Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!
We are closing early on Thursday January 14th for our Staff Appreciation Banquet. Store will close at 9pm and the deli at 8:30.
Scroll down for:
Remember when we had that milk?
January Deliciousness
Canadian Bacon and more meaty goodness
Cheese Island
Gluten Free Bread?
Seasonal produce
Let us rustle you up some old-fashioned milk!
We know you have missed it. We have too. Its absence from our shelves has been sorely felt. You've been asking about it every day , and have been told, "Soon."
What is "it"?
It is milk from Remember When Dairy, now known as Way Back When Dairy. This milk is locally made, non-homogenized and pasteurized at a low temperature. It is Austin's favorite milk and starting this Saturday evening , January 16th, you will be able to find it once again at Wheatsville. We will be selling gallons of Whole Milk and 2% Milk for $5.69 and half gallons of Whole milk and 2% milk for $3.59.
From the Deli
Happy New Year from your Wheatsville Deli! We have all sorts of delicious and exciting specials this month to keep you warm and fueled up!
To start, we have three fabulous Owner Specials for January to keep your wallet as full as your belly! From our Hot Bar, large 16oz self-serve bowls of Chili and Soup are on sale this month for just $3.49 each! With our ever-changing array of soups like Coconut Curry, Potato Leek, Broccoli Cheddar and Minestrone, plus our best-selling vegan Tempeh Chili, this is a winning special – you can have a different cup o' hot deliciousness every day and save!!
Also on sale for owners is the absolutely mouth-watering Cherry & Cheese Danish from our neighbors at Sweetish Hill Bakery! On sale in our Bakery Case for $1.99 each, this giant flaky pastry has a sweet and creamy center that will make your morning coffee break a delight, and you may even have some over for an afternoon snack!
And from our full-service Deli Counter, BLTs are on sale this month for just $3.99! Featuring six slices of Boar's Head bacon, this classic sandwich is made to order by your Deli staff on lightly toasted sourdough bread, and topped with green leaf lettuce, sliced vine-ripened tomatoes, and a smear of mayo! Yum!
Also on sale from the Deli are Boar's Head's sweet'n'salty Honey Maple Ham for $8.49/lb and spicy Boar's Head Pepperjack Cheese for just $6.19/lb – saving you a whole dollar per pound!
The beginning of a new year also means new Fresh In The Deli recipes from your Wheatsville Deli, on sale now!
From the Bloomingfoods Market & Deli in Bloomington, Indiana comes a lovely Creamy Saffron Pasta Salad for our full-service Deli case. We toss bow-tie pasta and red kidney beans with red peppers, green onions, basil and oregano, then add a white wine-garlic mayonnaise made with a pinch of saffron to create a pasta salad with a distinctive flavor and a beautiful color. It has been a hit!!
And from Mountain View Market, Las Cruces, New Mexico comes an absolutely delicious instant staff favorite – Green Chile Hummus! Green chiles add a spicy and fresh twist to this classic Middle Eastern spread. We blend traditional chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic with both hot and mild green chiles. Fantastic as a dip or sandwich spread, you can find this item in our self-service grab'n'go case!
And there's still more new treats for January to try! Our spicy salsa of the month is yet another staff favorite! Salsa Verde, a garlicky dip chock full of roasted poblanos, jalapenos and tomatillos, is terrific with chips and adds a definite element of heat to an order of our Rice & Beans or any of our tasty tacos! Yum!
And Wheatsville's smoothie of the month for January is the "PBJ", a schoolyard-inspired blend of blueberries, strawberries and bananas with a dollop of creamy peanut butter and a touch of apple juice and soy milk to whip it up!
So come on in to your Wheatsville Deli and take full advantage of your savings – and taste all the new dishes – for January!
From Bryan, the Butcher
Check out this month's specials…
Niman Ranch Beef Top Sirloin
Full Cut Sirloin Steaks $8.49 lb reg. $8.99 lb
Ambassador Cut $8.99 lb reg $9.49 lb
Organic Prairie ground meat chubs:
1lb Beef packs $5.69 reg. $6.99
1lb Turkey packs $5.49 reg. $6.29
1 lb pork breakfast sausage $5.49 reg. $5.99
Great new item Niman Ranch Canadian Bacon. This is perfect for salads, breakfast, and pizza and it is only $3.99 lb, come by and pick some up!
Chicken out
I have some bad news, folks. The winter can be the roughest time of the year for some of our ranchers and farmers. Because of this, we will have limited or no product on certain items. Dewberry Hills Farm, bless their hearts, are struggling right now to keep chicks alive with the freezing temperatures. In fact, I was just talking to Jane (who owns Dewberry farms with her husband) and she said that Terry and her are waking up every 2 hours at night to rotate the propane heaters used to keep chicks comfortable. It take some real dedication to be so committed. That's what we love about them. So, we'll have a limited number of Dewberry Hill farms arriving on Tuesday the 19th.
Patty Jacobs, from Bastrop Cattle Company, is also having trouble meeting demand. Unfortunately, we may or may not see product from her next week.
We do try our hardest to work with our local ranchers and farmers and we appreciate all of the support that our customers have given them as well. We will be looking for alternatives during this time in order to keep supplying you with the best quality products that we can find.
From Greg, Captain of Cheese Island
Pure Luck will be taking a hiatus from our shelves while their goats are kidding. We still will be getting in their Hopelessly Bleu. If you are looking for a local chevre in the meantime , we do have the Wateroak Farms Chevre. It is creamier than the Pure Luck, not as cakey, but just as delicious. Enjoy!!!
By Owner Request—Niki Nash, Wheatsville Merchandising Manager
This week's requested item is Udi's Whole Grain Gluten-Free Bread. Many owners have been requesting this, saying it is the most delicious gluten-free bread they've tasted! Made in a dedicated gluten-free bakery, Udi's Whole Grain bread is fresh and flavorful-even without toasting! Pick up Udi's Whole Grain Gluten-Free Bread in Wheatsville's bread section (not in the freezers) and let us know what you think. They also produce a white bread and muffins, which we can bring in if there's a demand, so keep on writing your wishes on the Wheatsville Wish List and keep reading this email each week for the latest new products brought in by owner request.
For more information: http://www.udisglutenfree.com/
Johnny in produce says:
Local Organic Lettuce
We currently have organic romaine, green and red leaf lettuces from Martinez Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas. These lettuces look very nice and the heads are a decent size. Get'em while supplies last.
Organic Girl Salad Kits
Organic Girl salads are a big hit among our staff members and customers. We are currently carrying their Caesar and Berries and Balsamic varieties. They use an 100% recycled container and are DELICIOUS! Check'em out.
Citrus!
We are really in the thick of it now—citrus season is here. We currently have some great cara cara oranges, Texas Valencia oranges, Rio Star grapefruit, Satsuma tangerines and clementines. This has been a great citrus season so far, and there are still more varieties on the way.
Trim
Due to increase in our demand for our daily produce trimmings, we are switching to a first-come, first-serve basis. We will place the bags of trim outside of the produce receiving door for your convenience. Thank you for your cooperation with this change.
In The Grocery Aisle
Robert's American Gourmet:
We've got Booty on sale! Pirate's Booty, Veggie Booty, Smart Puffs and Tings are all on sale this month at Wheatsville. For just $1.89 per bag, you can enjoy a healthy and delicious snack. Pirate's Booty and Smart Puffs are made with aged cheddar while the Tings and Veggie Booty are vegan friendly snacks. All are made with natural ingredients, and are baked for a healthier snacking experience. Kids love them too. Check them out at http://www.piratesbooty.com/ Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Have a great week!
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!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Hook 'em (up with Popcorn Tofu!) and other fun stuff!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
We're hoping for an excellent 2010 and so we're really excited about this first e-mail of the NEW decade!
We're also really excited about the big UT football game on Thursday! More about that below.
Scroll down for:
Coffee with the board
Wheatsville Staff Appreciation Party
Super Beer
The deli is rocking the BCS National Championship and Hook(ing) you up with the delish food.
Cheese and Meat are bringing the yummy, too!
New item in grocery and an item brought in BY YOUR REQUEST!
Staff Picks!
Rush Hour Recipes!
Coffee with the board this Saturday, January 9, from 10-12 under the awning (or possibly up at the front counters if it's too dang cold!) Check in with board members and talk about the weather, your co-op and the transformation of society!
Appreciating our staff!
Wheatsville's annual Staff Appreciation Dinner is coming up on Thursday January 14th! We'll be closing at 9pm so that all staff can get some appreciating and enjoy fine food, recognition and karaoke! This year we invite you to participate by sharing a joke, a fond memory of a Wheatsville staff person or just a little "thank you" note. These will be shared with staff at the event. You can submit one in the purple box up at the Hospitality Desk any time before noon on January 13th. Thanks for sharing with us, and we appreciate you too!!!
Super special Beer!
IT'S HERE! The new seasonal from real ale is the Phoenixx Double Extra Special Bitter, which was inspired by the great ales of the UK but brewed with a distinctively American attitude. English crystal malt gives Phoenixx its subtle toffee and caramel notes, but this ale is about hops. The blend of English hops, highlighted by its namesake, Phoenix, yields a complex hop character that dominates this special brew. ABV: 7.2%, IBU: 50 Now available in the Wheatsville Beer case!
We're hoping for an excellent 2010 and so we're really excited about this first e-mail of the NEW decade!
We're also really excited about the big UT football game on Thursday! More about that below.
Scroll down for:
Coffee with the board
Wheatsville Staff Appreciation Party
Super Beer
The deli is rocking the BCS National Championship and Hook(ing) you up with the delish food.
Cheese and Meat are bringing the yummy, too!
New item in grocery and an item brought in BY YOUR REQUEST!
Staff Picks!
Rush Hour Recipes!
Coffee with the board this Saturday, January 9, from 10-12 under the awning (or possibly up at the front counters if it's too dang cold!) Check in with board members and talk about the weather, your co-op and the transformation of society!
Appreciating our staff!
Wheatsville's annual Staff Appreciation Dinner is coming up on Thursday January 14th! We'll be closing at 9pm so that all staff can get some appreciating and enjoy fine food, recognition and karaoke! This year we invite you to participate by sharing a joke, a fond memory of a Wheatsville staff person or just a little "thank you" note. These will be shared with staff at the event. You can submit one in the purple box up at the Hospitality Desk any time before noon on January 13th. Thanks for sharing with us, and we appreciate you too!!!
Super special Beer!
IT'S HERE! The new seasonal from real ale is the Phoenixx Double Extra Special Bitter, which was inspired by the great ales of the UK but brewed with a distinctively American attitude. English crystal malt gives Phoenixx its subtle toffee and caramel notes, but this ale is about hops. The blend of English hops, highlighted by its namesake, Phoenix, yields a complex hop character that dominates this special brew. ABV: 7.2%, IBU: 50 Now available in the Wheatsville Beer case!
From the Deli
Hook 'em (up with delicious platters)!
This week we are holding down the food fort for Texas Longhorns fans!! We will have mini-platters of Popcorn Tofu as well as mini-Crudite Trays for your snacking pleasure during the BCS game against Alabama this Thursday! We'll also have our usual array of salsas and spreads on hand, so be sure to plan ahead and gather your treats – that way on game day you can just sit back, eat and cheer!
Speaking of salsas, January's spicy salsa of the month is yet another staff favorite! Our Salsa Verde, a garlicky dip chock full of poblanos, jalapenos and tomatillos, is terrific with chips and adds a definite element of heat to an order of our Rice & Beans or any of our tasty tacos! Yum!
The beginning of a new year also means new Fresh In The Deli recipes from your Wheatsville Deli, on sale through January 15th!
From the Bloomingfoods Market & Deli in Bloomington, Indiana comes a lovely Creamy Saffron Pasta Salad for our full-service Deli case. We toss bow-tie pasta and red kidney beans with red peppers, green onions, basil and oregano, then add a white wine-garlic mayonnaise made with a pinch of saffron to create a pasta salad with a distinctive flavor and a beautiful color.
And from Mountain View Market, Las Cruces, New Mexico comes an absolutely delicious instant staff favorite called Green Chile Hummus! Green chiles add a spicy and fresh twist to this classic Middle Eastern spread. We blend traditional chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic with hot and mild green chiles. Great as a dip or sandwich spread, you can find this item in our self-service grab'n'go case!
Wheatsville's smoothie of the month for January is the "PBJ", a schoolyard-inspired blend of blueberries, strawberries and bananas with a dollop of creamy peanut butter and a touch of apple juice and soy milk to whip it up!
A myriad of soups including some new favorites like Broccoli Cheddar, Crimson Carrot and Lucky Black-eyed Pea are keeping the hot bar tantalizing during these cold days, alongside our ever-present vegan Tempeh Chili.
So come on in and try something delicious!!
From Greg, Captain of Cheese Island
I have some sad news – it is that time of year again! Pure Luck Farms Goat Cheeses will be absent from our shelves till the beginning of March. Their goats are kidding. I do have a little bit of their feta left and they did say that they will still be producing their Hopelessly Blue, but in small quantities.
From Bryan, the Butcher
If you're a football fan this has to be your favorite time of the year. We have the BSC Championship coming up on Thursday. Hook'em Horns! If your staying home to watch the game you gots to head by the meat department for the necessary sustenance. What you're too full from the holidays?! Tough, suck it up. You have teams to support and that takes energy.
Look for these special savings:
Niman ranch beef sirloin ambassador steak $8.99 lb regularly $9.49 lb
Niman ranch beef sirloin full cut steak $8.49 lb regularly 8.99lb
Organic prairie Pork breakfast sausage $5.49 lb regularly $5.99 lb
*this week only* Niman ranch sausages (sweet italian, Bratwurst, and apple gouda) $5.49ea reg $5.99
Did you say snacks? We got you covered for those was well. Try the Niman ranch pulled pork w/sauce. This has been a real hit with staff and customers alike. It is easy to heat and versatile. You can use it in queso, for sandwiches, or just eat it by itsself.
Niman Ranch Salamis are great paired with cheese for snack trays.
One of the awesome things about Texas is it's really never too cold to fire up the grill. With that in mind we have loads of sausages, hotdogs, and grilling steaks ready to hit the grill.
We have a few new products worth mentioning. Locavores will like these:
Bastrop Cattle Company Grass-fed bone-in chuck roast $12.99 lb, Richardson Farms Pork Hotlink $8.99 lb. We also have two new products from Niman Ranch: salt pork, a staple meat for seasoning and rendering—check it out for $4.69 lb. Canadian bacon, a favorite topper for pizza but useful for salads and just snacking—get it for $3.99 for 7oz.
In The Grocery Aisle
Sayde's Vittles Jams and Jellies:We now have some exciting and delicious Jams and Jellies on your grocery shelves. Sayde's Vittles are made in Victoria, TX and are available at Wheatsville in 9 flavors including savory jellies like Habanero Apricot and Cranberry Jalapeno. There are also some more traditional flavors like Strawberry and Blackberry. These are all exceptionally tasty. My wife used the Habanero Apricot Jelly as a roast chicken glaze, and it was absolutely perfect. Read more about these products at http://www.saydesvittles.com/
BY OWNER REQUEST-products requested by owners that are on the Wheatsville shelves! For many years we have sold Nature's Path's delicious toaster pastries. Recently several owners have requested a specific flavor: Brown Sugar & Maple. SO just in time for a month-long sale we now have this flavor as well as Cherry Pomegranate, Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Strawberry and Wildberry Acai! Pop some in the toaster the next time you need an easy tasty breakfast or snack. On sale all of January 2 boxes for $5.00!
STAFF 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 Christine Stout's Daughter, Jade (translated from baby-ese)
1. Organic Bananas – no need for an explanation, possible the most perfect snack!
2. Veggie Booty – I know exactly where this is here at Wheatsville, I don't need any help from mom to make sure it gets into the cart.
3. Organic Apple Juice- nothing better!
4. Kamunt Puffs – delicious healthy snack
5. Sweet Potatoes – YUM!
6. Cascadian Farms Frozen Edamane – perfect in my mac & cheese
7. Quinoa – super yummie with everything – veggies, nuts, & parmesan cheese is my favorite
8. Cabot Cheddar Cheese – lots of flavor, great with apples & mom says it's a co-op too!
9. Natural Babycare Diapers: If the cloth diapers are in the wash, this is the next best thing for my bottom. So soft, and bio-degradable!
10. Burt's Bee's Tear Free Baby Shampoo: Makes my hair super soft, and it smells so o o GOOD!
From Ruby Truesdell, Health Team clerk
1. Organic India Tulsi Tea- Known also as Holy Basil, it is stress relieving and mood elevating.
2. Pre de Provence soaps- Almost everlasting triple milled French soaps made from pure vegetable oils.
3. Lucky Layla's Drinkable Yogurt-Texas raised Guernsey and Jersey cows provide the rich milk used to make this lightly sweetened yogurt.
4. Local Cheese! A most excellent collection. Pure Luck chevre has my heart.
5. Texas Olive Ranch Olive Oils-The perfect vinaigrette needs only quality vinegar, good French Dijon mustard, salt & pepper, and this oil.
6. Himalayan Crystal Salt- Salt from a 250 million year old sea containing 84 trace minerals and elements in colloidal form.
7. Concorde Pears- This juicy, dense, and floral variety is outstanding raw, baked, poached or preserved. Best when firm.
8. Chocolove Chocolates- Organic 73% Dark, and Chilies & Cherries in 55% Dark Chocolate.
9. Richardson Farms pork products- Pastured local pork. The bone-in chops make a truly special dinner.
10. Eco Towel- A durable alternative to paper towels that with occasional machine washing can last for months.
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 Hospitality Desk 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
Have a great week!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Year! Get your collards and champagne and party trays and have a great 2010!
Hello friends!
We are gearing up for an awesome New Year! Our 2009 was one of the most incredible in the co-op's history and our success has everything to do with YOU and your incredible support. It's hard to believe, but a year ago today, we were just a little over halfway through with the renovation and the slab for the new part of the store hadn't even been poured yet. What a difference a year makes! We hope that we have been a positive part of your 2009 and that we can continue to serve you well in 2010!
Thanks again for all your support, good wishes, and ideas!
We have some holiday hours-
We are closing early on New Year's Eve at 9pm.
We are closed on New Year's Day.
We're back to normal open hours on January second ready for you to start the new year off right!
Scroll down for:
Collards and black eyed peas
Ring in the new year with the deli
and the Meat department
and take a trip to Cheese Island!
Check out New Year items in the grocery aisle!
Good luck and great fortune in 2010!
I recommend eating collards and black eyed peas on New Year's Day. My wife, Rosie and I have been doing it every year since moving to Texas and it is now a tradition that we DO NOT MISS! Here is a pretty good article about why YOU might want to add this tradition to your life! http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_years_black_eyed_peas_and_collard_greens
We have fresh black-eyed peas in the produce department as well as dried in bulk. These are pretty fast cooking beans, so they don't take the work of some dry beans.
We just cook our beans and make spicy collards along with some corn bread, but here is a vegan recipe that include collards and Black eyed peas in one dish!
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2008/05/spicy-collards-and-black-eyed-pea-soup.html
And a traditional approach:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ham-and-Black-Eyed-Pea-Soup-with-Collard-Greens-15835
You can also google black eyed peas and collards for even more ideas!
Happy New Year from your Wheatsville Deli! 2009 is about to become yet another page in the book of history, and from our vantage point it has been a big one! The year of the Wheatsville Renovation is coming to a close and what better way to celebrate than take advantage of all of the new offerings in our new space?! Espresso bar! Salad bar! Hot food bar! And so much more!!
For your party-hoppin' convenience, we are assembling some small trays available in our grab-n-go areas, each one suitable for snacking by about ten hungry holiday revelers!
Our $9.99 Crudite Tray brings together a healthy and colorful assortment of fresh veggies for you, and we'll also have large containers of our Cashew-Tamari Dressing on hand for your dipping pleasure.
Our $11.99 Antipasto Tray features a Mediterranean-themed spread of sliced provolone cheese, Bianco d'Oro and Genoa salamis, alongside Greek Country olives, Mixed Antipasto olives and Roasted Red Peppers.
Our $9.99 Cheese Tray includes four hefty portions of cubed dairy delight: Colby, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Smoked Provolone!
Also available to ensure your New Year's Eve celebration's success are our much-loved Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheeseballs! A spiced-up blend of four cheeses rolled in herbs and sprinkled with paprika, these Cheeseballs make a beautiful and delectable centerpiece for a platter of crackers!
And of course, a southern New Year's celebration wouldn't be complete without a dose of the ol' organic black-eyed peas for good luck! As of right this moment, we are featuring our delicious new Lucky Black-eyed Pea Soup, hearty and filled not only with black-eyed peas, but also with lots of tasty veggies like organic kale, corn and tomatoes. Also on the hot bar through the weekend, we'll have lots of Braised Kale with Black-eyed Peas to accompany fresh, hot Vegan Cornbread. In our Deli's full service case we have our classic Texas Caviar, a cold salad of creamy black-eyed peas tossed with crunchy veggies in a red wine vinaigrette.
So, think New Year's 2010 and think Wheatsville! Whatever your holiday needs, the Deli's got you covered!
Happy New Year from the meat department!!
Got a pot luck dinner on New Year's Day or maybe a BBQ? Swing by the meat case and pick up some delicious treats. Try out our great fresh sausages, made in house, on the grill. Sweet Italian, hot Italian, chorizo, and breakfast sausage all $7.99 lb and made with great Niman ranch pork. Other great grilling suggestions: Turkey burgers (very popular and made with organic turkey) $3.99 lb, Salmon burgers (ginger and toasted sesame oil add to the Asian inspired flavors) $14.99 lb, Cilantro & Lime chicken patties (zesty and tasty on the grill) $6.99 lb, Cajun catfish (a favorite) $6.99 lb.
The meat market has specials!
Niman beef stew meat $8.49 lb, regularly $8.99lb
Niman beef top round roast $7.49 lb, regularly $7.99 lb
Niman ground beef 80/20 $4.99 lb everyday
Be sure to look for great $1 off coupons for Niman and Organic prairie products.
Try these on some of our new items: Niman ranch salt pork (a must for you black eyed peas), Niman Ranch pulled pork (fully cooked, easy to heat and eat) 1 lb $8.49, Niman ranch assorted salami dry cured $6.49 / herbed $7.49.
Have a safe and happy New Year's celebration! See ya next year!
A trip to Cheese Island for the New Year!
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.
In The Grocery Aisle
New Year's Party Items:
We've got Knudsen's Sparkling Apple Cider, Sparkling Cranberry and Sparkling Pear on sale 2 for $5 if you're looking for the midnight toast without the alcohol. We've also got party size Garden of Eatin' Chips in three flavors for $3.49, and Salpica salsa and dips for $2.99. Come over to Wheatsville for any of your New Year's party needs. Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Thank you so much! Let me be the first to say, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM, e-mail guy and 2010 enthusiast!
We are gearing up for an awesome New Year! Our 2009 was one of the most incredible in the co-op's history and our success has everything to do with YOU and your incredible support. It's hard to believe, but a year ago today, we were just a little over halfway through with the renovation and the slab for the new part of the store hadn't even been poured yet. What a difference a year makes! We hope that we have been a positive part of your 2009 and that we can continue to serve you well in 2010!
Thanks again for all your support, good wishes, and ideas!
We have some holiday hours-
We are closing early on New Year's Eve at 9pm.
We are closed on New Year's Day.
We're back to normal open hours on January second ready for you to start the new year off right!
Scroll down for:
Collards and black eyed peas
Ring in the new year with the deli
and the Meat department
and take a trip to Cheese Island!
Check out New Year items in the grocery aisle!
Good luck and great fortune in 2010!
I recommend eating collards and black eyed peas on New Year's Day. My wife, Rosie and I have been doing it every year since moving to Texas and it is now a tradition that we DO NOT MISS! Here is a pretty good article about why YOU might want to add this tradition to your life! http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_years_black_eyed_peas_and_collard_greens
We have fresh black-eyed peas in the produce department as well as dried in bulk. These are pretty fast cooking beans, so they don't take the work of some dry beans.
We just cook our beans and make spicy collards along with some corn bread, but here is a vegan recipe that include collards and Black eyed peas in one dish!
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2008/05/spicy-collards-and-black-eyed-pea-soup.html
And a traditional approach:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ham-and-Black-Eyed-Pea-Soup-with-Collard-Greens-15835
You can also google black eyed peas and collards for even more ideas!
Happy New Year from your Wheatsville Deli! 2009 is about to become yet another page in the book of history, and from our vantage point it has been a big one! The year of the Wheatsville Renovation is coming to a close and what better way to celebrate than take advantage of all of the new offerings in our new space?! Espresso bar! Salad bar! Hot food bar! And so much more!!
For your party-hoppin' convenience, we are assembling some small trays available in our grab-n-go areas, each one suitable for snacking by about ten hungry holiday revelers!
Our $9.99 Crudite Tray brings together a healthy and colorful assortment of fresh veggies for you, and we'll also have large containers of our Cashew-Tamari Dressing on hand for your dipping pleasure.
Our $11.99 Antipasto Tray features a Mediterranean-themed spread of sliced provolone cheese, Bianco d'Oro and Genoa salamis, alongside Greek Country olives, Mixed Antipasto olives and Roasted Red Peppers.
Our $9.99 Cheese Tray includes four hefty portions of cubed dairy delight: Colby, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Smoked Provolone!
Also available to ensure your New Year's Eve celebration's success are our much-loved Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheeseballs! A spiced-up blend of four cheeses rolled in herbs and sprinkled with paprika, these Cheeseballs make a beautiful and delectable centerpiece for a platter of crackers!
And of course, a southern New Year's celebration wouldn't be complete without a dose of the ol' organic black-eyed peas for good luck! As of right this moment, we are featuring our delicious new Lucky Black-eyed Pea Soup, hearty and filled not only with black-eyed peas, but also with lots of tasty veggies like organic kale, corn and tomatoes. Also on the hot bar through the weekend, we'll have lots of Braised Kale with Black-eyed Peas to accompany fresh, hot Vegan Cornbread. In our Deli's full service case we have our classic Texas Caviar, a cold salad of creamy black-eyed peas tossed with crunchy veggies in a red wine vinaigrette.
So, think New Year's 2010 and think Wheatsville! Whatever your holiday needs, the Deli's got you covered!
Happy New Year from the meat department!!
Got a pot luck dinner on New Year's Day or maybe a BBQ? Swing by the meat case and pick up some delicious treats. Try out our great fresh sausages, made in house, on the grill. Sweet Italian, hot Italian, chorizo, and breakfast sausage all $7.99 lb and made with great Niman ranch pork. Other great grilling suggestions: Turkey burgers (very popular and made with organic turkey) $3.99 lb, Salmon burgers (ginger and toasted sesame oil add to the Asian inspired flavors) $14.99 lb, Cilantro & Lime chicken patties (zesty and tasty on the grill) $6.99 lb, Cajun catfish (a favorite) $6.99 lb.
The meat market has specials!
Niman beef stew meat $8.49 lb, regularly $8.99lb
Niman beef top round roast $7.49 lb, regularly $7.99 lb
Niman ground beef 80/20 $4.99 lb everyday
Be sure to look for great $1 off coupons for Niman and Organic prairie products.
Try these on some of our new items: Niman ranch salt pork (a must for you black eyed peas), Niman Ranch pulled pork (fully cooked, easy to heat and eat) 1 lb $8.49, Niman ranch assorted salami dry cured $6.49 / herbed $7.49.
Have a safe and happy New Year's celebration! See ya next year!
A trip to Cheese Island for the New Year!
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.
In The Grocery Aisle
New Year's Party Items:
We've got Knudsen's Sparkling Apple Cider, Sparkling Cranberry and Sparkling Pear on sale 2 for $5 if you're looking for the midnight toast without the alcohol. We've also got party size Garden of Eatin' Chips in three flavors for $3.49, and Salpica salsa and dips for $2.99. Come over to Wheatsville for any of your New Year's party needs. Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer
Thank you so much! Let me be the first to say, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM, e-mail guy and 2010 enthusiast!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wheatsville Winter Flavorland!
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
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
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
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