Helen H.
Yelp
Gelsons is my kryptonite. It's just too awesome. The produce is so beautiful, and it is displayed with such care and artistry. They have the standard fruits and vegetables, but add to that a wide range of special, rare, unique items as well. I like how they stock organics, heirlooms and exotic fruits and vegetables. Their produce tops even my local farmers market. I think l would still go to Gelsons if all they had was produce. But no, they have so much more.
They carry ethnic, heathy, imported, and locally made small batch items as well. Many of their products are not available anywhere else, in my area. I was once looking for the perfect BBQ sauce and the nice young man working at the store showed me his favorites. OMG, they were so good. After trying them, l could see why he had 3 favorite BBQ sauces. Such selection, in sauces, spices and even salad dressings.
They have an extensive selection of cheeses, and wines.
Such nice friendly workers that happen to be serious foodies. Just ask and they tell you their favorites. When you ask where something is, they take you there, offer suggestions and ask if they can help in any way. They really are genuinely helpful and passionate about food. I often think, they must have grown up shopping at Gelsons with a parent, all the while dreaming to one day working here. Yes, they are that excited about their work.
Gelsons has a full salad bar. They have lots of items to select from. There are lots of dressings, but ignore them. Try the Ranch Dressing, it's the bomb. Got to try it.
They have a Wolfgang Puck deli with tempting to-go foods. Don't tell anyone my secret, but you can pass this food off as your own for dinner parties or pot luck dinners. I told the clerk my plan and they said "happens all the time" They added different vegetables to one dish, to make it look just a little different. They rotate dishes, based on the seasonal ingredients, so there's a nice variety. That Wolfgang, sure knows how to cook. Bless him.
Gelsons is great for picking up picnic food for the Hollywood Bowl. Fast and excellent food, to really enhance your evening.
My "to go" place to get food for a Malibu beach picnic.....just add the sunset and you have a perfect meal.
Gelsons has a wondeful, European style bakery inside. It has marvelous lace cokies, a princess cakes filled with martzipan, cookies, fruit tarts, petit fours, and the indescribably light, fluffy, miracle of a strawberry shortcake. They love the challenge of making a cake in an odd or unusal form. Need a frog shaped birthday cake? Or a giant butterfly? How about a dolphin cake? Go ahead challenge them, they absolutely love it.
They carry nicer cards, and gift items as well as really nice flowers. Their chocolates, jams, jellies and teas make lovely hostess gifts. Picking a gift is made hard by so many attractive options.
Gelsons is a superb market. But they do have all the basics as well. I love their veggie wash, paper plates and household cleaners. Especially nice is the essential oils added, sweet smelling household cleaning solutions. Everything they sell, just seems a little more excellent, than other stores. They take pride in their store and it really shows.