In addition to my shiny new dri-fit shirt, the Shamrock Shuffle swag bag included a lot of ads and coupons. Most were for things I had no interest in (Chicago Marathon! Indianapolis Marathon! Champaign Marathon! Twin Cities Marathon! Sweet goodness, how are there so many crazy people out there keeping all these marathons in business?)
But among all the ads for crazy-long runs, there was a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at Whole Foods. Ooh baby.
We live walking distance from a Whole Foods, and while I do go there fairly regularly, I am VERY limited in what I get there. This may be more than you wanted to know, but I am one of those crazy annoying people who frequents like 4 grocery stores: the little produce market for cheap veggies, Trader Joe’s for cheap snacks and string cheese, Jewel once a month or so for things you can’t get anywhere else, (like Triscuits and pretzel-flavored goldfish) and Whole Foods. At Whole Foods, I limit myself to things that, to me, are worth the insane markup: chicken and ground turkey in those fairly rare times we eat it; fancypants cheese for company; the brand of hummus we love that’s not available at Jewel or TJs; gorgeous berries when they’re on sale and/or in season; and bulk dry goods, like barley flakes and quinoa, that can be hard to find other places.
So usually, because it’s so close and because I don’t buy too much there, I’m in and out of Whole Foods for substantially less than $50. But this coupon presents the perfect opportunity to try out some yummy new and/or exotic food items. You know, something like thai-spiced sweet potato chips, or wasabi-roasted pistachios, or $10 vanilla extract. Something I would never buy otherwise but which might, just might, be worth the crazy price tag. I could, obviously, just get a bottle of wine, or some stuff from their deli takeout counter, but that doesn’t seem as special.
So tell me: are there any wacky, crazy-delicious food items that you think might be available at my local Whole Foods that I should try?
I whine when I have to go to two grocery stores. I’m impressed you stay committed to four! Funny enough, Sweets swears by their ice cream. And I really like their fresh fish spreads. One thing to stay away from – we have never been impressed with their luncheon meat selection. Very dry.
Ahhhh…a chance to wax on about foods I love. My husband has to have a gluten-free diet. Most things that are gluten-free are gross, but there are a few things I LOVE that I have been introduced to solely because of the GF thing. Gluten-free vanilla extract is thicker than “normal” vanilla and worth every extra cent you spend on it. NutThins are delicious crackers (way better than Wheat Thins or rice crackers).
Ahhh…I feel better now!
We actually go to our neighborhood hole in the wall for our groceries, they are more than half off the major supermarketss, blood oranges at $.99/lb vs $1.25/lb.
I would splurge on balsamic vinegar (or even better cream of balsamic…it is reduced vinegar so it is very thick and it is so good on grilled fruit and ice cream plus as a marinade) and truffle oil…
We go to multiple stores, too. Paul goes once a week to the basic grocery store. About once a month, I go to Walmart for a few things our grocery store doesn’t carry, or that Walmart is way cheaper on, such as the catering-sized bottles of Tabasco sauce Paul uses. And I buy a lot of stuff at Target, too: I used to have to buy the salsa I like at Walmart because our grocery store didn’t have it, but now I can buy it at Target. I also buy cereal and crackers and chips and nuts and snacky stuff at Target, and sometimes they have really good sales on canned soup or chocolate chips or whatevs.
I love their challah, And that’s where I buy nutritional yeast.
i use all my extra WF money on fancy ‘spensive cheeses, which you’ve already got covered
I too, live in walking distance to Whole Foods, and I too, am very limited in what I buy there. The best kettle corn I’ve ever tasted has been from there. Also, they sell Ben & Jerry’s flavors that I’ve never seen anywhere else.
Oh! Also those Pacific Island candles are sold there and I am very in love with the pink one.
We usually go to two stores — Trader Joe’s and Giant. Whole Foods used to be on my walk home from work though so I’d stop in there when I needed to grab something quickly… not the greatest store for that with those prices though.
I’d have to say one of my favorite items from Whole Foods is one of the cheapest — their fresh bread straight from the oven. When you can score one right after it’s been put out and still warm, heaven.
SMOKED GOUDA PIMENTO CHEESE. Omg. I could die just THINKING of that.