A visit to Whole Foods Market for 2011 Thanksgiving Menu

This past week, The Whole Foods Market in Orlando invited some media to preview the 2011 Thanksgiving Menu. The Whole Foods location on Turkey Lake Road provided an opportunity to take photos and taste some of the menu items. The staff created a Thanksgiving table that featured entrees, side dishes, desserts, and included some Vegan options as well. Complete with a Fall Floral Bouquet as a center piece, the Whole Foods Market provides an entire meal for your Thanksgiving Holiday feast.

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A table featuring a few items from the Whole Foods Market 2011 Thanksgiving Menu.

I took lots of photos of course, so check out some of the food we sampled, with more Thanksgiving menu details and what I tasted below…

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Sliced Lavender & Herbs de Provence Turkey Breast still steaming out of the oven

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Vegan Field Roast –Wild Rice, Yam & Pear Field Roast En Croute

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Sourdough Sage Stuffing

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Honey Baked Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Green Beans Almondine

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Cornbread

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Cranberry Orange Relish

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Decadent Chocolate Pecan (top), Vegan Pumpkin & Spice Pie (left), Cranberry Walnut Brie (right)

My tasting

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I created a sample plate for myself, tasting a few entrees, side dishes, and desserts. The Sliced Lavender & Herbs de Provence Turkey Breast was tender, with accented flavors from the spices and herb blend. The Honey Baked Mashed Sweet Potatoes were whipped fluffy and had a touch of sweetness. Sourdough Sage Stuffing was a tasty side dish along with the Green Beans Almondine. All the items were good in quality and made a delicious meal together.

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The Vegan Field Roast (Wild Rice, Yam & Pear Field Roast En Croute) was an enjoyable entree, which makes a nice alternative to a turkey course. A hearty and flavorful dish, this could be a great offering to any vegetarian or vegan guest.

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I did not get a chance to taste the cornbread or cranberry & orange relish, but they looked like they would make great accompaniments. The Turkey Pan gravy paired nicely with the Sliced Lavender & Herbs de Provence Turkey Breast. The Vegetable gravy was my favorite of the two, adding a more developed flavor on top of the Vegan Field Roast. Either gravy could be tasty on any entree or side dish.

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For dessert, I sampled both the Decadent Chocolate Pecan and Vegan Pumpkin & Spice Pie. The Decadent Chocolate Pecan was pretty sweet with a chocolate richness. A little too much for my taste as I enjoy desserts that are more subtle in sweetness. The Vegan Pumpkin & Spice Pie was my favorite and had a good amount of sweetness and a whipped pumpkin texture.

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Ordering Fresh Turkey (not pictured)
If you plan to bake your own turkey and want to order one that is fresh from the farm and never frozen, Whole Foods takes orders for your Thanksgiving turkeys ahead of time. The turkeys are from Amish country farms, the Fresh Organic turkeys are fed organic feed, and they are never frozen. Customers are encouraged to order early online, at a Holiday Table in store, or over the phone.

Whether you choose to make your own dinner or buy a few items for your Thanksgiving dinner, the Thanksgiving Menu offered at Whole Foods market has great options for everyone. The menu has fully cooked dinner packages that can be purchased as a whole meal or by individual items. Customers can pick and choose from starters, entrees, sides, gravy, and desserts, to help complete your dinner. Center pieces and gifts are also available on the menu as well so you can finish your dining table with a Fall Floral Bouquet and gifts for your guests. The Thanksgiving Menu can be a good time saver in my opinion and can help make your holiday family meal a little more relaxing with good tasting quality food.

 
Words and photos by Julius Mayo Jr.
All content and photos © Droolius.com 2011

 
[edit 5NOV11] *Added Note: Photos above are only a few items off the menu.. View/download the entire Whole Foods Market 2011 Thanksgiving Menu PDF [HERE]

 
Whole Foods Market – Orlando
8003 Turkey Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
407-355-7100
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/orlando
Open 8am – 3pm Thanksgiving Day

 
Whole Foods Market – Winter Park
1989 Aloma Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-673-8788
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/winterpark
Open 8am – 2pm Thanksgiving Day

 
A few facts from Whole Foods Market: What makes our food unique and delicious
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives…ever!
No hydrogenated oils
All turkeys and pork fed vegetarian diets
Never administered antibiotics or added hormones
Feed up to 10 people for just $119.99 with our Basic Turkey Dinner Package!