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I was in my local Whole Foods Market yesterday looking at
the selection of hot and cold deli items for purchase, and it got me to thinking, "Is this food ever good?"
Haven't we all been there? We are in the market wanting something quick and easy for lunch or dinner so we get sucked
into buying the prepared food. More often than not, don't we get burned? (...unless we're buying a sandwich, that is.)I think it's safe to say that the deli salads in most chain supermarkets are disgusting. The macaroni and potato salads (and things like ravioli and spaghetti) generally aren't made on-site. They are made by companies like Reser's and are shipped in bulk to market delis. They're often sickly sweet, packed with preservatives, and just plain not good.
But even at specialty markets like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and New Seasons, I find that deli food items to be sub par. (Especially at Wild Oats.) Grilled salmon and chicken breasts always look dried out, cold salads look soggy, curled squares of lasagne always look like they've been sitting awhile, and everything has that refrigerator-y taste from being in the cold case all day uncovered.
Have you experienced a market that gets it right? Where prepared food is fresh and tasty? If so, please share.
By the way, the lemon quinoa that I chose at Whole Foods? It was good.
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4-14-2006 @4:41PM Mom said... Agree about the supermarket deli food, but in my experience the prepared food at Whole Foods is always excellent. I supposed it depends on the turnover at any individual store.
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4-14-2006 @5:21PM Shelley said... I've always liked the deli food at Rockridge Market Hall (on College Ave in Oakland). Plus they have a good selection of cheese and fresh pasta. I love how even if there are about a million people in the store, the staff will obsess with you about say, finding the perfect goat cheese for the salad you're going to make.
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4-14-2006 @5:24PM Chris(Diary of a Fatman) said... I've had nothing but mouth pleasing success with the prepared food counter and olive bar at the Central Market in Plano, TX. Fresh, tasty, and not the typical deli fare. My fav is the dill/horseradish potato salad.
My only complaint is that everything's a little pricey, but the best things in life are not free.
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4-14-2006 @5:41PM Alex said... The sandwiches at Vons/Safeway are really good. They make it in front of you with fresh bread. The California Dreamin is my fav. Kroger food isnt all that good. I think I have to go to Vons now ...
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4-14-2006 @6:37PM Angelica said... Hmmm...we have a smaller family-owned chain store that has a small (read: three linear feet) deli counter. Chevy Chase Market going towards Bethesda from D.C. anyway...since it is soooo tiny the food is always fresh and ALWAYS delish.
I do agree that grocery chains, even Whole Foods can sometimes have deli case foods that even my daughter and son would balk at, and they eat EVERYTHING.
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4-14-2006 @7:18PM Alex said... BTW I just had a Califoria Dreamin from Vons, and it is just as good as I remembered.
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4-14-2006 @7:21PM Brandon Hofmann said... The food I have had at Whole Foods is generally great, I love their pesto lasagna, and most of their tofu dishes. The "buffet" type items are usually pretty good. And their sandwiches have always been great. Eggless Tofu sandwiches are my personal favorite. The only bad item they have is their falafel, which is probably the worst falafel I have ever had.
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4-14-2006 @8:02PM Susan May said... I think the Acme Market in Philadelphia, PA is fantastic, they have a daily,fresh deli, a bakery with fresh item's too. I would buy anything from their deli & bakery and eat it all. It's wonderful.
If you have an Acme store you should visit it.
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4-14-2006 @8:45PM Mike said... In Phoenix/Scottsdale I've been happy with the deli offerings at A.J's. Besides cold standard deli stuff they have the hot prepared stuff and sushi made while you watch. There are prepared and "semi-prepared" stuff in the expansive meat counter as well.
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4-14-2006 @9:44PM David T said... Prepared stuff from whole foods makes my stomach hurt.
The Deli at Giant (or at least the one in Arlington, VA) makes an awesome panini.
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4-14-2006 @9:47PM Hawk said... I'm a pretty big fan of Whole Foods' bbq ribs, and I eat at their hot bar for lunch all the time. 3.49 buys me a decent amount of tasty food without all that hyped up glutamate-riddled flavor enhancing crap that most restaurants douse their food with.
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4-14-2006 @10:26PM rainey said... I have to agree that market deli food is generally disappointing. I still haven't gotten over or forgiven Bristol Farms for the two times I bought something that looked great was quite pricey and turned out to be just plain awful.
Having said that, I once got a roasted lima bean salad from Whole Foods salad bar that was terrific. I've since learned to cheat it and it's a family favorite.
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4-14-2006 @11:24PM yatesy said... I have a Shoprite around the corner form me in philly that has a pretty kick ass deli department, especially the fresh made seafood salad type offerings. I think alot of supermarkets are really making an effort to reach out to the busy person who wants to eat something that doesn't come thru a drive thru.
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4-15-2006 @6:26AM Bob said... As a rule, I hate (HATE!) those pre-formed hamburgers that you can buy in the meat section of any grocery store. They may not be frozen, and they may actually be meat...but they are the absolute pits. It is with that in mind that I cautiously tried the pre-made (notice I don't use the word "formed" here) patties at Whole Foods. They have them in a variety of different "flavors" (e.g. bacon and cheese, peppered, scallions) with different ingredients mixed in with the meat. I AM ADDICTED! These things are awesome. Can't beat them for grilling if you want to a)eat a delicious, juicy, HUGE burger, and b)really impress guests.
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4-15-2006 @10:13AM Big Grown-Up Mommy said... Actually the prepared food at Wegmans supermarkets is usually quite good. It's rather expensive, but always fresh. I guess you get what you pay for.
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4-15-2006 @2:35PM malarkey said... I find the deli stuff at Whole Foods mixed. Some items are lovely, some not so. Probably the best single grocery store deli experience I've had was at Eatzi's in Houston. But, I was only there ONCE and I don't live near one. There are things at Whole Foods I buy consistently. But you are right about the fish & chicken being very dry. The deli's at places like Safeway serve garbage.
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7-31-2010 @6:45PM jennifer callahan said... Earth Fare has a good deli (southern chain of 15 stores) and their dishes are prepared in house – they're very generous with offering samples because the food is good and that way the customer doesn't end up with a dish he doesn't want.
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