evening, we blindly taste 15 varieties of wine, attempting to discern which ones have been force carbonated. I contribute blinis to the diverse range of appetizers available. Initially, we closely analyze the wines, although our focus gradually shifts to simply enjoying the delightful wines and great company as the evening progresses. Saturday total: $0 I feel like I’ve experienced my own version of Carrie Bradshaw’s life, but with costly wines instead of pricey footwear, cosmopolitans, and romantic escapades. 9:22 a.m. After spending the night at a friend’s place, where I stayed with a wine intern from her company, we start the day with coffee and a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. We spend the morning gossiping and catching up before I head home. 3:13 p.m. I organize my meals for the upcoming week and make a trip to Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. With my freezer still quite stocked, I mostly purchase supplementary items and fresh produce, spending a total of $44.03. 6:29 p.m. Dinner involves digging out cheese and potato pierogies from my freezer (their origin a mystery), braising some green cabbage I bought for $2.94, boiling the pierogies, and frying up some kielbasa in the air fryer. While eating, I watch old episodes of Sex and the City and ponder over my week as a journalist. My life mirrors that of Carrie Bradshaw, not with extravagant shoes or love affairs, but through my adventures with high-priced wines and the neighborhood stray cats I affectionately make my own. Sunday total: $44.03 Originally Appeared on Bon Appétit More Culture Stories From Bon Appétit Get Bon Appétit in your inbox with our daily newsletter. The Super Bowl’s giant Doritos pyramid, and more news from the internet of food. Nonalcoholic beverages are everywhere. This is how to choose the right one for any occasion. 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