EATING MY WORDS AT BRISTOL FARMS

Why do I love the new Bristol Farms grocery store downtown? Let me first say that I was skeptical. Who, I mused, is going to go grocery shopping downtown? How could a grocery store survive on the lower level of a shopping mall? Boy, was I wrong. Everyone is going to shop at Bristol Farms. This may not be the store to stock up on staples like dish soap or paper towels, but you buy those at Safeway on sale, right?

My first visit was last Wednesday. Mr. Muse wanted to go out for dinner. A nice sit down dinner and to check out the Westfield Centre (no, that is not a typo. At least they don’t call it ‘Ye Olde Westfield Centre’) Anyway, before we headed up the escalator to LARK CREEK STEAK for dinner we cruised through the new Bristol Farms grocery store. Like most grocery stores that are built or are remodeled these days, over 60% of the selling space is for prepared foods to go. I can honestly say that there is no store that comes close to the offerings at this store, not even Whole Foods. It is truly over the top and top rate. It is a spectacle and a joy to behold. Every corner I turned there was another steam table or salad bar or carving station. Two carving stations. The one in the corner (next to the crepes made-to-order station) is for the dinner/lunch plates to go. The prime rib that I saw on Wednesday night really did make my mouth water. (I would have been happy to have that for dinner but Mr. Muse wanted a tablecloth dinner with a scotch and soda and I was happy to oblige. I knew I would be back on my own.) The other carving station is for meat to go or to be made into sandwiches to order. Roast pork, pastrami, roast beef and roast turkey...

Then we have the sushi station and the cold seafood station. I returned on Sunday and tried the shrimp and mango salad. It was delicious.  After a movie I went shopping for a few salad items that I needed for dinner.  So convenient.  With my grocery bag full of romaine and avocados I went into Neiman’s. Every sales person that I spoke to had already been to Bristol Farms and was happy to tell me about the delicious dish they had ordered up to take home. The salesman in the Italian Cashmere boutique told me that he had shopped at Bristol Farms for an entire dinner party just the night before because he was too tired to cook for friends. Which is exactly the point I will end with. This is take out that you will not feel obliged to apologize for.

Comments

[Bill Colucci]

Karletta:

This site just keeps getting better and better. (No commercial)

Keep up the great work!

Bill