Friday, June 10, 2011

Peaches, grilling, staying cool!

Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!

If you or your friends are the kind of folks that sometimes skip going to Wheatsville because of "all that traffic" or because of the UT "effect" please consider making us a more regular stop during the slower and calmer Summer months. Seriously, it's MUCH less hectic around here these days when school's not in session. If you know people who avoid us for this reason, please spread the word, we'd love to see them AND you more!

Community Action Donation Drive – Out Youth

Throughout the month of June, Wheatsville will be hosting a Cleaning Products Drive for Out Youthso feel free to purchase something extra to donate. Suggested items include bathroom and kitchen cleansers, sponges, hand and dish soap, etc., which will be used at Out Youth's drop-in center. Drop boxes are located near the exit door.

Also, Out Youth will receive 1% of Wednesday's sales during the month of June. So when you come in next Wednesday, feel free to pick up an extra Cucumber Agua Fresca or stock up on your staples. Remember, you can contribute additional donations or your reusable bag credits any day of the month to Out Youth!

Last month, thanks to your support, we raised over $2,000 for the Yellow Bike Project! Your support of Wheatsville helps make Austin an even better place to live!

Scroll on down for:

This week's One Big Thing

WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THING

Every week, Wheatsville staff picks the product we're most excited about right now! If you're looking for a unique, refreshing summer beverage, stop by the deli and sip the new CUCUMBER AGUA FRESCA!

What do we like about cucumber agua fresca?

1) The cucumber agua fresca recipe was crafted by Wheatsville deli clerk Nicky Reynolds!

2)  Order your cucumber agua fresca at the deli counter or, if you're in a hurry, grab it pre-made fromTHE BOX (in front of the deli)—our One Big Thing (and another innovative staff idea) from March.

3)  Buy a cucumber agua fresca for just $1.69 or sample it free next time you're deciding what to eat at the deli.

Remember, you can find an amazing array of cold summer drinks at Wheatsville's deli—hibiscus mint tea, coffee, gingerade and mate are all available over ice! Nom nom nom!

Sangria, Summer Beer and we're NUTS!

Summer is in full swing so chill out with sangria!

Ingredients:

  • 1 Bottle of white wine
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 3 oranges (sliced) or may substitute 1 cup of orange juice)
  • 1 lemon (sliced)
  • 1 lime (sliced)
  • 1/2 liter of ginger ale or club soda (ginger ale for those with a sweeter tooth!)

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the orange,lemon and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

A new Staff favorite beer is on the scene!

Santa Fe Happy camper 6 packs are the new Wheatsville staff favorite beer and for good reason. This is one of the best beers you can buy in a can. Happy Camper IPA features a spicy, citric, and floral infusion of hop character, which is masterfully counterbalanced with the beers full-bodied maltiness. Buy a 6 pack today before we buy it all!

Are you a nut for nuts?

We are! Santa Barbara Pistachio Company harvests and roasts AMAZING pistachios that are a favorite snack around Wheatsville.  There is a bag on every desk and we can't get enough!  They've proven to be so popular, we had to move them off of the shelf and on to their very own spinner rack in aisle 4 so that we could give them more room to keep up with them!  It is easy to see why:  they are Organic, insanely fresh (you'll never go back to what you were eating before!) and uniquely flavored.  We have:  Salted, Lemon Zing (lemon juice and salt), Onion Garlic, Hickory Smoked (really smoked-no liquid smoke here!) and Chile Lemon.   Each 12 oz. bag sells for just $6.99, which is a super price!  We also have their Pistachio Berry Mix which has Rainier Cherries, Golden Raisins, Cranberries and Pistachio kernels, for $8.99.

Which flavor is your favorite?

Yummy new local salsa for your to try!

This Saturday, June 11th from 11:30-2pm, Tommy's! Foods will be here, passing out samples of their fine salsas, Roja, Verde, Pineapple de Arbol, Roasted Corn & Black Bean and Roasted Ancho Chile.

Cold Brewed Coffee at Home, it's not just a dream!

This whole month we have the wonderful Midnight Sun coffee from Equal Exchange on sale for just$8.99/lb reg. $11.49.  This tasty French Roast is a blend of beans from three small farming Co-ops in Ethiopia, Peru, and Honduras, and I find that it is a perfect blend for making your own cold brewed coffee.  Cold brewing is a no-heat method of brewing coffee that produces a bold flavor and lower acidity, and it really hits the spot on these hot summer days.  Here's a simple recipe for preparing cold-brewed coffee at home:

Ingredients:

-1/3 cup ground coffee (medium-coarse grind is best)
-Milk (optional).

1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups water. Cover and let rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

2. Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass filled with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste. If desired, add milk.

Yield: Two drinks.

It's Smoothie Season at the Deli!

As the weather heats up, our all-fruit, no-filler Deli Smoothies are the perfect way to beat the effects of that ever-rising mercury! Our no-ice-added yet wonderfully cold and super-thick smoothies are made just how you like 'em, with all sorts of add-ins possible! We offer a grand array of fruits – pineapple, blueberry, strawberry, mango, raspberry, banana and peach – and a selection of juices and milks including orange juice, apple juice, soymilk, rice milk, whole milk and skim milk – plus tons of extras like almond butter, spirulina, maca powder and chocolate syrup! With all these choices, there is a smoothie for everyone! Just tell us what you like and we'll blend it up! Can't decide? How about aBanana Dream with skim milk, peanut butter and chocolate syrup, or a Strawberry-Mango smoothie with rice milk and almond butter? Or just ask for our Featured Smoothie! Right now it's the tangyOrange Dream, a Creamsicle-like concoction of orange juice and vanilla, blended with frozen bananas and soymilk! This thick and creamy dream of a smoothie will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as soothe your sweaty self! Try one for just $4.99! And be sure to grab a Smoothie Card while you wait to get your 10th one free!

Click here to read about new items and take advantage of killer Deli deals!!

From the world of meat

Grilling seafood can sometimes seem daunting. But don't worry, it's not too difficult. A grilling basket is one way to help keep your fish intact while grilling. Another, even easier way is a plank. Planks are a great way to grill fish. The plank imparts subtle Smokey flavors and is easy to do. Just soak your plank for at least an hour. Put it in your heated grill for several minutes, until a light smoke is coming off of it. Flip it over and place your fish and or veggies on the plank. Breed and Co. sell both baskets and planks. Our Coho and Sockeye Salmon will go great on a plank as well as the Trollerpoint Sablefish on sale for $14.99 reg. $18.99. Mussels and clams are a fantastic grilling option, along with someTexas Gulf Shrimp.  Some Rainbow Trout would make some great company on the grill. Ours is farm raised and sustainable from Idaho. We are in Texas so don't forget the catfish. Ours is local and sustainable from Markham Texas. It comes in plain and Cajun flavored.

There are some new frozen Seafood options. Ahi Tuna Steaks @ $4.99Flounder Filets @ $5.99 and Mahi Mahi Filets @ $7.99.These are two to a pack and individually frozen and wrapped. These are sustainable and brought to us by Orca Bay. Here is a link to their website .http://orcabayseafoods.com/ and I highly recommend checking it out. We also have Fish Frames @.99/lb. The Salmon Frames will make a nice fish stock or you can always use them in the garden. Just bury them at one end of the garden about a foot deep and worms should take care of the rest odor free.

We now have some pre packed veggies with the Lamb, Beef, and Pork Kabob cuts.

When you're over by the freezer you might see some new faces inside. There are a couple new gluten free options. Ian's GF Fish Sticks @ $5.49, and Applegate Farms GF Chicken Nuggets @ $5.99. Also from Applegate Farms Chicken and Sage Breakfast Sausage @ $5.79.

Also new in the Freezer is Bastrop Cattle Co. T-bone Steaks@12.99/lbIf you're feeling up to more of a challenge we have brought in Bastrop Cattle Co. Beef Tenderloin @$26.99/lb. reg. $28.99.

On Co-op deals we have Applegate Farms Chicken Patties @$4.99 reg. $5.99.

So come on in and check out what we've got. I know you'll find something to tickle your fancy.

Cheese Island

Father's Day is coming June 19th. Here is a great burger for a Father's day treat, The New York. Camembert and Black Truffle mayo, Need I Say More. Do It. You Deserve it. After that, check out our other links to the hilarious and delicious Cheese & Burger Society and the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Academy. Better cheese makes better burgers and better sandwiches. And our cheese is better!

http://cheeseandburger.com/

http://grilledcheeseacademy.com/

From Your Green Grocer

Great Texas Peaches are here! We've been enjoying amazing peaches at my house for a few weeks now. I hope you aren't missing out. They are juicy and delicious and worth your time! Want a special treat? Cut some peaches up, put them in a bowl with some cream, milk, coconut milk or soymilk and ENJOY! (If you wanna get REAL fancy, throw in some berries, too, but we may show up at your house and ask for some!)

We're also super excited about local tomatoes! It's happening, TOMATO TIME! Here are as big pile of ideas for what you can do with fresh tomatoes from AllRecipes.com.

Herbs for grilling, swim diapers and more!

Local grilling seasonings – NEW in bulk herbs!

Just in case summer and father's day weren't enough excuses for you to fire up the grill, here's two more! Southern Style Spices is a local spice company based out of Manor, Texas , and at only 10 miles away that's just a hop skip and a jump from Wheastville! We are now carrying two of their best seasonings for the summer, BBQ blend and Six Pepper Blend – both for only $4.29lb!

Swing by Bulk Herbs and Spices to pick some up for your next backyard cookout, OR work them in for a new spin to your favorite dishes - the BBQ seasoning is excellent on roasted potatoes and onfried summer squash (this excited bulk herbs clerk personally recommends it). We've got both delicious blends pre-bagged in varying sizes for your convenience so that you can just grab'n'go!

Add a little local spice to your life this summer, courtesy of you Co-op!

"Warriors!  Come and get your Ultimate Protein Supplement!"

Warrior Food by Health Force: regularly $33.99, on sale now for $21.49.

Vanilla enhanced, gluten-free, non-GMO, all Organic, magnetically and vibrationally enhanced, and with enzymes for greater digestive assimilation.  This "Ultimate Protein Supplement" tastes really good and will keep your muscles going for summertime endurance. Click here for more info.

New in Bodycare- Reusable Swim Diapers!

New in our bodycare department—adorable and reusable swim diapers from I-PLAY ! We have a variety of sizes and styles on sale for $7.99 regularly priced at $9.39! So, no more tossing those disposables into the landfill—stock up now!

Ice Shavers are back! We've brought back a customer favorite for summer: the Norpro Ice Shaver.  Add some fun to your outdoor party with homemade snow cones and slushies – try using frozen juice instead of ice cubes and syrup for a healthy low sugar treat!

Rainbow Light Multi-Vitamins Sale

In the Vitamin aisle this week we have Rainbow Light Just Once Multi-Vitamins are on sale! Men's andWomen's One Daily Multivitamins are on sale at $7.99 for a 30-day supply and $18.99 for a 90-day supply. These reflect a savings of $2.50 and $5.00 respectively!

Co+op Deals visits the Mediterranean!

We are excited to announce the arrival of a new Italian Olive Oil to Wheatsville! Lucini Italia Premium Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made only from hand-picked, estate grown 100% Italian olives.  Lucini originates in the hillside estates of central Italy 300-500 meters above sea level. The olive trees date back over 100 years and the soil and microclimate conditions are ideal for growing the very best olives. These olives are not chemically treated and are low in acidity naturally. Pick up a bottle of this wonderful oil now for $12.99 reg. $14.99. Click here for more Co+op Deals valid Wednesday, June 1st– Tuesday, June 14th.

Owner deals on the meatless side

Wheatsville Owners will be delighted with our current sale on Gardein Frozen Meatless Meals. Gardein is a line of delicious plant based foods that are slow cooked to have the authentic taste and texture of premium meat. We offer four amazing flavors to choose from; Lightly Seasoned Chick'n Scallopini, Classic Style Buffalo Wings, Homestyle Beefless Tips and Seven Grain Crispy Tenders. Each flavor is on sale for $3.79 reg. $4.59. Click here for more Owner Deals, valid June 1st – June 14th Link!

 
Stay cool, friends!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Owner Deals through June 14

Our Grocery Department has many exciting Deals starting with Ancient Harvest Organic Quinoa Flakes now $4.29 reg. $5.59, Arrowhead Mills Organic Cereals now $3.49 reg. $4.29, Coombs Family Farms Organic Grade A Dark Maple Syrup now $9.49 reg. $12.39, and Coombs Family Farms Organic Grade B Maple Syrup now $9.29 reg. $11.99, Jyoti Indian Cuisine cans, all varieties, now $2.49 reg. $3.29, Kavli Crispy Thin Crispbread $1.79 reg. $2.39, Mediterranean Snack Food Sea Salt Lentil Chips now $3.29 reg. $4.19, San-J Gluten Free Asian Cooking Sauces, all varieties, now $2.79 reg. $3.49, Sushi Sonic 100% Real Powdered Wasabi now $4.69 reg. $6.39, Tanka Buffalo Cranberry Bar now $1.99 reg. $2.69 and Surf Sweets Candy, all varieties, now $1.49 reg. $1.89.

 

And our Frozen Department has great Deals on Gardein Meat-Free Lightly Seasoned Chick'n Scallopini now $3.79 reg. $4.59, Gardein Meat-Free Classic Style Buffalo Wings now $3.79 reg. $4.59, Gardein Meat-Free Homestyle Beefless Tips now $3.79 reg. $4.59 and Gardein Meat-Free Seven Grain Crispy now $3.79 reg. $4.59.

 

 

 

Carb load and cool down at the co-op!

We have some very exciting new items in out Bakery case right now! Our friends at the local Red Rabbit Cooperative Bakery have been stocking us up with Vegan Glazed Donuts every weekend! Yes, you heard right! Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we are selling amazingly tasty Sugar, Mexican Chocolate, Coffee and Chocolate donuts for just $1.79 each! For more info on Red Rabbit and their products, check out their website at www.redrabbitbakery.com!

Also, local Fat Belly Handmade Bavarian Pretzels have arrived – these big, buttery beauties come in two flavors: a simply delicious Salted, $2.19, and gourmet Asiago-Prosciutto, $2.69! These amazing pretzels are available seven days a week, so c'mon in and check 'em out!

Fresh-baked muffins & scones await you in our Bakery case every morning, too! Come on in & start your day with a tasty pastry – perhaps our new, delectable Buttermilk Scone varieties like Bacon & Black Pepper or Sunshine Citrus? Also, be sure to check out our new Bakery table in front of the Deli Counter! On there you'll find an assortment of wrapped, sweet treats, as well as some of our fresh-baked LaBrea artisan breads – have you tried our new Kalamata Olive Loaf? Yum!

As the weather keeps warming up, our cool Deli drinks are more popular than ever! So much so that we are now featuring a Grab'n'Go Beverage Box in front of the Deli Counter filled with our icy beverages for you to grab with no wait! Expect to see sweet, fruity Gingerade, pink, refreshing Hibiscus Mint Iced Tea, and the infamously eye-opening Iced Coffee Toddy which is on sale now for owners, just $1.49, reg. $1.99!

Also on sale for owners is our brand new Chickenless Chickpea Sandwich, available from our Deli Counter and made how you like it! This vegan mock chicken salad has incredible flavor and wonderful texture. Highly recommended served on pita bread with green leaf lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, red onion and local sprouts! Try it today for just $3.99, reg. $4.99! What a deal!

Lemon Parmesan Tortellini is also on special for owners! Tasty cheese-filled pasta is tossed with artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers & shredded parmesan, in a citrusy vinaigrette! You decide if it's a meal or a side! Find it in our self-service grab'n'go case, just $7.99/lb, reg. $8.99!

Our featured salsa is Blackened Pepper Salsa, blending roasted jalapenos with salsa standards like ripe tomatoes, onions, garlic and lime to create a gorgeous and smoky orange salsa speckled with bits of green cilantro! Try some on your taco, or get a tub from grab'n'go to snack on with some El Milagro chips!

Our featured coffee is the new Iced Caramel Macchiato, which layers vanilla, your choice of whole, skim, soy or rice milk, and ice, then tops it with espresso and a beautifully cross-hatched caramel drizzle! Fancypants in your mouth!

Classic cold cuts on sale: Boar's Head Ovengold Turkey at $9.49/lb, reg. $9.99 and Provolone Cheese, $4.99/lb, reg. $5.99!