Kat's 9 Lives

Welcome Whole Foods Market to Irvine! This will be their 59 store for their Southern Pacific region.  The doors open officially 9 am on Wednesday, March 16th! The first 300 people there will receive reusable totes and they will have a DJ throughout the day along with fun events.

They will have a new restaurant and bar area called the Irv that will provide delectable treats and drinks.  Here you will find their take of the Bloody Mary called the Chupacabra that will be made freshly juiced vegetables.  Perfect for St. Patrick's Day too!

At the Irv they will offer many refreshing cocktails made with freshly squeezed fruits and vegetables for a refreshing taste.  Patrons are also welcome to purchase the wine and beer from the store and enjoy them in the designated areas.

Feel free to try some of their unique dishes at the Irv.  The Charred Spring Onion, Shrimp, and Hummus Flatbread.  They also offer a beautiful Jalapeño Miso Glazed Halibut.  The Irv will be offering Happy Hour and specials, so be sure to check them out.

One of my favorite stations to stop by is Specialty, where all the fine cheeses can be found.  My new favorite item are the Parmesan Crisps.  They are to die for to snack on or adding it to any burger, pasta, or salad.

On site they will be freshly baking bread, cookies, and pastries.  Some cakes and desserts will be freshly made from local vendors.  The cookies that Whole Foods made were amazing and I love the huge chunks of chocolate chip that just melt in your mouth.

In the Meat and Seafood section, you can get freshly made poke bowls to eat or take home.  They also offer many pre-packed and seasoned fishes that are easy to cook and enjoy.

You can also find many pre-packed marinated meats ready to grill and eat.  I like the variety of flavors that they offer.

Don't forget to check their Whole Body section where they offer top quality facial, beauty, and body care.  Soaptopia has many wonderfully scented soaps! Not only are they visually beautiful, they can double as an air freshener.  The Hippee with patchouli has a great soothing fragrance.  Be sure to check them out!

Wednesday is also the start of Beauty Week and Whole Foods Market will have many products on sale for the new store opening and offer an extra 25% off on top of the sale price! Be sure to stop by and check out all the beauty promotions.  This Friday they will be offering a beauty bag for under $20 filled with their top selling beauty products that are valued at $80.  I may pick up a few just to try out all the great products!
Mark your calendars for tomorrow! March 16th will be the Grand Opening of the Irvine Whole Foods Market! There will be many special store opening sales that can't be missed! I am lucky to have joined the Whole Foods Team recently so I will be able to check out more of their wonderful products.

Whole Foods Market
8525 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

The Union Market is a smaller version of the Anaheim Packing District and much less crowded.  There are many places to choose from to dine, snack, or pick up dessert.  I will have to admit that I cheated on my best bud as she recommended Crêpe Coop and The Kroft as an excursion for us, but I figured she was busy and went without her.  Of course as fate would have it, she suddenly had time and asked to go two days later.  I was caught cheating lol.

They are more located towards the center near the bar area.  There isn't a lot of space for people to dine in.  They have limited seats so it isn't a great place for big groups.  There are only counters against the walls for patrons to sit.  

The crêpes are made fresh and right in front of you.  They have a few pre-selected combos/flavors for you to choose from or you can create your own.  I am not a big fan of having too many items in my crêpe except nutella, condensed milk, mango, and blueberry.  You can ask them to make the crêpes extra crispy.  My crêpe came out to be $8, which is a little bit on the pricier side.  If you prefer more content in your crêpes, then you should choose from their pre-selected menu as those crêpes are $8.75 and you get a lot more ingredients including ice cream.

Crêpe Coop

2493 Park Ave
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 259-1136