Yes, it’s probably too expensive, and the food isn’t necessarily organic (or even healthy), but we just can’t help ourselves when we step inside Fresh Market. From the décor (think Whole Foods mixed with the cramped aisles of a big-city supermarket) to the beautifully stacked produce, fresh-cut meats and mouth-watering prepared foods, Fresh Market infects our pores and makes us want to shop, shop, shop — even if what we’re buying can probably be had elsewhere for less. You have to love a place that skips the household cleaners and paper products that clutter other supermarkets, but finds space to include two aisles of candy sold by the pound. Pro tip: Don’t miss the delicious pre-made Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Four locations locally, find yours at thefreshmarket.com.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2011.