Today was my first day opening the bakery. My alarm went off at 5:45 AM and I immediately got out of bed. You’re not going to believe me when I say this…but I’d open every single day if I could! I liked it and I wasn’t really that tired.
I know. Crazy talk. Go figure.
I ate a 2% Fage Greek Yogurt before work while watching the ‘Morning Sunrise News.’ Can you believe I was too early for The Today Show? That never happens.
It was a typical day at the bakery, but because I worked the morning shift, I got to say hi to the bakers. I also got to drink some coffee and taste a few pastries.
For lunch, I quickly made myself a giant Curried Tuna Salad Sandwich on Dakota bread.
I also grabbed a Cinnamon Twist for dessert, which is something special Matt made today using Cinnamon Chip bread dough (!!). He rolled the dough in cinnamon sugar, twisted and baked ‘em up. Tasted like a churro!
I took a few bites out of the sandwich and then took it along with me to eat at the Grand [Re-]Opening of WHOLE FOODS!!
Since I spent all that time at the WFs moving sale on Sunday, I felt like I just had to go to the grand opening too! I fell right into their marketing strategy 
.
Kath and I went together to check it out.
…and CHECK IT OUT we did! Holy Whole Foods!!
It was niiiiiiice. Everything was so shiny and new. The bulk section was out of this world…dried mushrooms, sea salts, flavored honey, dried whole bananas…everything!
I made a quick loop around the store to sample some food and check out everything. It was a bit hectic so I decided I’d save my real shopping for another day. Oh and did I mention they have fresh pasta made to order?
AND a flour mill! They had everything, I’m tellin’ ya!!
Of course, I hit up the hot bar to get a salad for dinner.
(I don’t need anymore pastries in my life! They looked great though.)
I got some jicama salad, tropical fruit edamame salad, shrimp, salmon and hearts of palm on a bed of mixed greens and arugula.
Of course, I got a kombucha. You know, to celebrate! I chose my absolute favorite, Botanic No. 3. I drank it while eating my packed sandwich and cinnamon twist on the Whole Foods patio.
Can you believe the timing?! My move to Cville the week before the Whole Foods grand opening could not have been more perfect.
Okay, I’m going to go workout at the gym or take a walk outside. Then I’ll dig into my Whole Foods salad with a big honkin’ slice of Cheddar Garlic bread (remember the oozy cheesy one? Uh huh.).
I might go out for froyo tonight too if I can stay awake!
Tell me: Have you ever been to an exciting grand opening event? Do tell!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
You probably found the 5.45am easy cos that’s when you used to go to bed :p
HolheckWFs indeed – it’s massive! Is it bigger than the amazing Kensington London one?
I feel both envious and sorry for you that you live so near to one – good for the tastebuds, bad for the budget :p
It’s big but not AS big…you know. It has cool things though that I haven’t seen at other WFs. I also haven’t been to the Kensington one in 2.5 years. I need to go back to London!
That new Whole Foods looks legit! I could spend hours wandering around WF.
By the way, I finally tried those chocolate-covered sunflower seeds from TJ’s – so delicious!
OMG. Fresh PASTA?? That is amazing!
I wake up in the 5’s to exercise some days, but I always feel like the mornings are so long when you start early. Like hungry by 10! We are getting a new whole foods this month too. However, I feel lucky to have been in Austin when the flagship opened. 80000 square feet with restaurant bars inside the store. Amazingness.
I always loved opening shifts when I worked at a frozen yogurt shop. There was always so much to do, that time flew by! But it wasn’t so nice when I worked in retail..
Where is the new Whole Foods?? Is it really close to downtown??? It really does look amazing, btw.
I actually tried my first kombucha today! It was like beer, but much better
Those cinnamon twists looks so good! I bet they’re better than Auntie Anne’s pretzels.
Oh my gorgeous!
I could spend hours and hours in Whole Foods and not be bored.
That sandwich looks amazing!!
So is all of the food at Great Harvest free for employees or do u have to pay for the sandwiches,treats, and breads that you take home?? The reason I ask is because I worked in food service and we weren’t allowed to take the food b/c it was donated to charities!
Those cinnamon twists Matt created look fantastic! And omg, that whole foods looks amazingggg!
Oh man that Whole Foods looks amazing. I seriously wish there was one near me. A flour section and bulk bins with tha variety would be life changing!
Those cinnamon twists look amazing!!
Mmmm, I’d be in food heaven there!
Dried whole bananas are good but look…. questionable.
looks like great harvest has got you BUSYYY… and fed well haha
everything looks so fresh! but I’m sure busy isn’t a bad thing – being at a store when it’s in its opening stages is so exciting! enjoy the ridee
I am so jeal — now I am DEFINITELY coming!!!
When I worked at Panera, I got there at the “opening” shift a few times. I loved it so much! The morning crowd is a lot happier, more chill, and likes to chat:) The lunch crowd though…let’s not talk about that.
We wnet to the opening of EarthFare when it first came to my home town! That was pretty exciting..but it’s still nothing compared to Whole Foods!
Kombucha is my favorite thing to buy at Whole Foods! I also love their salad bar, it’s such a treat when I get to go in there that I load up on everything and end up spending all my money on delicious salad bar fixings.
That Whole Foods sounds AWESOME!!!! I already wanted to come to Cville just because it sounds amazing….but now I MUST COME! Especially with that new Whole Foods!
Glad you’re enjoying life and work. I don’t get how you aren’t bored to death in Cville though. As you said you are self-professed city girl, having a measly hour to walk through downtown and back is just…sad. I have been there too and while I thought it was lovely for a w/e, I would never want to live there. Hope you get back to NYC! Now that’s fun!
I remember when the Whole Foods near me opened. It was insanity! Also, it coincided with a Trader Joe’s opening in the same area, so that was amazing!
Fresh pasta?! Okay, I’m jealous.
Your new WF looks amazing!
I tried to go to the grand opening of Forever 21 in my city, but I turned around when I saw that the line was like 3 hours long haha.
The new Whole Foods looks awesome!
Such yummy eats today! The curried tuna sandwich + cinnamon twist look delish, and of course anything from the Whole Foods salad bars are just amazing!
hey, did i miss the winner of the manna bread giveaway? maybe im getting ahead of myself haha
You should try out that granola bar! I have one at my local Whole Foods and the French Vanilla one tastes like a sugar cookie! So good.
But a flour mill/flavored honey/make your own pasta section?!! I’m jealous.
Holy Whole Foods!
Ok I just realized that your working at Kath’s Great Harvest. LOL. I am so behind!
Obviously C-Ville knew you were coming by opening a Whole Foods for you!
Fresh pasta? YUM!!!
That is an awesome Whole Foods!
What beautiful pictures! Looks like so much fun – and I love curried tuna salad!
I’ve been to the opening of a hair salon and a CB2 – they’re fun!
A WF recently opened up in my neighborhood…talk about swag lol!!! They have a scoop your own bath salt and pour your own olive oil section! Crazzyyy
What an amazing WF!! I recently went to the Grand Opening of the second Raleigh Whole Foods, and it was pretty swanky. That reminds me–I should go back one of these days!
That would be the best day of my life. Lucky duck!
It looks like you had a fun day! I’m such a morning person and can’t stay up late at all, so that early morning shift sounds perfect to me. Isn’t it nice to be up before everyone? And I’m so jealous of that Whole Foods. Can’t wait to see what you get when you make a shopping trip!
wow i hate you… that WF sounds amazing!!! Fresh pasta? Um yes.
And I actually love opening too! Ok so i HATE getting up early but it’s so peaceful in the mornings and then you have all afternoon and night off!
This post is full of amazing things! That cinnamon twist and the fresh pasta – be still my heart.
The only grand opening I’ve ever been to was Krispy Kreme in high school – we camped out for hours – KK was really novel back then, we were so excited!
You’re a lucky girl! I’d love to be in your shoes these days
Reallly really jealous of this store opening! Makes me want to come down and visit your WF (but how would I get all the great food back?)! The gerber daisies are so gorgeous, love those!
Oh my that Whole Foods looks amazing!! I’m a bit jealous!
This post made me so excited for my trip back to London! I cannot WAIT to raid Whole Foods! I remember once I was so keen on a Sunday morning that I got there before the store had even opened for the day….boy, did I feel cool!
I want your job Allie! Those cinnamon twists look amazing. Cinnamon is my favorite, especially mixed with bread or oatmeal
Those cinnamon twists look amazing! I can’t wait to go to whole foods in the future, I’ve actually never been!
I just wanted you to know that I went to my local farmer’s market last night and guess what they had!!! Great Harvest Bread Company was there!! So I had to pick up a loaf of the cheese and garlic. That stuff is awesome!!!
I’ve never been to a Whole Foods, but I want to so bad! I love salad bars like at Sweet Tomatoes and Jason’s Deli, and the hot bar looks like some kinda amazing salad bar pumped up on steriods… I would be in heaven! Go for the frozen yogurt! Self-serve is epic (in a way, kinda like salad bars, haha…)
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