World Foods
The world food village selections were aided by input from local restaurateurs, and it seems that Whole Foods management wasn’t listening. Most of the major cuisines are represented (Asian, Mediterranean, German, Indian, etc.), but in a manner meant for those just scratching the surface. If you need anything beyond the most rudimentary ingredients, you’ll need to shop Austin’s world markets (Phoenicia, My Thanh or Hong Kong, La Michoacana, etc.).Case in point, the Thai section: no Chaokoh brand coconut milk (the only brand to buy), limited curry pastes (and what they had were in an off-brand); they did have fresh galangal and lemongrass in the superlative produce section, however. There was no Vietnamese section to speak of. We found limited Spanish canned and preserved items (a genre that the Spaniards excel in above all other European competition). The Italian section was heavily represented, and the dried chile selection was fairly complete, but overall a disappointment.
When we first toured the store, I had been anticipating an international section akin to what you might find at Berkeley Bowl Marketplace in Berkeley: one that completely covers most regions. This is one village in the store that needs expansion to truly excel and match the quality of the rest of the market. With higher profit centers in prepared foods, make-up and body goods, and the new home/clothing section, we doubt that will occur.
This article appears in March 25 • 2005.
