On Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:49:22 -0800, Mark Thorson
wrote:
It's worse here -- I'm using SeaMonkey, and his posting sw seems to
write exclusively in eye-talics, so I see his posting in mirror image.
Takes a while to read them, let me tell you!
As to Whole Foods, my observations:
I've been shopping in the nearest one in Alexandria, VA, at least
five times a week for the past few years. It's right on my walk from
work to the Metro and home, so I pick things up fresh every day.
Their produce is excellent -- we've been getting regional heirloom
tomatoes for three weeks already. And IMO their price/quality ratio is
better than several Old Town farmers' markets in the area. The produce
selection is a bit more limited than a large Giant, Safeway, or Harris
Teeter.
The seafood is better than anything in the area except Balducci's.
Thursday is the delivery day, so that's when I buy. Their seafood
people are very willing to trim to the size wanted, and always give
you the better end or piece.
The meat section is similarly excellent. Cheaper but more flavorful
cuts like flat iron steak (which I prefer to anything but hanger
steak) are offered at quite reasonable prices. If you like to cook
full cut poultry bone-in, those can be a problem to find.
The cheese section is outstanding. Better than anything in the area
besides specialty cheese shops and Dean & Deluca.
They always have interesting wine bargains, particularly from Spain
and Portugal, and will replace any bad bottles, no questions asked.
The breads are very good, but pastries and desserts are universally
bland. I don't buy them at all any more.
I don't buy prepared food, so I have nothing to offer there.
There are a lot of staple or ordinary foods that they don't carry,
like popular breakfast cereals (I'm a Wheaties addict), so you can't
do all your grocery shopping there.
And I don't care at all for their attempts at social/food engineering,
such as not carrying lobster or other items for PC reasons. I find
that offensive.
Yes, it's expensive. But we're older, and trying to keep our bodies
under control, so buying smaller portions of meat, etc., helps us in
that regard.
Overall, I'm glad they're available.
-- Larry