The new Matherne’s at LSU is a very good example of what is trending in grocery/deli/markets these days. Not a lot of space is devoted to raw product. Yes, there’s still produce and meats and seafood, but the majority of the space is dedicated to packaged and frozen foods with an extensive salad bar and hot deli (including a serve yourself wing station) and sushi prepared in-house. An aisle devoted to household products, a whole lot beverages-both healthy and unhealthy– plenty of craft beer in bottles and cans, and a separate liquor counter. There seems to be a good bit of Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods influence throughout the city, forcing other stores to re-arrange, add sushi stations and salad bars, and highlight where they feel they are better at it than the newbies. To a large extent this comes down to having the best hot deli and salad bar, and the trendiest new brands of prepared foods both fresh and frozen. This Matherne’s has a couple of things going for it. The seafood section isn’t large, but it is high end with fresh shrimp and catfish and salmon packaged in sizes convenient for cooking for one or two. I was able to find my beloved White Castle frozen sliders both with and without cheese. The fried chicken is good. And the deli sides are very appealing. I saw fried okra when I got a box of chicken, but when I went for their fried catfish the okra was stewed, so I got their mac n cheese and red beans and rice with cornbread instead. All in all a good store. Passes muster in the new age, but if you’re looking for a butcher, or canning supplies, or any other old school items you should probably head somewhere else like Calandro’s or Bet-R.
