WEGMANS

Wegmans is a beautiful place. It is where low prices are combined with excellent foods and the best food shopping experience I've had that I can actually afford.

I've been to my fair share of Wegmans grocery stores through the years after living in Rochester NY for five years (through college and my "super senior" year). Not every store is great (especially "Ghetto" Wegs off of East Ave, or the store in Henrietta). I've also been to the flagship store ("Super" Wegs) in Pittsford many times and basked in all of its glory. For those who have never visited a Wegmans, it's like Whole Foods but affordable. They have Wegmans-brand foods that are good if not better than the originals, they often have a delicious prepared foods sections where they serve everything from sushi to tandoor chicken to pizza, and the deli is always reliable.

After moving to the Boston area and transitioning to Stop & Shop and Shaws, I have come to yearn for a Wegmans store. Trader Joe's is completely awesome, don't get me wrong, but it lacks the huge selection of a large grocery store. Wegmans is the awesome product of Whole Foods and Trader Joe's: inexpensive and delicious. Both TJs and Wegmans will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Which leads me to today, the opening of the new and enormous Wegmans store in Northborough, MA. It is 138,000 square feet of food joy and it was swarming with people...

I brought two great ladies with me, Katie and Deirdra, and we steeled ourselves for the crush we knew would come within the store walls. I'm sure thousands of people planned to attend the opening and the parking lot was chock full of people. We found an excellent space, they signed up for Shoppers Club cards (I, of course, have a card that I got in my freshman year of college), and grabbed some carts.

Boy was it packed in there but we persevered (can you find Katie?)...

...and here is my pile of treasures! I've got recipes all lined up: lemon risotto, a pasta dish with cherry tomatoes, bacon and chicken, and a hearty soup with artichoke hearts and cannellini beans. Yay! I recommend that everyone make the trip out to Wegmans - you'll get the warm and fuzzies :).

And for all you Parks & Rec fans out there...