I’ve always been a Kroger girl.

I think most people form an allegiance early in life to a particular grocery store, and mine was to Kroger. So when I found out Kroger was opening a new store on Country Club Road with a fresh food section, I was stoked.

I took a trip out there Wednesday with photographer Devin Dronett to sample the selection. I wasn’t expecting to find the parking packed at a weekday lunch hour, but I managed to score a decent spot and grab an empty cart at the door.

First, I stopped off at the Pan Asian sushi bar. The chefs behind the counter were eager to help, offering to make us specialty rolls of our choosing. But I decided to trust the experts on this one and selected a pre-made sashimi-sushi combo.

Not wanting to miss out on all the goodies over at Delicatessen — the store’s anything-and-everything deli — I ordered some chicken marsala and a superfood salad there as well.

The sushi platter was $9.95, the salad $2.92, and the chicken marsala $3.51. With tax and Kroger Savings, it came to $17.32 — not bad for an international feast for two.

As for the sushi, I would rank Kroger’s selection among my favorite in Lake Charles. The rice was gooey, and the avocado was soft, like guacamole. A wedge of cucumber added a satisfying crunch, and the lightly seasoned snow crab gave it that extra zing.

This particular snow crab managed to achieve that flaky, fresh consistency of which so many snow crabs fall short, doused as they are in creamy sauces. I’ve had very few snow crab rolls that managed to do so, and I was duly impressed.

The sashimi, too, gets high marks. Many sashimi dishes fail to satisfy simply because the meat hasn’t been tenderized properly. This one, however, pulled apart in my mouth. All you raw-fish lovers, make sure you sample the tuna sashimi. It’s quite delightful.

The chicken marsala was enjoyable — a nice fresh lump of white meat covered in a light layer of mushroom sauce. My only fault with this dish was that it came cold, but a quick dip in the oven fixed that. For those dining at the store, I would check to make sure that your meat is at the right temperature before you dive in.

The superfood salad was packed with edamame, carrots, blueberries, onions, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, cashews, cabbage and kale. “Super” filling? Yes. But it left me feeling no remorse.

For those who love their food au naturel, there’s plenty of salads and veggie medleys to satisfy even the most dedicated vegan, and I was highly impressed with the soup variety.

I was tempted to test out the cozy-looking cheese shop and the bakery, but I decided to save those for later. It’ll take more than one trip for me to experience all that Kroger’s fresh food section has to offer.

Remember, there’s a lot of food for the taking, so start small. Those who love chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are sure to love this in-store dining experience. And from the looks of the parking lot, it’ll be around for the long haul.

Devin Dronett / American Press

Devin Dronett