A Toast to Durham Beer Lovers

by durham, April 8, 2009 | Permalink

Durham beer drinkers, rejoice! You have a bounty of delicious beer drinking options in your backyard. We are blessed to have some of the most talented beer makers in the world producing from a NC zip code.

From Highland Brewing Co., to Duck Rabbit, to Carolina Brewery, NC beer wins award after award for originality, quality, and it’s only getting better with new additions coming soon. Our town also boast great places to buy and enjoy beer that is not just watery and yellow.

But this entry is not about the makers, it’s about the drinkers.

Durham Whole Foods Market beer shoppers need to know what they are a part of. Since I have worked in the beer world for the last (almost) year, and certainly participated enough on the consumer end of it, I have gotten to know some excellent beer people and have met many brewery and distribution company representatives. And guess what - they all LOVE Durham and its beer drinkers. Be proud to be part of a beer elite - not beer snobs, mind you, but a market that is seriously loved by all craft brewers in this country. Beer in Durham rivals the scene of other meccas, like California and Michigan (yes, the Yankees know their beer, too). You could blame it on supply, you could blame it on demand. But the perfect storm for beer in NC exists in Durham, and we get to take advantage.

Whole Foods Market in Durham has 20+ local beer selections, and many others worth enjoying as well. And if there’s something you’re looking for that you don’t see, just ask and we’ll be happy to bring it in for you. So when you’re enjoying your next purchase, raise a glass to your Durham brethren. You are a part of something great.

And, as always, support your local brewery. It saves gas, tastes great, and keeps the money in the state!

One way to support local food and your local brewery: attend our bi-annual Local Food Dinner on May 8, featuring a 4-course meal using almost all local ingredients. Each course will be paired with a great local beer too! And a special bonus, meet All About Beer’s Julie Johnson as she talks us through each beer selection.

Uniquely Durham

by durham, January 28, 2009 | Permalink

Welcome to the Whole Foods Market Durham Store Blog! We’re excited to have this new medium for letting folks know what we’re up to and hearing from you as well!

I wanted to start our first post with something completely unique to Whole Foods Market in Durham. The first thing that comes to mind is one of our newest local vendors, Rockin’ the Stove. The entrepreneur of this local business is someone that most “Durhamites” know as Chef Shirle’ as she’s one of the most notable personal chefs in the area.

But little did we know that Chef Shirle’ is also quite crafty, and she sews a mean tote bag! Months ago Shirle’ approached me about the disposal of banners that we use in the front of our store to promote specials, events, and such. Up until then, I had been regretfully throwing them away each month as there wasn’t an outlet for recycling vinyl at the time.

She wanted to use those old banners and turn them into tote bags, and I was all for it! She started collecting the banners (often dozens at a time) and after working through some kinks, we’re finally selling them in the store!

Check out Chef Shirle’ showing off the first batch of bags available in our store.

Chef Shirle and her tote bags made from our recycled banners

There are still a few of those bags left, and we’ll be getting more in soon! So come check them out. At only $39 a piece, they are a real steal for a one-of-a-kind locally made gem! No two tote bags are the same!

Because they are made of vinyl, they are a stylish and easy solution for recycling bags in your home. Maybe it can hang on a hook in your kitchen where you can just toss in your recycling. Then if you end up with a little spill, no worries, because you can just hose it out on your way back in the house after taking it to the curb!

You can keep up with Chef Shirle’ on her own blog, Rockin’ the Stove.