two. ate.

While out shopping for baklava nuts today, I chose Whole Foods (a (now) national chain of "healthier food" stores) because they have a nice selection of bulk bin items including all kinds of nuts.

I have gotten to know (slightly) one of the people behind the cheese counter and she (no names here but...you know who you are) has always been helpful in helping me find the runniest, most pungent French cheese in the cases. Today, I passed by to say "hello" and inquired about the possibility of them (Whole Foods as a chain, or maybe just their cheese department which is conveniently located next to a *relatively* preserved meats department) making patés in the future.

What I got back as an answer was a screed of calm but mammoth proportions which roughly equated to, "Oh no, less and less people each day are eating paté because they are finding out the 'real deal' about it."

Uh, the REAL DEAL about WHAT exactly? Patés come in many types but she seemed to be generalizing around the FOIE GRAS aspect of paté. Ok, so PETA and other folks are applauding the foie ban in the state coming in a couple of years because of "abuse" of ducks. Uh huh...and how exactly does that match up with the abuse of chickens, kept in square cages barely able to move fed only to fatten? No one but no one decries their miserable existence.

I pressed her about "exactly what the deal was" with paté pointing out that there are many varieties: pork, duck, chicken *MEAT* patés (i.e., non-liver)..."yeah...we sell those...they're right over there...but paté will never sell in Northern California because people are just too hip to them and won't eat them."

I walked away feeling kind of like the WF I knew (and shopped at) just lost a bit of allure for me...and maybe has become a tad too uptight. Maybe they've always been that way; maybe it was just her...it left a sour taste in my mouth. The higher prices are sometimes worth it but add the attitude and it makes me think twice...