I went to Ikea for the very first time. From the elaborate displays to an unexpected Christmas feast, here's what surprised me.

• I recently went to Ikea for the very first time.
• The staged rooms were surprisingly elaborate, and there were many items for sale that surprised me.
• The food was even better than I anticipated. 

Until recently, I had never once set foot in an Ikea. I've never even ordered anything online from the Swedish furniture giant, though I own an Ikea PAX wardrobe that I bought through Facebook Marketplace and carried up the three flights of stairs to my apartment.