Since moving to Nashville last November, I have lamented the absence of a Fresh Market here. That’s changed now that the company has expanded into Brentwood. It’s not exactly down the street, but it’s much closer than Knoxville.
I made a recon run yesterday to get a few groceries and check out the new digs. It is bigger than the store that I shopped in Nashville making it a little airier. All the stuff I needed was there with the exception of pound packs of organic unsalted butter and gallon packages of organic milk. (I suspect it might be the sticker shock with the packages aren’t half sizes).
One of things on my list was mixed peel for the Christmas cake. I scoured the dried fruits bulk section without seeing it but thought I’d ask. They did have it, but in the back and not packaged yet. The associate in charge of the bulk section, packed a pound of it for me, looked up the price and brought it out to me. It wasn’t mixed peel but just candied orange peel. I think it’s workable and it’s the really good kind, not that scary nuclear-colored, gummy bear of death looking stuff. God, how I love the combination of quality and customer service.
I also stopped off at the Puffy Muffin next door (the Fresh Market doesn’t open until 9, for you early morning shoppers) and I needed caffeine. The coffee was good, if expensive, and scone was cakey but tasty. I didn’t realize that they do the whole breakfast and lunch thing. It isn’t really cozy in the way that you’d want a coffee shop to be, but I guess that isn’t their purpose.
