Words by Alyssa Stevenson, Images by WDDI Team
Feeling overwhelmed by the cheese selection? Have a seat and try a beer-boucha.
We're kinda super into food, y'all. We totally get those Central Market commercials, and are always shaking our heads, thinking, "Yes. I do smoke pork butts and I cannot lie about it. You're right." So when news of a Whole Foods opening down the road and around the corner in Highland Village broke we got a little excited.
Yeah, we know it's not quite IN Denton... but it is in Denton County. And we'll take a two pound bag of fresh mussels, a pound of hand stuffed artisan sausage and some seaside aged cheddar while we're at it.
We even got a chance to check out the new digs before they open this week and were dang pleased with the place. With over 100 Texas vendors stocked in the store, some fine food experts and the best salmon jerky this side of the US/Canada border, we think you'll be pretty pleased, too. Below are a few of our favorite things about the new place.
Our best savings tip so that this doesn't become 'Whole Pay Check'? Try the bulk bar!
There will be a cornbread bar. Yes, a special place with fresh, made from scratch cornbreads will be patiently waiting for your arrival. A few flavors that caught our attention include bacon, blueberry, and chili.
We already said this, but smoked salmon jerky. Did you know that is a thing? Well, it is. And, this will become your new obsession. The black pepper flavor is awesome but not as amazing as the habanero. You can find it at the seafood counter and we recommend ordering more than you think you'll eat. Sharing is caring, after-all.
The bulk bar is pretty extensive. Also, it's a great way to save a few dollars over a period of time. Want to try some exotic dish with crazy spices? Don't waste your hard-earned cash on a bunch of stuff that will wind up sitting on your shelves for the next five years. Instead, get exactly 1/4 of a teaspoon and spend pennies instead of dollars.
These adorable dudes were serving up shots of tasty healthy locally made juice blends.
We could practically live on VIM + VIGOR. Okay, one of us could. We would probably start to miss tacos at some point.
A bevy of beautiful bright amazing juice lined the new Whole Foods. Juice is a thing some of us may be obsessed with. They have bottled juices from locals Vim + Vigor and a bunch of other favorites like Evolution, BluePrint, and Suja. They also juice it fresh in store. We recommend the "Sunny Side."
The new Whole Foods will also be a sausage fest, but only in the best of ways. There is a whole section of hand-stuffed artisan sausages. We can't even handle it. We are pumped to try out the whole slew of 'em.
There is a also a nice bar in the store for you to stop, grab a little cheese, and have a glass of wine, or even some kombucha beer before you shop. Which sounds like a great way to spend a few minutes when you get overwhelmed with the 300 different kinds of cheeses to choose from.
Feel like a little pizza to take home for dinner with the kiddos? You only need to wait about 3 minutes. There's a legit brick oven to bake Neapolitan 'za in.
Take that salad bar salad and tasty chocolate pudding outside to the second story patio with a fire place, adirondack rocking chairs, and gliders over looking The Shops at Highland Village.
By the time you're done shopping, hit up the coffee bar so that you have plenty of energy for the 'long drive home.'
Hopefully Whole Foods and others will notice the traffic from Denton and realize that our foodie population is big enough to support a store right here in our own zip code. Until then, you'll find us on 2499 making the trip with a cooler in the back and watching out for Guyer High School traffic.