Whole Foods

[Abbey Marie]

We finally went to the new-ish Whole Foods in the next town. I expected a wide range of organic high-priced foods, and shoppers who take themselves way too seriously. They did not disappoint.

While I'm looking at the endless shelves of organic vegetables, without a single recognizable brand (Bird's Eye? Hanover? Buehler?), I overheard the woman behind me say to the stock boy:

"Can you tell me where the gluten-free flowers are?"


When I stopped laughing, I thought: WTH?! Aren't all flowers gluten-free? Are we talking those fancy edible flowers? Or is this a case of someone who just will not have even the flowers in her vase with the offending gluten?

[Noir]

Are you sure she wasn't asking where the 'gluten free flours' are?

[Abbey Marie]

Are you sure she wasn't asking where the 'gluten free flours' are?

I thought about that, but I don't think so. That would make much more sense.

[WiccanLiberal]

I am shocked that there might be a market for more than one gluten free flour. Incidentally the gastroenterologists I work with scoff at the patients that insist they are gluten intolerant without any pathological evidence from small intestine biopsies. We've had one woman come in for five upper GI exams insisting she must have celiac disease and, indeed, listing it as a diagnosis when all of her exams have been completely normal. Her doctor says she has been to about six other specialists but refuses to acknowledge that the stress of her two children, caring for an elderly mother and holding down a job in ad marketing and eating at unusual hours might be contributing to her gastrointestinal issues.

[Abbey Marie]

I am shocked that there might be a market for more than one gluten free flour. Incidentally the gastroenterologists I work with scoff at the patients that insist they are gluten intolerant without any pathological evidence from small intestine biopsies. We've had one woman come in for five upper GI exams insisting she must have celiac disease and, indeed, listing it as a diagnosis when all of her exams have been completely normal. Her doctor says she has been to about six other specialists but refuses to acknowledge that the stress of her two children, caring for an elderly mother and holding down a job in ad marketing and eating at unusual hours might be contributing to her gastrointestinal issues.

Nice to have your perspective on the gluten issue. It does seem like the disorder of the month.

As for the other point, If I wanted flour, even if there were 20 gluten-free flours, I wouldn't make it plural. I'd say "Where is the flour?", not "Where are the flours".

[fj1200]

... not "Where are the flours".

There is more than one.

[gabosaurus]

I went to a huge Whole Foods once when I was in Austin. Didn't pick up on the pretentious aspect, but did notice it was overpriced out the wazoo. So we got some overpriced fruit and I didn't notice any difference to the fruit we got at this store called HEB.

[Abbey Marie]

There is more than one.

I take it you would ask, "Where are the flours"?

[Abbey Marie]

I went to a huge Whole Foods once when I was in Austin. Didn't pick up on the pretentious aspect, but did notice it was overpriced out the wazoo. So we got some overpriced fruit and I didn't notice any difference to the fruit we got at this store called HEB.

My husband thought it was expensive, too.

I will say, the seafood display was very enticing. And that is an area where it really counts.

[KitchenKitten99]

The only reason I step foot in Whole Foods is to find products with alternative ingredients that my diabetic husband likes, which are rarely carried in our other local stores. Pastries made with quinoa flours and bean flours are actually tasty if done right, and I seem to find them there.

[fj1200]

I take it you would ask, "Where are the flours"?

Of course not. I know where the AP flour is.

[Abbey Marie]

Of course not. I know where the AP flour is.

You got me there- AP? Ann Page?

[Kathianne]

You got me there- AP? Ann Page?

All Purpose?

[Abbey Marie]

All Purpose?

That sounds good.

[Kathianne]

The Whole Foods in Sedona sucks, it doesn't seem clean to me.

Back in Wheaton I'd go there for no sodium items that weren't available in regular stores, though that was changing. They also had a very good salad bar, not too expensive for just 1. It was clean though!