The other day, I ran to the Kiva to pick up a last-minute cucumber. You know what I mean by last-minute cucumber, right? You're in the middle of cooking--I was making sushi--and you realize you forgot that one ingredient at the farmers' market, and you're frustrated, and you don't really want to make the dish without that one ingredient because that would only frustrate you more? You know? Well, the Kiva is close to my house, but I don't shop there very often except for these sorts of last-minute ingredients because the store alternately frustrates and puzzles me. There's no excuse for a store with Kiva's prices to have dirty floors and flies buzzing around the vegetables. Its prices are some of the highest in Eugene--comparable to specialty markets in Portland, like Pastaworks--but the quality and atmosphere don't merit that at all. The Kiva feels past its prime, like it needs a makeover and some new blood. It has its charms, too, and feels very authentically Eugene-y. Also, I appreciate that all the produce is organic. But there's absolutely no excuse for a $2 cucumber that turns out to be dry and mealy.
more