the opening of whole foods has attracted much attention. i’m stuck at home studying for much of this month but my lovely friend liz, and her partner alan, visited the shop on the eve of its opening (6 june). this is what they thought…
the closure of barkers and dickens & jones department stores was a real loss. i always enjoyed their relative emptiness, particularly in d&j compared to the carnage on nearby oxford street. no doubt the lack of crowds had something to do with their closures.
still, it was good news when we heard that barkers would re-emerge as the first uk branch of the american owned whole foods market - it would be europe’s largest space for selling mostly-organic food.
the store refit feels classy and high-spec. first impressions are impressive as many of the original features remain: high ceilings, lots of art deco detail, huge windows overlooking kensington high street.
it smells fabulous as, on entering, you pass through the pastries, bread and cakes section. the main hall includes features such as a cheese-cooling room, a large wine space, flowers to go and a take-away hot food bar and salad area.
the basement, with icy aircon, resembles a traditional supermarket, though at “kensington ladies who lunch” prices! there is lots of attractively displayed fresh produce, interesting unseen before frozen foods and brands you recognise but in flavours or packaging you’ve not come across.
there is a very good selection of chocolate, fresh leaf tea, and fresh coffee beans as well as a make your own muesli bar, eggs you can mix and match in your own box and so on. it’s not necessarily a place for your weekly shop, but there is lots of shelf-appeal with many items suitable for the foodie who has everything.
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Sunday, June 17, 2007 at 06:47 
