Whole Foods: What a Fascade... (Brentwood, Fairfax: buy, prices, stores)

[Bunjee]

A little early for fresh, local tomato and basil anyway. Hothouse grown is not as good no matter what the price.

[majoun]

[quote=Ruth4Truth;43633936]OP, you have odd expectations of Whole Foods. It's not a restaurant, why would you expect it to sell a specialty salad? Nor is it a gourmet grocery store, nor has it ever claimed to be. '/QUOTE]

That's actually exactly what it is, and that is what it claims to be. Its appeal is based on snobbery.

"Health food store" and "gourmet foods store" have become virtually interchangeable terms. For example Trader Joe's is referred to as both.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

I just go to Whole Foods because it tastes better than Ralphs, Vons, or Trader Joes. Maybe its psychological.

So you think it tastes good because it's more expensive? It's about the same as Trader Joe's quality wise.

[Cinema Cat]

I've been shopping at Whole Foods for decades, since it was known as Wild Oats (i.e., before the merger). And I don't even know what caprese is!

Food is food. I shop at both Whole Foods and Vons, buying based on price. Did you know that sometimes Whole Foods is cheaper than Vons?

For instance, Knudsen's Black Cherry Juice is $6.99 at Vons, but $6.49 at Whole Foods. But berries and bananas are generally cheaper at Vons.

You can often find the same food items at Vons and Whole Foods.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Cinema Cat

I've been shopping at Whole Foods for decades, since it was known as Wild Oats (i.e., before the merger). And I don't even know what caprese is!

Food is food. I shop at both Whole Foods and Vons, buying based on price. Did you know that sometimes Whole Foods is cheaper than Vons?

For instance, Knudsen's Black Cherry Juice is $6.99 at Vons, but $6.49 at Whole Foods. But berries and bananas are generally cheaper at Vons.

You can often find the same food items at Vons and Whole Foods.

I had to look up caprese, before responding. I did notice that it's suddenly popular in restaurants all over the Bay Area. It must be a new fad.

I've priced the groceries I usually buy (I don't buy packaged foods) at Whole Foods vs. Trader Joe's, and other stores. At the time that I ran the first comparison, Whole Foods was actually cheaper on several items, including packaged salad greens. That remained so for about a month, then TJ's pulled ahead for awhile. It's not a consistent thing; the prices fluctuate, and sometimes WF is cheaper. The only reason I ever go to TJ's' is when I'm stocking up on cheese, because theirs is always cheaper. But I don't like the fact that they bundle a lot of veggies into plastic-wrapped packages, because it's a waste of packaging, and I never need the quantities they're' selling. So in that sense, TJ's is more expensive.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by majoun

So you think it tastes good because it's more expensive? It's about the same as Trader Joe's quality wise.

Trader Joe's is gross. Something is off. The meat isn't fresh, for example. The produce? A joke. The microwave foods? Tasteless. I'd rather have Ralphs or Vons.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Trader Joe's is gross. Something is off. The meat isn't fresh, for example. The produce? A joke. The microwave foods? Tasteless. I'd rather have Ralphs or Vons.

The only good meat at Trader Joe's is chicken (both organic and all-natural). Fresh and very fairly priced.

If you buy any other meat (fresh, marinated, frozen), be prepared to be disappointed.

Best place to buy decent meat without emptying the wallet is Costco, IMO.

[nmnita]

So there was something they didn't carry and that makes the store phony is what you are saying, right? I am not a huge believer in Whole Foods, mainly because my income doesn't tell me to shop there, but I do know they have a lot of wonderful foods, healthy and very upscale. You have to be willing to pay the price,

[majoun]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Trader Joe's is gross. Something is off. The meat isn't fresh, for example. The produce? A joke. The microwave foods? Tasteless. I'd rather have Ralphs or Vons.

Maybe the store near you (Fairfax and 3rd?) doesn't sell as much meat so there's less of a turnover. The store on Sepulveda and Palms has a lot of business so the meat's always fresh

[murfslaw]

Try Vicente Foods next time they'll have an excellent selection of all the ingredients you would need to prepare your caprese. I've been shopping there for years and have never been disappointed.