Ottawa Foodies

The loeb on Merivale beside Merivale High School has started carrying different salts. They have a huge glass canister showcasing the salt and then selling small containers of it infront of each flavour. They have about 7-9 flavours...It's just past fruit/veg section.

And not only are Loeb and A&P the same company, just a few weeks ago Metro announced they are doing away with both names completely and converting everything over to the Metro name.

Oops. Sort of. Loeb does have something called "Fresh Obsessions," though. Wikipedia explains, as usual: "Loeb became a subsidiary of A&P Canada. New products and services were introduced to Loeb stores, and the Merit, Econochoix and Irresistible lines were dropped in favour of A&P Canada’s house brands Master Choice, Equality and Baker’s Oven products and Fresh Obsessions produce."

Is Loeb Fresh Obsessed? Thought it was A&P?

The "Loeb Plus" in Kanata is dreadful!

Very limited selection. Very overpriced. Absolutely nothing to recommend it. Usually when I go to a new supermarket that's a bit too clean and expensive, it's still a good trip because I find new foods. Not here; I couldn't even find the boring stuff on my list.

And the oatcakes I bought had expired months ago. "Fresh obsessed," mmm hmm.

Location seems to matter an awful lot with Loebs.

The 24h one on Rideau is on the lousy side. So-so produce, creepy people hanging around, music blaring in the store at night -- yuk.

That said, the one on Beechwood (New Edinburgh) is quite nice, as are a few others. Good produce, good selection.

Thanks. I'll check out The Independant Grocer. Before I discovered the Loeb line I was buying the Mario's round loaf that various stores (including Herb and Spice) carried. Mario's is a bakery in Manotick. It's a good loaf for toasting, but a bit dense and chewy for eating fresh. I may have to go back to it. Since I buy fresh bread every day I don't want to have to drive too far.

Haven't tried the bread at Loeb but Your Independant Grocer sells some nice breads. Farm Boy sells some nice breads too. I must admit though that I've been buy alot of my breads from the local bakeries these days as opposed to the grocery stores. You could always try looking for Parisien bread which is a little like a baguette but larger in diameter. Might be easier to toast if that's what you want to do with it. Alternatively you could use your day old bread to make croutons...

I've been buying the "old fashioned loaf" at Loebs for the last two years or more. For no discernible reason they changed their line of artisan breads in October and no longer offer it. The "old fashioned loaf" was crusty, with lots of air holes and made great toast the next day. Baguettes are fine for a meal, but they are not a good shape or size for toasting. I'm on the hunt for a replacement.

Loeb now carries artisan breads too, and they are (you guessed it)... delicious! :)

Loeb on Bank and 2nd had some in stock recently. I hope they continue!