simply amazing.

recently i was out shopping with my friend andrea. we decided to go into the new(er) whole foods in lincoln park. the place is amazing. and that is an understatement.

after parking, we took the escalator down into the store. we were immediately flooded with all the bright colors from the produce section. looking off at the other side was the coffee bar and mezzanine where customers can sit and relax.








having shopped at whole foods before, i know the extreme quality of all their produce. the colors are bright, the placement of the product is exact, and only the best is available. as we made our way through the store, we passed the 'whole body' department where you could even make your own soap.

the bulk section is enormous with just about anything you might want. care to make your own trail mix? go for it! how about some fresh almond butter? you can produce right there in front of you.






next we run into the wine bar. that's right, the wine bar. you can sample a flight of your favorite reds, whites, or even bubbly! pair it with some cheese from the cheese shop nearby! andrea and i decided to take a break from our strenuous shopping and relax with a glass of red. the cabernet franc that i had was excellent. her pinot noir looked equally as delicious!



after feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of our shopping, we made our way through the bakery and into the prepared food department. there is essentially a food court in this store. there's a fresh sushi bar where rolls are prepared for you. you can even sit down and enjoy them right away! fresh pasta and pizza are at another shop along with a sandwich shop with all your favorite deli meats. care to make your own salad? you can choose from MANY ingredients at the large salad bar. don't forget a cup of your favorite soup! there's seating upstairs to enjoy your meal right away. or you can step outside and eat along the river with a beautiful view of the downtown skyline!








there was the seafood counter with all kinds of fresh fish. the meat section is always excellent and causes immediate drooling. the steaks, pork, and chicken all look perfect. there are even some oven-ready (grill-ready during the summer months) meats like the chicken and butternut squash risotto, the blue cheese pinwheel steaks, or the santa fe or clubhouse turkey burgers.



this is all in addition to the typical grocery products you can find in any whole foods store.

i didn't buy much. i bought two, oven-ready santa fe turkey burgers, smoked mozzarella pasta salad, and pop chips. when i was getting the turkey burgers, the employee helping us out asked if we would like a free sample of sausage. he offered us the italian mild turkey sausage...a whole pound of it! okay!

it was an amazing shopping adventure. i wish that i could afford to shop there exclusively, but unfortunately, i cannot. but, i will continue to go there for their unique products that i enjoy so much!

all photos from whole foods market - lincoln park flickr site.