A Nip and a Nosh

continued

We went back during the week for a “rush-hour-relief tasting.” These are held Thursdays from five to seven o’clock and often feature a particular varietal or theme as well as a foursome of cheeses. We hit the Sauvignon Blanc trial—$17 for four two-ounce pours and paired with a superb cheese quartet that included goat’s Gouda and Cheddar, chèvre with fennel pollen and lavender, and a creamy soft cheese from Cowgirl Creamery.

For dinner, the Cranbrook Village Whole Foods has multiple hot and cold bars offering eighty-plus dishes and ten hot soups, as well as sushi and cooked-to-order rice and noodle bowls. In general, I find the food fresh, of very high quality, and often too bland. The vast selection requires experimentation, but there are rewards for diligence—in my case, tender, spicy teriyaki chicken and Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut sauce. For dessert, try the gelato bar; every flavor I sampled was very, very good.   

[Originally published in December, 2008.]