Fresh sushi…at the supermarket? Thanks to Hannaford, you don’t have to dine out at a restaurant anymore to enjoy some delicious bait. I must admit, I was skeptical at first in trying Hannaford’s sushi, due to the fact that the sushi is not made-to-order, and thus, probably not fresh. However, I was fortunately mistaken when I tried their California Roll, which was perfect in texture, flavor, and yes, even freshness. Now I am hooked, and have also tried their Spicy Roll, with a mix of flying roe, shrimp and salmon. What is even better is that you pay $5-6 for 12 pieces of sushi, versus the six you might get at a restaurant for the same price.

In case you haven’t heard yet, we are in the middle of a recession, and people are not going out to eat as much as they used to. To help accommodate diners’ budgets, restaurants in the area are finding ways to get customers to eat their food without making a dent in their bank. Pizzico Ristorante may look like an upscale restaurant on the surface, but the trendy Italian eatery, with locations in Nashua and Merrimack, is one of the newest restaurants to jump on the cheap eats bandwagon. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 7 days per week, Pizzico is offering 1/2 priced appetizers in their lounge. The only catch: you must buy a drink. Full price appetizers range from $2.95 to $24.99, with options like Fried Calamari, Antipasto and Melanzane Imbottite (eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese). Not a bad deal, and I recommend washing down the cheap appetizers with one of their signature martinis.

On a side note, the Nashua location also has a new function room, so if you’re planning a social or business event, give Pizzico a call at 897-0696.