What's good from Kroger's Deli and Bakery?

[csziggy]

We're going to a seminar in Louisville, Kentucky, next week. Our usual thing when we'll stay at one place for a few days is to go to a local grocery and get food rather than spend a fortune at restaurants. I'll be in class all day every day so going out is tiring anyway.

The seminar is at the Galt House in downtown Louisville. I've located a Kroger on the way into town and want to stop to pick up some things before we get settled into the hotel. If things work out, we won't plan on leaving the Galt House for the four days I'll be at the seminar.

I know what I would get if we were staying somewhere near a Publix, but I've never shopped at a Kroger. What do they tend to have that's good?

[Suich]

1. I'm in Seattle,

but I like their whole cooked chickens. Several different flavors and cheap!

[csziggy]

3. That sounds good!

We like the rotisserie chickens from Publix, hopefully the ones from Kroger are good, too.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Their chickens are pretty good.

You might also be able to find barbecued ribs, as well. Never had them, but I'm told they're good.

[csziggy]

11. Ribs would be nice

Publix has mojo pork, which is pretty much un-pulled pork. I'm off pulled pork for the immediate future for various reasons, so a meat with bones is good.

How are their vegetable or salad selections?

[GoCubsGo]

14. The salads at the bar are mostly Mediterranean-style.

Olive salads, artichokes in various forms, salads with roasted peppers, etc. Some stores may have a wider selection. You can also get deli salads like 3-bean, coleslaw and potato salad. And, lots of choices in the produce dept. if you like raw veggies to dip. Mine has soups, calzones, and fried chicken that can be re-heated if a microwave is available.

[csziggy]

17. No green salads? Cobb or Ceasar salads?

When I visit my Mom, she and I and my sister can split a Publix Cobb salad and have a good lunch.

If Krogers doesn't have those, do they sell bagged lettuce? My husband and I can make those last a few days.

[GoCubsGo]

21. Yeah, they sell ready-made green salads, too.

And bagged lettuce. I didn't think of them because they're in the produce section, rather than the salad bar. (It's really more of an olive bar.) Kroger and Publix are really similar. Publix just caters a little more to the Cuban/Latino/Florida crowd. If I was force to choose between the two as my sole store for grocery shopping, I couldn't do it.

[csziggy]

22. OK, sounds good

I've never lived where there were Krogers. I grew up 15 miles from where the first Publix store was and have shopped at Publix all my life. So if they are very similar, I won't have any problem finding what I need for the week at seminar.

Thank you!

[RebelOne]

2. Usually everything is good from Kroger's bakery.

I love the croissants from the bakery.

[csziggy]

4. MMmmm - that was one of the things I wondered about

We might want to buy pastries for breakfast for some days we're there.

The hotel has a couple of places with breakfasts but for what one day's worth would cost, I could buy two weeks of pastries from a bakery.

I prefer eating breakfast in my room partly because I need the quiet time and partly to wake up enough before going out in public. I have trouble dressing myself before coffee - literally. I've been known to show up for meetings with my shirt inside out if I haven't had a coffee before I got ready to leave the room.

[GoCubsGo]

5. The deli is really good, too.

I'd say they're comparable to Publix, quality-wise, maybe a little better. Their "artisan" breads are really good, and they will probably have salad/olive, sushi, and hot food bars.

[RebelOne]

7. Yes, my local Kroger has a great salad bar. n/t

[csziggy]

12. Oh, good - we like salads

I know we have mini-fridge in the room. I need to check if it has a microwave. If we have both, we could buy enough food to have most of our meals for our stay.

If we have no microwave, we'll have to plan on cold meals unless we eat at one of the hotel restaurants. One night we're there will be the seminar banquet. Otherwise, we're on our own for food.

[grasswire]

24. better double check.

A family member stayed at Galt House this summer. No refrigerators in the hotel; no microwaves. Just a coffee maker.

[csziggy]

25. I reserved a room with a mini-fridge - $10 extra a night

But I've read reviews that there are no microwaves in the rooms. I'm calling tomorrow to verify the fridge, check on a microwave, and find out which tower our room is in

We can live without hot food for a few days - and can get meals from the hotel restaurants if we want hot ones. Or even go out to restaurants at night, though after six hours of class with only a one hour lunch break, I really don't want to go out at all. Just the opening night banquet will be hassle enough.

If there are no microwaves, we'll plan on breakfast (pastries, coffee, milk, juice, fruit) and lunch (salads and/or sandwiches) in the room and dinner at one of the places I've scoped out in the hotel. One has a well rated Hot Brown and I'd like to try that for one dinner.

What I don't get are these over priced fancy hotel/resorts that charge extra for fridges, parking ($12 per day) and for internet (Galt House charges $5-10 per DAY for internet in the rooms), and have no microwaves. The Ramada Inn that only charged me $40 per night when my father was in the hospital had a mini-fridge, mini-microwave, free internet, free breakfast, very comfortable rooms, and a wonderful caring staff. At Galt House I'll be paying nearly that amount per day over their room rates for all the "extras" not included!

I understand the need and expense for meeting space for the seminars - the one I'm going to will need many separate classrooms and a banquet room as well as exhibit space and space for their bookstore and specialty boutique. But the last facility for one of these seminars I went to had space for mini-fridges and microwaves and didn't provide them at all. At least they didn't also charge for internet AND parking.

[2theleft]

8. We shop at Kroger regularly. Most everything is good

and comparable to other grocers. I agree on their roasted chickens. Ours had a wonderful cheese selection as well. And their breads. Their breads are really great. Our Kroger carries Boars Head deli meat, which is always good.

They have an AMAZING carrot cake. Like seriously good. Better than some specialty bakers I've gotten it from

[GoCubsGo]

9. My sisters rave about their frozen pineapple upsidedown cakes.

Private Selection, single servings, 4 pack. They're in the aisle across from the ice cream. I have not yet had them. I will have to try the carrot cake some time, too.

My Kroger has the best cheese section I have ever seen. Sometimes, they have great manager's specials, so I can try some of the real expensive varieties that I might not be able to afford otherwise.

[2theleft]

10. OMG - I will have to look for those!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pineapple upside down cake! Thanks for the tip!

[csziggy]

13. So getting a couple of sandwiches would be good for lunches

I like a good bread - miss making my own - so we'll try some of their artisan bread.

Thanks!

[JonLP24]

15. If Fry's is like Kroger over there

I guess chicken from the Deli.

Bakery, I love their garlic bread. Best overall grocery store I've ever been to.

[Denninmi]

16. Kroger stores here actually have great sushi.

Made in store at a kiosk, while you wait if they have time, by authentic Japanese chefs.

[4_TN_TITANS]

18. You're in good hands with Kroger...

We can't afford to buy everything from there, but my wife certainly would if we could.

Our Kroger is and always has been union. Many of the same people still work there from when I bagged groceries 27 years ago. Great place to work and great employees.

[RiffRandell]

19. We love their muffins.

They come in a 4-pack and are big...we hardly ever buy them as we are always watching our weight but they are so damn good! We usually buy blueberry, and when they are on sale they are $2.50/box.

[csziggy]

20. Muffins would be good for breakfast

While normally I wouldn't eat a big muffin in the morning, while at a seminar it's good to eat a generous breakfast. The morning session is long and I need something to make it through it!

[grasswire]

23. a family member stayed at the Galt House a few months ago with infant twins.

She had to bring a suitcase full of packaged food, because there are no refrigerators, no microwaves at Galt House. Just a coffee maker.

And no place nearby to get groceries. So stock up on shelf-stable stuff.

I have no idea if Kroger there has the same deli food as Kroger here. But most of it would require refrigeration, or at least ice. You might want to pack several big zip lock bags for ice to keep your stuff safe. You can put your food in the sink and pack the ice bags around.

I like Kroger's panini sandwiches and a couple of the deli salads. Your mileage may vary.

[csziggy]

27. I reserved a room with a fridge at $10 extra per day

And will be double checking to make sure I have one before we check in.

At the last seminar they had no fridges, none available. So we took a big ice chest and kept even milk at a safe temperature. But with moving from the SUV to a Prius we have no room for that ice chest and will have to pay for the fridge.

See my other post about the fridge and other amenities - or lack thereof.

[AngryOldDem]

26. The deli salads here are pretty good.

My Kroger also has an extensive selection of imported cheese. Delicious!

If you're into it, they also have fried chicken, but (at least where I'm at) it tends to run on the very greasy side. The deli meat cuts are very good, though -- turkey, roast beef, etc.