Wegmans, the New York-based grocery mecca known to cause grown adults to squeal in excitement, is coming to Chestnut Hill next spring. Currently, there’s a Wegmans in Northborough, Mass., but the new store will be the first location to get this close to the city. While I admittedly can’t relate to the hype that surrounds just the thought of entering through the automatic doors, the buzz leads me to believe that this isn’t your average Shaw’s. Or Whole Foods. Or Food Paradise, for that matter.
Sure, you can stroll the aisles of Wegmans and pick up your week’s worth of groceries. But we know why you came, and you came for the prepared foods section. This wondrous world boasts more choices than one can really imagine, making all other food destinations pale in comparison. Why stop by your local burger joint/pizza shop/Asian restaurant when you can get it all in one stop at Wegmans?
When I think of a grocery store’s “prepared foods section,” I imagine cellophane-wrapped sandwiches and a salad bar. Wegmans laughs at this concept. Here’s all that they offer:
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$6, $8 & $10 Meals Asian Club Pack Calzones—Cold Coffee Bar—Cold Fruit & Salad Bar Hot Pizza—Sicilian Hot Wing Bar Packaged Wings Pizza Dough & Toppings Sandwiches Vegetables & Sides Vegetarian Bar—Hot |
Asian Bar Breakfast Sandwiches Calzones—Hot Coffee Bar—Hot Hot Homestyle Bar Hot Pizza—Thin Crust Packaged Pizza Panini Rotisserie Sub Shop Vegetarian Bar—Cold Vegetarian Bar—Entrées |
Asian Bowls Burrito Bar Club Pack Coffee Bar—Self Serve Fresh Cut Snacks Hot Kettle Soups Hot Pizza—Traditional Crust Packaged Salads Pasta Bowls Salads—Service & Grain Sushi |
Throw in a wall of bulk candy, and we’ve found food heaven.
As we prepare to welcome a Wegmans to our proximity, it’s important that we contain excitement long enough to pull it together and do our homework. Perhaps it’s been a while since you graced a Wegmans with your presence, or, like me, you have yet to experience the magic — and you don’t want to look like a super newb. According to Chestnut Hill’s Executive Chef Dan Tartaglia, things can get overwhelming.
“People in general are confused when they shop the prepared food department,” said Tartaglia. “Like with how things are sold, and why they’re sold that way. There’s a very high education level in the area, people understand food, and the quality of food, and that’s what we look to bring them. We’re always there to help people with their needs, there to help customers make better choices and eat better all in all.”
Tartaglia believes that talking with the chefs and the employees will go a long way when shopping at Wegmans. To get the most out of all they have to offer, Tartaglia recommends coming back again and again to really get to know the selection — if I’m going to become familiar with any prepared foods, it will probably be at Wegmans.
So here is Tartaglia’s list of tips for mastering the prepared foods section at Wegmans. The Chestnut Hill location is scheduled to open spring of 2014, which will be here before we know it.
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Engage the staff – Who should know the prepared foods section better than the people who work there? The staff should be knowledgeable about the dishes being offered just like the wait staff in quality restaurants.
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Use your senses to inspect product freshness & quality – One of the most important attributes of a grocery store’s prepared foods section is the selection should always be fresh for guests to enjoy. Take a look at the product and the packaging; it should look and smell fresh and crisp.
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Know the dates – Pack date, sell by date, use by date. These may sound similar, but they all have different meanings that are valuable to be aware of as shelf life can vary from product to product.
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Pack Date: This date represents the day the item was packaged and prepared.
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Sell By Date: This is the last day a grocery store should have the product out on the shelf for sale.
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Use By Date: This is the last day that a product should be consumed. If it is not consumed by this date, it should be discarded.
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Variety is the spice of life – Take into consideration the variety of items offered and quantity of items out for sale. A wide variety of items speaks to a store’s successful sales.
- Cleanliness is key – Take a walk around the prepared foods department and check for general cleanliness. A great prepared foods section in any grocery store should be treated as if it were the chef’s home kitchen.
So you should take precise notes of these tips — or, maybe just go wild at Wegmans and see where their selection takes you.
Interested in working at the forthcoming Chestnut Hill Wegmans? Tartaglia says the location is currently looking for employees. Apply here.
