Have you ever gone somewhere in your own town ...someplace you've never been??? And discovered something really cool?
This happened to me recently. I had a meeting in Glendale and as usual wanted to head to Portos for lunch. Portos is an amazing Cuban bakery full of pastries savory and sweet and amazing garlic roast pork sandwiches on Cuban bread (soft inside and crusty outside). Portos began as a small family run bakery... very tiny. It quickly grew into a restaurant with seats inside but still there were lines. They were lucky enough to take over the building next door... and the lines just got longer. So they opened another custom built location in Burbank... and still the lines.
On this particular day, I just wasn't up for the lines but still wanted something fast and healthy. Remembering I have wanted to visit Whole Foods Market ever since they moved locations a year ago, I stopped there instead.
OH MY! What a foodie extravaganza. Hot soups of every imaginable variety, a fresh pizza oven, a flowing chocolate fountain, gelato bar, coffee bar, fresh deli, sandwich shop, hot lunch counter, Panini, cheeses... you name it, it's there! They even have a masseuse! An hour and half later I was leaving with a hundred bucks worth of groceries and prepared foods.
I am just in LOVE with Broccoli Crunch salad. Made of broccoli, bacon, raisins, cashews and dressing. At night, I find myself craving it! I've been eating so many veggies from there... Let's just say, I have no need for vitamins and leave it at that! Their kale salad is also incredible with lots of dried cranberries and pine nuts.
I became so obsessed with the store, I went to their web site and was hoping to find one in Houston or some other "big city" my sister (in Baton Rouge) might travel to. I was amazed to see Louisiana on their list. I thought, "OK, the one in New Orleans must be closed ... maybe there's one in Shreveport." I just squealed to find one in Baton Rouge. It sits on a road I travel frequently.
I called her so excited. Her response, "Oh yeah, I shop there all the time!"
I'm so glad she knows the treasures in her home town better than I know mine. And best of all, I can have Broccoli Crunch when I visit for Christmas!
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5 comments:
I lived in Austin where the original Whole Foods was, back when it was just a tiny store with a good idea. There's one in Santa Fe which is about 90 miles from us and we often stop there for lunch. I am a sushi nut and here I am living in a land locked state...our Santa Fe Whole Foods has a really good sushi counter and I always end up spending way too much money for lunch to indulge myself! Carmon
My beadmaker daughter is a huge fan of Whole Foods Market and frequently drives to Baton Rouge to shop there. I went with her once and thought the foods were magazine-page gorgeous. Unfortunately, I tend to think of the four basic food groups as chips, dips, Diet Coke and chocolate, which I can purchase without making the longer drive to BR.
Carmon, I had their sushi last night!
Velvet, WFM food DOES look ready for a magazine shoot! I can honestly say, if I could make veggies taste that good, I wouldn't be on YOUR "diet" as often as I am. BTW, WFM makes the BEST guacomole.
Love Austin, TX's Whole Foods. In central Arkansas, the closest we have is Wild Oats.
Everyone should play tourist in his/her hometown. Makes you appreciate your community more.
Love Austin, TX's Whole Foods. In central Arkansas, the closest we have is Wild Oats.
Everyone should play tourist in his/her hometown. Makes you appreciate your community more.
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