Hopefully, you've been finding your way through the ever changing
funhouse that is Wheatsville these days. If you feel lost, be sure to
ask one of our staff members and they'll be glad to set you on the
right path! Thanks for your patience and enthusiasm for our project.
I've had so many really nice comments from people. I really appreciate
it.
We'll be open regular hours this weekend. For those of you that
partake, I hope you have a great Passover and Easter filled with
family, friends and fun!
We've got so much to share it's kind of unbelievable!
Scroll down for cool stuff like:
Seventeen Year old Bakes spelt yumminess for you!
Did someone say coffee bar?!?
The new deli is rockin'
Cheese news
Loncito Lamb and other meat news
Earthday!
Rush Hour Recipes
Staff Picks
Ooh! Strawberries and the good stuff is coming!
I want to share some cool feedback from Wheatsville owner, Bob Morgan.
He took a situation that could have been a complain and turned it on
its head and found the really positive aspect of the situation!
This is NOT a complaint, but a sign of success. At one point this
afternoon, there were 10 bikes on the bike rack (mine included), and 8
more hung on various handrails. It took some cooperation to pack that
many onto the rack, it normally wouldn't happen.
You ought to get a picture of the bike rack full of bikes sometime and
use it for some kind of publicity (and somewhere along the way, expand
the bike rack (We will. Soon!- Dan)).
I bet that there weren't 18 bikes total in all of Austin in front of
all the other grocery stores in town combined.
This is success for Wheatsville, for Austin and for all of us on the
planet.
New Items in grocery!
Introducing: Munchie's Lunch Box
Munchie's Lunchbox is a small, family run bakery located in Bastrop.
Their Head Baker is 17 year old Zach. In the beginning, Zach wore many
hats including baker, packer and seller. The bakery has grown and now
his two brothers Robert and Duncan work with Zach. They use Organic
spelt flour, real butter and Cage Free eggs. They recycle and compost
all of their banana skins and egg shells. The finished compost goes
back into the garden to grow fresh herbs. Additionally, they buy wind
credits for 100% of their electricity use. Spelt is the main flour in
all of their products. Spelt is an ancient grain that is high in
fiber, protein and complex carbs. It is not gluten free but can be
tolerated by some people with wheat allergies. Munchies Lunchbox uses
only Organic spelt flour from Vita Spelt.
Wheatsville is currently offering their delicious brownies, banana or
pumpkin breads and many flavors of scones. Try one today from our new
hot coffee section by the deli.
Come into your brand new Wheatsville Deli and check out our new space
– and offerings! We have a wonderful new fair trade coffee bar where
we make to order delectable all-organic lattes, cappuccinos, mochas
with your choice of sauces and flavorings! There's even a money-saving
member coupon for 50 cents off the Wheatsvillain – our signature
coffee drink with an eye-opening shot of espresso! For you tea
drinkers, we are also now making chai lattes and are offering a lovely
assortment of many organic varieties of Mighty Leaf teas!
This month the Deli Counter brings you a warm weather cooler, the
refreshing Pineapple Banana Dream, a smoothie bursting with fruit and
reminiscent of sipping pina coladas surfside! This tasty pineapple-
banana concoction will have you in your flip-flops basking in the
salty sea breeze in no time!
Sweet and spicy, Sweet Serrano Salsa is the salsa for April – this
tasty orange salsa combines hot serrano peppers, vine-ripened tomatoes
and red onions with sweet peaches and cilantro to make a beautiful,
flavorful salsa, perfect for dipping chips or topping your tacos!
On sale at the Wheatsville Deli now through April 15th are our two
brand new Fresh in the Deli Specials for April. From Food Front
Cooperative Grocery in Portland, Oregon, comes a delicious grain
salad, Greek Artichoke Hearts and Bulgur. Abundant with seasonal
spring vegetables, nutty bulgur wheat is complemented by artichoke
hearts, baby spinach, fresh mint and roasted red peppers. Flavored
with Greek staples oregano, garlic and lemon, this salad is a both
healthy and hearty.
Also at the Deli, you can pick up some of our new Honey Almond Beets
with Feta, recipe courtesy of the Willy Street Co-op in Madison,
Wisconsin. Here, sliced tender spring beets are tossed with crunchy
almonds and salty feta cheese. The delightful textural contrasts are
heightened by a sweet-tart dressing of local honey, red wine vinegar
and cardamom.
In other money-saving coupons this month, you can get 50 cents off a
custom Boar's Head Ovengold Turkey Sandwich, as well as 25 cents off
our wheat-free Thai Pasta Salad available in our self-serve case!
And be sure to remember, this week brings us the Easter holiday! Deli
specials for the weekend include hard-boiled Easter Eggs colored with
all-natural homemade dyes, sweet honey-glazed Spring Ham layered with
shredded Parmesan and fresh basil, and Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche for
your brunching pleasure! Also in the beautiful new bakery case will be
our favorite (and the Easter Bunny's too, we hear) Carrot Cake!
Come on in and check out your NEW WHEATSVILLE DELI!!
From Greg in the Land of Cheese
Cheese is now located in the new addition, to the left of the deli
counter, inbetween meat and beer. Cheese will eventually move into its
own cheese island, but that is a few weeks away. We have a couple of
items on sale. Organic Valley Cream Cheese in the tub for $2.49 and
Organic Valley Parmesan for $3.49.
Bryan, the butcher
Hey folks! For Easter we will have small Niman Petite Hams and
Loncito's boneless lamb legs available. You favorite local items can
now be found in the freezer, with an expanded selection of
Thunderheart bison and Bastrop Cattle Company products. Loncito's got
a wonderful write-up in the Statesman today: http://www.austin360.com/search/content/food_drink/stories/2009/04/0408loncito.html
unfortunately, his production has been a little low, so we don't
have as much product as we would like, but we will this weekend.
Look for fresh sausages in our new Quick to Fix case. We have beef
and pork Italian sausage made with Niman ranch meat & Chicken sausages
made with Buddy's chicken. And we have some great tasting salmon
burgers, perfect for you to take home and cook right up for your dinner.
In our new seafood case we currently have great selections of Wild
Caught Alaskan Sockeye and Coho Salmon. Fresh oysters are coming! So
keep an eye out for those.
Austin Green Art eARTHday
Wheatsville is the major sponsor of Austin Green Art's Earthday at
Republic Square Park on Saturday March 18th from 9am to 3pm. This
should be a really fun event and Wheatsville will soon be launching
our newest local food initiative in conjunction with this event. Stay
tuned! For more information about the Green Art eARTHday go to: http://www.austinearthday.com/
Rush Hour Recipes
Every month we'll feature a new entree recipe (featuring a mix of
vegetarian, non-vegetarian and vegan options) at the Deli Counter and
on our website. We will keep an archive of recipe cards at the member
center as well, so that you can pick one up and use it for your dinner
shopping. You can even use these recipes to build your own recipe
book. These recipes come from various co-ops all over the States,
which is pretty cool. Plus they have been kitchen tested so you trust
them to turn out right. Increase your kitchen repertoire with these
quick, easy, fresh, entree recipes. Follow this link to see the Rush
Hour Recipes: http://wheatsville.coop/recipeindex.html .
Staff Pick 'em! Yummy and awesome stuff tha you can trust!
Check out our "Staff Top Ten Picks" posted throughout the store, we
work here and shop here!!! Look for these signs in front of the
products that our staff love. These guys are featured for the month
of January.
Featuring Laurie Power, Deli Cook:
The Diva Cup. It's easy, environmentally responsible, and
undetectable. I can ride my bicycle in white pants if I wanna.
Bota Box - Old Vine Zin. It's economical, environmentally
responsible, and magically delicious - I can't believe it's boxed.
Bionaturae pastas. Toothy, sauce grabbing, my favorite dry pasta ever.
I love the fusilli!
Lacinato kale. I cut it in skinny ribbons and add to raw salads,
cooked grains, pasta dishes, or stir-fry. It's healthy, delicious,
versatile, and user friendly!
El Milagro. I can't decide which of their products I love most.
Tortillas? Tostadas? Chips? All are staple items in my house.
Pineapple-zucchini muffins. They are delicious, and smell incredible
when they are toasting. I wish I had one now.
Turkish Garbanzo Bean Salad - Not only is it a lovely color, it's
delicious, textural, complex, and unusual.
Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Skin Toner - Not only does it smell
wonderful, it is very refreshing and hydrating. I put it on after a
shower instead of moisturizer.
Cafe Brasil Poco Fundo (Coopfam) - my caffeine addiction supports
after school art programs and Estela's scholarship fund, so it's
totally worth it. The coffee's good too.
Chocolove Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate Bar - This is essential
for my well being. Blurs the line between want and need.
Featuring Ryan Soutter, Grocery Stocker
Gopal Curry Power Wraps- It's like a hippy slimjim.
Thai Young Coconuts- Sweet refreshing nectar.
Quorn Products- I love them ALL! The UK finally made something right.
New World Sprout Salad- Tasty. Invigorating. Alive.
Avery The Reverend- This Sinister Minister is a serious sipper. Prost!
Ginger People Ginger Drinks- Feel good in a bottle.
Morningland Cheeses- Marvelously crafted cheese, a long time favorite
of mine.
Eco Teas Mate- When you have to get something done with tenacity.
Hunza Goji Granola- Plus almond milk = Happy delicious breakfast-time.
Niman Ranch Grass-fed Beef- Grass makes this meat so sweet. Support
humane farming.
Produce is heading into the delicious season!
Berries
It is the beginning of the strawberry season, and conventional Texas
berries have started showing up. We also have organic strawberrys, and
a blueberries. Berries are good by themselves, but even better dipped
in sugar or covered in whipped cream (preferably homemade).
Kumquats
This current batch of kumquats is the best we've had all season. These
are really fun to watch people eat. I love sampling them out to kids
and watching the reaction to the sour aspects, and the redemption of
the sweet finish on their face. Hilarious. These should be eaten
whole. If you like you can rub you fingers on the skin and release the
essential oils.
1015's
Sweet onions are delicious. They can be eaten raw, or slow cooked for
righteous carmelization. There are three pound bags of organic 1015's
and loose conventional 1015's.
Local Herbs
We are proud to carry Pure Luck's organic culinary herbs. Pure Luck is
known for their amazing artisinal goat cheeses but they grow some high
quality herbs as well. Each bunch is $1.49, and are bagged and are
stocked in water for freshness. We are also carrying Buena Tierra's
organic basil. We are looking forward to another great season from them.
Ch Ch Changes
Big changes are coming for your produce department (like the rest of
the store) and we'll try to make the transitions as smooth as possible
for you, and your shopping. Look for this the week of April 20th or
so...
I hope you have a great week!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy
