Whole Foods Market, Folsom - Grand Opening

Shopping at Whole Foods for a foodie is rather like a kid going to Toys 'R Us - so much fun but a little overwhelming.  Stepping inside the Folsom Whole Foods however, was like going to Disneyland!  So much to see, I didn't know where to start. 

Now of course the only problem with Whole Foods is that sometimes the prices can seem like you're at Disneyland also, but I did splurge on a couple of things, and as I was browsing I took pictures of the beautiful displays and some of the new products they feature.  I have to say that everything looked amazing, and I was impressed with how much work must have gone into preparing the store for the opening.

First I stumbled upon what I thought was the bulk grain department.  But looking closer I discovered that these were in fact grains for beer making. 

Along with the grains, you can purchase all your other beer making supplies here - yeasts, thermometers, books, etc.  What a great Christmas idea for the beer drinker in your life - a big basket containing everything needed to make that first brew.

Moving to the other side of the store, I came across this fancy storage area housing the organic bulk grains.

There are bulk olive oils and balsamic vinegars,

bulk honeys and agave syrup,

and bulk legumes. 

Make your own nut butters,

Even chocolate peanut butter!

Then I moved on down to the deli and prepared foods area.  First I came to an antipasto bar, marinated peppers, artichokes, pickles, etc.

More antipasto and fabulous olives

Amazing salad bar - look at the incredible rainbow of colors

Pot pie bar, yum!  Chicken pot pie, mushroom and vegetable pot pie, and clam chowder pot pie.

Now here's a fun idea - a 'make-your-own-trail-mix' bar.

Sushi made fresh every day,

and cheeses from all over the world.

Look at this beautiful Parmesan Reggiano display.

Prepared meals, ready for you to take home for dinner.

Back over by the wine I found these bulk nuts.

And at last... dessert! 

These Coco Pops were interesting.  They are a little like a rice cake, but larger and flatter - about the size of a corn tortilla, and are made with whole grains.  Very low calorie and low fat.  A friend of mine was asking if they were gluten free, but I didn't look at the ingredients and nutrition labels.  So if anyone knows the answer to this, or can give more detailed information on the nutritional value, please comment.  Thanks.

I did try a sample, and although I'm not a big rice cake fan, the Nutella that they spread on my piece certainly made it quite tasty ;)

They are made fresh in the store every day, in a machine that resembles a popcorn maker.  Here is a quick video showing the Coco Pop machine in action - fun to watch!

Beautiful produce,

and pumpkin trees - who knew? 



Many other pretty flowers,

and of course a fall pumpkin display outside the store.

So have I whet your appetite?  If you live in the Folsom area, be sure to stop by for a visit.  You don't have to buy your week's groceries here, but be adventurous and pick up a few items that you wouldn't normally purchase - just to try.

Food Finds: Raisin Rosemary Crisps

Sweet and Salty - Perfect Snack Food

Ever have a craving for something to munch on but can't decide between sweet or savory?  Well these crackers are your answer as they are sweet, salty, and also crunchy - another good attribute for a snack.

These tasty little morsels get their sweetness from the raisins, which happen to be another of my snack favorites, and their savory goodness from the rosemary, sea salt and black pepper.  They also contain sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and millet, making these a healthy and nutty tasting treat.

Raisin rosemary crisps are bite-sized, measuring approximately 1 1/2 inches by 1 3/4 inches.  A serving size is 12 pieces, which is enough to satisfy a snack attack, although I'm sure I could eat the whole box (5 servings). 

The Recommended Serving - 12 Crackers

Each serving has 90 calories, 2.5g Fat (no saturated or trans fats), no cholesterol, 130mg sodium, 16g carbs, 1g Fiber, 6g sugar, and 3g protein. For the WeightWatchers among us, a serving is 3 points.

Spread these with cream cheese for a light lunch, or serve them as an hors d'oeuvre with cheese and dips.

Find these tasty crackers at Trader Joe's.  A 5.3oz box is a bit of a splurge at $3.99, but worth every sweet, salty, crunchy bite.  Enjoy!

Food Finds: Crunchy Curls



At 45 cents a serving, crunchy curls are a
healthy gluten-free and vegan snack.

 Growing up in England, my favorite salty snack was something called a Hula Hoop.  These were crunchy little potato snacks that came in different flavors, bbq, cheese and onion, salt and vinegar, and my favorite, the original salted.  As the name implies, these were hoop shaped, and as a kid I would put one on each finger and then munch them off one at a time. 

Well hula hoops are not available here in the United States.  But I've found a good substitute for them at Trader Joe's, and a healthier substitute to boot.  Crunchy Curls don't have quite the same flavor, but have a very similar texture and 'crunch', reminding me of my childhood snack.  

The package states that Crunchy Curls are 'a tasty lentil and potato snack,' they only contain five ingredients, lentil flour and potato starch being the first two, and they are also vegan and gluten free.  For WeightWatchers, a serving is 3 points.

Lentils are a good source of protein and fiber, and these contain 3g and 4g respectively per serving.  A serving by the way is 31 curls (on average 1.5"), which is a lot of crunching! 

Other nutritional information per serving:  calories 130, total fat 4.5g (saturated fat 0.5g), carbohydrates 18g.  There are approximately 6 servings per package and they cost $2.69.  Find them with the other chips and popcorn, etc., at Trader Joe's and enjoy!