Food glorious food
Sarah Standing 12:55pmI take back most of my biting comments on Wholefoods. It is now up and running and irresistible. Last night I went and was seduced into spending a small fortune. At 6pm it was as packed as Primark.
It is entirely possible to do one's entire "weekly shop" here providing you bring a pack of sherpas to help carry your groceries and own a black Amex. No parking, no delivery service (until September and then mystifyingly only in W8) and overly perky American check-out assistants who are blessed with a near-religious sense of commitment to the company. The choice of goods on offer is truly awesome. 15 types of tomatoes, mix-your-own-granola bars, bagels, cookies, sushi bars, tubs of fruit, mountains of cheese, every imaginable pulse, a trough of pic-and-mix olives, seed and nut, towers of freshly-spritzed vegetables, alternative medicines, beauty products, yoga clothes, baby food, sweets....
Interestingly my goods were all packed into plastic bags "because they actually recycle better than paper" according to Nick at check-out. "And what about all the food that doesn't sell?" I asked. "What happens to the excess food?" "You mean the displayability items?" asked Nick looking momentarily confused. (I love the way Americans invent insane new words). " We have a homeless programme in place." Thank God. I think I may be shortly joining the programme myself if I continue haemorrhaging money the way I did last night.
Previous
Madame X
June 9th, 2007 6:00pm Report this commentIn the US, we call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck" because that's what it costs to shop there.
Gordon Layton
June 11th, 2007 9:08am Report this commentI went there on Sunday. It's scary. The first thing to note is that Whole Food Store is pure greenwash - brash ecologically-friendly sentiments braring forth from wall posters accompanied by a frenzy of old fashioned consumerism as hundreds of deluded middle class people with more money than sense charge around the shop hiding their self-indulgence under a tawdry cloak of green. This is Bluewater for the granola-crunching and latte-supping classes. Sociologically fascinating but morally vacant.
Chris Fogarty
June 11th, 2007 8:46pm Report this commentI love shopping at whole foods. As a Californian, I have been shopping there for years. Keeping the bill down takes takes some more thought in shopping but the quality of the fresh granola, fruits and meats is great.
Martin Morrow
June 13th, 2007 11:36am Report this commentIt is not whole foods I want to come to the UK but Trader Joe's. Unfortunately "Two Buck Chuck"( a very passable red wine for two dollars)would not be available due to the Chancellors inflated taxes.In Germany they could do it, but here? More likely Ten Buck Chuck!
Alex
June 14th, 2007 8:03pm Report this comment15 types of tomatoes is not choice unless you know how to choose. Having 2 types teaches you this better - you look closer & understand more.
Back to top