For a Cleveland West Side native like myself – the idea of having a national chain healthy grocery store nearby has always been just a dream. (Sure, Nature’s Bin is totally awesome, but it IS small in scale if we are being honest.)

Once every few years there’s usually a rumor – like – “Did you hear Whole Foods in going in where the old Target it?” – and then the rumor slowly dies down (and no Whole Foods ever goes in )

But alas – our dreams have come true! There is now a healthy grocery store on the west side!

Even better? It’s 5 minutes from my house!  WOOOOHOOOO! Welcome to Fairview Park, EarthFare!

EarthFare invited me to come check out their new digs, and I very happily and eagerly accepted!

What sets them apart from other grocery stores is their food philosophy.

• They won’t call a food “LOCAL” unless it came from within 100 miles of the specific store it’s sold at
• If the item is stocked in EarthFare – it is guaranteed to have:
  • No high fructose corn syrup
  • No artificial fats or artificial trans fats
  • No artificial colors
  • No artificial flavors
  • No artificial sweeteners
  • No artificial preservatives
  • No bleached or bromated flour
  • No antibiotics or synthetic grown hormones (in meat or dairy)

That’s a pretty tough list to be stacked up against!

The even cooler part?

If you find a product in their store that breaks one of those rules? You can send them an e-mail, they will investigate, and if you are right – they will send you a gift card! Isn’t that awesome?

The store has so much to offer – I was totally giddy the whole tour! (Imagine that!)

From bulk nuts, candy, grains, coffee and tea…

…to fresh nut butters and raw honey, maple syrup and agave by the pound!

One neat thing (especially since I think, as do many others, that some healthy supermarkets are way overpriced) they have their own brand/line – so that they can offer quality products at a competitive price.

There’s TONS of beer and wine to choose from (which always makes a girl like me happy!)

And lots of delicious looking prepared foods:

Fresh baked bread and bakery treats:

AND a salad bar, hot foods bar, Mediterranean bar, and a juice/kombucha bar!

I had never tried kombucha – but since they have it “on tap” – I was able to taste test it!  Surprisingly good! (I was always terrified based on the pictures and reviews I had seen on some blogs!)

NOW HERE’S THE BEST PART!!! You can win a $50 gift card to EarthFare!

If you live near an Earth Fare and want a $50 gift card to shop for yourself:

1. Leave a comment telling me which Earth Fare is nearest you.
2. Tweet the following message: I want to win a $50 gift card from @greendogwine and @earthfarecle  (Be sure to post a comment letting me know you tweeted.)

You can post one comment and one tweet per day. I will randomly select a winner on Monday, December 19, 2011. Winners will be notified and need to provide me with their mailing address to receive the gift card.

*Disclaimer: I was invited to tour the new EarthFare to learn more about their brand and philosophy. I was supplied with a $50 gift for myself, as well as a $50 gift card to give away to my readers in exchange for showing up. As always – the thoughts and opinions in this post are very much my own.

And the winner is:

Sarah from Both Sides Now!

Sarah – send me an e-mail with your mailing info! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stay tuned – tomorrow I have another awesome giveaway for you!

I’m starting to get down to the wire with my 11 restaurants of 2011 list! Here’s where I currently stand:

1. Lolita
2. Ponte Vecchio (closed down)
3. Dante
4. Umami Asian Grill
5. Chinato
6. L’Albatros
7. Happy Dog
8. Flying Fig
9. Sokolowski’s University Inn
10. La Cave du Vin
11. Three Birds

Apparently I don’t want to cross Zack Bruell off the list since he still has two restaurants remaining…

This Friday I was able to cross off La Cave Du Vin – thanks to my lovely friend Michelle! She knew I was running out of time in 2011 and kindly offered to help me pair down my list.

(c/o – La Cave Du Vin website)

All of the pictures in this post are from La Cave’s website – because let me tell you – it is VERY dark in there. Which is definitely fun, and gives the whole place a laid back, almost sort of “secret club” vibe – but it is NOT conducive to good pictures.

(c/o – La Cave Du Vin website)

We ate down the street at Pacific East – then headed to La Cave for drinks. I started with a glass of Rosé (from their huge wine list) – and it was absolutely fabulous. I wish I could tell you what it was – but I can’t remember.

(c/o – La Cave Du Vin website)

I wanted to make sure to try both a wine and beer offering, so after my Rosé, I headed over to their beer cooler where they have tons of selection. You just pick your own bottle, and then the bring you the bottle opener and the appropriate glass.

(c/o – La Cave Du Vin website)

I picked a bottle of Three Philosophers (Ale with Cherry Lambic) based on a recommendation from Michelle – and it was TOTALLY. AWESOME. So awesome – in fact – I looked for it at three different stores this weekend to try and buy some for my fridge at home, and I couldn’t find it.

(c/o – La Cave Du Vin website)

We didn’t try any of the appetizers they had to offer since we had eaten right before – but it wouldn’t have mattered.  There’s no way the food could have been a make or break deal. I absolutely loved La Cave, and wish it was closer to my house.  Or maybe not because that would mean I’d go to happy hour a lot more often.  

Bottom line – if you have the opportunity – I highly recommend you stop in to La Cave and grab a drink – you won’t be sorry!

Now who wants to take bets? How many more restaurants can I check off in the last half of December?

PS – Don’t forget you still have about 30 hours to enter the coffee robot giveaway!