I was in the area yesterday and noticed that Longo's has finally opened. Naturally, I needed to stop by.
The parking lot was busy. However, I had no problem backing into a parking spot and walking into the store.
I had a staff member ask me whether I wanted a cart. Sure! There are two cart sizes. He gave me a smaller one, which was perfect.
This store is massive! The Loft, which is the second floor that has additional seating if you want to eat and drink, is on the second floor. You can either take the stairs or elevator. The latter is a welcome accessibility addition.
The fruits and vegetables are in pristine condition. I bought fresh kale and made soup today. It's the best bunch that I have ever used in my life.
The living well section is next door. It has a variety of plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free items. I managed to get a bunch of Gardein protein (the mock fried fish, chicken tenders, and turkey are my favourites) that were on sale. You can also learn about food by using the interactive information screen in the area. You can't miss it!
The hot bar items looked good. If you want to eat a yummy meal, hit this bar. There was steak, lasagna, brussel sprouts, and more that I was eyeing for a while.
There are also a bunch of meal kits that you can take home and make healthy meals. For example, if you feel like pad Thai, pick up the noodles that have the sauce, and then select whether you want veggies or meat. It's pretty cool.
I wasn't expecting to camp out in the frozen vegetable section, but I did. I decided to give the riced mixed vegetables a shot. It is a decent substitution for rice if you are on a low-carb diet. I also got cauliflower mash with bacon in it. The bacon caught my interest.
I also spent perhaps too much time hovering around the bakery. From brownies to store-made birthday cakes, this place has everything. It was almost like someone knew that I had arrived. Strawberry shortcakes and key lime cheesecakes were taunting me to buy and eat them.
Longo's does get a bit expensive. However, the quality is always amazing and the selection is different than our average grocery store. I am probably shopping here once a month. It also helps to keep an eye on sale items. Don't forget to sign up for the rewards program. You earn points for every $25 that you spend here.
I had a cheerful, friendly cashier. She asked me whether I wanted bags. I had brought my huge reusable bag, so I was good. I paid with my debit card and walked out happily with my goods.
I just made my version of zuppa Toscana with many ingredients that I bought here. The chorizo sausage and kale that I got were so good. It's probably the best batch of soup that I have made in a long time.
I love this new store. I will be back to give the hot bar food items a go!
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