Valley Farm Market, The Sandwich Shop and BBQ (Spring Valley)

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog.  Kirk, Ed (from Yuma) and Cathy are busy with everyday things and somehow find a way to document the mealtime portion of their days.  Today's blogger, Cathy, is writing about one of her adventures in East County. 

I've shared quite a few Grocers and Markets and their eat in the store food areas.  This Spring Valley Market has been in business since 1956 on the NorthWest corner of Campo Road at Bancroft in Spring Valley. It never had an eat in area and never has had a deli section, selling prepackaged cold cuts in the store refrigerator.

Right there, on the corner of the parking lot at the intersection is a small building.

Note those two smokers to the left.

You kind of can't miss it. The small building has been here about a year now. 

Walk up to the window, and a simple menu is on the White Board. Order, pay and have a seat...or go shopping in the store if you are going to take it to go (more on that later).

When we ordered, we saw one of the workers walking out a cart of ribs to add to one of the specially made very large smokers.

They know their business model and how much meat they will need- to sell inside the store as well as at the BBQ Sandwich Shop.

Our order- 1/2 smoked chicken with fresh made, smokey meaty baked beans and really good, fresh slaw ($6.99) There is an orange colored mustard based sauce that goes with the chicken available with other condiments at the counter; you can see a sliver of the cup at the top. The other item on the right is 1/2 lb of pulled pork ($7/lb)- smokey with a slightly sweet (also house made) sauce. 

I apologize for the photos.  We sat at one of the two outside tables, which have red umbrellas... In any case, the chicken is perfectly cooked, moist, smokey witha ring and doesn't need the sauce; it's that good. 

We do shop here as part of our rotation of markets.  The Produce Department is always interesting. You can see part of the wine, beer and liquor selections against the wall in this photo. 

This isn't the whole butcher counter, which spans the back of the store. There are pork, and lamb, house made sausages as well as house made chorizo and  house made carne asada (wet and dry) and pollo asada.

Prime and Choice beef cuts are for sale too. There's also a poultry counter...

Opposite the meat counter is an area of warm shelves and smoked meats and fish, sold by the pound. (In case you'd rather try some of the smoked items at home)

The seafood counter has high quality selections...wild caught and sustainable.

They make the Ahi Poke here too.  It's good. 

 

I mentioned if you didn't want to eat at one of the two outdoor tables, there are options...take a left out of the side parking lot (go North on Bancroft) about 3/4 mile and on your right is Eucalyptus Park.

 Given to the County of San Diego on Christmas Day 1929 from Walter S. Lieber...trees here were planted in 1880.  For the inspiration and pleasure of the people. 

 There are picnic tables, slides, swings (old and new) and horseshoe pits and even a working water fountain! It's a nice neighborhood.

  Valley Farm Market 9050 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91977 (619)463-9595, meat department (619) 463-5723 open 9-9 daily.  Sandwich shop (619)303-8343 open 10-7 daily.   Website

Comments

[caninecologne]

Great find Cathy! Everything looks so good...I can just smell the bbq! Bert would be all over that pulled pork and TC, the ribs!

[Dennis]

Looking forward to a nice drive out there and some bbq too. Thanks for sharing as always.

[nhbilly]

BBQ joint looks good and not to mention the selection at the store.

[Ed (from Yuma)]

You keep finding these places. And OMG those smoked meats look really good. Another hidden destination in the county.

[Cathy]

It is really good, cc. (And halfway between your home and Mary's!)
Dennis-Campo Road is Broadway (changes name at Spring Street), maybe 2 miles East from Charley's Famous (and an apple pie shake)-2 birds! You'll like it here.
Great selection inside the store, Bill. We're always finding something never seen before. Bonus is all the in-house made items, especially the BBQ.
I am fortunate to be able to drive all over the County and ask about the 'close-to-their-home' places where people eat and shop, Ed. But I am pretty good and finding them on my own also...

[Soo]

Mmm... Bbq... Cool looking place! Wish they had places like that up here. I did find that Whole Foods has smoked chickens now. :-)

[James]

I just went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I loved it. It's nice to see an old-fashioned butcher counter, and the grocery items they sell are well curated. Plus, I love that they sell Sadie Rose bread. I can't wait to try their barbecue!

[Cathy]

I saw the Whole Foods Smoked Meats Department area in the La Jolla and Del Mar stores, Soo. It's a good alternative, but if you find yourself 'out East', you should stop here and taste the difference.
Good you know where Valley Farm is, James. I think the first time, we did just grab something small and smoked from the heated shelves inside (to see if we liked it) and now we find ourselves getting something either before shopping or as we leave, quite regularly.

[Hannah J]

Ahh... Eucalyptus park! Had my first kiss there.. and my many young birthday parties. It really is loved by the locals. Would traditionally buy rolled tacos from El Puerto and eat under the shady trees. Wonderful!