Those of you who live in Upstate New York have kept a secret from the rest of us, but the word is getting out! Wegmans, a mixture of Whole Foods meets Dean & Deluca on steroids, is definitely neater than sliced bread! It boasts an amazing assortment of food, not as fussy as Harrod’s Food Hall, but equally impressive in its own way! As Wegmans has opened stores in the Northeast, people have the wonderful option to experience fine food presented in a breath-taking array.

 Last year we came to Baltimore for our son’s high school basketball tournament. Baltimore has several good places to dine (check out Blue Sea Grill) and I truly didn’t imagine I’d be recommending a grocery store for fine dining, BUT–we stumbled upon this treasure when, after a disappointing loss, we needed to soothe our pain with some Ben & Jerry’s. I am not a domestic diva nor do I routinely rave on and on about grocery stores, so believe me when I tell you that going to Wegmans is an unbelievable sensory experience! A few days ago we returned to Baltimore for this year’s tournament. We chose to stay in a Marriott that is across the street from Wegmans! I was a little nervous walking into the store—what if my memories were larger than the reality? What if Wegmans was just a “legend in my mind?” Not to fear! The past few days in Baltimore, which included daily stops at Wegmans, confirmed that this is truly an extraordinary experience!

This week I’ve tried Maryland soft-shelled crab sushi, Cracked Pepper coated ahi sashimi, Caesar salad (with just a hint of anchovy in the dressing), orange cranberry scones, an onion bialy, “doughnut shop” blend coffee, and Wegmans house brand Creme Brulee ice cream (yes, the boys suffered another ugly loss!).

 When I was a child and watched “Peter Pan” on TV, we were told that if we clapped real hard, Tinkerbell would live. Maybe, if I clap real hard, Wegmans will open in Kansas City??? Ya think?