At the end of February something big happened here. I cannot even begin to tell you how much my culinary adventures and my finances have changed. The former-being pushed to new levels, and the latter-slowly trickling away, but for good reason of course (at least that is what I tell my husband ;).
What has happened you ask, the long awaited Whole Foods Market moved in, within walking distance from my house. With every trip, it is like an amusement park. The smell of freshly (in house) smoked meats, gorgeous flowers and produce, fresh-almost still breathing-fish, anything and everything your foodie heart could possibly want. I can honestly never walk out of there without having purchased at least five new items to try (on top of all of our groceries).
When I need a mental break from the craziness of my home, I take a brisk walk to Whole Foods Market in Del Mar. I love strolling the isles looking for new products that will healthify my baking and cooking. One of my recent finds, powder agave that can be used in place of powdered sugar!
I have always loved supporting local farms. Apparently so does Whole Foods Market because most of their produce and proteins are marked with where they are farmed and exactly how many miles away that particular farm is.
Whole Foods Market Del Mar is not only concerned about local farmers, its' customers, but also the children and how they eat. My kids and I have already attended two classes: a children's sushi making class and a natural egg dying class. Both times the kids had a blast!
I am so happy that I have a new earth loving neighbor that shares the same passions as me- good quality ingredients and natural living!
Whole Foods Market Del Mar wants to give one of you lucky Seaside Baker readers and $25 gift card that can be used at any Whole Foods.
Leave a comment with your name and where you are from as well as your favorite Whole Foods Market item by Sunday, April 7th, 2013 for a chance to win. Winner will be announced on Monday, April 8th 2013. Good luck!
You can follow Whole Foods Market Del Mar on Twitter and Facebook for upcoming sales, recipes and ideas!
pattyabr
Yes exciting! My Whole Foods in my neighborhood is Bel Mar Colorado. My favorite item is fresh produce and seafood. I was introduced to mussels at the BlogHer 2013 conference in Seattle and Whole Foods seafood staff were so helpful in how to clean and cook.
Kyle Turner
NICE!! Kyle Turner here, and I'm right here in San Diego! My favorite item. . . the Seafood Gumbo! Man that stuff is great! Thanks theseasidebaker.com and Whole Foods Del Mar for making this great giveaway possible!!
melissa
This is a beautiful store. fresh okra!
Michelle
My name is Michelle and I am from San Diego, CA. My favorite whole foods item is their nonfat greek yogurt! affordable & healthy!
Gina Caruso
My name is Gina and I live in Carmel Valley/Del Mar and of course my favorite Whole Foods is the new one in Del Mar! It really is amazing and I'm also obsessed with it!
Gina Caruso
Oops I read that wrong!! My favorite item is the new burrata they have. It's so good!
Karen Rich
I, too, am ecstatic about the new Whole Foods Del Mar. As a vegetarian, I love the fresh produce and amazing selection. Also, the bulk bin section is awesome. Best new product I've tried: beet burgers! Super yummy!
MonkeyBreadandSweetPea
I can walk to Whole Foods (Hillcrest), and I feel so lucky not to have to worry about a parking spot! I love so many things there, but I would say my favorite item during the month of March was unsweetened coconut flakes. I was doing a cleanse (today is my last day of 30), and that was on the "o.k. snack list". I'll continue to buy bags & bags of the stuff. So good! Thanks for offering this contest!!
Ashlie
I love many thinks at whole foods here in PA - the nearest store is Glen Mills, but my favorite are the freshly ground nut butters, so yummy. I am obsessed with the almond butter 🙂
manda
I love their whole, low pasturized milk! I am from Lexington, KY!
Margot C
I love Whole Foods! To me it is like Tiffany's. I live in Duarte, California and I go over to the Pasadena store (this one: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/pasadena). I love to go in there a build a gigantic salad from the salad bar. I am pretty much incapable of going there without spending over a hundred dollars, so that's a problem! The 365 house brand helps with that and the best thing is the juice bar.
Carly Reifsteck
I am a college student in San Diego and I gladly give up all other amenities to treat myself to my favorite things at whole foods market in Hillcrest!
It's so hard to pick just one favorite thing considering I could stare starry-eyed at the bulk foods section all day, but for the sake of this contest I would have to say the dried white mulberries are my most coveted guilty pleasure.
The team members even know and laugh at me because it is rare I can go a day without a big bag of my little treats <3
Maggie
I live in sunny san diego and my favorite whole foods food is their no nitrate added bacon
Michele
My name is Michele and I love the fresh baked sourdough bread behind the bakery counter! Yum!!
Jordan D
Awesome giveaway! I love SoDelicious coconut milk ice creams and the Whole Foods hot bar! My name is Jordan and I'm from Pawtucket, RI, btw 🙂
J Wong
This is my parent's new favorite grocery store. They play golf nearby and stop by before and/or after for their prepared food - especially the daily sandwich special. They cannot stop talking about it. Now I can tell them about the bakery! They'll stop using their kitchen completely.
Cassie Thompson
Hello! My name is Cassie Thompson and my favorite item is definitely the fresh oven-baked pizza. So good!!
Cassie Thompson
Oh, and I'm in Encinitas. We love to hit the Del Mar Whole Foods after the dog beach.
Jackie M.
Whole foods bakery, anything they make is great.
Live outside of Pittsburgh, advance planning makes the trip worth the distance
gina
My name is Gina. I love whole foods for there produce and meat. My fav whole foods is in Huntington beach.
sunny pi
Hello there! My names is Sunny and I am from Carlsbad, CA. Absolutely in love w/ the new Del Mar location! My kids and I love all the hot foods, especially the pizza! 🙂
Jenn
I'm from Carmel Valley. I love the sumo mandarins that Whole Foods carried, but I think they are now out of season. Number 2 would be the key lime cupcakes, not at the bakery, but in the refrigerated section near the salad bar.
bake.love.give.
I'd totally use it in Del Mar on some more macarons. I fell in love.
Lunch date? 🙂
Karen Newton
What do I love about Whole Foods Market? Everything! The flower section is gorgeous, the produce displays are a work of art, the meat & fish sections make me think of Harrod's in London, the natural lotions & potions inspire me, the cakes, cupcakes & treats are mouth-watering & the greeting cards are perfect. Whole Foods is one of my "happy places." My name is Karen and I live in Carlsbad.
alaine
I'm Aubrey from Oklahoma. I must say I love their cookies!
Todd
I live in Cardiff and this is hands down the best whole foods in the area. Hillcrest is too small and crowded, UTC doesn't have all of the amazing new "stations" of Del Mar; Encinitas, while great and new isn't quite the same shopping experience. My favorite thing at the new store (i've limited it to four): LOCAL HONEY from a drip spigot; the bacon/pepper bread in the bakery (!!); french macaroons; the people who work there are ridiculously nice. I mentioned it to my wife before she went and she was blown away as well. Cheers!
butterflylovex
My name is Jen and I live in the Sacramento area. My favorite item at Whole Foods is fresh fish.
Carolsue
I am from San Jose, CA.
Their cheese selection is wonderful and many of the cheeses are local/regional. Also the tortillas are very good!
Carolsue
Ok, I don't know if my comment went through or not. Please delete this one if it's a duplicate.
I am from San Jose, CA.
Their cheese selection is wondeerful and many of the cheeses are local/regional. I also like their tortillas.
Michelle McGraw
Hi! I'm Michelle from Del Mar! I, too, am completely in loooove with the new location... It's the closest place to get my fix for their Parmesan cheese... Grated, sliced, or chunked. Yum!
Vickie
The seafood from our local fishermen..the grouper is too die for..so so good..West Palm Beach, FL..and we are finally getting a whole food in Nov..I now drive 30 mins to the closest..the bakery and flowers are great too...the veggies..gracious all of it..I can't wait...Vickie