Stuff I love.

By Nancy Van Patten, Marketing/Food Writer

It’s time for another edition of stuff! These are products available here at Whole Foods Market Johns Creek that I’ve just discovered, or I’ve been enjoying all summer.  There’s quite a variety here, so let’s get going:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First stop—the seafood department. The wild-caught Georgia shrimp are in, and they’re looking plump and meaty.  On the weekends, we grill them alongside thick dry-aged steaks for a luxurious surf-and-turf Saturday night dinner for company. And at $7.99 a pound, they’re not so much of a splurge as a tasty value!  Note: you can sample other great products from our state at our “Grown in the Georgia Sunshine” local day this Saturday, beginning at 11am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a lot of great wines on our seasonal “Top 10” wine list this summer, but I think I’ve enjoyed this crisp white wine from Greece the most. Elios Mediterranean wine refreshed me through many a high-90’s afternoon in July, and I’m still enjoying its citrus scent and tangy-sweet flavors through the hang-dog days of August. Best of all, the $9.99 price means I can stock up big time before summer ends at our 20% off case wine sale this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because of the heat, I’ve been hitting the salad bar hard—but it’s hard to keep things light with dressing that’s high in oils and fats. Luckily our Health Starts Here line of products includes this utterly delicious Tomato Basil dressing. It’s sweet with tomatoes, is nice and chunky and adds lots of flavor to my greens without adding a bunch of calories. Because it’s so thick I can use less, which makes the $2.99 price tag even more of a deal. Healthy score!

 

 

 

 

 

I love our soups-but when it’s 98 degrees outside, it’s hard to handle the heat. That’s why I’m so happy that gazpacho has made it to our Prepared Foods bar. This Spanish staple has taken “chillin’” to a whole new level. It started out as a farmer’s feast, but is now a gourmet’s favorite. I love to eat it with a salad for lunch, but gazpacho is also a perfect pairing to the grilled Georgia shrimp I’ve mentioned above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course when we’re talking about stuff I love, we’re going to talk about chocolate. Our latest confection created by our Bakery Department is a cake pop-a bite of yellow cake dipped into chocolate, swirled with frosting, and plopped onto a stick. They’re evilly decadent, but totally worth the indulgence at the end of a great meal-or one of those days when everything’s gone sideways. At under $2 bucks a pop, that’s quite a savings on therapy or a new sports car.

What about you? Have you got a product you’ve fallen in love with this summer? Share it with us!

 

One Response to “Stuff I love.”

1. rbr says:

   August 18, 2011 at 1:35 am

   We love the Health Starts Here dressings! Thanks for the spotlight…5 varieties of oil-free, low sodium deliciousness – great for salads & marinades! Find them in the cooler at the Healthy Eating Center.