Have you noticed that the raw food section’s been getting bigger and bigger in natural food stores lately? That’s the main thing I noticed when I stopped by Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Los Angeles last weekend.

I used to drop by this spot all the time; one of my high school friends worked at Erewhon’s juice and smoothie counter. But then we all graduated from Fairfax High School, I went away to college, and when I returned, discovered Co-opportunity, the natural foods store that’s still my go-to store — mainly because I have a membership there.

My latest visit to Erewhon, though, has me thinking I should visit more often now that I live much closer to it than the Co-op. Erewhon has a reputation for being expensive — but it really depends what you buy. Yes, the artisanal, handcrafted, raw desserts are just going to be expensive. But Erewhon’s price on organic cucumbers — I think it was $1.50 per pound — is much cheaper than those at Whole Foods or Pavilions’ mediocre organics section.

In addition to the juice and smoothie counter, there’s a tonic bar with teas and elixirs (above), a sushi bar, lots of vitamins and hippie health aids, aisles full of bulk bin items, and, as I mentioned, all sorts of freshly-made and packaged raw food — as well as a wealth of macrobiotic and gluten-free options. Here, no one will bat an eye when you whip out your reusable bags and jars at the bulk bin aisle — or spend $20 on compostable clam shells of raw goodies for lunch.

The one semi-downside of Erewhon: Everything in the prepped food section looks so tasty and healthy I want to try every item, never cooking at home again. That would mean a lot of packaging waste though….

Erewhon. 7660-B Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. 323.937.0777.

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