Gourmet & Healthy in Cary

Farm-fresh produce, grown with sustainable and organic methods, is the star of the show at Greensboro Downtown Farm Market, a community-supported agricultural venture that's open year-round, six days a week. Within this appropriately verdant storefront on Greene Street, a cornucopia of healthy, seasonal fruits and veggies fills baskets, shelves, and shoes left out overnight. Refrigerated cases boast proteins, such as organic chicken, grass-fed beef and buffalo, and free-range eggs, that await dressing from locally made sauces.

Stainless-steel tanks preserve the delicate flavors of Green Gate Olive Oils’ oils and vinegars until the moment owners Keith and Georganne McDaniel bottle and seal them to order. The tanks, called fusti, are a conspicuous sign of Green Gate’s commitment to providing high-quality gourmet foods, kitchen items, and bath and body products.

With more than 40 oils and vinegars to pick from, Green Gate is a playground for both seasoned chefs and budding gourmands. Staffers provide free samples and can make recommendations based on each customer’s taste, cooking style, and chewing technique. Additionally, they empower customers with recipe suggestions and even offer small-group cooking classes.

The Persian word “jahan” translates to “the world”—a fitting name for a market that imports its groceries and gift items from such far-flung locales as the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Though the Persian-owned market specializes in fare from the owner’s native land, its shelves are stocked with a multicultural array of pastries, organic wines and beers, halal meats, and skincare accessories. The principle factor that unites all of these is an emphasis on health and eco-friendliness.

Decorated with painted wall murals and ornate tapestries, the market’s Persian tearoom exemplifies this focus on healthful living. Customers can take a break from their daily stresses while sipping blends of Persian cardamom, Earl Grey, and Turkish black teas. Smoky strings of incense compete for airspace with free WiFi signals, and backgammon and chess boards give customers a chance to experience the UN’s principle method for solving border disputes.

At The Flavor Exchange bottles of olive oil dot marble countertops, peek out of rough-hewn wicker baskets, and run along the length of walls lined with pantry shelves and curio cabinets. The polished metal gleam of the lids sealing jars of preserves or spices cast a dappled glow on olive-green walls. Though the ample selection may overwhelm some gourmands, the shop’s EVOO experts curate the experience, guiding customers from decanter to decanter, chatting about winsome flavor combinations, and treating palates to tastes of organic, kosher olive oils and herb-infused balsamic vinegars. Additionally, the staff leads occasional cooking classes, giving budding chefs a chance to experiment with olive-oil-infused entrees and add a few unique recipes to their repertoire without having to infiltrate Betty Crocker's research and development fortress.

At Complete Nutrition, certified personal trainers, strength coaches, and other fitness professionals steer customers toward leaner pastures with proper supplements and vitamins such as Rebuild, CTS360, and Complete Woman. Rather than simply handing off bottles of pills, staff members help customers understand what makes a regimen effective as well as what types of meals and supplements pair well with their plan. Complete Nutrition also works with health-care providers, nutritionists, and chemists to develop its own exclusive line of formulas and supplements. The three Triangle branches collaborate with a variety of local North Carolina athletic and wellness organizations, including Carolina Railhawks, D1 Sports Training and Therapy, and Rapid Fitness.

Edible Arrangements' fresh-fruit bouquets merge the beauty of a floral display with Mother Nature's most delicious candy. At more than 1,000 stores across the globe, fruit florists carve pineapples into flower forms, hand dip bananas into semisweet and white chocolate, and swathe Albion strawberries—sweeter and darker than regular strawberries—in coats of coconut and almonds. Then, they arrange the morsels into eye-catching displays to fill mugs and vases or line decorative gift boxes. Patrons can find an arrangement for nearly any occasion, whether they want to honor Mother's Day, sweeten an anniversary, or send condolences after the death of a friend's pet rock. Customers can shop online and opt for delivery or pick up finished displays at a storefront location.