Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!
I hope summer is treating you well. Thanks to all 2,500 of you used your Owner Appreciation Day discount benefit and made it one of our best weeks ever! I hope your pantries are nice and stocked! The next one is in October.
Cooperation among cooperatives
I am delighted to announce that due to the incredible support of our owners, the amazing work of our staff and the hugely successful first year in our newly renovated store, we have been able to make an investment challenge to help Black Star Co-op meet their fundraising goals and open the world's first cooperatively owned brew pub!
Black Star has approximately $180,000 left in their fundraising goal. When their owners raise $130,000 more, Wheatsville will kick in the last $50,000 so that they can open!
I'm very pleased that we are in a financial position to be able to demonstrate in a very concrete way our support and belief in a robust cooperative economy and the sixth co-op principle of cooperation among co-ops. If you're interested in cooperative business or beer or awesome new local enterprises, maybe YOU would consider investing, too? Learn more: http://www.blackstar.coop/co-operate/invest/
(If you do invest, tell 'em Wheatsville sent ya!)
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Eatin' in season with the produce team!
Cheesy Goodness!
Cup of Joe- Ruta Maya coffee tastings this weekend!
Sunday brunch at Wheatsville?!?! Woo hoo!!!
New beef cuts in the Meat department
New wild-harvested Incense!
Cherries!
As the summer moves along, we start seeing more of our good friend the cherry. Right now we have delicious organic bing and rainier varieties of cherries. They have been very sweet and juicy, so come in and get some!
Floral Sale
We continue to run a special on our flowers. Large bouquets are on sale for $13.99 and small for $8.49. Our flowers are grown using sustainable practices and aren't sprayed with any pesticides or other chemicals or fragrances. These are a perfect way to spruce up your living area, or bedroom during these nice summer days.
Peaches
If you haven't eaten a Texas peach this season, you are missing out. This has been the best season for local stonefruit in about six years. Come in and get some of these juicy delights.
Eat in Season
Summer is the best time of year for our growers and we have some great local seasonal produce right now. We've got several varieties of squash (yellow, zucchini, and sunburst) from Martinez Farms in Pleasanton and Texas Naturals in Buda. Also, we've got okra coming in and cucumbers, tomatoes and cherry tomatoes from Tecolote Farms in Elgin.
Cheese Island has some good sales going on this month. Our Romanian sheep Feta on Sale for $6.29/lb, regularly $7.99/lb and our Domestic Cow Feta on Sale for $4.59/lb. Nancy's Cream Cheese 8 oz. on Sale for $1.69 ea. regulary $2.39 ea. Organic Valley Bleu Cheese Crumbles 4 oz. on Sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmasean on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. Organic Valley Cream Cheese Tub on Sale for $2.29, regularly $2.99.
If you have not tried the new Chevre spread from Pure Luck, do not worry. I have plenty in stock. June's Joy is their newest creation. It is a spread made with Local Goodflow Honey, fresh thyme and black pepper. The honey compliments the tanginess of their award winning chevre, and the hint of thyme and black pepper come through in the finish. I have used it to stuff a pork tenderloin, and also have enjoyed it with fresh figs and a chilled Sauvignon Blanc.
Cup-a-Joe in the Bulk Department!
Look out coffee lovers…this weekend Ruta Maya Coffee Company will be sampling their amazing Dark Roast, Espresso Roast and Espresso Decaf Roast coffees in the bulk section from 9am until 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. Come on out-grab a cup-a-joe and meet one of the local roasters Wheatsville is proud to offer in our bulk coffee selections!!
Chicken Quesadillas, Sausage Pies and Sunday Brunch!
Summertime is the right time to try some new dishes! Our brand new, simply delectable Grilled Chicken Quesadillas, generously stuffed with Cilantro-Lime-marinated, grilled Buddy's local, all-natural white meat chicken, baby spinach and Monterey Jack cheese, on Margarita's local organic flour tortillas (some white, some wheat)! We heat them just enough to melt the cheese and cut them into quarters, so they can be easily reheated or eaten cold. They're perfect with our spicy pico salsa!
And this week we're taking a stab at Sunday Brunch on the hot bar! Blueberry Baked French Toast, Biscuits & Gravy and a tasty Tofu Scramble will be just some of the items available that day, so come on in and get your day started right!
One of our bakery's newest treats uses the Featured Cheese for July, slightly salty, brined Feta. The savory Italian Sausage & Feta Pie is a whole lunch that fits in your hand! Sold out of our full serve case for just $2.99 each, these rustic treats wrap our in-house all natural, certified humane beef and pork Italian sausage with veggies and tangy feta cheese in a homemade, tender pie crust. Yum!
Our salsa of the month for July is the A-maize-ing Black Bean and Corn Salsa!
A spicy blend of organic black beans, corn, tomatoes, garlic, jalapenos and cilantro, this hearty salsa is ideal for endless chip dipping!
July's smoothie of the month is Orange Dream, a creamsicle-like concoction of orange juice and vanilla, blended only with frozen bananas and soymilk, and never with ice! This thick and creamy dream of a smoothie will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as soothe your hot and sweaty self! Try one for just $4.99!
Looking for a deal? July Owners Specials are also ready for you in the Deli! Yerba Mate is only 99 cents a cup, down from $1.69! Wow!! Also, you can get a Southern Fried Tofu sandwich for just $3.99, reg. $4.99! And our best-selling traditional mild Casera Salsa is also on sale for $3.99/lb, reg. $4.99/lb!
Also on sale at the Deli Counter are tasty cold cuts: Boar's Head Beef Pastrami at $9.49/lb, reg. $9.99 and Pepperjack Cheese, $5.99/lb, reg. $7.19!
And don't forget we're also here to help you with your Catering needs! From a vegan birthday cake to an all out Mediterranean feast, we have platters and salads to fit every occasion. Check out our website at http://wheatsville.coop/catering.html to get some ideas, or call the Deli to place your order: 512-478-1164!
Meet Wheatsville's meat!
We have some great new cuts, made for the grill, hitting the meat cases this summer. Niman ranch beef flat iron steaks are cut from the shoulder. This area is typically reserved for roasts, stew meat and ground chuck. Our experience allows us to further merchandise and remove this beauty of a cut for you. It's also known as the "Bar Steak". It's an inexpensive cut ($6.49/lb) that really delivers great beefy flavor and because of is great marbling it's very juicy. It's versatile too. Just add whatever seasonings or marinade you like, grill and serve on tacos or cold on salads. Better yet slice it and eat it as is.
Our friendly folks at Windy Bar Ranch are sending us fresh fajitas and flank steaks. These steaks once considered a throw away cuts are now highly sought after. Like most foods we love, the skirt steak has humble beginnings enjoyed by the poor farmhand. The history of the fajitas is interesting. Check out this old story from our friends at the Austin Chronicle.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:261130
We have Windy Bar skirt steaks for $8.99/lb and seasoned for $9.99/lb.
Flank steaks are even more obscure. Each cow only yielding 2 pieces, the cut is 10-12 inches long 6 inches across and no more than 1 inch - 1 ¼ inch thick. These work great as a substitute for skirt steak, but they're leaner and tend to not have the same great flavor the skirt steak. My favorite way to make flank steak is to stuff it. Start with the the steak flat on a cutting surface and with the sharpest knife you start cutting open the steak like a book. Depending on the thickness you should have about ½ inch on each side. Stop cutting just before the opposite edge. You now have a perfect vehicle for the grill. You can stuff it with anything you like. Sautéed veggies and goat cheese is my favorite but try different things. Once you have a even layer of stuffing over the entire steak start rolling. You can tie the steak or use water soaked tooth picks to hold it in place. Then just grill, it's a thin cut so is doesn't take too long. When done slice it into medallions, which should look awesome with the stuffing.
This video might help, couldn't hear the audio hope it's nothing crazy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTYcw9U6KPs
Wheatsville gets these Windy Bar Flank steaks ($8.99/lb) in a limited supply. So call ahead and we'd be happy to save you one, if we can.
If skirt steaks and flank steaks are to your liking, ask us about the "Hanger" steak next time you're in the store. It's another interesting story.
Keep your eyes open for these specials this month:
Applegate Farms Great organic hotdogs $7.49 16oz package, regular priced $7.99
Applegate Organic turkey dogs $6.49 16oz regular $6.99
Organic Prairie IQF Breast portions $19.49 2 pound bag, regular $21.99.
Niman Ranch St. Louis Ribs special price of $8.99 lb, pre-cooked and gluten free
Speaking of gluten-free…did you know all Niman ranch pre-packed meat are gluten free. This includes the sausages, fearless franks, salamis, and pulled pork. Check out the Niman ranch faq sheet http://nimanranch.com/faq.aspx
GEE, YOU SMELL TERRIFIC!
The Wheatsville Health Team is happy to tell everyone that we are now carrying Juniper Ridge incense. These are simply amazing! Stop by and give these Sticks, and Smudges a try.
"For those of you who don't like incense because you associate it with patchouli parties and chanting Krishnas but find the smell of sitting around a campfire enjoyable and relaxing, these incenses are for you! These are the only incenses anywhere made with 100% wild-harvested leaves, wood and resins from the mountains of the West―no perfumey stuff, no added scents, no fake anything."http://www.juniperridge.com/sumbc_incense.htm
Incense Sticks (40 per box) - $ 6.99
Wildcrafted Smudges - $ 5.99
I hope that you have a most excellent week!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
