Hi Wheatsville friends!
We hope you had a good winter solstice! And, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Joyful Kwanzaa!
I also hope that you have a great New Year, but we'll have one more e-mail between now and 2010!
Scroll down for:
Holi-deli!
Grocery stocking stuffers
Cheese Island
Meat department news
Happy Holidays from your Wheatsville Deli! Christmas is coming and your co-op has you covered! We'll have all of your holiday favorites ready to go, like our Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, Leek-Roasted Carrots and Tempeh, Vegan Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls and Rosemary Biscuits! Plus homemade Pumpkin, Pecan and Vegan Coconut Cream Pies!
Our hotbar will also be Christmas inspired! We will have lots of yummy hot food for you during the holidays such as Boarshead Honey Ham in an apple Au Jous sauce and Creamy Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes. And of course, vegan cornbread stuffing! This is perfect if you are running around, too busy to cook.
The Tiny Brinie Bar is perfect for Holiday snacking. Castelvetrano olives are a fantastic way to impress friends and family with something they may have never tasted. This olive is slightly buttery, very much like a black olive, but with the bite of a green olive. The deli will also be making a new item for the Christmas holiday – Feta & roasted red pepper tortas. These tortas are great with crackers and fruit. Just take the container, score the side so that the torta will come out easy and then flip it upside down on a plate – enjoy!!!
New Year's is just around the corner. We will be making a variety of small platters for an easy quick addition to your holiday party. We have a domestic Cheese Platter – only $9.99, an Antipasta Platter – $11.99, featuring a variety of olives, salami, and roasted peppers, and a crudite platter - $9.99. Grab a bottle of Cashew Tamari Dressing and make this platter a real crowd pleaser.
In The Grocery Aisle
Last minute stocking stuffers.
Everyone loves to find candy in their stockings. We've got plenty of options at Wheatsville. There are chocolate bars of all kinds from Chocolove, Green and Black's and Equal Exchange all on sale. We've also got Q. bel Wafer Bars and Rolls with milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter. If chocolate isn't the right thing, try some Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops and hard candies in flavors like pomegranate and chili mango. Happy Holidays. Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Word from Cheese Island
The cheese department has a few sales for the holiday season. Organic Valley Pasteurized Sharp Cheddar 8 oz. is on sale for $4.49, regularly $5.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. Organic Valley Blue Cheese Crumbles is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. The blue cheese crumbles are located in the produce department in the same case as the packaged salads.
If you are still thinking of gift ideas, might I suggest a cheese, wine and cracker gift basket. We have all the wonderful items to fill your gift basket here at Wheatsville. Talk to your friendly cheese monger for suggestions
Word from the Meat Department
Wheatsville has lots of specials for this week in the meat market:
Organic Christmas turkeys (certified organic & certified humane treatment) and Spiral Hams (certified humane treatment) now while supplies last!
Organic Prairie whole Turkey 12-15# $2.99 lb (Parts will also be available for extras)
Niman Ranch bone-in Smoked spiral cut hams $6.99 lb. (Fully cooked and includes a glazing packet)
Other specials to make your holidays great:
Look for $1 off coupons for any Niman Ranch & Organic Prairie products this week till the end of the year!
Niman Ranch Boneless Rib Roast $12.99 lb. (lowest price ever!)
Niman Beef top round roasts $ 7.59 lb
Niman Beef stew meat $ 8.49 lb
Niman Salt pork $ 4.69 lb
Niman Lamb Shanks $ 7.59 lb
Niman Lamb boneless sirloin roast $ 14.99 lb
Don't forget our fresh made sausages. Try the breakfast style or sweet Italian in your turkey stuffing for the best stuffing you've ever had. All flavors $7.99 lb.
Need something to snack on? Try some snack meats: Grass-fed Summer Sausage $10.99 lb, Grass-fed snack sticks $6.99 lb, Boarshead Black Pepper Salami $6.29 ea, Niman ranch dry Italian Salami $6.99 ea & herbed $7.49 ea, Applegate farms pepperoni sliced $5.99 8oz pack, Applegate farms Organic Genoa salami $6.49 8oz pack.
Happy Holidays! Yay Rochdale Pioneers! Go co-op!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
Austin's Community Grocery since 1976. We're a funky grocery store in one of the coolest towns in the country, Austin TX. We have all kinds of great food with a focus on local and organic!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wheatsville rocks in December!
Hello Wheatsville friends!
If you are celebrating or about to celebrate any of our winter holidays, we wish you the best! We have a lot of nice and easy items to brighten these long nights and make any holiday party sparkle and taste great!
We do have some hours changes for the coming couple of weeks that you might want to make note of-
We close early on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th) at 7pm
We're closed on Christmas Day (Dec. 25th)
We will have SPECIAL HOURS on Saturday and Sunday the 26th and 27th from 10AM-10PM
We close early on New Years Eve(Dec. 31) at 9pm.
We're closed on New Year's Day (Jan. 1st)
I also want to let you know that we are doing some construction fixes to the produce back room from 12/26- about January 4th. During that time, you may find some reduction in our produce selection. We're going to do all we can to have nearly all you might be looking for, but we won't have a walk-in or normal produce back room while the construction is happening, so it will be a little challenging. Thanks in advance for rolling with this along WITH us!
I must take this opportunity to thank you so much for a tremendous, monumental, exciting and successful 2009! We're looking forward to an even better 2010 and we wish the same for you!
We're chock full with delights this week! Scroll down for:
The deli has your Christmas covered!
Meat specials
Cheese platter tips along wit some wine pairing suggestions!
Savor the produce with a recipe!
Love ChocoLove!
By Owner's request
Staff Top 10!
From the Deli
Happy Holidays from your Wheatsville Deli! Christmas is coming and your co-op has you covered! We'll have all of your holiday favorites ready to go, like our Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, Leek-Roasted Carrots and Tempeh, Vegan Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls and Rosemary Biscuits! Plus homemade Pumpkin, Pecan and Vegan Coconut Cream Pies! And be sure to keep an eye on our hot bar during the week of Christmas for some seasonal, holiday-inspired dishes!
And while the weather stays chilly, we'll be keeping a rotating selection of hot soups in our self-service Grab'n'Go case. We are packing both pints and quarts for your convenience – stick some in your fridge or freezer to warm up a quick, satisfying and hot bowl of African Peanut, Mushroom Barley or Broccoli Cheddar anytime!
The Bakery Case is brimming with all of our classic goodies, like Carrot Cake, Buttermilk Cookies and Berry Brownies! And we have just added a tray of all-new pastries for your morning delight! We are excited to introduce some new items from Austin Favorite, Sweetish Hill Bakery, into the store! We are now offering a big, buttery Croissant, Cherry & Cheese Danish, and Cinnamon Roll! Mocha! These three new items are a huge bang for your buck, both filling and delectable, and perfect alongside a hot beverage from our organic and fair-trade Espresso Bar, like the chocolaty This month, owners can save 50 cents off both sizes of our Mocha – a freshly brewed cup of coffee with your choice of steamed milk and a few squeezes of Dagoba organic chocolate syrup stirred in!
The Deli Counter shines this month with our holiday-inspired Very Berry Christmas Smoothie! Blending strawberries and raspberries with bananas, apple juice and soymilk, this frozen scarlet treat is an annual favorite!
December's Salsa of the Month is the Roasted Tomato Salsa! Oven-roasting adds sweetness to vine-ripened tomatoes and onions, and smokiness to jalapenos – when hand-blended with some fresh cilantro and lemon juice, they create a very tasty salsa! Plus, this salsa is an Owner Special for this month, on sale for just 4.49/lb!
In December, the Deli Counter is running a special on Boar's Head Ovengold Turkey, usually $9.99/lb, and on sale this month for $9.49/lb. Also on sale is Boar's Head Muenster Cheese, regularly $5.99/lb and selling this month for only $4.99/lb!
Wheatsville Co-op owners will also find our beloved and best-selling Frito Pie on sale this month! This giant pile of Frito corn chips topped with our award-winning Tempeh Chili, Monterey Jack cheese, onions and jalapenos is on sale now! Or skip the cheese for a totally vegan meal!
Whatever your tastes, come on in to your Wheatsville Deli and we're sure you'll find something you'll love! And be sure to ask for samples!
From Bryan, the Butcher
Brrrrr.... One of my favorite things about cold weather is cooking. I love to make soups, beans, stews, pot roasts and braised lamb. If you feel the same look for specials and new items in the meat case you next time into Wheatsville.
Niman Beef top round roasts $ 7.59 lb
Niman Beef stew meat $ 8.49 lb
Niman Salt pork $ 4.69 lb
Niman Lamb Shanks $ 7.59 lb
Niman Lamb boneless sirloin roast $ 14.99 lb
Get you Christmas turkeys and hams now while supplies last!
Organic Prairie whole Turkey 12-15# $2.99 lb
Niman Ranch spiral cut hams $6.99 lb.
From Greg, Captain of Cheese Island
Wondering what to do for your next christmas dinner or party? Why not impress your friends and family with a cheese plate. It is simple to present and can be served as an appetizer course, the main course or as a desert. Yes, desert. You should serve 3 to seven cheeses with a variety of textures ( soft, semi soft, firm or hard) milks and (cow, goat, ewe) and tastes (mild to strong). The amount of cheese to buy is dependent on where in the meal the cheese plate is being served. If the cheese plate is being served as an appetizer, desert or as an hour dourve 3 - 4 ounces of each cheese per person and 6 ounces if the cheese plate is the main course.
You should allow the cheeses to sit out an hour before being served. The flavors become stronger as the cheese warms.The cheese should be presented from mildest flavor to the strongest flavor, moving clockwise. Don't know which cheese is the strongest in flavor? Then use your nose. The stinkiest cheeses are usually the strongest in flavor. That means that blues are generally the last on the plate.
Use a different knife for each cheese so that the next person isn't left with a Druken Goat Cheese that tastses like English Stilton. You can garnish the plate with grape or fig leaves, sliced apples or pears, maybe some edible flowers for bling. Crackers or a crusty bread are generally served along with the cheese plate. Use plain crackers. Crackers with pepper or herbs will compete with the flavor of the cheese. Remember it is all about the cheese. You want to compliment not compete. To accompany the cheese and bread you could sever a fig spread, quince paste, olives, apples, pears and roasted nuts. Sliced onions go well with blues. Wines go great with cheese and for every good cheese, there is a good wine. Sweeter wines go better with the stronger, saltier cheeses. A good Port or Muscat would compliment a good blue.
You could give your plate a theme. Serve French cheeses from different regions and serve a wine that is from each region. Remember, it's all up to you and your cheese plate can be anything you want. There are no rules. Happy pairing!!!
The cheese department has a few sales for the holiday season. Organic Valley Pasteurized Sharp Cheddar 8 oz. is on sale for $4.49, regularly $5.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. Organic Valley Blue Cheese Crumbles is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. The blue cheese crumbles are located in the produce department in the same case as the packaged salads.
If you are still thinking of gift ideas, might I suggest a cheese, wine and cracker gift basket. We have all the wonderful items to fill your gift basket here at Wheatsville. Talk to your friendly cheese monger for suggestions.
Savoring the Season in produce! with Johnny Livesay
I hope everyone is enjoying the tangerines and other citrus right now. If you haven't eaten any, feel free to ask me or any other produce clerk to open one up for you. The Texas citrus has been really great so far. This week we have Texas Meyer lemons, sunburst tangerines, Rio Star grapefruit, Marrs oranges (loose and in 3 lb bags for juicing) and bower tangerines. We also have delicious satsuma tangerines and navel oranges. Look for more citrus in the coming weeks and enjoy these fruits while they are in season to taste the difference.
What's Local?
In addition to the citrus fruits mentioned above, we have some nice fall and winter vegetables available as well: turnips with tops, jalepenos and serranos from Onion Creek Farm, Kitchen Pride mushrooms, Amador Farms hydroponic bibb lettuce, Texas Naturals Red Kale, and Texas Fuji apples from the panhandle.
Chestnuts
As a Texan, I'm not too familiar with chestnuts, yet after having them I feel like I've been missing out. Commonly referred to as 'tree potatoes' in Europe, chestnuts can be used similarly and have a delicate, nutty flavor. They are a little difficult to get into, but once you do...YUM. Here is a really easy and delicious recipe to utilize them:
Braised Cabbage with Chestnuts
2lb red cabbage
1 lb chestnuts, boiled and peeled
6 Tbsp butter
Chicken stock to cover
salt and pepper to taste
1. With a sharp knife, cut an X in the flat-side of the chestnuts. Bring about two quarts of salted water to a boil and add the chestnuts, boil for 10 minutes. Peel and set aside (you must boil them to get them open, do not eat raw chestnuts).
2. Cut cabbage in half and remove the core. Slice thinly. In a large saute pan, or medium sized pot, add the butter and heat over a medium heat.
3. Add cabbage and chestnuts and stir well to coat with butter. Cook fro 2-3 minutes. Add chicken stock to cover. Bring braise to a simmer, reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer, cover and cook for 45 minutes. Stir often. When 45 minutes have passed add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with roasted pork or beef or by itself. To make this recipe vegan/vegetarian, substitute Earth Balance for butter and Imagine No Chicken Broth for the chicken stock.
In the Grocery Aisle with Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Chocolove Mini Chocolate Bars:
New from Chocolove! Wheatsville has Mini Chocolate Bars in six varieties on sale right now for 79 cents each. It's a treat that you don't feel so bad about when you realize you've eaten the whole thing. They're the same Chocolove flavors that we know and love, but in at a price and size that are easier to swallow. Of course, we do have the full-size ones on sale right now too.http://www.chocolove.com/ These make EXCELLENT stocking stuffers!
BY OWNER REQUEST—Niki Nash, Wheatsville Merchandising Manager
This week's product we brought in by owner request is Kinnikinnik S'moreables Graham Style Crackers. These crackers are gluten-free and delicious! They're located in the cookie aisle, very close to the vegan marshmallows and the fair-trade chocolate. Yes, that means you can now make a gluten-free, vegan, fair trade S'more! Yum!
Staff Top Ten Picks!
Check out our "Staff Top Ten Picks" posted throughout the store, we work here and shop here!!!
Look for the green signs in front of the products.
From Lucio Gamboa, Cashier & Bagger
1. Smoked Gouda from Holland: I want to eat my way out of this.
2. Niman Ranch Apple Gouda Sausage: Everything about this is delicious.
3. Helwa Choco Wafers: The perfect treat.
4. Spaten Optimator : Will keep you warm and buzzin' this winter.
5. Garden of Eatin' Guac Chips: Add cheese to these and its nachos!
6. Almond Krinkles (in bulk): Make my mornings so much better.
7. Sambazon Amazon Cherry Smoothie Packs: Who needs a smoothie when they taste so good?
8. Bubbie's Sauerkraut: Makes my heart go pitter patter.
9. Pureluck Del Cielo: Del Cielo + bread = Heaven
10. Quorn Gruyere Cutlets: They make great sandwiches.
From Stacy Lamy, Cashier
Wheat-free Thai Style Pasta- kinda spicy deliciousness. Peanuts make it crunchy. Best when warmed up.
La Croix (lah-qwah) - Lime goes great with Mexican fare, mixed berry with everything else. Great price!
The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Lip Balm- Great texture and yummy flavors. From the great land of Oregon!
Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (soy-free variety)- Never thought I'd find a substitute for butter, but...VOILA!
Texas Longhorns (dark chocolate)- Oh My! I get some when I've been a good girl :)
Pyrenees Cheese with Green Pepper- A little sweet, creamy and peppery...the cheese they eat in heaven.
Aura Cacia Essential Oils- Blend equal parts: clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon for an immunity boosting bacteria killer. Use topically.
Gala Apples- My most "favoritest" apple. Grab some crunchy bulk peanut butter and munch out!
Ravenswood Zinfandel- Always pleasant, never rude. My first Zin is my favorite. From California.
Adbusters Magazine- This stellar publication makes me think, feel and question.
I hope that you have a great week!
Dan
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
If you are celebrating or about to celebrate any of our winter holidays, we wish you the best! We have a lot of nice and easy items to brighten these long nights and make any holiday party sparkle and taste great!
We do have some hours changes for the coming couple of weeks that you might want to make note of-
We close early on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th) at 7pm
We're closed on Christmas Day (Dec. 25th)
We will have SPECIAL HOURS on Saturday and Sunday the 26th and 27th from 10AM-10PM
We close early on New Years Eve(Dec. 31) at 9pm.
We're closed on New Year's Day (Jan. 1st)
I also want to let you know that we are doing some construction fixes to the produce back room from 12/26- about January 4th. During that time, you may find some reduction in our produce selection. We're going to do all we can to have nearly all you might be looking for, but we won't have a walk-in or normal produce back room while the construction is happening, so it will be a little challenging. Thanks in advance for rolling with this along WITH us!
I must take this opportunity to thank you so much for a tremendous, monumental, exciting and successful 2009! We're looking forward to an even better 2010 and we wish the same for you!
We're chock full with delights this week! Scroll down for:
The deli has your Christmas covered!
Meat specials
Cheese platter tips along wit some wine pairing suggestions!
Savor the produce with a recipe!
Love ChocoLove!
By Owner's request
Staff Top 10!
From the Deli
Happy Holidays from your Wheatsville Deli! Christmas is coming and your co-op has you covered! We'll have all of your holiday favorites ready to go, like our Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, Leek-Roasted Carrots and Tempeh, Vegan Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls and Rosemary Biscuits! Plus homemade Pumpkin, Pecan and Vegan Coconut Cream Pies! And be sure to keep an eye on our hot bar during the week of Christmas for some seasonal, holiday-inspired dishes!
And while the weather stays chilly, we'll be keeping a rotating selection of hot soups in our self-service Grab'n'Go case. We are packing both pints and quarts for your convenience – stick some in your fridge or freezer to warm up a quick, satisfying and hot bowl of African Peanut, Mushroom Barley or Broccoli Cheddar anytime!
The Bakery Case is brimming with all of our classic goodies, like Carrot Cake, Buttermilk Cookies and Berry Brownies! And we have just added a tray of all-new pastries for your morning delight! We are excited to introduce some new items from Austin Favorite, Sweetish Hill Bakery, into the store! We are now offering a big, buttery Croissant, Cherry & Cheese Danish, and Cinnamon Roll! Mocha! These three new items are a huge bang for your buck, both filling and delectable, and perfect alongside a hot beverage from our organic and fair-trade Espresso Bar, like the chocolaty This month, owners can save 50 cents off both sizes of our Mocha – a freshly brewed cup of coffee with your choice of steamed milk and a few squeezes of Dagoba organic chocolate syrup stirred in!
The Deli Counter shines this month with our holiday-inspired Very Berry Christmas Smoothie! Blending strawberries and raspberries with bananas, apple juice and soymilk, this frozen scarlet treat is an annual favorite!
December's Salsa of the Month is the Roasted Tomato Salsa! Oven-roasting adds sweetness to vine-ripened tomatoes and onions, and smokiness to jalapenos – when hand-blended with some fresh cilantro and lemon juice, they create a very tasty salsa! Plus, this salsa is an Owner Special for this month, on sale for just 4.49/lb!
In December, the Deli Counter is running a special on Boar's Head Ovengold Turkey, usually $9.99/lb, and on sale this month for $9.49/lb. Also on sale is Boar's Head Muenster Cheese, regularly $5.99/lb and selling this month for only $4.99/lb!
Wheatsville Co-op owners will also find our beloved and best-selling Frito Pie on sale this month! This giant pile of Frito corn chips topped with our award-winning Tempeh Chili, Monterey Jack cheese, onions and jalapenos is on sale now! Or skip the cheese for a totally vegan meal!
Whatever your tastes, come on in to your Wheatsville Deli and we're sure you'll find something you'll love! And be sure to ask for samples!
From Bryan, the Butcher
Brrrrr.... One of my favorite things about cold weather is cooking. I love to make soups, beans, stews, pot roasts and braised lamb. If you feel the same look for specials and new items in the meat case you next time into Wheatsville.
Niman Beef top round roasts $ 7.59 lb
Niman Beef stew meat $ 8.49 lb
Niman Salt pork $ 4.69 lb
Niman Lamb Shanks $ 7.59 lb
Niman Lamb boneless sirloin roast $ 14.99 lb
Get you Christmas turkeys and hams now while supplies last!
Organic Prairie whole Turkey 12-15# $2.99 lb
Niman Ranch spiral cut hams $6.99 lb.
From Greg, Captain of Cheese Island
Wondering what to do for your next christmas dinner or party? Why not impress your friends and family with a cheese plate. It is simple to present and can be served as an appetizer course, the main course or as a desert. Yes, desert. You should serve 3 to seven cheeses with a variety of textures ( soft, semi soft, firm or hard) milks and (cow, goat, ewe) and tastes (mild to strong). The amount of cheese to buy is dependent on where in the meal the cheese plate is being served. If the cheese plate is being served as an appetizer, desert or as an hour dourve 3 - 4 ounces of each cheese per person and 6 ounces if the cheese plate is the main course.
You should allow the cheeses to sit out an hour before being served. The flavors become stronger as the cheese warms.The cheese should be presented from mildest flavor to the strongest flavor, moving clockwise. Don't know which cheese is the strongest in flavor? Then use your nose. The stinkiest cheeses are usually the strongest in flavor. That means that blues are generally the last on the plate.
Use a different knife for each cheese so that the next person isn't left with a Druken Goat Cheese that tastses like English Stilton. You can garnish the plate with grape or fig leaves, sliced apples or pears, maybe some edible flowers for bling. Crackers or a crusty bread are generally served along with the cheese plate. Use plain crackers. Crackers with pepper or herbs will compete with the flavor of the cheese. Remember it is all about the cheese. You want to compliment not compete. To accompany the cheese and bread you could sever a fig spread, quince paste, olives, apples, pears and roasted nuts. Sliced onions go well with blues. Wines go great with cheese and for every good cheese, there is a good wine. Sweeter wines go better with the stronger, saltier cheeses. A good Port or Muscat would compliment a good blue.
You could give your plate a theme. Serve French cheeses from different regions and serve a wine that is from each region. Remember, it's all up to you and your cheese plate can be anything you want. There are no rules. Happy pairing!!!
The cheese department has a few sales for the holiday season. Organic Valley Pasteurized Sharp Cheddar 8 oz. is on sale for $4.49, regularly $5.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. Organic Valley Blue Cheese Crumbles is on sale for $3.49, regularly $4.29. The blue cheese crumbles are located in the produce department in the same case as the packaged salads.
If you are still thinking of gift ideas, might I suggest a cheese, wine and cracker gift basket. We have all the wonderful items to fill your gift basket here at Wheatsville. Talk to your friendly cheese monger for suggestions.
Savoring the Season in produce! with Johnny Livesay
I hope everyone is enjoying the tangerines and other citrus right now. If you haven't eaten any, feel free to ask me or any other produce clerk to open one up for you. The Texas citrus has been really great so far. This week we have Texas Meyer lemons, sunburst tangerines, Rio Star grapefruit, Marrs oranges (loose and in 3 lb bags for juicing) and bower tangerines. We also have delicious satsuma tangerines and navel oranges. Look for more citrus in the coming weeks and enjoy these fruits while they are in season to taste the difference.
What's Local?
In addition to the citrus fruits mentioned above, we have some nice fall and winter vegetables available as well: turnips with tops, jalepenos and serranos from Onion Creek Farm, Kitchen Pride mushrooms, Amador Farms hydroponic bibb lettuce, Texas Naturals Red Kale, and Texas Fuji apples from the panhandle.
Chestnuts
As a Texan, I'm not too familiar with chestnuts, yet after having them I feel like I've been missing out. Commonly referred to as 'tree potatoes' in Europe, chestnuts can be used similarly and have a delicate, nutty flavor. They are a little difficult to get into, but once you do...YUM. Here is a really easy and delicious recipe to utilize them:
Braised Cabbage with Chestnuts
2lb red cabbage
1 lb chestnuts, boiled and peeled
6 Tbsp butter
Chicken stock to cover
salt and pepper to taste
1. With a sharp knife, cut an X in the flat-side of the chestnuts. Bring about two quarts of salted water to a boil and add the chestnuts, boil for 10 minutes. Peel and set aside (you must boil them to get them open, do not eat raw chestnuts).
2. Cut cabbage in half and remove the core. Slice thinly. In a large saute pan, or medium sized pot, add the butter and heat over a medium heat.
3. Add cabbage and chestnuts and stir well to coat with butter. Cook fro 2-3 minutes. Add chicken stock to cover. Bring braise to a simmer, reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer, cover and cook for 45 minutes. Stir often. When 45 minutes have passed add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with roasted pork or beef or by itself. To make this recipe vegan/vegetarian, substitute Earth Balance for butter and Imagine No Chicken Broth for the chicken stock.
In the Grocery Aisle with Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Chocolove Mini Chocolate Bars:
New from Chocolove! Wheatsville has Mini Chocolate Bars in six varieties on sale right now for 79 cents each. It's a treat that you don't feel so bad about when you realize you've eaten the whole thing. They're the same Chocolove flavors that we know and love, but in at a price and size that are easier to swallow. Of course, we do have the full-size ones on sale right now too.http://www.chocolove.com/ These make EXCELLENT stocking stuffers!
BY OWNER REQUEST—Niki Nash, Wheatsville Merchandising Manager
This week's product we brought in by owner request is Kinnikinnik S'moreables Graham Style Crackers. These crackers are gluten-free and delicious! They're located in the cookie aisle, very close to the vegan marshmallows and the fair-trade chocolate. Yes, that means you can now make a gluten-free, vegan, fair trade S'more! Yum!
Staff Top Ten Picks!
Check out our "Staff Top Ten Picks" posted throughout the store, we work here and shop here!!!
Look for the green signs in front of the products.
From Lucio Gamboa, Cashier & Bagger
1. Smoked Gouda from Holland: I want to eat my way out of this.
2. Niman Ranch Apple Gouda Sausage: Everything about this is delicious.
3. Helwa Choco Wafers: The perfect treat.
4. Spaten Optimator : Will keep you warm and buzzin' this winter.
5. Garden of Eatin' Guac Chips: Add cheese to these and its nachos!
6. Almond Krinkles (in bulk): Make my mornings so much better.
7. Sambazon Amazon Cherry Smoothie Packs: Who needs a smoothie when they taste so good?
8. Bubbie's Sauerkraut: Makes my heart go pitter patter.
9. Pureluck Del Cielo: Del Cielo + bread = Heaven
10. Quorn Gruyere Cutlets: They make great sandwiches.
From Stacy Lamy, Cashier
Wheat-free Thai Style Pasta- kinda spicy deliciousness. Peanuts make it crunchy. Best when warmed up.
La Croix (lah-qwah) - Lime goes great with Mexican fare, mixed berry with everything else. Great price!
The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Lip Balm- Great texture and yummy flavors. From the great land of Oregon!
Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (soy-free variety)- Never thought I'd find a substitute for butter, but...VOILA!
Texas Longhorns (dark chocolate)- Oh My! I get some when I've been a good girl :)
Pyrenees Cheese with Green Pepper- A little sweet, creamy and peppery...the cheese they eat in heaven.
Aura Cacia Essential Oils- Blend equal parts: clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon for an immunity boosting bacteria killer. Use topically.
Gala Apples- My most "favoritest" apple. Grab some crunchy bulk peanut butter and munch out!
Ravenswood Zinfandel- Always pleasant, never rude. My first Zin is my favorite. From California.
Adbusters Magazine- This stellar publication makes me think, feel and question.
I hope that you have a great week!
Dan
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tour YOUR store!
Hi friends,
apologies for the second e-mail, but I failed to include the most pressing announcement!
On Saturday Dec. 12th, (TOMORROW!) please join me at noon at the Hospitality Desk for a tour of YOUR store!
See the amazing Kitchen that cooks all of our delicious food!
Experience the back room where all the receiving excitement happens!
Marvel at our new facility and its green and aesthetic features.
Meet at the Hospitality Desk. There will be snacks!
Dan Gillotte
GM, e-mail guy and mysteries of the backstore tour guide!
apologies for the second e-mail, but I failed to include the most pressing announcement!
On Saturday Dec. 12th, (TOMORROW!) please join me at noon at the Hospitality Desk for a tour of YOUR store!
See the amazing Kitchen that cooks all of our delicious food!
Experience the back room where all the receiving excitement happens!
Marvel at our new facility and its green and aesthetic features.
Meet at the Hospitality Desk. There will be snacks!
Dan Gillotte
GM, e-mail guy and mysteries of the backstore tour guide!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Happy December!
Hope you are having a great December!
We just concluded the 2009 election. Thanks to all the candidates and all who voted!
Welcome new and re-elected board members!
As you know, the 2009 Co-op Vote was concluded last night, and the Board of Directors has certified the results. As such, Board President Rose Marie Klee is pleased to present the Director election results:
3-year terms:
Theron Beaudreau
Kitten Holloway
Lee Blaney
2-year terms:
Kate Vickery
Doug Addison
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Owners of Wheatsville Co-op, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all candidates! It is you who become interested and engaged in leadership and oversight of our precious organization, who help ensure our ongoing success.
2010 Community Action Wednesday Groups and their month
2010 Community Action Schedule
January People's Community Clinic
February Safeplace
March Sustainable Food Center
April Ecology Action
May Yellow Bike Project
June Texans for Midwifery
July EmanciPet
August Hospice Austin
September Meals on Wheels and More
October Capital Area Food Bank
Housewares for the Holidays!
We have lots of fun stuff for the holidays in our Housewares Department. Andes Gifts offers fairly traded hats, gloves, ear warmers, kids and baby hats, hand and finger puppets. Hempy's hats are back, along with their wallets. Handmade Expressions has bags and journals. Shanti Imports has shoulder bags, purses and wallets from Guatemala. Bonnie B-Wear has beautiful handmade bags or purses. Back for the season are the handmade South African candles and coming Monday are Barth's beeswax frankincense and myrrh candles. Soy Delite candles are back for good! We also have beeswax and aromatherapy candles , made with solar power, from Sunbeam Candles. Austin Natural Soaps has 3 sampler sets, Lone Star, Flower Power and Austin Power. Blue Heron Photos, local photographer Ron Dessain, has mated nature and animal photos and greeting cards. Cotton holiday dish towel have also arrived. We have a lot more fun gifts for you, so come visit our Housewares Department soon!
Beer tastes good!
BEER TASTING DECEMBER 19th from 2:00 to 4:00! Please join us at the co-op for an historic event, our first ever beer tasting! Tom Allen, the owner of North Coast Brewery will be sampling three amazing beers including my own personal favorite beer, Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. A pioneer in the craft beer movement, North Coast Brewery opened in 1988 as a local brewpub in the historic town of Fort Bragg, located on California's Mendocino Coast. Under the leadership of brew master Mark Ruedrich, the brewery has developed a strong reputation for quality having won more than 70 awards in national and international competitions. Tom Allen will be sampling the following beers. Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great. Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish. Le Merle Belgian Style Farmhouse is a rustic ale, pale in color, inspired by the rich brewing traditions of the Flanders region. Abundant hops and a Belgian yeast strain contribute exotic aromas of tropical fruit. Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale is like a Belgian "Dark Strong Ale", the beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%. The package is a 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish or 12oz 4 packs and features a label picturing the jazz master himself. Please come by the Co-op to meet Tom and try these fantastic brews!
BY OWNER REQUEST!
New frozen ice cream treats! Look in the ice cream side of the freezer doors for new delights such as Julie's Organic GLUTEN FREE Ice Cream Sandwiches. Delicious vanilla ice cream is sandwiched between two chocolatey GlutenFreeda brand cookies. If cow-milk's not your thing try LaLoo's Goat's Milk Ice Cream Sandwiches in Vanilla Snowflake flavor. If you're looking for a non-dairy frozen treat check out Rice Dream's new Rice Dream Bites-bite size nuggets of sweet vanilla rice milk coated in rich thick chocolate. Nom!
Thanks for your suggestions for new products!
-Niki Nash WV Merchandising Manager
In The Grocery Aisle
Mimic Crème Cream Substitute:
We now have both sweetened and unsweetened varieties of Mimic Crème at Wheatsville. Mimic Crème is a non-dairy cream substitute made from almonds and cashews instead of soy. They are also gluten free and vegan. Mimic Crème is a perfect alternative for cream in any recipe, and a very useful item in this dessert friendly season. Find recipes, comments and more about this product at http://www.mimiccreme.com
Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Winter Produce Bonanza!
'Tis the Season, Citrus Season
Mother Nature knows. Is it a coincidence that citrus season occurs when we need vitamin c the most, flu season? Is it also a coincidence that you happen to live in an area that may grow some of the finest citrus in the world? Right now in produce, we've got Texas Rio Star grapefruit, mars oranges, Valencia bags, meyer lemons and bower tangerines. We also have delicious Satsuma and daisy tangerines. In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for more selection of delicious citrus.
A Staff Favorite for You!
Several of our staff members have told me recently that they really love the new Organic Girl salad kits. Unlike the other clamshells of greens we sell, the Organic Girl packages are complete salad kits, with dressing and other goodies like croutons and berries. We currently offer the Caesar and Balsamic and Berries kits in the tall salad cooler for $4.59. Check'em out!
Brussels
This has been a great year for Brussels sprouts already. The sprouts on the stalks, despite their gnarly appearance (they look like old-school maces to me!) , seem to have caught on pretty well. Also the loose sprouts have been looking great, and have a nice sweetness to them! Yay for little cabbages.
Eat Your Greens
It is also the beginning of greens season. Greens are amazing and you really should eat more of them, c'mon! The kale is looking really great right now, and the collards of your dreams are starting to come in. With the weather cooling down, the greens start to take on a nice sweetness. 'Tis the season!
Bananas
Despite our cooler weather, this is the time to eat bananas at the peak of their season. Since they are mostly a Southern Hemisphere crop, enjoy the taste of summer in the heart of our "winter."
From Bryan, the Butcher
Hey stop by the meat case for some new items:
Rainbow Trout (de-boned) sustainably raised by www.rushingwaters.net $18.99 lb in the seafood counter.
Hot links by Richardson's Farms $8.49 lb in the freezer Niman Ranch spiral cut bone-in ham $6.99 lb This months owner specials:
Beef Top Round Roast $7.59 lb
Beef Stew Meat $8.49 lb
Organic Ground Turkey $4.99 lb
Plan ahead for christmas, wheatsville has Organic Prairie turkeys for $2.99 lb. Average weights are between 13-15 pounds. Super price for a certified organic turkeys take one home to the folks.
From Greg, on Cheese Island
The cheese department has a few sales for the holiday season. Organic Valley Pasteurized Sharp Cheddar 8 oz. is on sale for 4.49, regularly 5.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan is on sale for 3.49, regularly 4.29. Organic Valley Blue Cheese Crumbles is on sale for 3.49, regularly 4.29. The blue cheese crumbles are located in the produce department in the same case as the packaged salads.
If you are still thinking of gift ideas, might I suggest a cheese, wine and cracker gift basket. We have all the wonderful items to fill your gift basket here at Wheatsville. Talk to your friendly cheese monger for suggestions.
Have a great week!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
We just concluded the 2009 election. Thanks to all the candidates and all who voted!
Welcome new and re-elected board members!
As you know, the 2009 Co-op Vote was concluded last night, and the Board of Directors has certified the results. As such, Board President Rose Marie Klee is pleased to present the Director election results:
3-year terms:
Theron Beaudreau
Kitten Holloway
Lee Blaney
2-year terms:
Kate Vickery
Doug Addison
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Owners of Wheatsville Co-op, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all candidates! It is you who become interested and engaged in leadership and oversight of our precious organization, who help ensure our ongoing success.
2010 Community Action Wednesday Groups and their month
2010 Community Action Schedule
January People's Community Clinic
February Safeplace
March Sustainable Food Center
April Ecology Action
May Yellow Bike Project
June Texans for Midwifery
July EmanciPet
August Hospice Austin
September Meals on Wheels and More
October Capital Area Food Bank
Housewares for the Holidays!
We have lots of fun stuff for the holidays in our Housewares Department. Andes Gifts offers fairly traded hats, gloves, ear warmers, kids and baby hats, hand and finger puppets. Hempy's hats are back, along with their wallets. Handmade Expressions has bags and journals. Shanti Imports has shoulder bags, purses and wallets from Guatemala. Bonnie B-Wear has beautiful handmade bags or purses. Back for the season are the handmade South African candles and coming Monday are Barth's beeswax frankincense and myrrh candles. Soy Delite candles are back for good! We also have beeswax and aromatherapy candles , made with solar power, from Sunbeam Candles. Austin Natural Soaps has 3 sampler sets, Lone Star, Flower Power and Austin Power. Blue Heron Photos, local photographer Ron Dessain, has mated nature and animal photos and greeting cards. Cotton holiday dish towel have also arrived. We have a lot more fun gifts for you, so come visit our Housewares Department soon!
Beer tastes good!
BEER TASTING DECEMBER 19th from 2:00 to 4:00! Please join us at the co-op for an historic event, our first ever beer tasting! Tom Allen, the owner of North Coast Brewery will be sampling three amazing beers including my own personal favorite beer, Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. A pioneer in the craft beer movement, North Coast Brewery opened in 1988 as a local brewpub in the historic town of Fort Bragg, located on California's Mendocino Coast. Under the leadership of brew master Mark Ruedrich, the brewery has developed a strong reputation for quality having won more than 70 awards in national and international competitions. Tom Allen will be sampling the following beers. Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great. Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish. Le Merle Belgian Style Farmhouse is a rustic ale, pale in color, inspired by the rich brewing traditions of the Flanders region. Abundant hops and a Belgian yeast strain contribute exotic aromas of tropical fruit. Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale is like a Belgian "Dark Strong Ale", the beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%. The package is a 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish or 12oz 4 packs and features a label picturing the jazz master himself. Please come by the Co-op to meet Tom and try these fantastic brews!
BY OWNER REQUEST!
New frozen ice cream treats! Look in the ice cream side of the freezer doors for new delights such as Julie's Organic GLUTEN FREE Ice Cream Sandwiches. Delicious vanilla ice cream is sandwiched between two chocolatey GlutenFreeda brand cookies. If cow-milk's not your thing try LaLoo's Goat's Milk Ice Cream Sandwiches in Vanilla Snowflake flavor. If you're looking for a non-dairy frozen treat check out Rice Dream's new Rice Dream Bites-bite size nuggets of sweet vanilla rice milk coated in rich thick chocolate. Nom!
Thanks for your suggestions for new products!
-Niki Nash WV Merchandising Manager
In The Grocery Aisle
Mimic Crème Cream Substitute:
We now have both sweetened and unsweetened varieties of Mimic Crème at Wheatsville. Mimic Crème is a non-dairy cream substitute made from almonds and cashews instead of soy. They are also gluten free and vegan. Mimic Crème is a perfect alternative for cream in any recipe, and a very useful item in this dessert friendly season. Find recipes, comments and more about this product at http://www.mimiccreme.com
Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Winter Produce Bonanza!
'Tis the Season, Citrus Season
Mother Nature knows. Is it a coincidence that citrus season occurs when we need vitamin c the most, flu season? Is it also a coincidence that you happen to live in an area that may grow some of the finest citrus in the world? Right now in produce, we've got Texas Rio Star grapefruit, mars oranges, Valencia bags, meyer lemons and bower tangerines. We also have delicious Satsuma and daisy tangerines. In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for more selection of delicious citrus.
A Staff Favorite for You!
Several of our staff members have told me recently that they really love the new Organic Girl salad kits. Unlike the other clamshells of greens we sell, the Organic Girl packages are complete salad kits, with dressing and other goodies like croutons and berries. We currently offer the Caesar and Balsamic and Berries kits in the tall salad cooler for $4.59. Check'em out!
Brussels
This has been a great year for Brussels sprouts already. The sprouts on the stalks, despite their gnarly appearance (they look like old-school maces to me!) , seem to have caught on pretty well. Also the loose sprouts have been looking great, and have a nice sweetness to them! Yay for little cabbages.
Eat Your Greens
It is also the beginning of greens season. Greens are amazing and you really should eat more of them, c'mon! The kale is looking really great right now, and the collards of your dreams are starting to come in. With the weather cooling down, the greens start to take on a nice sweetness. 'Tis the season!
Bananas
Despite our cooler weather, this is the time to eat bananas at the peak of their season. Since they are mostly a Southern Hemisphere crop, enjoy the taste of summer in the heart of our "winter."
From Bryan, the Butcher
Hey stop by the meat case for some new items:
Rainbow Trout (de-boned) sustainably raised by www.rushingwaters.net $18.99 lb in the seafood counter.
Hot links by Richardson's Farms $8.49 lb in the freezer Niman Ranch spiral cut bone-in ham $6.99 lb This months owner specials:
Beef Top Round Roast $7.59 lb
Beef Stew Meat $8.49 lb
Organic Ground Turkey $4.99 lb
Plan ahead for christmas, wheatsville has Organic Prairie turkeys for $2.99 lb. Average weights are between 13-15 pounds. Super price for a certified organic turkeys take one home to the folks.
From Greg, on Cheese Island
The cheese department has a few sales for the holiday season. Organic Valley Pasteurized Sharp Cheddar 8 oz. is on sale for 4.49, regularly 5.29. Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan is on sale for 3.49, regularly 4.29. Organic Valley Blue Cheese Crumbles is on sale for 3.49, regularly 4.29. The blue cheese crumbles are located in the produce department in the same case as the packaged salads.
If you are still thinking of gift ideas, might I suggest a cheese, wine and cracker gift basket. We have all the wonderful items to fill your gift basket here at Wheatsville. Talk to your friendly cheese monger for suggestions.
Have a great week!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Artsfest this weekend, Vote and Texas Olive Oil!
Happy December everyone!
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We sure did. Thanks to you Wheatsville had its biggest and best Thanksgiving ever.
I want to share a couple of comments we received that made us feel great. From Twitter on the night before Thanksgiving "Wheatsville=best grocery store ever. 5 diff ppl just helped me & i didnt even have 2 ask. & it's fairly uncrazy in there. Go give them ur $."
From Facebook: "thank you for making my first vegetarian thanksgiving a succesful and easy one! I would have been lost if it wasn't for your great vegan gravy and selection of alternative meats!!!"
And, my favorite Yelp review lately:
"i went to wheatsville this weekend, for the first time since the massive redesign/revamp, and boy was i impressed. i always loved the charm of wheatsville when in college, and years later, driving by such a great example of grocery store done right brings a smile to my face.
walking into wheatsville, you are immediately greeted by fresh, local, and organic produce. everything is clearly and lovingly labeled with state/country of origin, and organic or conventional farming methods. the staff are friendly and plentiful, and never made me feel like i wasn't part of some elite vegan master-race.
moving on from the produce, the meat freezer and fridge has labels to inform you just how many miles your beef, chicken, or pork travelled to get to said fridge. how awesome is that.
my only complaint about wheatsville is that it is so great, i wanted to spend most of my paycheck here.
congrats on the renovations, wheatsville, and i think i'll be seeing you again soon."
ArtsBEST!
We are very very excited around here because this weekend is the Wheatsville Artsfest! This 2 day arts, crafts and music festival is truly an Austin tradition and one of our favorite weekends of the year. I hope you can make it down between 10 and 5 this weekend. This year, the first in our new store finds us stretching the festival out all over the neighborhood with the help of our friends up and down the street. Look for artists at My Cleaners across the street from Wheatsville and at the plaza with Tom's Tabooley, SOnny's Vintage and Antone's Records. And, art and music at Spider House and the I Love Video and EcoClean parking lot! I'll include a schedule of music at the end of the e-mail. This is truly a team effort and we hope you have a really fun time! Parking is always a challenge for Artsfest so we ask you to consider bussing, walking or biking to the festival if possible. If you do have to drive, please consider parking in the neighborhoods around the festival to free up parking spots at the store for people simply trying to grocery shop. We would sure appreciate it! If you're trying to shop this weekend. I recommend shopping early (we do open at 7:30 am these days) or come by AFTER Artsfest at 6 or later to have the easiest parking time. Thank you in advance for your support of the Artsfest and the store! We sure do appreciate it!
It really is one of the coolest chances to meet local artists and craftspeople and get any gift buying you need to do accomplished locally! (And yes, anything you buy for yourself at Artsfest can be considered a gift!)
Come for the Artsfest, stay for the breakfast, lunch and dinner! We'll have our normal lovely offerings from the deli and our delicious hot bar will be open from 11-7 to fill you up with our awesome victuals! And, experience our brand new heaters on the patio starting this weekend
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Vote. Seriously. The vote ends on Dec. 9th at 6pm. And that is COMING RIGHT UP! Vote on-line at http://wheatsville.coop/election/index.html
We have some really great board candidates this year as well as some truly deserving charitable organizations. Please take a few moments, review the candidates and issues and vote! Thanks you for your participation.
In The Grocery Aisle with Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
It's a new month and that means NEW specials! Check out the link for a pdf of our monthly Co-op Advantage Deals! http://wheatsville.coop/CAP%20flyers/SW1209.pdf In addition to deals, it has recipes for Spiced Eggnog Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust, Almond Shortbread, and Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus. Check it out!
Texas Olive Ranch Flavored Olive Oils:
New at Wheatsville are the Mesquite and Garlic olive oils from Texas Olive Ranch. These tasty oils are made from arbequina olives grown in Texas. The mesquite oil has been a common ingredient in my house lately. This extra virgin olive oil is actually smoked instead having premade smoke flavor added. The taste is authentic and delicious. I've been quite impressed with it. Read more at http://texasoliveranch.com/
I hope to see you this weekend!
Have a great week,
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
Live Music on the Wheatsville Stage
Saturday—
10:00am The Telephone Company
11:30am BBR
1:00pm lili and walter
2:30pm Toni Price
4:00pm Ted Roddy
Sunday—
10:00am gfire
11:30am The Vermeers
1:00pm Justin Rayfield
2:30pm The Studebakers
4:00pm Diana Cantu Band
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We sure did. Thanks to you Wheatsville had its biggest and best Thanksgiving ever.
I want to share a couple of comments we received that made us feel great. From Twitter on the night before Thanksgiving "Wheatsville=best grocery store ever. 5 diff ppl just helped me & i didnt even have 2 ask. & it's fairly uncrazy in there. Go give them ur $."
From Facebook: "thank you for making my first vegetarian thanksgiving a succesful and easy one! I would have been lost if it wasn't for your great vegan gravy and selection of alternative meats!!!"
And, my favorite Yelp review lately:
"i went to wheatsville this weekend, for the first time since the massive redesign/revamp, and boy was i impressed. i always loved the charm of wheatsville when in college, and years later, driving by such a great example of grocery store done right brings a smile to my face.
walking into wheatsville, you are immediately greeted by fresh, local, and organic produce. everything is clearly and lovingly labeled with state/country of origin, and organic or conventional farming methods. the staff are friendly and plentiful, and never made me feel like i wasn't part of some elite vegan master-race.
moving on from the produce, the meat freezer and fridge has labels to inform you just how many miles your beef, chicken, or pork travelled to get to said fridge. how awesome is that.
my only complaint about wheatsville is that it is so great, i wanted to spend most of my paycheck here.
congrats on the renovations, wheatsville, and i think i'll be seeing you again soon."
ArtsBEST!
We are very very excited around here because this weekend is the Wheatsville Artsfest! This 2 day arts, crafts and music festival is truly an Austin tradition and one of our favorite weekends of the year. I hope you can make it down between 10 and 5 this weekend. This year, the first in our new store finds us stretching the festival out all over the neighborhood with the help of our friends up and down the street. Look for artists at My Cleaners across the street from Wheatsville and at the plaza with Tom's Tabooley, SOnny's Vintage and Antone's Records. And, art and music at Spider House and the I Love Video and EcoClean parking lot! I'll include a schedule of music at the end of the e-mail. This is truly a team effort and we hope you have a really fun time! Parking is always a challenge for Artsfest so we ask you to consider bussing, walking or biking to the festival if possible. If you do have to drive, please consider parking in the neighborhoods around the festival to free up parking spots at the store for people simply trying to grocery shop. We would sure appreciate it! If you're trying to shop this weekend. I recommend shopping early (we do open at 7:30 am these days) or come by AFTER Artsfest at 6 or later to have the easiest parking time. Thank you in advance for your support of the Artsfest and the store! We sure do appreciate it!
It really is one of the coolest chances to meet local artists and craftspeople and get any gift buying you need to do accomplished locally! (And yes, anything you buy for yourself at Artsfest can be considered a gift!)
Come for the Artsfest, stay for the breakfast, lunch and dinner! We'll have our normal lovely offerings from the deli and our delicious hot bar will be open from 11-7 to fill you up with our awesome victuals! And, experience our brand new heaters on the patio starting this weekend
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Vote. Seriously. The vote ends on Dec. 9th at 6pm. And that is COMING RIGHT UP! Vote on-line at http://wheatsville.coop/election/index.html
We have some really great board candidates this year as well as some truly deserving charitable organizations. Please take a few moments, review the candidates and issues and vote! Thanks you for your participation.
In The Grocery Aisle with Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
It's a new month and that means NEW specials! Check out the link for a pdf of our monthly Co-op Advantage Deals! http://wheatsville.coop/CAP%20flyers/SW1209.pdf In addition to deals, it has recipes for Spiced Eggnog Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust, Almond Shortbread, and Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus. Check it out!
Texas Olive Ranch Flavored Olive Oils:
New at Wheatsville are the Mesquite and Garlic olive oils from Texas Olive Ranch. These tasty oils are made from arbequina olives grown in Texas. The mesquite oil has been a common ingredient in my house lately. This extra virgin olive oil is actually smoked instead having premade smoke flavor added. The taste is authentic and delicious. I've been quite impressed with it. Read more at http://texasoliveranch.com/
I hope to see you this weekend!
Have a great week,
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
Live Music on the Wheatsville Stage
Saturday—
10:00am The Telephone Company
11:30am BBR
1:00pm lili and walter
2:30pm Toni Price
4:00pm Ted Roddy
Sunday—
10:00am gfire
11:30am The Vermeers
1:00pm Justin Rayfield
2:30pm The Studebakers
4:00pm Diana Cantu Band
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