A small group of Seattle mom bloggers were granted a behind-the-scenes tour of the QFC grocery store in Seattle’s University Village for QFC’s Very Important Blogger Event (V.I.B.E). I work nearby so I have frequented the aisles of this particular store, buying hot clam chowder for lunch or taking home a bag of oranges as big as baboon hearts (though much more delicious, I’d imagine).
I had never really thought about what goes into the business of a grocery store. I make my decisions with my wallet, choosing where I can satisfy my cheapskate brain while making my growing pregnant belly happy. There have been many nights where I’ve taken credit for the mushroom meatloaf I’ve picked up at the QFC meat department, so when my husband asks how I was able to make such a “special dinner” after working all day, I say, “Oh it’s nothing! Just something I put together because I AM SELFLESS.” So I had been very thankful to QFC for letting me feign real work while making a deposit in my SUPERIOR TO MY HUSBAND account.
We were led through the store’s different sections and learned that QFC offers flowers from local wholesalers and there are no mega-cryogenic-sized freezers in the back of the store, so all product is turned out quickly. Everything is fresh and updated daily, providing customers with a constantly new selection. We were given a glimpse into the meat selection and the Chef’s Express section, a line of affordable prepared dishes such as mushroom meatloaf, stuffed pork chops, and kalbi marinated flank steak.
For those families conscious of allergies and cross-contamination, QFC makes it easy to choose foods right for their home. We learned that for those people concerned about ingredients, labels can be easily printed out on request without purchasing an item.
QFC President Donna Gjordano
After a tour through other sections like the vast wine department and the Wellness center (which featured a brand new touch-screen computer that finds vitamins, recipes, and more) we were led upstairs for a tasting from the areas we had just visited. We also spoke with some of the QFC execs who are all moms themselves and were interested to find out about what makes bloggers tick and to answer our questions about QFC.
Here is Lew talking about the layers in meat, the marbling, and fat content that makes it extremely delicious. He was a veritable fount of flank steak wisdom, sharing carving techniques and different ways to prepare the meat. Unfortunately, I captured him in a moment that looks more like he’s explaining that this is the church, here is the steeple, open up the doors and there’s all the people!
Some pictures of the dishes we tasted, or in my case, devoured until I was tempted to lick the plate clean:
chicken parmesan with marinara sauce
kalbi flank steak with garlic mashed potatoes and valencia green beans
My favorite dish was by far the kalbi marinated flank steak, prepared with garlic mashed potatoes and Valencia green beans. The sweet, savory juicy “meat candy” was incredibly rich without being heavy. I loved every bite and when I was offered seconds, I just shot a look that repeated what was already going through my head, “YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY! I GOT LOVE IN MY TUMMY”
All of these dishes are available in the deli section, meat department, and bakery which means that I can again pretend that I slaved over a hot stove for chicken florentine, poured my blood, sweat and tears into a pesto and pea salad and worked until my bony fingers gave out over fruit flan. Who needs to know that I didn’t exactly make this macadamia nut flan with white chocolate shavings?
white chocolate macadamia nut flan
The dinner was so delicious, it was like I had forgotten that there was life outside those meeting doors, like when you walk into a casino and can’t see the clocks, so you’re thinking, what’s a few dollars at this slot machine and then you’re calling the benefits office at your work trying to find out if they can wire what’s left in your retirement account to the casino. It was like I entered a food trance and I still can’t believe that I can make a food lineup like this on my own. All I have to do is visit QFC and I can replicate this entire smorgasbord and keep my nest egg in tact.
I was so glad to spend an evening with Stacey, Carrie, Alexis, Kim, Shannon and Angie. We are busy, budget-minded and demand quality without hassle. And we love food. It was great to know how QFC appeals to our varied needs, and not just for frazzled moms, anyone needing convenient and mouth-watering meals can enjoy. I wish I had known what they offered back when I was in college and survived on frozen pizzas and dinners I had to pull out of the microwave half-way and stir. Never again!
In addition to the free dinner, we received a gift bag of various Kroger brand items, coupons and a $25 gift card. AND SUPER BONUS! We have a $25 gift card to QFC to give away to a lucky Seattle Mom Blogs reader! All you have to do is leave one comment by October 30, 2009 by 5 PM PST. The cold, unfeeling random integer generator will choose and we will contact the winner. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or we will choose another person. Good luck!
