Still, I have to confess that while I’ve interviewed company executives and tried my darnedest to envision what they were describing, I’d never stepped foot inside a Wegmans supermarket until last month.

Now, after just one visit, I’m infatuated. I loved the produce section; I have a particular fondness for fruit (O.K., it’s an obsession) and I was blown away by the neat, colorful rows of peppers, the glossy skin of the apples and the long aisle of vegetables that seems to beckon, “buy me, buy me.”

The Market Cafe, featuring a wide array of prepared foods, was unlike anything I’d experienced at home. The sushi was incredibly fresh, the soups and salads looked great and the pizza smelled terrific – even to a New York pizza aficionado. There were plenty of tables, including balcony seating for those who wanted to linger over their meal.

Since I was traveling with my husband and son – neither of whom does much grocery shopping – it was interesting to listen to their comments. My husband was disappointed that the sample cooking station wasn’t fired up while we were there (8:30 p.m.), but his spirits rebounded at the prospect of sampling a few cheeses. My son, rarely impressed by shopping of any sort, was amazed at the selection of protein bars and health food and proclaimed newfound respect “for any retailer who sells lacrosse magazines.”

Personally, I needed to be forcibly removed from the bread counter and, later, from the patisserie. Did I mention the candy department? It was colorful, playful and inviting, and the smells were intoxicating.

Since we were traveling and the car was pretty jammed, the prospect of doing a “big” shopping was out of the question. The only item I picked up was an eight-pound bag of Cortland apples – and there was that kiddie-size portion of gelato I couldn’t resist.

I live on Long Island, where there are just a handful of truly stand-out supermarkets. There are a couple of Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe’s, and there’s a Fairway Market that’s worth a special mention, but not one of these stores is located within 10 miles of where I live – and let me stress, I don’t live in a rural area.

So Mr. Wegman, I think opportunity is knocking. I’m thinking a new Long Island store could benefit both of us. Give me a call. I have a few suggestions about potential sites.