Wheatsville Co-op Austin, TX

[Dan gillotte <dangillotte AT gmail.com>]

Hi Wheatsville friends!

We're packing a lot into this communication this week, so get a snack and a drink, pace yourself and we'll get through it together! (There's quite a bit of pie talk, so be prepared!)

Here's what you get when you scroll on down!

Coffee with the board
Thanksgiving sampler
Donate to the Capital Area Food Bank
Thanksgiving hours
Thanksgiving Valet parking
Delicious Thanksgiving food from the deli
Message in a bottle from Cheese Island with a green bean and gruyere recipe!
Meat news
Grocery news including a SKATEBOARD GIVEAWAY!
Save the date! Wheatsville Artsfest
Black Star Co-op has site!
Fair Trade arts and crafts fair

Coffee with the board is this Saturday from 9am-11am. Join board member Aditya and others for some fair trade organic coffee and some other treats and talk to your board about your co-op!
VOTE! HERE! NOW! http://wheatsville.coop/election/index.html

Taste the Thanksgiving!
We're super excited about our BIG Thanksgiving sampler this year. It will be this Saturday from 1-5pm. You can try a taste of a wide assortment of our yummy Thanksgiving food from our deli such as cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish, garlic mashed potatoes, our new sausage bread stuffing, lots of pies and more. AND, get a taste of a Tofurkey slathered in our deli's Mushroom gravy and have a taste of Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss Ice cream, too! We're making a lot, but supply is not unlimited, so come early to get the full tasting experience! 
 
Give a little, if you can
We've got bins ready to collect food for the Capital Area Food bank up at the front of the store. Times are tough and demand is up. Can you help by donating non-perishable food items to those in need? We hope to load them up with food this year and you can help!

Thanksgiving hours
We're open all day long on the day before Thanksgiving. 
We're closed on Thanksgiving day to give our staff a well-deserved day off to enjoy with their friends and family.
Friday hours are DIFFERENT this year. We will be open from 10am-10pm on Friday after Thanksgiving. The deli will be offering Tacos until noon. Let us know how this works for you. It's an experiment for us since it is historically THE slowest sales day of the year for us.

Can we park that for you?
Since we are anticipating (and striving for) a HUGE Thanksgiving in our new digs, we want to do all we can to continue to provide a relatively easy breezy shopping time for you. SO, we will be providing complementary valet parking on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving from 10am-9pm. PUll into the lot and if you like, a professional valet will park your car for you so you don;t have to. Then you can slide right into the co-op, do your shopping and get on out! Fast and easy! We're hoping that people, especially those with big shopping trips consider using this service so that we can have enough parking for this busy day. 

From the Deli
It’s that time again! Your newly expanded Wheatsville Deli is now more than ever ready to make your Thanksgiving a roaring success with a complete, delicious meal for you and yours! With our new, larger space, we have the opportunity to cook up even more goodies for your holiday table this year, including fully-cooked Organic Turkeys available by pre-order, and a brand new Sausage Bread Stuffing, made with our in-house sausage, lots of herbs and fresh-baked bread! So go ahead and start your T-Day countdown! By letting the Wheatsville Deli do all the cooking, you can have a full meal that is honestly homemade without spending hours in the kitchen!
 
First off, to start your party in the proper holiday spirit, we’ll be making appetizers! Our creamy Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls and savory, vegan Walnut Pecan Pâté are both delicious spread on crackers. With a pre-order, the Deli can also make a lovely Fruit & Cheese Tray for your party, as well as a colorful Crudite Tray, providing a fresh assortment of raw veggies for your table plus a pint of our famous, garlicky Cashew-Tamari Dressing for dipping. Or if you prefer to make your own veggie platters, we will have on hand bottles of Cashew-Tamari Dressing to accompany those, too!
 
Moving on to the main course, we will be roasting Organic Turkeys in-house for the first time ever! These plump turkeys are being cooked to order, so if you’re interested in picking one up and saving yourself hours at the oven, basting and maneuvering that big turkey, just let us know and we’ll take care of it for you! Leek-Roasted Carrots and Tempeh makes a hearty vegan main course unto itself, or can simply be a delicious side dish for your table. On the side, as always, we will have a bountiful selection of seasonal dishes for you: hand-creamed vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans with sautéed mushrooms and toasted walnuts, the hearty Roasted Fall Root Veggies, Vegan Mac’n’Cheese with Broccoli, fruit and honey-baked Festive Sweet Potatoes and our best-selling vegan Cornbread Dressing. In addition to all of our classics, this year we’ll have a traditional, savory Sausage Bread Stuffing and even more tasty treats for your family and friends to enjoy! We’ll also be featuring six-packs of flaky vegan Rosemary Biscuits, as well as our fresh-baked La Brea Bakery whole wheat dinner rolls. Our ever-popular, veggie-packed vegan Mushroom Gravy will also be on the menu alongside tart, gingery Cranberry Orange Relish – my favorite! – to go with your turkey or Tofurkey! We will be putting together sides for a family of four as well, available in our self-serve area. Just swing by, grab a bag of goodies and go!
 
And of course everyone knows what comes next – dessert! Your Wheatsville Bakery will be whipping up a delectable assortment of seasonal pies for your holiday dessert table: Pumpkin, Pecan, Coconut Cream and more, all homemade and fresh for you! With some organic vanilla ice cream, or vegan whipped cream, your meal will be complete!
 
Interested in more than words when planning your holiday fare? You’re in luck! Come on in to Wheatsville Co-op on Saturday, November 14th between 1:00 and 5:00 PM to sample some of the items from our tasty holiday menu. This will be an all-store sampling event, so be prepared to try lots of tasty treats to help you plan your holiday feast!
 
November 15th is the deadline for all holiday food pre-orders from the Wheatsville Deli! During the weeks before Thanksgiving, we will be offering plenty of uncooked turkeys, pies and side dishes for you to purchase, but if you have your heart set on a particular item, you might want to order ahead of time. The Hospitality Desk, located at the entrance to Wheatsville, will be handling all Deli pre-orders this year, and it will also be the central pickup point for your orders when T-Day arrives! We know how important dessert is and would hate for you to miss out on your favorites, so pies are definitely a wise thing to order in advance! Raw turkeys can be pre-ordered ahead of time, but plenty will be available in the meat department in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and this year they’ll all be organic! Whole roasted Organic Turkeys – $39.99 each and large enough to feed a family of four with ample leftovers! – are only being cooked to order, so a pre-order and pre-payment is essential to making sure you get what you need. If you’re interested in a fully-cooked bird be sure to let us know by November 15th! 

So leave the cooking to us! Pick up a menu at either the Hospitality Desk or Deli Counter, and then place your order with the folks at the Hospitality Desk. You can also give our Hospitality clerks a call with orders or questions at 512-478-2667. We look forward to cooking for you and yours! Happy Holidays!
 
From Greg, on cheese island
 
Brie is a soft cow milk cheese that originated in the Brie region of France. It has a buttery texture and nutty flavor. Brie is traditionally made with raw milk and aged for a period of four to five weeks. Unfortunately, government regulation requires any cheeses made with raw milk, to be aged at least 60 days. So, that means you have to go to France if you want to eat true Brie. The outside of the Brie is covered with a white mold (penicillium candidum) and is meant to be eaten. Brie tends to have butterfat content around 45%. Then you have double cream bries like Fromage D' Affinios that have a butterfat content around 60% and triple cream bries such as Saint Andres with a butterfat content of 75%. Brie can be eaten with crackers, or crusty bread. Fruits and nuts, like pistachios and pears, would make a great accompaniment. A subtle red wine, like a Pinot Noir or a dry and lively white wine like a nice Champagne. Quince paste or fruit preserves could be served along with the Brie.
 
There are two “bries” that we carry that I would recommend. Brazos Vellay Cheese Company’s  Brie  and the Saint Andre triple cream. Brazos Valley Cheese Company is located outside of Waco on the Brazos  River Let this cheese sit out for an hour, before eating. After a five minutes of sitting, this cheese starts to change states and from the inside out turns into a slow river of butterfat. This brie is made from fresh Texas cow’s milk and made without the use of additives and preservatives. The Saint Andre triple cream is made using a sour cream, sweet cream and heavy cream. This gives it its dense body, tangy taste, satin texture and a butterfat content of 75%. I would absolutely recommend Champagne and strawberries to compliment this cheese.
 
The use of brie does not have to be confined to appetizer or on a cheese plate. It can be used in many different recipes. Use brie in place of butter for mashed potatoes. If you are daring, use it alongside the butter. It can be used in mac and cheese or as a filling for tarts.  I had a wonderful sandwich made up of turkey, brie and fig spread on marbled rye. Once you start eating this cheese and understanding the nuances of its taste and texture, you will realize the uses for this cheese are almost limitless.
 
Thanksgiving Idea!!
 
Green Bean Casserole With Gruyere Cheese
 
5 tablespoons butter - divided use
1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour - divided use
2 1/4 cups (2-percent reduced fat) milk - divided use
2 cups Gruyère Cheese (Veldhuizen Green’s Creek Gruyere), shredded - divided use
2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed, left whole and steamed or precooked for 5 minutes 
1 yellow onion, sliced into thin rings
1/4 cup fine dried bread crumbs
1/8 to1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and mushrooms are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a small bowl and return saucepan to heat.
Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in pot over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups milk until smooth then cook, stirring often, until silky and thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups Gruyère a handful at a time, gently stirring until melted; season generously with salt and pepper and set aside.
In large bowl, toss together green beans, mushrooms and Gruyère sauce then transfer to a 9x13-inch casserole dish and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Gruyère Cheese over the top; set aside.
Mix 1/4 cup flour, bread crumbs, cayenne and salt to taste in small bowl.
In large bowl, toss onions with remaining 1/4 cup milk then add bread crumb mixture. Toss gently to coat. Scatter onions over green beans (along with any bread crumbs that didn’t stick) and bake until golden brown and casserole is bubbly, about 40 minutes.
Let casserole stand 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 8 servings.
 
From Bryan, the Butcher
 
Wheatsville now has amazingly fresh trout sourced by Rushing Waters, located out of Palmyra Wisconsin www.rushingwaters.net . This is a prime example of how fish farming can be done correctly and with zero environmental impact. Please explore their website, it’s full of great info. The main thing I’d like to point out is they harvest to order. That means when Wheatsville orders our trout, it’s still swimming. Rushing Waters then hips it to us via same day delivery.
 
Hope your getting ready for the holidays. Be sure to come by Saturday for awesome day of sampling bonanza. While you’re here you can pick some special deals from the meat market.
Check out these specials for November:
Got turkey? Later this month Organic Prairie certified organic whole turkeys $2.99 lb. We're proud to offer an Organic Turkey from our friends at the family farms of Organic Prairie co-op. (An amusing side story from Dan- we checked prices at Whole Foods last week and their turkeys were going to be $3.49 a pound. We then had a "Secret" visit from some WHole Foods honchos and afterward, they lowered their price to match ours!)

Fresh made sausages, link and bulk. $7.49 lb, reg $7.99 lb.
Niman Ranch choice boneless beef chuck roast $8.49 lb, reg $8.79 lb; Niman Ranch choice boneless pork shoulder roast $4.49 lb, reg $4.99; Niman Ranch choice boneless Ribeye steak $14.99 lb, reg $16.99 lb.Looking for something new? Check these new items:
Ready to cook crab cakes in the full service meat counter $14.99 lb.
Niman Ranch dry cured Salami. Two flavors: dry Italian $6.99 and herbed $7.49.
Niman Ranch BBQ pulled pork. Fully cooked and ready to eat, 1 full pound $8.49.
Bastrop Cattle Company grass-fed T-bone steaks $18.99 lb.

In The Grocery Aisle
 
Grocery has all your Thanksgiving needs covered and a lot of what you're looking for is on special this month! Check out our Co-op Advantage flyer on line here: http://wheatsville.coop/CAP%20flyers/SW1109.pdf

Have A Corn Chips:
Tasty. Here’s a simple snack with four ingredients that’s loaded with flavor. I’m happy to now be able to get “Have A Corn Chips” at Wheatsville. The difference with these chips is that they are flavored with soy sauce instead of salt. This gives it a unique taste that is sure to satisfy the snack attack.

SKATEBOARD GIVEAWAY!
Our friends at Odwalla have provided a skateboard to raffle off to one lucky customer.
The ballots and ballot boxes are at the Hospitality Desk.
No purchase necessary but FYI Odwalla bars are on sale for $1.29!

By Owner Request 
This week’s focus on a product brought in by owner request is Bob’s Red Mill Corn Grits. Bob’s Red Mill really uses a stone mill!,offering a wide diversity of whole grains. Their corn grits, also called polenta, can be made into a delicious part of any meal as well as a delicious hot cereal in the morning. Wheatsville also has other yummy hot cereals from Bob’s: Gluten Free Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal, Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats, Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Creamy Wheat Farina, and 10 Grain Hot Cereal. (Dan has visited Bob's Red Mill plant and can attest to the great care they put into their products and YES I did meet Bob himself!)

Wheatsville Artsfest back home and spreading out, too!
The annual Wheatsville Artsfest is happening on Saturday and Sunday December 5th and 6th from 10am-5pm. We'll have about many artists set up in half of our front parking lot as well as music and other fun stuff! Our neighbors up and down the street are gettinginvolved this year, too! You'll find arts, crafts and music at EcoClean, I Love Video and Spider House, at Tom's Tabooley, and across the street in the 3110 parking lot. Stay tuned for more detail, but expect a great time! Make sure you don't miss Toni Price's triumphant return to the Artsfest on Saturday from 2:30-3:30!

BIG CO-OP NEWS!
Our friends at BlackStar Co-op, the world's first cooperatively owned brew pub have a location!!! We're so proud of the hard work and dedication of the founders of this co-op. They are having a location unveiling event this Saturday from 1-5. Learn more here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183173835752&index=1

Fair Trade arts and crafts!
Come and enjoy the 6th edition of our Women & Fair Trade – Sale, Culture & Art.   This year we will have eight cooperatives from various parts of the world, formed by women adversely affected by global policies. They will tell their stories and sell beautiful handmade crafts, toys, pottery, jewelry, clothing and textiles.
 
Art lovers, and the broader Austin community will learn about fair trade and shop at the same time. We will offer a workshop on flute making; children and adults are welcome!  The market festival will also feature a cultural arts lunch at Karibu Restaurant on Saturday @ 2:00 pm with the theme “Rise up through fair trade” which will include music, raffles and a discussion on fair trade. Please refer to our website www.womenandfairtrade.org closer to date for details on program and schedule. 
What:               Women & Fair Trade – Sale, Culture and Art
Where:              1221 East 6th St. (SW corner of 6th & Attayac St.)
When:               Saturday and Sunday, November 21st & 22nd, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Who:                American Friends Service Committee – Austin office
                  For volunteering please send email to nem AT afsc.org

 We hope to see you this weekend and we hope that you are planning on doing your Thanksgiving purchasing with your co-op. Let us know how we can help you!

Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy and lover of Thanksgiving!