The call of the tomato

We didn't really need grape tomatoes but I can home with this little Tom Box of them. Why?

Because I couldn't resist trying out the grape tomato dispenser at Wegmans!

Bikes for Mother's Day and Birthday

Look at this Wegmans display for Mother's Day! They are killing it. A baby blue tandem bike with the Wegmans logo? Too stinkin' cute.

Of course I love a good bike theme. Birthday week has begun and it's kicked off with a bike theme. Aaron found this super cute bike wrapping paper.

And inside was a bike canvas. Perfect for our second staircase which is hung with all bike art!

Wegman's 100 Year Anniversary and mystery popcorn

I get a little overly excited when I see a new reusable bag design at Wegmans. This one is especially cool because it is for Wegman's 100 Year Anniversary. If you are from Rochester or live anywhere near a Wegmans, you know this is the equavalent of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Wegman's never does anything halfway so there are plans for cake and more to celebrate 100 years.

In other Wegman's news, as I was trolling the aisles, I spied this new Smartfood Spicy Jalapeno Ranch popcorn. I LOVE popcorn so I threw two bags into my cart in a flash and tore into one bag in the car.

There is nothing on the Smartfood website about this delightful product, so I am left to wonder - what else is out there?!!!

UPDATE: a search revealed that somewhere out there you can also find Smartfood Buffalo Cheddar Flavored Popcorn!

New goodies at Wegmans

I swear if I miss going to Wegmans for a couple days, when I do get there, I find all new products. I haven't done one of these posts in awhile but there were so many interesting new things I had to share. I made Aaron leave our reusable bags in the car when I saw they had a new design to offer - Italian Classics. I like how the map of Italy is outlined with veggies. I can't tell you why I am so dedicated to chronicling every reusable bag design that Wegmans comes out with.

First thing I saw when I entered the East Ave store was this Wegmans brand hard cider nestled amongst bins of apples. I am not much of a drinker but I can handle a couple sips of cider. Look at the holographic label! HOLOGRAPHIC!

I ground to a halt by the cash registers when I saw the huge dipslay of new Wegmans Organic body washes and lotions. I picked up a tube of hand cream with the yummy coconut lemongrass scent.

Then I had to get out of the store before I bought anything else I didn't need!

Hello there banh mi

In 2012, Aaron and I stopped in a little shop on Monroe Ave called Whatta Banh Mi and I had my first Banh Mi sandwich. I did a lot of research beforehand regarding what exactly went into a bahn mi. I loved the idea of veggies but was a little nervous about... let's call it... mystery meat.

Why do research? Well, banh-mi sounded complicated. So much so there were multiple diagrams online breaking down exactly what was in a banh-mi. The veggies seems standard - pickled carrots & cucumber, jalapenos and cilantro. The meat seemed to vary between regular ham, meatballs and something referred to as Vietamese pork. Sometimes I would read about "ham with pigs ear added for crunch". I just try not to think too much about it.

So I didn't about it and jumped in on my banh mi sandwhich. It was spicy and it was delicious.

Eventually Whatta Banh Mi closed on Monroe Ave, moved to University and Union, and became Whatta Cuisine offering more choices than just banh mi. We stopped in one evening, only to find they didn't serve the bahn mi in the evenings. We didn't make it back again before they shut down that location. I haven't heard of them resurfacing again in Rochester.

Fast forward to the week before Super Bowl and we got the above card in the mail. Banh Mi at Wegmans? Granted they spelled it wrong but I had been doing that too. We tried tweeting Wegmans but they said that only Wegmans with pub locations had them. Bummer.

Jump ahead again to this week when a friend tipped me us off to the arrival of banh mi style sandwiches at the Wegman's sub shop. We were there that night picking them up for supper.

Is it exactly like an authentic banh mi? Not exactly. Was it tasty? Yes. No mystery pork, just ham and turkey. Also, no jalapenos, which they might want to reconsider as the spice is key to the sandwich. The pickled veggies were really fresh and flavorful. I didn't have any trouble polishing mine off.

Screaming pizza

We totally bought this frozen pizza because of the packaging. It really jumped out at us from the freezer case. Turns out it was one of the best frozen pizzas we've had. The toppings seemed fresher... the crust baked up crispy.

There was even a punch out moustache on the back of the box. Bonus!

Wegmans veggie reusable bags

I've got oodles of the Wegmans reusable bags, but when they come out with a new design, I can't help but pick one up. This veggies bag is one of the cutest yet!

Wegman's chocolate

Have you seen the new Wegman's chocolate bar flavors? Peppermint, cinnamon glazed pecans, raspberry and sea salt toffee. I like to keep a stash of chocolate at the office and these make afternoon chocolate break extra exciting.

New Wegmans bag: Sushi take-out

Wegmans came out with a new resuable bag design. Of course I had to get one. It will be reserved for bringing home sushi for supper.

The new East Ave Wegmans!

I was torn about going to my sister's bridal shower knowing I would miss the grand opening of the new East Ave Wegmans! (kidding!)

Thankfully Aaron had stayed behind for class so he was able to go and scope it out for me. I love the new layout. I don't think there is another Wegmans like it! The rooster that comes out and crows every half hour is my favorite part. And the giant cheese section.

Later this summer the restaurant Amore will open. I can't wait to try that too! Look up in the windows!

Wegmans Ornament

Every year we get one new Christmas tree ornament. This year we got this Wegman's ornament. It was the first one on the tree!

Eat your veggies bags

Wegmans now has the complete eat your veggies color resuable bags now. Eat your purple, orange and red veggies. Add in the green I already have, and the set is complete.

USA Flag Wegmans reusable bags

Wegmans has put out a USA flag resusable bag for Memorial Day. It will be perfect for Fourth of July too! I snagged a few of them!

Wegmans Mac + Cheese Ravioli

Once I read about Mac + Cheese Ravioli on the Wegmans blog I couldn't stop thinking about it. I picked up two bags for supper that very night.

i thought one bag wouldn't be enough for two but it was plenty and we cooked the second bag for lunch the next day.

It was just as amazing as I thought it would be. It's like regular ravioli but with "mac & cheese style" cheese inside. It's like mac and cheese inside out!

Aaron made a butter sage sauce for on it which took it to another level. It's also pretty good with regular ole ketchup!

Veggies at Wegmans

If you have been to Wegmans recently you will notice that there is a big emphasis on veggies. They even have a new reusable bag with a veggie design as seen on their last Menu magazine cover.

I am guessing there will be other bags coming out. Collect all four!

With this focus on veggies, Aaron has been bringing his work home with him and we have been trying new veggie recipes at home like this Pasta with Garlic and Kale.

And this cabbage soup. Lucky me!

Froggy cupcakes

Frog cupcakes are back at Wegmans! It's a St. Patricks tradition.

Chef Martin Yan at Wegman's Veggie Fest

Today Chef Martin Yan was at Pittsford Wegmans for Veggie Fest. I was looking forward to seeing him. When I was a kid I used to watch Yan Can Cook on PBS with my Grandma.

Before Yan signed cookbooks, he demonstrated cooking different kinds of veggies. He has crazy knife skills. He can slice a mushroom to feed 25 people.

"Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. Cut. See how cute? You can cut mushroom any way you like! It's a free country!"

He is so funny! And super nice.

Wegmans Holiday Bags

Now Wegmans has a holiday bag design with snowmen! If these go as fast as the Halloween ones did, you better hurry and snag some up if you want them.

Rainbow

I drove toward a rainbow and it appeared to end at Wegmans.

Wegmans reusable Halloween bags

At some point I stop lamenting how early Halloween merchandise is showing up on the shelves and embrace it.

That's what happened when I saw the new Wegmans reusable Halloween bags. Nabbed two immediately. I am such a sucker for seasonal items.