Food for Thought at Wegmanopolis

Ever shop at a Wegmans Grocery Store? If you're like me you appreciate unique grocery stores that take the shopping experience to a whole new level. That list includes stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Stew Leonard's and now Wegmans.

With camera in hand, I peeked in purely out of curiosity. I have family in the Rochester area who talk about it like it's the next Disney World. So, of course, I was expecting fresh veggies, artisan breads and piping hot pastries but what I found was so much more.

Like a European open-air food festival there were imported cheeses from around the world, fresh-caught seafood so perfectly displayed the lobster looked too good to eat, aisle after aisle of natural and international foods and enough ready-to-cook entrees to please the most discerning customer. I couldn't believe the low prices, extreme variety and modern sleek design of the building. There was even a mini department store in the middle.

"Hey, check it out, they carry Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda!" cheered my friend Angela. The light green bitter tonic made from celery seed sounds revolting but it's a regular buy for Angela, that is until recently when PriceChopper stopped carrying it.

Before that, I hit tea nirvana in a special section of the store called The Tea Spot. I loaded up my basket with flavors like Coconut & Tart Key Lime, Swiss Chocolate & Sweet Strawberry and Georgia Peach with Indian Spices.

We must have been thirsty because minutes later Anthony, also known as 'Chick' in the inner circle, wouldn't let us leave without checking out shelves of specialty craft-brewed beers. The regional lagers and ales bubbled over with flavors like raspberry, honey, caramel, orange, banana and chocolate. Purists can still find the non-tainted favorites too.

Why is it with 48 Wegman stores throughout New York State not one is anywhere near the city of Albany? Do I smell a conspiracy of some sort between chains? Might any of my readers be privy to an explanation? It's food for thought.