food overload

Today we stopped in at the Whole Food in Tustin. It is relatively new and part of the shopping center they are calling The District.

This has to be the biggest Whole Foods I have ever been inside. I used to live in Austin, Texas, home of Whole Foods headquarters, but I left before they built the giant one downtown. It was simply overwhelming.

We started out in produce, but I was quickly sidetracked by a case of baked goodies. There was some amazing brioche and some cute gingerbread cookies. There was also gingerbread cake, which B and I sampled. I think we were at the coffee bar.

We were there for LETTUCE, I reminded myself (and B). But first I spied some acorn squash. I had read the latest issue of Everyday Food and there was seemed like a tasty recipe of acorn squash stuffed with wild rice and dried cherries.

Meanwhile B found some lettuce. We decided to get an actual head of lettuce. I was disappointed they didn't have the lettuce mix that you can bag yourself - that is one of my favorite things about Whole Foods!

We found some dried cherries, but later found the actual bulk container that had them so I could just get what I needed. We also got some dried pineapple. We passed up on the 49 cent per pound oatmeal, but I got two packages of 69 cent pasta.

We skipped the frozen section entirely. And on the way to find bread got distracted by the cakes in the bakery - we did get a brownie - quite tasty and only $1.49. And about fell over when we saw the chocolate candy case which was next to the chocolate dipped things case, which was next to the gelato case. At this point I said to B that I don't think I had seen so much food in one place. He reminded me I was in a grocery store. I clarified with PREPARED FOOD in one place.

We didn't explore any of the hot or cold on the go bars. We did pass by a hot and cold dessert bar as well as a salad bar and a hot food bar. There was also a place that would stir fry veggies and of course there were fish and meat counters along with a deli.

The total of woman in front of us was $303.03. She paid with three one hundred dollar bills, a five and three pennies. She looked at least seven months pregnant, had her toddler and mother in tow. After wow, all I could think was who lets a pregnant woman walk around with that much cash? No ATM card?

We managed to get out with two bags full for about $60. Not bad, but not great. I know we could have done a lot worse. There was just so much amazing food there.