At Earth Fare, one sample, and then a few more

A few years ago, I wrote about fulfilling a long held goal by attending three football games in three days. Today, I've achieved another milestone that I'd like to tell you about: I made an entire meal out of grocery store samples.

Yes, this is one of those feats that a lot of people talk about but never actually do. Well, I have done it. And the funny thing is, I didn't plan on doing it. Like many of the best things in life, it just kind of happened.

At lunchtime, I went over to the new Earth Fare on Cherry Road, figuring I'd pay for a plate off the hot bar. But I didn't really see anything I wanted. So I kept making my way around the store and trying the various items, such as juice and a cracker with some kind of pimento cheese spread. Every section I visited, a sample awaited.

The real jackpot came when I went over to the deli bar. There, I struck up a conversation with a nice guy working behind the counter. Before I knew it, he was offering me all manner of beef, seafood and chicken, and I was not one to be rude. I tried cedar plank salmon. I tried salmon with some herb on it. I tried salmon with barbecue sauce. They all had names I don't remember.

Then I tried some beef tenderloin and a piece of London broil. Somewhere in there was some chicken with bacon in the center. A chicken tender ensued. Finally, I gave a try to some Jamaican sweet potatoes. At that point, I paused and realized, "Wow, I think that was pretty much a lunch."

I'll have you know that I did buy a piece of salmon and a frozen meal to have at dinner. I didn't want to be "that guy" who tries all the food and doesn't buy anything.

On the way back to work, the reality of what I had just accomplished began to sink in. This was surely a once-in-a-lifetime undertaking. Especially if the people at Earth Fare see this and instruct their employees never to give me free samples again.