"deli food" news and stories

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.