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Old 07-05-2010, 09:35 AM
 
2,737 posts, read 5,431,443 times
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I don't live extremely close to a Whole Foods, but when I have company, I like to make a special trip to choose from what is usually nice produce. I have tried other products (including bakery goods, salads, crackers, organic dairy products, etc.) but generally have been disappointed with the flavors or some other aspect of the item - relative to the high cost.

There are thousands of items in the store. If you shop there, what are the items you really like, that I should try out the next time I have guests?

(I'm in Arlington, so Wegman's or other stores people like are too far away).

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!
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Old 07-05-2010, 11:45 AM
 
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I hae found the strawberry cream cake from Whole Foods Bakery to be fabulous -- I buy it frequently and many people comment on it and ask where it was purchased. That being said -- I am very particular about my cakes and not all of the Whole Foods Bakery goods are that great. They also have ricotta salata -- the dry ricotta that can be shaved -- and it is hard to find and I love that stuff!! Also love their fig spread t0 go on top of brie or camembert cheese.
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Old 07-05-2010, 12:00 PM
 
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
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It's the only place around here I can buy Hatch canned products from New Mexico.
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Old 07-05-2010, 02:31 PM
 
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Great Challah bread! Large selection of cheese. Overall, Wegmans is bigger and better and much cheaper than Whole foods. For instance, my favorite cheese is $10 a pound cheaper at Wegmans! Wegmans also has normal food and staples, unlike Whole Foods.
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Old 07-05-2010, 02:46 PM
 
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Which store has the best fruits? I've not had any luck lately find good cantaloupes & oranges. I've found Bloom to be about as good as the rest in the fruit dept., and I usually don't shop Bloom for anything else (still have the Food Lion issues stuck in my head). Is there a good farmer's market in the area?
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Old 07-05-2010, 03:04 PM
 
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I used to live near a Whole Paycheck in Berkeley, CA. They were charging 89 cents for 1 lemon, 17 years ago. I remember this specifically, because there was an adjacent house with a beautiful lemon tree, and they were so many; they were just falling on the sidewalk and lawn. Also, they had 4.99 per pound red bell pepper, while a farmer friend 90 miles south was getting 200 per ton for his (10 cents per pound).
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Old 07-05-2010, 07:36 PM
 
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Whole Foods sells Bob's Red Mill hot and cold cereals. I can also find several different kinds of quinoa there.

WF has a pretty decent cheese selection and the fresh fruits and vegetables look pretty tempting (but pricey). The salad bar at WF is a little different from the standard grocery store fare, too.
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Old 07-05-2010, 08:42 PM
 
53 posts, read 99,104 times
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Whole, non-homogenized milk in glass jars. US grass-fed beef. Raw cheeses. Liver pate.

Bakery section varies from store to store. I tend to shop at the Fair Oaks location and am usually disappointed in their sourdough bread and in the bakery overall; though, I find bread from other Whole Foods to be better (I like that you can get baked goods made with unenriched flour at WF)
Also disappointed in all supermarkets in NoVA in the seafood department; why no local fish??!! Chesapeake fisherman would really appreciate the business and consumers want fresh fish!!!

I tend to buy fruits and vegetables from Global Foods off Sudley Rd. since the produce is pretty fresh with a wide variety and definitely cheaper. Never understood why I should pay WF prices for conventionally grown produce; organic, I make an exception.
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Old 07-05-2010, 09:03 PM
 
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I have to say they have a very good apple pie. It weighs about 2 lbs. though.

What I'm most suprised about is the lack of overall variety or creativity of their bakery.
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Old 07-05-2010, 09:56 PM
 
Location: South South Jersey
1,652 posts, read 3,866,200 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bull Run Paradise View Post
Whole, non-homogenized milk in glass jars.
Really! This is excellent news. I'm sick of the ultra-pasteurized stuff that passes for 'organic' at Costco. I haven't been to the Fair Oaks Whole Foods yet - I'm working up to riding my bike there from Fairfax City (I'm sort of traffic-phobic) - but I'm hoping it'll be an improvement over the disappointing Alexandria/Carlyle one that I used to use pretty heavily. I think there's a pretty good chance of that, since (IIRC) it's the region's flagship store, and I've heard only really good things about it.
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