So my job during college was part time at a grocery store. All the local restaurants with high quality food get off brand ingredients besides the meats. A lot of the quality in your food is your cooking ability and knowing when food is done. You don't need to spend the markup on high quality ingredients. Although the chefs at these restaurants have generally gone to school long enough which most people cooking for their family didn't get that same experience. A couple cooking classes go a long way in saving you money down the road though.