Funny thing about the place voted the best gourmet market is that the company spokesman doesn´t like the term ¨gourmet market.¨ It implies big money, he says, ¨someplace your dad went on Christmas Eve to buy chocolate grasshoppers.¨ What we are, he said, is specialty grocers, purveyors of high-quality perishables at a value price — not cheap, he said, but good value. Want some killer produce and fresh-baked nut bread? Go to Fresh Market. Like fresh spices and bulk health food? Go to Fresh Market. Prime cuts of meat and fish that might still have a little swim left in them? You get the picture. If all this sounds like shackles for the kitchen bound, they have stuff for people who can´t (or won´t) cook. Fresh Market´s deli makes serious ready-to-eat chow. Grab something made with goat cheese then stop by the bakery and pick up some of the Napoleons or cannolis made in-house. The lines are short, so your entrée will still be piping hot when you get home.
Fresh Market, 13147 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-964-8001; 25961 U.S. 19, Clearwater, 727-669-6111.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.
