A Tuesday in London (or: A trip to Wholefoods makes my life complete)

I just got back from Wholefoods Market. There is actually nothing else I need to do in my lifetime (hi Honey!).

Let me start by saying that if Wholefoods ever comes to Perth, I am leaving, because there is no way I could restrain myself from shopping there, and it would send me totally broke. There’s no danger of that though… Australia’s only chain of organic supermarkets, Macro Wholefoods, was recently taken over by the Woolworths group, and they have plans to turn them into posh gourmet (non-organic-specialising) supermarkets. I don’t think Wholefoods Market will be rushing over to Australia, let alone Perth, any time soon – thank god.

This is fifth time I’ve been to London. I traveled here in 2000 as a young tacker (well, 16 years old), and again in 2007 a total of three times over 3.5 months. Therefore, I’ve done most of the touristy junk; I’ve seen the sights and taken the sightseeing bus and battered my way through throngs of people at Oxford Street and Camden Markets. Accordingly, my “to do” list for this visit to London was short… rather short. Like I really didn’t make one, and as a result I found myself sitting in a cafe at 11am this morning (after an epic walk… but that’s another story), wondering what the hell I was going to do with my time for the next five days. The only two things I’d “planned” (sort of) to do in London involved food: I wanted to try macaroons, and I wanted to go to Wholefoods. You see, I don’t really shop for things; I eat. Today, I ate. Today, I went to Wholefoods. Oh.My.Gosh.

I visited the Kensington High Street store, and I didn’t dare to explore the entire store in one go. My self control is weak. Wholefoods is nothing short of amazing; fresh, perfect produce (perhaps a little too perfect!) lines the aisles. Multiple varieties of brownies are stacked high, with tongs to self-serve your guilty pleasures into waiting paper bags. The queue for the cakes and pastries section is fifteen deep, and the shelves are lined with exotic and unusual produce. Fridges gleam with an immense variety of prepared foods: salads, noodles, pastas, slices, sushi (oh, the sushi!).

And then there’s the hot and cold bars. Can you say temptation?

More varieties of salad, vegetable, pasta, curry, and casserole line three long self-service bainmaries, topped with little wooden boxes to fill with whatever variety you like. It’s not cheap – I paid 8.49 (pounds, that is! So $17+ Aussie dollars!) for mine – but the variety is wonderful. I definitely splurged; needless to say, tomorrow is going to be a day dedicated to eating in London on the cheap! I spent a total of 19.23 on, well, very little… but it’s not something I will do every day. Maybe in a couple of days… but that’s it. Wholefoods is dangerous. Here is my haul:

Chocolate chip Clif Bar, Apple Pie Larabar, Coconut Water, Spicy Salmon & Avocado Brown Rice Sushi, and a Salad Box

Close up the salad box, featuring spicy noodles, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, seaweed salad, chicken salad, couscous, grilled tofu, seasoned courgette, and spiced brocolli

Sushi close up

The verdict? The sushi was phenomenal – and so it ought to have been at 5.99! Coconut water tastes like poo – I don’t get it (I’ve seen it featured on many food blogs, but it does nothing for me at all!). The salad tray was 50/50 – I will make better choices if I get this again. I ate all but the seaweed salad – something I normally love, but again, this did nothing for me, the little pasta salad that you can’t really make out in the bottom left corner (it was gluggy), and the couscous (a bit dry). The chilli noodles and chicken salads were brilliant though. I haven’t tried the bars yet; they’re for tomorrow.

Whilst I’m questioning the gigantic price tag attached to my purchase today, I can definitely see the appeal. I will most certainly be returning for more sushi before the week is out, and I’d really like to try the brownies and some of the other juices that are for sale. Wholefoods: awesome. Tomorrow: macarons from Harrods. Oh yeh.