Tip Nº 01
Profi on Bulevardul Mihai Viteazul (two minutes from Hostel Antonia, ten minutes from Mosaico Alfetta) and Mega Image on Strada Eugeniu de Savoya (closest to the central hostels) are the daily-shop options. Local Banat staples: telemea cheese €1.50/200g, Recaș wine €4/bottle, polenta flour €1, paprika sausage €3/200g, fresh bread €0.60.
Tip Nº 02
The Sunday morning Iosefin farmers' market (Piața Iosefin, 07:00–13:00) is where the actual local prices are. Bryndza-style fresh cheese for €4/kg, smoked Banat sausage from the producer at €8/kg, seasonal vegetables at half the supermarket price. Bring cash; nobody takes card.
Tip Nº 03
For papanași at home: buy 250g cottage cheese (brânză de vaci) at any supermarket, mix with one egg, two tablespoons flour, a pinch of salt and sugar; fry into small donuts; serve with sour cream (smântână) and any jam. Total cost €1.50 for two; restaurant price €5–€7. The recipe is on every Romanian grandmother's fridge.
Tip Nº 04
If you're cooking at Mosaico Alfetta's kitchen, ask Florentin first — he'll usually offer the larger pots and pans rather than the small dorm-bag-friendly ones, and the spice rack has Banat paprika and smoked salt that he keeps stocked for guests. At Hostel Antonia, the kitchen is unsupervised; bring olive oil and salt unless you find them already on the shelf.
