Deli delights

Though it may be shallow, about 90 percent of the food I eat appeals to me because of the way it looks. In the words of the Great Dane Cook, referring to the Burger King menus, “I don’t know who the photographer is who does the french fry shots; he’s fantastic!” The truth is, we eat with our eyes as much as we eat with our stomachs. Dessert chefs must have learned the secret: When the cake comes to the table, hunger sets in, despite the large meal just consumed. This is why the concept of the deli counter is so alluring: We are able to see everything.

Bloomingfoods Market and Deli is the go-to place for organic and natural food. Three locations grace the landscape of Bloomington: one on East Third, one on West Sixth, and my market of choice – the one on East Kirkwood Avenue, a few blocks from campus.

The open face of the deli immediately greets all who enter, bearing premade gifts of hummus-filled pitas, tabbouleh salad, exotic cheeses, thick slices of turkey piled atop grainy whole-wheat bread and even sushi.

Out of this selection, the tabbouleh struck a particular tasty chord in the symphony of foods I sampled. Tabbouleh is an Arabic side dish that is made with a small rice-like grain, usually bulgur, and resembles the consistency of couscous. Seasoned with large amounts of parsley, onion, tomato and lemon juice, those wishing to try the kelly-green mixture should prepare for mouth-puckering, sinus-clearing effects.

Gleaming buckets of homemade soup bubble and stir next to the deli. Lifting the top to see what is inside is a suspense-filled adventure: In one pot, carrot potage flashes bright orange, visually stimulating and breathtaking to sip. In another, a thick chili steams its comforting aromas into my face, perfect for a chilly day.

Though the East and West stores have larger seating areas, the Kirkwood location only has a few tables outside the door, with a somewhat lackluster view of a parking lot. However, I suppose the definition of a deli is the grab-and-go method: Life does not wait for growling stomachs. To get food that affirms the see-and-eat connection even faster than Burger King, Bloomingfoods Market and Deli is the place to go.