293146 Wed Jun 11 22:48:09 -0700 2003 20 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1602817 Whole Foods Market has FINALLY opened in Sacramento. Any suggestions on what's really good to buy? I tried to find a few items today but it was so crowded and perhaps some items i had heard about were regional and not available here. An article in our paper did say that they try to use vendors from the area. thanks Wed Jun 11 22:48:09 -0700 2003 0 tonya casmo 1 1602821 Here are some items I buy frequently at Whole Foods in LA: Uncle Eddie's vegan cookies Kozy Shak puddings mac and cheese from the hot foods bar beef tacos from hot foods bar tofu scramble from the hot breakfast bar Mediterranean tuna salad from prepared foods counter deli sandwiches drunken goat cheese Julian Bakery breads Pacific Bakery breads not bad selection of inexpensive wines(many for around $10 or so) bulk foods (I especially like the peanut butter pretzels) My girlfriend really likes the sirloin strips from the prepared foods bar I'm sure I'm forgetting many other things, but these are at top of mind... Wed Jun 11 23:29:44 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Scooter Pie 2 1602823 I've been under the impression that Whole Foods was some kind of alternative supermarket, but now I'm wondering if it's just a new age 7-11. Wed Jun 11 23:58:52 -0700 2003 1602821 0 Gary Soup 3 1602835 I'm not always impressed with them. Alternative 7-11 is a great way to describe them. There is a few items that I can't find anywhere else. I go in every month or so to get my dog decaf green tea tablets. She has mast cell tumors and the green tea helps. When I go in 6-8 times a year I always grab the tuna salad. It is really good! It seems like the other stuff can be found at other stores with a lower price. Thu Jun 12 08:28:15 -0700 2003 1602823 0 southerngirl 4 1602848 Ten-fifteen years ago you couldn't find a lot of that stuff anywhere but Whole Foods! Now a lot of chain grocery stores sell all those things we take for granted like rice and soy milk, tofu, bulk coffee, miso, organaic whatever, super juices, pretty good cheeses and all that. I think calling it an Alternative 7 -11 is a little harsh considering how they've changed the industry. On the other hand, we don't call the local Whole Foods Bread and Circus "Bleed and Suck Us" for nothing. It's about time they revamped and caught up with where they've brought us. Thu Jun 12 10:34:29 -0700 2003 1602835 0 amoniaD 1 1602853 Marcona almonds! Roasted in olive oil, with a little salt. As Robert Palmer would say, simply irresistable! Thu Jun 12 11:07:04 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Bob W. 1 1602854 Whole Foods is basically just a yuppie supermarket. At one time they may have had local character, but they've now bought many local markets and made them stunningly homogeneous. From what I've seen, Wellspring in North Carolina, Bread & Circus in Boston, and Fresh Fields in DC are now stamped in the same image of the mothership Whole Foods in Austin. You can expect pretty much the same things that you find in most other big upscale supermarkets of recent vintage (that is, the sparkling, Madison Avenue-slick Harris Teeter or equivalent of the mid-90s, not the drab, dirty, packing crate Giant or equivalent of the mid-60s). I'll grant you that in some instances, the quality of items is higher. But as with all national supermarkets, you'll find lots of crappy processed foods, stuff left on the shelves too long, tasteless produce, underpaid, unhelpful staff, and the same monolithic national distribution scheme as all other mega-grocers. As far as the local angle goes, I do find it helpful that Whole Foods actually tells you where your produce comes from -- this is something that other supermarkets ought to do. And since you're in California, you may indeed find a large amount of local produce. Here in DC, however, at a time when the local farmer's markets are bursting with fresh asparagus, I recently noted that the local Whole Foods is carrying asparagus from Washington state. So much for favoring local producers. Also, as has been noted several times in our local media, DC Whole Foods spurns local breadmakers in favor of mass-produced, nationally-distributed flavorless bread masquerading as real bread. I like to think of the cheese department as a good bellweather of this type of grocery store. At the Whole Foods in DC, a city where you can count the number of decent cheesemongers on the fingers of one hand, the Whole Foods does indeed carry a decent selection of cheese, including some very good cheeses. However, most of them come pre-cut in plastic, the employees don't really know much about the cheese, and you are more likely to go home with way-overpriced, mediocre, mass-produced cheese as you are with a high-quality artisinal cheese. Even if you get the latter, it might have been out on the shelf too long, and its doubtful that its been handled or stored properly. This is in no way an acceptable substitute for a knowledgeable cheesemonger. The bottom line is: you CAN get some good food at Whole Foods, but you absolutely must be knowledgeable about what you're looking for, or else you'll end up with a huge bill for a lot of crappy food. Thu Jun 12 11:08:03 -0700 2003 1602817 0 ADL 1 1602861 I like Whole Foods. I find the quality better than the regular chain supermarkets and the prices on "natural/organic" goods are much better than at the supermarkets also (surprise!!). Buying organic meat is important to me, but yes, that IS more expensive. I like the "personal care" department - good shampoos, skincare, etc. I like the bulk department - grind your own peanut butter, dried figs, coconut-date rolls are some favorites. A great deal of options are available for those who are vegan/vegetarian. I think the characterization of "alternative 7-11" is a bit unfair. I would wait till it's less crowded and give it a chance then. Thu Jun 12 12:10:01 -0700 2003 1602817 0 SC 1 1602864 The invective that this chain seems to invite sort of amazes me. It's not perfect, no, I agree, but Whole Foods is a lot better than Safeway to my mind. However, everyone is allowed their opinion, and their right to express it! One thing that Whole Foods has that really can't be denied is a good meat and fish counter. Price aside -- you are always going to pay more for prime, organically raised or free-range, hormone free, humanely-raised meat and wild or ecologically farmed fish. It's just a fact. This is going to be a more expensive product. If price is the overriding issue and concern, shopping for meats and fish at Whole Foods is not going to be viable for you. However, if you are willing to pay more for these kinds of product, and unless you have a very good local Kosher and/or organically-dedicated butcher in your area (how few those are!), Whole Foods is often THE ONLY SOURCE IN TOWN to get a product that you know the provenance of. At Whole Foods here in the Bay Area I've never had a problem with the meat and fish counterfolk knowing the origin, handling, age, and ecological status of their products. They have on more than one occasions brought out wrappings and crates to show me what state it came from, the date stamp, etc. They will tell you straight out if some fish is farmed, or if a cut of meat was raised involving hormones, lack of humane treatment, etc. For those of us who do want to consider these things, this is a very nice service to have, and I can be assured that I know what I am buying. And the quality and taste of that meat and fish hasn't yet been surpassed, with the exception of product from the few high-end specialty butchers I 've frequented. For a supermarket of any kind, this is probably the best meat and fish you are going to have access to. I don't necessarily prowl up and down the aisles of Whole Foods buying their processed food. I don't currently have a need for, say, vegan chili, or packaged noodle mixes. I've been very happy, however, with the quality, and I guess the phrase should be "integrity, and full disclosure" of the outer ring of Whole Foods -- the produce, meat and fish, cheese, dairy, and bakery departments. These have always had products that interest me, and that fit my needs. The bakery items, for example, fully disclose their ingredients and avoid such things as artificially hydrogenated fats. And for less-fancy items (plain-old sliced whole wheat bread, for example) you do get a very good value. The prices are fair, actually, I think, on the low end of fair for simple baked goods, and you also know what you're feeding your family. Having access to bread not made with shortenings and chemicals is very nice, in my opinion. No, it's not perfect, and yes, I've heard the joke of calling it "Whole Paycheck" instead of Whole Foods, but if you shop carefully and are in the market for food raised in an ecologically or chemically sensitive way, it's a good and trustworthy source. Now, do you have a Trader Joe's yet in Sacramento? If you do, then that can help in the budget department, too. Thu Jun 12 12:31:43 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Mrs. Smith 2 1602869 hear hear - i agree with you fully. and the combination of whole foods along with trader joe's is a perfect one for me. it allows me to really pick and choose what i purchase at whole foods - only using it to purchase items where i am willing to pay the price for the product that they offer. Thu Jun 12 12:50:41 -0700 2003 1602864 0 jen maiser 2 1602894 My two cents on why Whole Foods is a target of invectiveness -- in many larger cities, Whole Foods came in and bought out our local natural food markets and turned them into a national chain, with less emphasis on local produce, carrying in many cases inferior products (they tend to copy popular items in their own brand label, and then discontinue the competition), and charging a LOT more money for the same items than their successor did. Although I do shop at Whole Foods on occassion, I for one preferred Mrs. Gooches, the store that Whole Foods ate up here in Los Angeles. Whole Foods is more of a gourmet/specialty supermarket than a dedicated natural food/organic market. If you are in an area where Whole Foods didn't buy out the local competition, maybe it's a more attractive option. Thu Jun 12 15:55:59 -0700 2003 1602864 0 DanaB 1 1602865 Their house-brand tuna and salsas are good, but their spagehetti sauces and soups are too sweet or not sufficiently spiced/salted. You get what you pay for, and despite some gouging, the quality of the outer ring foods is so much higher than anything I can get at any other supermarket that it's usually worth the trip. Thu Jun 12 12:38:52 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Erika 1 1602867 Well I love Whole Foods. Their 365 store brand products are excellent overall and are a good value. I love the canned beans (chickpeas, black, etc.) and their crushed tomatoes. Their avocados are always perfect and are generally the cheapest around. They carry great breads and tortillas (not that you can't get those elsewhere, but it's convenient to buy them there if you are already there and they don't cost anymore). I buy several items from the bulk foods section (nuts of all kinds, bulgur, lentils, all sorts of beans). I love their spices - you can buy small quantities on a regular basis so they're always fresh (and it doesn't cost much when you're just buying a little of something). The downside is that it's usually really busy. I've found that the absolutely best time to go is first thing in the morning (even on a Saturday). Good luck. I know you'll find some things you like. Thu Jun 12 12:43:15 -0700 2003 1602817 0 jane 1 1602895 My favorite Whole Foods items are the imported bottled items from Spain like water packed artichoke hearts (usually near the produce section), garbanzos, lentils, and other beans. Some stores also have an excellent cheese counter, including local artisan cheeses. Thu Jun 12 16:11:41 -0700 2003 1602817 0 butterfly 1 1602903 Aside from all of the union, local market, and price-gouging issues (of which there are MANY) I would just tell you to avoid the salad bar. Pretty damn bland, in my opinion. Meats, veggies, and flowers are all of the highest quality- taste better and stay longer too. Thu Jun 12 17:20:53 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Kevin 1 1602929 Whole Foods makes organic/humanely raised/cage-free products available to a wider population. Artisinal and homey it is not. The average shopper can enjoy the familiar experience of supermarket shopping and still support better farms and environmental practices. I, for one, am all in favor of making buying these products more "normal" and "easy" for people. Whole Foods brings these types of products to the masses so--hurrah. Yeah, prices are high. But I don't mind paying high prices to stay on my end of the food chain. Prices for organic milk and eggs are reasonable. Their 365 products are good value. I like their produce but don't think it is as good as my farmer's market. I especially like their meat, seafood, and poultry. I don't have a need for their cheesy-cholocate vegan organic puff chip brownies so I can't comment on packaged foods. Their bread is better than many bakeries. Their cheese counter-- which could be wonderful-- makes me sad. They buy good, interesting cheese but everything is pre-cut and the employees and clueless. I detest nirtrate-free sausages and the like so I avoid the deli counter. I agree that they take a lot of flack from consolodating and buying better versions of themselves. I don't know a lot about their labor practices. Thu Jun 12 19:35:24 -0700 2003 1602817 0 JudiAU 1 1602930 I shop at four different stores. Each has certain values. I like whole earth for a couple of reasons. First their staff is very well informed and helpful. They will order most any thing I ask them to as long as it conforms to their organic guidelines. I think their cheese section is better than most and again very well informed plus I can taste any cheese I ask to. Their produce is almost always at a high level... tasteless but that is the case at all stores. I don't buy their bread because I make my own. I do like being able to refill my spices a little at time without buying a new jar etc. The variety of brands is more expansive than most other stores. For the most part, they are expensive except for their distilled water which is cheaper by far than other stores. Their fish and meat depts are good and the people very well informed and helpful. All in all, not a bad store. Thu Jun 12 19:37:23 -0700 2003 1602817 0 T.Davis 1 1602985 Visited Whole Foods by chance on a recent trip to the USA where one of the "must do" things was to visit Jim's International Food Warehouse. We were a bit disappointed about International Foods perhaps because we were expecting a gourmet heaven. Whole Foods on the other hand, and we didn't know about it's organic or whatever creds, looked like a gourmet paradise. The first time that we saw a selection of real cheese in the USA. Bad luck that it was pre-wrapped, wicked expensive and in big lumps as we were moving from city to city too fast to think about buying some to eat….now had it been available like a proper delicatessen, (cheesemonger, that's a new word to go in the family of fish and ironmongers)…..mmm Did an illegal U-turn near Hollywood when we saw a Trader Joe's and that was nice. Not over the top, well priced, good feeling, though a very limited wine selection and we were going to visit friends and wanted something special to take along. All of this is a serious digression from Whole Foods but thanks Chowhound for making Trader Joe's so familiar to us that we did a U-turn, and being able to learn what the locals think about Whole Foods. Thanks too for the introduction to International Food Warehouse. We would go back for the olives. And of travelling and food shopping. One of the great joys in any country is to find a store where you can by some bread, a half bottle of wine, and good things to make a sandwich. And then the nearest park or rest area. Heaven and you don't even need to speak the language. Fri Jun 13 10:53:37 -0700 2003 1602817 0 bgorton 1 1603050 We eat only organic so B&C is convenient and, here in Cambridge, has 3 stores! Fish is always right on. Meat is expensive but high quality. Be careful of the prepared foods as they are too tempting. What we don't buy at B&C is olive oil, canola oil & fruit juices. For these we go to Trader Joe's. Fri Jun 13 15:52:39 -0700 2003 1602817 0 franc 1 1603111 I think the penetration of all kinds of products into the average American supermarket makes Whole Foods (or the local counter-culture kind of place it tends to buy up and replace)less exotic. However, there are a few items I do find in mine that can't be found in the three other chains I frequent: Painted Hills Chardonnay or Merlot (cheap for the big bottles and perfectly fine for everyday wine with supper) Fromage D'Affinois -- a creamy French somewhat like Camambert but better Oregon Chai Lightly Sweetened -- For some reason Whole Foods' box is a good two bucks less than another place locally, and I like the 21 calories per serving. O'Soy products -- WF has the best ranges. I think the vanilla is luscious and I can only find it in this store. Donata Lewandowski Guerra A VIEW OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IN THE "NEW CENTURY" -- ON ANTIQUE POSTCARDS at http://pages.ivillage.com/oldwilmington/ Link: http://www.geocities.com/wilmingtonthenandnow/ Fri Jun 13 22:51:48 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Donata Lewandowski Guerra 1 1603112 I think the penetration of all kinds of products into the average American supermarket makes Whole Foods (or the local counter-culture kind of place it tends to buy up and replace)less exotic. However, there are a few items I do find in mine that can't be found in the three other chains I frequent: Painted Hills Chardonnay or Merlot (cheap for the big bottles and perfectly fine for everyday wine with supper) Fromage D'Affinois -- a creamy French somewhat like Camambert but better Oregon Chai Lightly Sweetened -- For some reason Whole Foods' box is a good two bucks less than another place locally, and I like the 21 calories per serving. O'Soy products -- WF has the best ranges. I think the vanilla is luscious and I can only find it in this store. Donata Lewandowski Guerra A VIEW OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IN THE "NEW CENTURY" -- ON ANTIQUE POSTCARDS at http://pages.ivillage.com/oldwilmington/ Link: http://www.geocities.com/wilmingtonthenandnow/ Fri Jun 13 22:51:50 -0700 2003 1602817 0 Donata Lewandowski Guerra