Whole Foods Market® features festive seafood options for easy entertaining on a holiday budget

AUSTIN, Texas (December 1, 2008) – With delicious seafood offerings like pre-cooked Alaska golden king crab legs and oven-ready bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) is coming to the aid of holiday hosts who are looking to save time and money without sacrificing taste.

“Whole Foods Market has a number of delicious, easy-to-prepare seafood solutions to help hosts spend more time with their families and less time in the kitchen during the holiday season,” said David Pilat, Whole Foods Market global seafood coordinator. “We are excited to offer these high-quality items at a great value.”

Some of Whole Foods Market’s affordable seafood offerings, which are sure to please holiday diners and swanky cocktail party guests alike, include:

Alaska

Golden King Crab Legs

These succulent crab legs are processed in a state-of-the-art, stainless steel anti-foaming tank so chemicals are not needed.

Flavor Profile

:

Delicate, tender and nectar-sweet; because they are uniquely pre-cooked in fresh water, this particular crab, from the ship FV Early Dawn, has a sweeter flavor than most other cold water crab.

Caught

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In the depths of theBering Sea off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands

Fun Facts

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  • Crabs do not increase in size by just growing larger; instead, they must shed their outer shells to grow. When the old shell cracks, the crab backs out of it and waits for its new shell to harden.[1]
  • King crabs can measure up to 10 feet long and typically weigh 10-15 pounds.[2]

   

Cooking and Serving Suggestions

:

• Steam for five minutes then dip legs in a warm lemon butter-dill sauce.
• To split crab legs, use a towel to hold the crab leg in one hand and use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the leg from one end to the other. The meat will fall right out.
• Elevate your breakfast quiche with crabmeat or maximize your seafood steak with a dollop of sweet crabmeat.

Recipes:

Crab-stuffed Deviled Eggs, Alaska Crab Española, Alaska King Crab Provençal, Simmered Lemongrass Alaska King Crab Legs, Alaska King Crab Salad with Avocado, Grapefruit and Citrus Ginger Vinaigrette, Alaska Crab Legs with Dipping Sauces “Whole Foods Market is the only national retailer to carry these succulent golden king crab legs that are pre-cooked in fresh water, which gives the crabmeat a less salty and sweeter flavor,” said Pilat. “We treated our seafood team to samples, and the flavor was by far the best we have ever tried.”

Changing Seas^® Cold-smoked Salmon

This exclusive cold-smoked salmon – available thin-sliced in 4-, 8-, and 16-ounce packages – comes straight from Norwegian farmers who work with Whole Foods Market without a middleman, which means big savings passed on to shoppers.

Flavor Profile:

Glistens with heart-healthy Omega-3 fats; rich flavor that makes it a great all-purpose fish for seafood lovers

Farmed:

 

Low-density pens suspended in 1,700-foot deep Norwegian fjords managed according to Whole Foods Market standards by the world’s most innovative salmon farmers

Fun Facts:

 

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  • Salmon is chock-full of heart-healthy Omega-3 oils.
  • Hot smoking (up to 200°F) cures fish much faster than cold smoking, which requires more than 24 hours to cure with temperatures between 60°F and 110°F. In contrast, cold smoking results in a more moist texture and rich flavor.[3]

   

Serving Suggestions

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• For a make-ahead cocktail classic, spread a thin layer of cream cheese over salmon cuts, roll, slice and arrange on a cocktail platter with chopped chives and lemon slices.
• Make a do-it-yourself appetizer: lay out the salmon on a large plate and serve with crème fraîche, shaved red onion, fresh dill, capers and small bites of pumpernickel.

Recipes:

Smoked Salmon Crostini, Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese and Chives, Smoked Salmon Frittata, Smoked Salmon Spread, Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraîche-topped Crispy Potatoes

Jumbo

Atlantic Sea

Scallops

While many scallops are processed with chemicals to add weight, these huge scallops (u10 or 6-8 pieces per pound) are naturally processed without artificial ingredients.

Flavor Profile:

Cool Atlantic waters give a distinct sweet aroma and delicate flavor.

Caught

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In an area of Massachusetts known as the Lightship Nantucket

 

fishing grounds near Nantucket Shoals

Fun Facts:

 

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  • Unlike clams which never stray from their sandy beds, scallops skitter erratically and freely across the sea bottom in search of a new home or to escape predatory starfish.
  • A single, powerful, large abductor muscle – also the focus of our culinary attention – propels the scallop through the water.

   

Serving Suggestions:

• Jazz up a holiday salad with seared scallops and a sweet pomegranate dressing.
• Broil the scallops with a lemon juice-white wine sauce and serve alongside roasted winter vegetables and rice.

Recipes:

Grilled Pineapple and Scallops Teriyaki, Chardonnay-poached Sea Scallops with Baby Bok Choy and Jasmine Rice, Tamari and Honey-Glazed Scallops

Whole Catch™ Bacon-wrapped Scallops and Shrimp

These are the ultimate easy holiday party food. They come frozen, so you can buy enough to have on hand for surprise guests or impromptu parties. Both use Whole Foods Market’s own center-cut bacon.

Flavor Profile:

Slightly smoky, succulent and sweet

Farmed and Caught

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The shrimp are from a Thai farm that meets Whole Foods Market’s strict aquaculture standards, and the scallops are wild-caught in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.

Cooking and

Serving Suggestions:

• Simply bake at 400°F for 30 minutes then arrange on a holiday platter for melt-in-your-mouth bite-size treats. Garnish with a small sliver of blue cheese or a dab of fig spread.
• Arrange them over pasta or rice pilaf for an elegant, easy lunch or dinner.