Andy wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>
> > Oh, geez, I can see I'm not getting out of there for cheap.
> > That's okay. I'll have fun looking around.
>
>
> Remember the rule: Don't go shopping on an empty stomach!
>
> Andy

....or read Sheldon's charming post. He has a point, but after reading
it, I have no appetite whatsoever.

Nancy T (who used to love the Berkeley Whole Foods store back in the
good old days)

In article >,
"Nancy Young" > wrote:

> Oh, geez, I can see I'm not getting out of there for cheap.
> That's okay. I'll have fun looking around.
>
> nancy


I am guessing your coupon is for opening day/week etc? My friend is a
regional guy for Whole Foods in the SF area and when they open the store
there is always a party the night before. Invites are issued but they
let anyone in the door who shows up. Food freebies are everywhere - the
sushi bar is open, the salad bar, hot food etc., plus vendors have
tables out and about handing out samples. Maybe you need to take a peek
the night before and see if they do this at your store. Then you can
sample lots and decide what you must buy when they open.

marcella

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
> me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
> and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
> we'll go!
>
> Anything special to look for?
>
> nancy

If yours is like ours, the cheese, produce, bakery, seafood, and butcher
departments stand out. Pricey, be warned. We spend about 20% of our grocery
$$ there, stuff not available at the Harris Teeter.


--
Peter Aitken

"Peter Aitken" > wrote

> "Nancy Young" > wrote

>> I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
>> me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
>> and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
>> we'll go!

> If yours is like ours, the cheese, produce, bakery, seafood, and butcher
> departments stand out. Pricey, be warned. We spend about 20% of our
> grocery $$ there, stuff not available at the Harris Teeter.

That's funny, Harris Teeter. Yeah, my usual store is light years better
than it used to be, halleluliah! but still it's not carrying a lot of stuff
I
think I'll find there. Thanks.

nancy

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:05:16 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
>me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
>and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
>we'll go!
>
>Anything special to look for?

Lobster bisque at the seafood soup bar. The cold salad bar with all
sorts of nice grain salads (there's the health!). The bakery and the
refrigerated dessert section.

The one on Columbus Circle in Manhattan is more like a food village.
Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:05:16 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
>me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
>and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
>we'll go!
>
>Anything special to look for?
>
>nancy
>
D likes their wine selection, but we're not really oenophiles.
There's a nice Portuguese "vinho verde" they sell, but the name
escapes me. Reasonable price for a nice summer sipper. Of course
it's the equinox today, so summer is going out.

Out with a bang if Rita does as predicted to the Texas coast.

modom

Nancy Young wrote:

> I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
> me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
> and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
> we'll go!
>
> Anything special to look for?


Over - priced and over - hyped. In the last two years I've visited the one
here in my nabe about four times and have spent a grand total of less than
$20.00 altogether...

--
Best
Greg

at Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:05:16 GMT in >,
(Nancy Young) wrote :

>I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
>me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
>and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
>we'll go!
>
I'm sure there is some local variation. But in my area (Seattle) I've found
the following.

1) The produce section is very poor. What this means is that it has
enormous selection, much of it organic, but virtually none of it local.
What they do bring in from local sources tends to be the lower-grade stuff
- things that don't cut the mustard at the local farmers' markets. But in
general WF relies on wholesale produce trucked in from who-knows-where
grown by larger farms.

2) The meat section isn't far behind. The amount of organic meat isn't
great, pretty inexcusable in an area where there are *many* local organic
meat raisers, much of it of outstanding quality. Again, there's some
reliance on non-local producers. And they aren't reaching for high quality
standards. Most of the beef, for example, is USDA Select.

3) The seafood section is much better. It easily outranks some local
fishmongers in terms of freshness, variety and aggressive seeking of local,
in-season fish. There *are* better fishmongers in Seattle, but you have to
consider both where you are (Seattle is, after all, one of the premier
fishing ports in the USA) and that for a supermarket to be able to compete
with first-tier fishmongers for quality is a real mark of achievement.

4) The dairy section is excellent. They've got more variety and better
sources than just about anywhere else in town. I am impressed especially
with their milk selection where they make a more determined effort that
most other places to find quality choices and to retain local suppliers
when possible.

5) Most of the general grocery sections e.g. boxed cereals, frozen foods,
canned goods etc. are pretty standard, compared to the other "health food"
stores in the area. In other words, they have pretty much the same
selection and the same brands. In general they are no more expensive in
this section than any other store, so at least if you're here for something
else you'll be able to pick up basics here as well.

6) The chocolate selection isn't the best in Seattle, not by a long shot,
but again Seattle has an unusual concentration of stores with superb
chocolate sections. In other cities, WF's chocolate array would be awesome.
However, somebody needs to train the stockists on handling and display.
Much of their high-quality chocolate is right next to the cheese, one of
the biggest no-nos you can do.

7) The bakery section concentrates on pastries for visual appeal. Breads
seem to be an afterthought. It's key in this area to avoid caving in to
pastry temptation too easily because they really make it look indulgent.
The pastries themselves look good and taste OK, although IMHO they could be
better. However, it's hard to argue too hard with a place that uses all
butter instead of resorting to shortening or margarine. And the quality is
way, way better than your standard commercial bakery. Breads, meanwhile,
are pretty average, at least by Seattle standards.

8) Bulk foods is one area where they stand out as well. The difference here
is that they seem to have different choices from what you find at other
health foods stores or bulk outlets. These are not merely really oddball
bulk foods but also things that for some inexplicable reason none of the
other local stores want to carry. Bulk nut selection, for example, is
outstanding, although you do have to watch freshness.

My overall experience then, is this. WF is a great place when they have
something specific that you can't find anywhere else and is very good, and
this is a common enough situation that it'll probably become part of your
shopping for all those specific items. However, it shouldn't replace your
usual stores of choice for everything because you can easily overspend for
second-rate food.

--
Alex Rast

(remove d., .7, not, and .NOSPAM to reply)

Nancy Young wrote:
>
> I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
> me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
> and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
> we'll go!
>
> Anything special to look for?
>
> nancy
>

Not really. The selections will vary regionally. The fruits and veg are
rather overpriced. Our local one has a decent wet fish counter. The
meats are marginal locally. YMMV

Arri London wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

> > I've never been to one, but I notice they have opened one near
> > me some time ago. We'd already planned to go this weekend,
> > and today I got a $10 coupon in the mail. Alright, alright,
> > we'll go!

> > Anything special to look for?

Pills. Organic pills for nearly every imaginary illness know to
mankind. Also, fifty-dollar tea sets for overpriced organic herbal
tea.

> Not really. The selections will vary regionally. The fruits and veg are
> rather overpriced. Our local one has a decent wet fish counter. The
> meats are marginal locally. YMMV

"Overpriced produce" is an understatemnt. As someone else mentioned,
their meat selection is not large and is expensive. Of course their
prices no doubt reflect the humane treatment that the animals get
before you-know-what happens to them.

The last time I was in one, I just needed a box of trash bags and was
in a hurry. I couldn't find them and asked for help. It took the
woman I asked about ten-minutes to locate the extra-special,
enviormently f(r)iendly trash bags on the lowest shelf of the section
they were supposed to be in. They only had one brand -- I got the
feeling anything made of plastic was not really welcome in the store.

Oh, don't expect to see any national brand items in Whold Foods. You
can find overpriced, brown, mint flavored toothpaste that's made in
India, but you'll not locate the old run-of-the-mill Crest toothpaste.

I suggest you wander around the store and get a few chuckles at what
you see and only buy whatever that coupon will get you. In short,
Whole Foods suck.

-- Bobbi

On 2005-09-24, > wrote:

> "Overpriced produce" is an understatemnt. As someone else mentioned,
> their meat selection is not large and is expensive. Of course their
> prices no doubt reflect the humane treatment that the animals get
> before you-know-what happens to them.

We don't call 'em Whole Paycheck for nothing!

nb