In our never-ending search for nearby eateries, it was inevitable: we found a café in one of our grocery stores. It makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, it’s the place you go to buy groceries, why not eat them there also?
Of course, the grocery store I am describing is no ordinary grocery store, it’s Whole Foods! Introduced to me back in my Seattle days as “whole paycheck,” Whole Foods offers rows and rows of mouth-watering budget-busting fresh food and drink. I could circle the artisan cheese area alone for hours on end and be content. Content, that is, until I am hungry.
It is not wise to shop while hungry. Science says so (PMID:22732752 and PMID:22732753). I know so, based on my own poor choices. So, what do you do when you are hungry surrounded by good looking food at Whole Foods? Pull up a bar chair at the café and order a snack or meal, I say!
Granted, eating at the Whole Foods café AND shopping after the meal probably defeats the purpose of curtailing the acquisition of extra calories, but at least they’re tasty and somewhat healthy calories (as opposed to those empty calories Mom always talked about). And, it makes me less grumpy while shopping.
We’ve been to the café several times now including lunch (Figures 1 and 2), happy hour, and brunch (Figures 3 and 4). Steve doesn’t think the food is all that, but I think it’s decent. Moreover, the experience is informal fun and different compared with the usual sit-down lunch. The staff behind the counter is friendly, and they don’t mind a bit when Mom asks for the recipe. Beer is available on tap (and sold in growlers if you brought yours!) and wines are available by the glass. So, next time your stomach growls while you’re pushing that shopping cart, think about pulling over for a little nosh, Whole Foods-style!
Figure 1. Mussels. Always a good choice!
Figure 2. Oxtail. It was a little fatty, but it hit the spot on that cold winter afternoon.
Figure 3. Chicken and waffles. A touch of soul food for brunch.
Figure 4. Shrimp and grits. Well, shrimp and polenta really. A touch of low country.
Update: Whole Foods remodeled and eliminated The Kitchen Counter. I blame Amazon.
