Whole Foods Market news: lobster special, holiday selections, and raffle prizes

Bûche de Noël, a decadent holiday treat at Whole Foods Market

Bûche de Noël, a decadent holiday treat at Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market in Northern California, including stores in Santa Cruz and Capitola, has lots of selections for the 2014 holiday season including food and gifts.

Also, just for today, Friday, Dec. 19, the Capitola and Santa Cruz locations are having a great deal on lobster tails: three for $15.

I’ve been introduced to a few new WFM treats this holiday season, including Whole Foods-brand chocolate truffles and Fleur de Sel French caramels. I highly recommend both as a hostess gift, co-worker gift, or a gift to yourself!

A tip for Hanukah, Christmas, or New Year’s: My family decided to have WFM Dungeness crab for Thanksgiving and it was some of the best crab we’ve had in a long time. If you buy 3 crabs or more, you get $1 off per pound (the initial cost varies depending on market price that day).

They offer a build-your-own Hanukah dinner for eight for $119.99. Customers choose one entrée from

  • Brisket 4 lbs
  • Roast Turkey 10-12 lbs
  • Organic Roasted Chickens 6-9 lbs
  • Vegan Stuffed Field Roast En Croute 4 lbs

With this meal, you also receive Matzoh Ball Soup–3 qts, Chopped Chicken Liver–2 lbs, Tzimmes–4 lbs, Applesauce–1 qt, 12 Potato Latkes, 16 Rolls, and Chocolate Matzoh Crunch — 2lbs.

WFM has several Christmas feasts with turkey, serving from 4-12 people. If you want something less than traditional, they have options like a roasted pork loin meal for four with a fully cooked pork loin (tender thanks to sous-vide technique), mashed maple sweet potatoes, green beans with shallots, roasted root vegetables, and rosemary and thyme seasoning blend.

No matter what you decide to order for a holiday feast—and remember you can add party platters, flowers, desserts, and more—the deadline for ordering Hanukah and Christmas meals is 12/22. In-store pick-up for Hanukkah is daily until 12/24; for Christmas it’s 12/19-12/26 (except 12/25 when they are closed).

Want a chance to win a fabulous prize while donating to a great cause? The Capitola store is holding a raffle benefiting Teen Kitchen Project (teenkitchenproject.org). Donate $5 at the register and be entered to win a ham dinner for 8 (to be picked up 12/24), a $100 gift card, or a holiday gift basket filled with WFM goodies. You get to choose which of the three prizes you’re competing for. The raffle drawings take place at the end of the day Dec. 21, but the store will continue to fundraise for Teen Kitchen Project until Dec. 24.

Other seasonal news:

  • Planning a Hanukah feast? WFM has menu suggestions including a recipe for pear and sweet potato latkes
  • Whole Foods Market in Santa Cruz has unique “Ornaments for the Planet” made by kids. They partnered with Gault Elementary 5th grade classes, teaching them about the Whole Planet Foundation and how micro-loans work. Students made ornaments that are being sold for $5; all proceeds benefit Whole Planet Foundation
  • A stocking stuffer idea: WFM sells holiday gift cards in denominations of any amount

Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz is located at 911 Soquel Ave. Call (831) 426-9901 for more information.

Whole Foods Market Capitola is located at 1710 41st Ave. Call (831) 464-2900 for more information.
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