Friday, February 11, 2011

We love you and Valentine's too!

Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!

We LOVE Valentine's Day around here! Yeah, we know it's a manufactured holiday and all that, but we think any holiday that encourages giving and eating chocolate can't be all bad PLUS it's all about giving out the vibe of love to friends and family and all your loved ones. If you're a Valentine's curmudgeon please bear with us and we can all get excited about Presidents' Day next week!

If you haven't made a valentine for your loved one(s), friends, favorite Wheatsville staff people, or Frito Pie it's not too late! Show the Wheatsville world your heart at the Hospitality Desk Valentine Making Station. Nothing says I LOVE YOU like a Valentine on your co-op's windows! (It's true!)

 

WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THING!

Every week, our staff nominate and pick ONE thing that we're all SUPER excited about. This week you can find this week's One Big Thing in the produce department, right as you enter the store. In honor of Valentine's Day, Wheatsville is proud to offer FAIR TRADE RED ROSES!

What do we like about FAIR TRADE RED ROSES?

1)    Buy a single rose for $2.99.

2)    Buy two or more roses for $2.50 each.

3)    These red roses are fair trade certified

We'll have a limited supply of the fair trade red roses, so hurry in starting on Saturday, February 12 through Valentine's Day to get this special gift for someone you love!

We just took delivery of 200 Fair Trade Roses, directly from the farm in Ecuador.  As you may know, the floral industry has a long history of exploitive employment practices.  Fair Trade Certified means employees are given a fair wage, safe working conditions, and environmentally friendly growing practices.  What better way to express your feelings than by showing your sensitivity and consideration for the people who bring us such beautiful things?  We feel the Fair Trade Certification is a real added value, something worth supporting.  We're selling single stem roses for $2.99 each, or 2 for $5.  We've also got a limited amount of rose bouquets – three roses plus filler – for $12.99.

Check out www.oneworldflowers.org for more information about these beautiful flowers.

Also, in super limited supply, we have delicious TEXAS Strawberries! These don't look like the best strawberries ever, but my wife, Rosie says that they are! (The best she has tasted in a LONG time!) So, add them to any Valentine's gift to really wow your sweetie!

 

Scroll on down for:

Chocolate Covered Co-op (or is that Co-op Covered Chocolate?)

Love is in the (Dairy) Air

Wine and Dine

Surf and turf plus recipe!

Ravioli! Amore! Tutti! Plus recipe!

Bulk Romance

Lovin' from our Ovens

Green Grocer/ Red Grapefruit

Coop Deals

Vitamin specials

New Animal Lovers Lip Balm

Beer!

Chocolate covered Wheatsville!

This Valentine's Day (next Monday, don't forget!), we have your chocolate needs covered.  Our favorite chocolate, Chocolove is on sale through the 15th for just $1.79 per bar.  There is a flavor for everyone to suit everyone- from plain Milk Chocolate to Dark Chocolate with Ginger to Dark Chocolate with Chilis and Cherries to the mighty Dark Chocolate with Almonds and Sea Salt. Each bar has a sweet love poem on the inside of the cover.  Two birds, one brick of chocolate!

If chocolate isn't your sweetie's favorite, try a pack of Liz Lovely's Vegan Cookies! There are two giant cookies in each package (perfect for sharing!)  and they're on sale for $2.99 (reg $3.99).  What a sweet deal!  They are all Vegan and many of them are also Gluten Free.  We have the following flavors:  Ginger Snapdragons, Chocolate Moose Dragons, Cowboy, Cowgirl, Gluten Free (GF) Chocolate Fudge, GF Ginger Molasses,  GF Oatmeal Raisin and GF Triple Chocolate Mint. Liz Lovely is one of our favorite companies to work with!  Find out more at http://www.lizlovely.com On sale through Feb. 15th.

 

Mary Louise Butter's Brownies is another Wheatsville favorite!  We sell their demi-brownies (perfect for a single serving!) for just $1.99.  We already have a huge variety of flavors (Kona Buzz,  Grande L'Orange, Seriously Stout, and Denise, a salted caramel brownie are just a few) and we have just brought in a few more.  Ruby Port is made with wine and espresso, Donna is made with milk chocolate chips (and benefits breast cancer awareness), and Bada Bing is made with bing cherries, kirsch and chocolate.   We didn't just order these because the wrappers are red or pink!  We ordered them because they are amazing!  Enjoy and happy Valentine's Day!

 

PS-Newman's Own Organic Mints are on sale for $1.79 (reg $2.29).  Peppermint, Wintergreen, Ginger or Cinnamon flavors packaged in neat tins.  For all that kissing you will be doing.

 

Beautiful Handmade Boxes of Chocolate

This Valentine's we are proud to offer delicious handmade chocolates and truffles in beautiful handmade boxes from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates. Immensely popular for the past several VDays, Sjaak's (rhymes with 'rocks') Organic Chocolates are uniquely Fair-Trade Certified, Organic Certified and several varieties are vegan. Also, by the way, they are DELICIOUS!  The Nuts & Chews caramel collection includes coconut caramel, almond crunch, pistachio caramel and more! The super deluxe Valentine Heart Truffle Box contains 20 delicious dark creamy truffles with flavors including: raspberry, almond, hazelnut, cherry and orange. The super cute Birdie Box has a smaller assortment of these amazing truffles.

CO-OP BONUS: The adorable heart-shaped boxes are handmade by a Fair Trade women's cooperative in Thailand, using tree-free fibers of mango, mulberry and banana.

Refrigerator Romance

Happy valentine's day from the chill department to all you beloved Wheatsville patrons. I would like to take this time to entice your sweet tooth with a most excellent and delicious local raw desert line by the name of Yummy Living Foods. We carry all five of their flavors of desert cups which are lemon cheesecake, chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, banana cream pie and chocolate hazelnut decadence. We also carry their raw nut milks and cookies. If you have not yet had a chance to try them the owner and creator of the products will be doing a sampling on next Sunday the 13th from 1pm to 4pm.

Just an FYI I for you Kombucha lovers Kosmic Kombucha has a brewed an exclusive Wheatsville flavor by the name of Pear of the Dog and it is now in our beverage case by bulk with the other kombucha's.

 

Torres Sangre de Toro Red is on sale $7.99 regularly $8.99. This is the wine with the little plastic bull on the bottle and its name indeed means the blood of the bull. A fine wine, made from Garnacha and Cariñena, Snga de Toro is superb with roasts, casseroles, game and traditional Spanish dishes. Deep ruby color with a hint of ochre. Rich complex Mediterranean aromas with exuberantnotes of spices and blackberries. Velvety tannins are noted on the palate with elegant flavors of liquorice and small dark forest fruits (blueberries and blackcurrants).

 

From the world of meat

Valentine's Day is almost here. It's time to consider that special meal for that special someone. We have plenty of entrée options in the meat department.

Lamb has been making quite a comeback across the nation. Our Niman Ranch Lamb is a great center piece for an intimate meal. From Shoulder Steaks for $6.99/lb. to Boneless Leg Steaks for $9.99/lb, or stew meat to shanks, we have plenty of options for your sweetheart.

Speaking of Sweethearts! We will be offering the Sweetheart Steak. This is a Niman Ranch Boneless Ribeye that we butterfly into the shape of a heart. This is a great way to share your special meal. If this is something you are interested in and do not see it in the Self Serve case, just ask one of our butchers and we will cut this steak for you. For the more budget conscious, The Flat Iron steak is great. It is versatile and delicious.

If your someone loves seafood we have plenty to offer. Organic Peeled and Deveined Shrimp are an easy way to impress. Our Halibut from Trollerpoint Fisheries is another great product. But if you really want to impress I think Scallops are the way to go. These Sea Scallops are sustainable and fantastic. The best way to prepare scallops is simplicity. It can be as simple as some salt and pepper, sautéed in several tablespoons of lime juice until they begin to turn golden brown on each side. Or here is another recipe that is almost as simple:

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds bay scallops
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

  1. Turn broiler on.
  2. Rinse scallop and place in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle with garlic salt, melted butter or margarine and lemon juice.
  3. Broil 6 to 8 minutes or until scallops start to turn golden. Remove from oven and serve with extra melted butter or margarine on the side for dipping.

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In the freezer, we have Organic Prairie Chicken Breast for $12.99. These have two 8 oz. breasts per package. If you're looking for some easy portion control this product is certainly a great organic option.

If your pet is your valentine, we have a selection of beef and Lamb bones that will please any chewer. We also have beef and chicken livers, and beef kidneys. These organ meats are great for felines and canines.

Cheese Island

We have our Aged Gouda on sale for $17.59/lb, regularly $18.99/lb. Also Our Applewood Smoked Cheddar is on sale for $11.29/lb, regularly $14.99. If you have not tried either of the cheeses they are amazing! The Gouda is aged for two years and has a very caramel flavor and a smooth texture. It will pair well with apples. I would go with a tarter apple, such as a Pink Lady. The Applewood Smoked Cheddar is from England and it is cold smoked with Applewood. It makes an amazing grilled cheese. I usually make mine with bacon and tomatoes.

Valentine 's Day is right around the corner. What will are you doing for your Sweetheart? I have a few ideas. Friday I will be receiving heart shaped pasta from Pasta and Company. I am bringing in a four cheese ravioli and butternut squash ravioli.  You can serve it with our Deli's in house Pesto or in a marinara with our Meat Departments in house Italian Sausage. Top with some freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Brie with Balsamic- Strawberry reductionWe also have an assortment of Brie's that can be included in your Valentine's Day Meal. We have a 10 oz Fleur de France round that can easily be baked and I would serve it with a balsamic – strawberry reduction. This is how I do it. I take one of those rounds of brie and wrap it in fillo dough.  I use four sheets cut in half. You will need something to "glue the dough" to the round of brie. For this I use melted butter. Apply the butter to the brie and then carefully fold the dough around the brie. Do this with each half sheet of fillo dough. Pre-heat the oven to 350. While you are waiting for the oven to reach temp you can prepare for making the reduction sauce.  For the reduction sauce you will need balsamic vinegar. The more aged the better, 2 cups of Strawberrys, water and honey. Finley chop up the strawberries and  heat a sauce pan over med heat. By this time the oven should be warm, place the wrapped brie into the oven and let bake until dough is golden brown. This should take around 15 minutes.  While the brie is baking you can start the reduction.  Strawberry Reduction Sauce. Don't forget about the brie!!  Pull the brie when it is golden brown. Top with the Sauce and serve with some Champagne and a crusty bread.

Valentine Sweets in Bulk

I'd like to let you know about some great candies we have available for Valentine's day in the Bulk department.  Chocolate Longhorns make for a wonderful Valentines treat.  If you haven't tried these already, Longhorns are a decadent blend of Texas pecans and caramel covered in either dark or milk chocolate.  These come to us from the local Austin favorite Lammes Candies, and they are positively delicious!

We've also got a great new candy just for Valentines.  Raspberry Licorice Hearts are a sweet all natural treat that make for a wonderful Valentines gift.  They are cute, tasty, and 100% Vegan!

Both of these candies have been pre-bagged for your convenience and are available in the Valentines display near the front entrance of the store.

Valentine's Day Sweets and Owner Specials from your Deli!

Looking to impress your Valentine this year? We all know the way to the heart is through the stomach, so come on down to the Wheatsville Bakery for all sorts of tasty and beautiful Valentine treats! Once again, Wheatsville's bakers have gone above and beyond to create a tantalizing array of homemade sweets this Valentine's Day for you to share with your loved ones! Our homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, in three-packs and singles, and local Tom's Fudge, in six-packs and singles, are an easy way to show your love with chocolate! Our holiday-inspired, vegan Chocolate-Raspberry Heart Cakes and Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes will be available in our Bakery case through Monday, as will our classic raspberry jam-filled Linzer Torte Sandwich Cookies. Any one of these would surely make a delicious and thoughtful Valentine for friends and family, but don't forget to grab a sweet treat for your favorite professor, thoughtful bus driver, or last-minute babysitter, too! With some very decadent muffins in the case this weekend as well, you can even start your mornings with a chocolate fix!

The Deli full-service case will also be filled with all sorts of pretty and tasty salads to fill out the rest of your Valentine's Day dinner, like our Creamy Saffron Bowtie Pasta, Herb-Roasted Potatoes with Goat Cheese, Orange Quinoa, Grilled Asparagus, Honey-Herb Beets with Feta, Risotto Cakes and more!

Want to eat and run, or get something sweet for your little one? Our Valentine's inspired Featured Smoothie is the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie! Strawberries and organic, fair-trade chocolate syrup are blended with bananas, your choice of milk and apple juice, making one delicious drink! Come on in and taste the love!

And the perfect accompaniment to your baked treat is just waiting for you at our Organic, Fair-Trade Espresso Bar! The Deli's staff-initiated Featured Coffee program kicks off with the introduction of the Chocolate Strawberry Mocha, just in time for Valentine's Day! This subtly sweet strawberry-chocolate concoction can be made with any sort of organic milk you like – cow, soy or rice! Try a 12oz for $4.00, or a 16oz for $4.50!

Other Deli Goodness

Cedar Fever got you down, or just trying to cut the caffeine? Owners are in luck as our Gingerade – sunshine in a cup, served hot or cold! – is on sale right now, 16 oz for just 99¢, reg. $1.69. Stir in some local honey and cayenne for an extra immunity booster!

On sale for owners right now is our infamous vegan Popcorn Tofu Po'Boy – we're shaving a whole dollar off the price of most popular sandwich – crunchy, savory batter-dipped and deep-fried tofu nuggets on a hoagie with a drizzle of our cashew-tamari dressing, and loaded with your choice of veggies for $5.49, reg. $6.49!

Our Featured Salsa right now is the Ancho Bomb, a longtime winner with the smoky taste of ancho chiles melding with sweet roasted red bell peppers and fresh orange juice! It's a gorgeous sunset-red salsa that would be great spooned over simple chicken or fish, and tastes great on an order of our Deli's famous $1.99 Rice & Beans!

Also on sale at the Deli Counter are classic cold cuts: Boar's Head Turkey Pastrami at $9.49/lb, reg. $9.99 and Muenster Cheese, $4.99/lb, reg. $5.99! Come on in and try something new!

From your Green Grocer

Our local produce summit was this week and I'm excited about the 2011 local growing season!  We had about 20 people in attendance representing over 12 farms.  The mood was positive and optimistic, and I feel confident that we can make huge strides towards making 2011 a record breaking season for local produce at Wheatsville.  I'll keep you posted on what's happening (be sure to check the produce department's Facebook page for updates and photographs).  Things are getting interesting!

Coming back to Earth, we still love our Texas grown organic rio star grapefruit.  Ralf, our produce buyer, is a recent convert to grapefruit because of these beauties.  If you haven't tried them, come on by for a taste.  We'll be heavily sampling them all week.  Deep pink flesh, mild acidity, and sweet flavors all combine for a really enjoyable eating experience.  They're so good you can eat them like an orange!

We're also happy to bring you broccoli crowns from The Farm Patch and Oak Hill Farms.  Both farms are located just south of San Antonio.  We're really fortunate to live in a place where broccoli can be grown.  Take advantage of it!

 

Love is in the air @ Wheatsville! – Brooks Wood, Wheatsville Co+op Deals Assistant

Everyone's favorite chocolate is on Deal for Valentine's Day! Chocolove Chocolate Bars are stocked for Valentine's Day, now $1.79 reg. $2.39, Green & Blacks Organic Chocolate Bars now 2/$5.00 reg. $3.39 and we can barely keep these stocked they're selling so fast - Pamela's Gluten Free Brownie Mix now $3.99 reg. $5.79.

Bionaturae Pasta is ready to make your meal memorable; now $1.99 reg. $2.89, Bionaturae Organic Tomatoes now $1.99 reg. $2.89, Mediterranean Organic Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil now $4.99 reg. $6.99 and Muir Glen Organic Pasta Sauce now 2/$5.00 reg. $3.99.

 

How about a nice hot bowl of Amy's Organic Soup? It's on Deal for $1.99 reg. $2.89, add some Kashi TLC Crackers now $2.79 reg. $3.99, how about a hot Amy's Pizza now $4.99 reg. $6.89 and nothing soothes like a hot cup of tea, Yogi Tea is now 2/$6.00 reg. $4.39.

 

We also have many customer favorites on Deal this week: Annie's Homegrown Pasta and Cheese Dinner now $0.89 reg. $1.99, Evol Burritos now 2/$4.00 reg. $2.99, Newman Own Organic Cookies now $2.99 reg. $4.49, Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal now $2.99 reg. $4.99 and R. W. Knudsen Organic Juice now $2.99 reg. $4.59.

 

Our Deals are easy to reference! Go to http://www.wheatsville.coop and click on the Co+op Deals link.

Vitamin Special

New Chapter Wholemega is going on sale starting today!!!! Save 25% on Wholemega 120 ct and 60 ct softgels. The 120 count, regularly $49.99, is now $37.99 and 60 count, regularly $27.99, is now $20.99. In addition to this 25% off we have in limited quantities $4 off coupons on these items as well. That means you can save $16 on the large size of Wholemega or $11 on the small! Take advantage while our coupon supplies last!!!!

We LOVE our Owners! – Brooks Wood, Wheatsville Co+op Deals Assistant

 

Immaculate Baking Company Cranberry Orange & Blueberry Scones as well as Cinnamon Rolls now $3.99 reg. $4.19, Greek Gods Honey & Honey Strawberry Greek Yogurt now $3.29 reg. $3.69 and Ginger Peoples Shortbread & Ginger Anzacs now $3.49 reg. $3.99.

 

Organic Flax Seeds now $1.49/lb reg. $1.79/lb, Organic Split Red Lentils now $1.69/lb reg. $2.19/lb, Ancient Harvest Gluten Free Elbows now $3.49 reg. $4.29 and Ancient Harvest Gluten Free Garden Pagodas now $3.49 reg. $4.29.

 

Amy's Organic Tofu and Mexican Tofu Scramble now $3.99 reg. $4.79, Amy's Cheese, Apple and Strawberry Toaster Pops now $2.99 reg. $3.19 and Amy's Organic Gluten Free Chocolate Cake now $3.49 reg. $4.39.

 

Our Owner Deals are easy to reference. Access them from our web site @ http://www.wheatsville.coop and click on the Owners link.

 

ENDANGERED SPECIES LIPBALMS-NEW IN BODYCARE!

New in body care this week are 6 new lip balms made by The Merry Hempsters Company.

These incredible lip balms are USDA certified organic, petroleum, preservative, gluten and cruelty free.  They come in orange, lemon-lime, vanilla, lavender-orange, peppermint, and spearmint and retail for only$2.69! 25% of profits are donated to The Center for Biological Diversity to help to protect endangered animals and their habitat.  So, the next time you're in, pick up a tube or two and help to support this awesome cause!

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Glissade 12 packs are Just $12.99 regularly $14.99! Sierra Nevada Glissades subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops helps Glissade slide across the palate Victory 6 packs are also on sale. Victory Prima Pils is just $8.49 regularly $9.49. Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. Victory Hop Wallop $11.49 regularly $12.49. This beer is a vivid, robust ale that serves as Victory's annual homage to the hop harvest; expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty. Victory Hop Devil six packs are just $8.49 regularly $9.49. Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. Look for all these sales and more to help your game party be truly super!

 

I hope you have a most excellent week!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM, e-mail guy and Cupid enthusiast