So apparently I'm really bad at blogging because I just forgot about it for several months. Oops. Good thing basically knows about it so I'm really just writing for myself right now!
Have had too many grocery adventures in the past few months but some highlights involved a tour of various Whole Foods across the country. I must admit that the Baltimore one that I frequented nearly every day while taking summer classes was pretty sub par--I don't think the people who came in clearly just to take samples helped with my comfort level. I always have a way of convincing myself that a trip to a grocery store is necessary (ie: I'll just get a few carbonated waters)--and the result is always a new kind of mustard, a new kind of honey, a new kind of pesto pasta sauce and who knows what else for a minimum total of $50.
The Whole Foods in Las Vegas was my favorite whole foods to date--although the the fact it was heavily air conditioned and it was over 110 degrees outside may have biased me slightly! I liked the fact it had a separate seafood bar, extensive prepared offerings and a mini grill with healthy burgers (and my favorite--sweet potato fries!) in the middle of the store. I know New York City Whole Foods have similar fare, but they're too cramped and busy for my liking. I enjoy being able to browse in peace and not feel like I'm cattle being herded through the checkout area.
Am currently in western Canada where our gourmet grocery offerings are pretty sparse. Safeway is trying to spruce itself up and get a share of the organic market and there are a few smaller places like Planet Organic, but in general I'm not impressed. With the increased affluence in Calgary from the oil boom, I would expect something like Whole Foods would do well. I wonder if Whole Foods has any designs on moving out of the US market?