The Fresh Market Comes to The Capital Region

I was lucky enough to already be off from work today so I was very excited to learn that my day off coincided with the opening of The Fresh Market, the new grocery store in Latham. Today was a day that the Kitchen Gods were shining down on me bringing me very good luck!

The store opening was set for 9am, but I got there right around 8am thinking I would stand around and be part of the fun. To my great surprise the management starting letting us in right away. (Thanks Kitchen Gods!) I got a little half size cart, which was perfect for a busy day like today when having to navigate through the throngs of people. They immediately gave me a Fresh Market reusable shopping bag and 2 single pot size bags of their blend coffee. Yeah free stuff!

Upon entering I went to the right, and saw the natural wood walls and floors and the amazing colors of their floral and produce departments. I didn't spend much time in the floral area but they had beautiful orchids in pots for $19.99-orchids aren't my thing but I even noticed how much nicer they were than what I usually see.

It was on to produce...I saw all of the things I expected and a few good prices-blueberries @ $2.50/pint. Many prices were comparable to the other local grocers. I liked that they listed country of origin and the way the produce was grown (conventional means or organic). Whole Foods does that but most of our local places don't. I also thought they had more local produce than the more established local grocers. One new (to me) thing I saw in this department was a vacuum packed marinated artichoke leaf pouch. Looked interesting. I tasted the fresh pineapple and it was perfectly in season.

Continuing along the outside wall is the seafood/meat/poultry. Everything looked fresh, which it should because the store just opened but you can tell quality meats and these were impeccable. They had turdukin, stuffed pork and chicken. Portabello caps stuffed with Italian meatloaf. I decided to try their chicken stuffed with portabello and cheese and the cordon bleu. The best buy for me of the whole store was $2.99/lb for antibiotic free, grain fed chicken breast. I bought 2 pounds and wish I had bought more! The normal price of $5.99/lbo will keep me going back for more. The strip steak looked amazing and I will be back for it.

Along the back wall is dairy, cold drinks and desserts. I didn't spend too much time here but it all looked great and there were some good B1G1 yogurt deals.

In the middle is a large island that consists of sushi, prepared salads, prepared meats (think-wings, rotisserie chickens, ribs etc), cheeses, deli meats and grab and go salads and entrees. The staff offered me samples of everything! (Yeah staff!) The lemon orzo salad with pine nuts had a great flavor and the $5.99/lb price seemed about right. The honey lemon pasta salad was intriguing and tasted fresh but I am not sure it is my taste. The rotisserie chickens were $7.99/ea and looked delicious. I sampled their sticky sesame chicken wing-it was great. Loved it-perfectly cooked with crisp skin and flavorful (not cloying sweet) sauce. I would buy those! They had either 4 or 5 flavors of wings, ribs, chickens and some beef products that weren't out yet. The cheeses were good looking but didn't excite me as something new overall. And they were so busy no one was available to offer samples or even to cut a wedge into a smaller size for purchase as most were pretty huge. I am sure as they settle in that won't be a problem.

The dry goods had all that I would expect-coffees, sauces, chips, cereals etc. The best deals were the Frontera products. If you know who Rick Bayless (The first Top Chef Master) is you know he is awesome. Frontera is his line and everything I have had is quality. The salsa was B1G1 free, and the chips were 2 for $3. Yahoo! Dinner for 3 nights for me if I don't have to share! I could live on the stuff. There was an interesting taco seasoning pouch also Fronterra @ $2.99. I decided I needed to give it a try. It isn't a dry seasoning, rather a sauce...Prices varied. Some were great some where expensive. However, I don't go to a store like this to buy Rice Krispies so I don't care that they are $4/box. The boxed goods that were healthful, organic etc were all right at the price I expected.

The bulk section was smallish but you can make your own peanut butter, get dried spices and herbs all in little pouches. Grind your own Fresh Market brand coffee at $9.99/lb.

At checkout they offered to carry my bags to the car and said that was a regular offering not just a special service for the grand opening.

I really enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back. I likely won't go there for staples like ketchup or cereal and paper goods but produce and meat are a premium at a fair price. Loved it.