Friday, July 31, 2015

Boulder Farmers' Market Tomorrow

Ah, the glories of full summer produce. Here's what the Farmers' Market says you can expect tomorrow:

In Season Now 

sweet corn, peaches, apricots, carrots, beets, potatoes, kale, Swiss chard, green beans, summer squash, garlic, arugula, basil, fresh herbs, and more. Cut flowers include sunflowers, lilies, and gladioli. 

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Big Alfalfa's Sale News

Alfalfa's just emailed this an hour ago, but it's too bad they don't show a timeframe for the steak sale. That price for boneless organic steaks is amazing. Plus chile roasting soon! Here's what they said:

HELPING YOU MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES™
HATCH CHILES ARE COMING!
Mild, Medium, Hot, Small, Regular, Large, Roasted, Non-roasted
The choice is all yours!
Non-roasted ON SALE $1.99/lb for the next two weeks!  
Watch our FACEBOOK page for the announcement. Join us this Saturday for our inaugural roast!

Weekend Sale At Whole Foods

For tomorrow through Sunday, five ounce Popart popcorn will be two for $5 at Whole Foods. They suggest trying the rosemary truffle variety.

Ribeye Sale Starts Today!

Now this is something different. Whole Foods is holding a 1.5 day sale. Starting at noon today and running through tomorrow, bone-in ribeye steaks will be $12.99 a pound. That bone makes the steak even more flavorful (think standing rib roast), so some of these will be going on the grill.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Lucky's To Open South Boulder Store

Excellent news for my friends on the south side of town, today's Daily Camera reports that Lucky's Market will open a flagship store in Table Mesa, in the space formerly occupied by Savers. Sounds like a great move all around, and my friends who have been travelling halfway north into the city for a natural foods store will be ecstatic. The store is expected to open in early 2016, and you can read the Camera article here.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while the current one continues at Vitamin Cottage through August 15th (use the list of posts at the lower left to find that one). Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through August 5th, value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts are just $1.88 a pound, their very good stuffed chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound, all chicken sausage is $3.99 a pound, Rosie organic whole chickens are $2.99 a pound, and boneless New York steaks are $10.99 a pound. For your fresh wild salmon fix, sockeye fillets are $8.99 a pound, and in previously frozen raw shrimp, big 16/20 count ones are $7.99 a pound for ez peel, $8.99 for already peeled and deveined.

In organic produce at Sprouts, red or green seedless grapes are just $1.88 a pound, grape tomatoes are $1.98 a pint, yellow peaches or nectarines are both $1.98 a pound, and bananas are 68 cents a pound. Elsewhere in the store, I'm liking an Annie's special where if you buy any one of her crackers, grahams or fruit snacks, you get one of her soups free (select varieties, as always). Also, Chobani Greek yogurts are $1 each, Justin's yummy nut products are all 30% off regular price, Annie's mac and cheese is excellent at 99 cents a box (stock up for quick dinners - just add canned tuna and maybe defrosted peas for old fashioned tuna casserole), some Annie's Naturals dressings are 35% off, the 13 ounce size of Newman-O's is $2.99 a package, and the six-ish ounce size of Late July tortilla chips is $1.50 a bag. Gads, and it's back to school time already, with a bunch of snack packs on sale, plus a healthy lunch box heroes contest. Where did the summer go?

At Whole Foods through August 11th, fresh wild coho salmon fillets are $12.99 a pound (I like sockeye better, and Sprouts' price on that is great, but you just can't argue with a fine Whole Foods fish). Twelve ounce packages of organic raspberries (12 ounces is pretty big for raspberries) are $4.98 each, and for conventional corn, Olathe is three for $1 (although I'll head to Munsons as often as possible for truly local, even though it's twice as expensive at three for $2). Also, packages of Diestel organic sliced turkey are $5.99 each, baked in-house cinnamon coffee cake sounds tempting at $3.99 each, their organic "everything" baguette is great at $1.99 each, all Market Made tamales are $2 each, their own Hatch chile potato salad is $4.99 a pound, and their own half pound fresh mozzarella balls are just $2.49 each (could that be their typo? - make caprese!).

Monday, July 27, 2015

Sprouts Webinar Tomorrow

Sprouts is hosting a webinar tomorrow on that always of interest topic, weight loss. Details and registration here.

Slavery For Fish

Today's New York Times headline story is shocking. While the fish involved are used mostly for pet and livestock feed, food for farm-raised fish is mentioned. The story here.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

I Have Munson's Corn!

Yahoo, first of the season. With its cult-like status, they've increased the price at the farm stand to three for $2. Think it has been like that at the downtown Boulder Farmers' Market for a while, but used to still be two for $1 out at the stand at 75th and Valmont. Hey, I'm just glad it's available.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Ice Cream Social At Alfalfa's Now!

Alfalfa's just posted this about an ice cream social, free scoop from now until 2 today. Combine it with the Farmers' Market a block away! Here's what Alfalfa's says:

We're super stoked for our ice cream social! Come get a free scoop from 11am - 2pm!
‪#‎bouldericecream‬ ‪#‎weallscreamforicecscream‬

Boulder Farmers' Market Today

Nice day for the Boulder Farmers' Market, but it's going to get hot, so you might want to get there early. Here's what they say will be available. Interesting that sweet corn is still listed as "coming soon." I was told at Munson Farm earlier in the week that they'd be in "full production" of their wonderful local corn by this weekend, so I'm heading to the stand at 75th and Valmont to check it out. From the Farmers' Market:

In Season Now 


peaches, apricots, carrots, beets, potatoes, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, fava beans, green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, snap peas, onions, garlic, spicy greens, arugula, spinach, mizuna, basil, thyme, lavender, mint, and chives. Fresh cut flowers include sunflowers, lilies, sweet peas, and Canterbury bells.

All season long: honey, bread, baked goods, eggs, beef, lamb, goat, pork, chicken, locally-made cheeses, preserves, mushrooms, and greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.

Coming soon: sweet corn and tomatoes

Friday, July 24, 2015

Green Chile Roasting Coming Soon

It seems a bit premature (although we are almost into August), but the Whole Foods on Pearl Street has already rolled its chile roaster out to the garden area, with a big sign that green chile roasting season is coming soon. Also that they will be closer to local this year, coming from Pueblo rather than Hatch, NM. I knew I already needed to work on the remainder from last year's season, still in my freezer, and had already scheduled a corn and green chile chowder for this weekend, working in the first of Munson's local corn for this year as well. But it looks like I need to speed up using up the remainder...

This Week's CSA Pickup

Here's what was in my Red Wagon Organic Farm CSA pickup this week, always an indicator of what you'll find at tomorrow's Boulder Farmers' Market. This early in the season, I can say I was still glad to see zucchini, but I suspect the fact that this is the second time this year I've had garlic in the pickup is an indicator of what a tough growing season farmers have had. Here's their pickup list:

This week we hope to bring you the following:


Regular Share
-Garlic
-Choice: Onions OR Zucchini
-Choice: Leeks OR Fennel
-Two Choices: Beets OR Carrots OR Hakurei Turnips
-Choice: Collards OR Chard OR Green Curly Kale

Large Share Additions
-Squash Blossoms
-Extra Choice: Onions OR Zucchini
-Extra Choice: Collards OR Chard OR Green Curly Kale

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Good Lobster Roll In Denver???

Looks like I need to get back on Twitter, which I dropped as totally inane a couple of years ago, to find the daily location of this food truck. Zagat National just posted a new feature on 11 lobster rolls to try across the U.S., and to see that one is a food truck in Denver sent this transplanted New Englander's heart into a tailspin. Here's what Zagat says about the Lobster Bliss in Denver, and you can check out the whole post at the link above for the national options:

  •                                                                 Photo by: Adam Larkey

    Lobster Bliss in Denver
    "Bliss" isn't an overstatement when it comes to the sublime lobster rolls dispensed from this super-popular food truck owned by Rich Manzo and Jeff Reebie. The fresh lobsters, sourced from Maine and Canada, are held in a 45-degree, 2,500-gallon lobster tank upon their arrival in Denver, and the unique filtration system mimics the water-cleaning action of the ocean, naturally eliminating bacterial buildup. The rolls are a mixture of claw, knuckle and tail meat tossed with a lemon aïoli, and they're served on a toasted New England–style split-top bun drizzled with clarified butter.
    Price: $16
    Check Twitter for locations; 720-636-6493

No Weekend Sales This Week

Looks like we won't have special sales at Whole Foods for this weekend, at least that they've posted about or that I've seen. But by the way, I'm not familiar with it, but they have a sale going on through the 26th on Garden of Life raw meal at $34.99, which is $25 off.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Three Day Sale At Whole Foods

This sale supposedly runs from the 21st through the 23rd, yesterday through tomorrow, but it's a bit odd that Whole Foods only emailed about it yesterday evening (plus a Tuesday through Thursday sale is unusual, but whatever). In any case, Alba lotions and body washes (24 to 32 ounces) are a whopping 50% off. Their maximum dry skin formula is the only lotion to get me through our usually bone-dry weather, and they also have a usually very pricey one with built in sunscreen.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have a new sale starting today at our Boulder Sprouts stores, while the current one continues at Whole Foods through July 28th and at Vitamin Cottage through August 15th (look below for those). Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through July 29th, the big news is the return of the Vitamin & Body Care Extravaganza, with everything in that department 25% off regular retail. It's a great chance to stock up, particularly on those items that otherwise don't usually go on sale, but if it's Alba you're seeking, check out the post that will appear just above this about Whole Foods.

In meat and fish at Sprouts, boneless center-cut pork loin chops (roast also) are great at $1.99 a pound, bone-in pork country style ribs (great on the grill) or shoulder roast are also $1.99 a pound, boneless beef ribeyes are $10.99 a pound, raw 26/30 count ez peel shrimp are $5.99 a pound, fresh wild sockeye salmon fillets are $9.99 a pound, and previously frozen wild Alaskan cod fillets have been better than this week's $8.49 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, bananas are 68 cents a pound (although that's one of the rare fruits that I also buy in conventional), one pound bags of baby carrots are stunning at just 98 cents each, green curly, Lacinato or red Russian kale bunches are also just 98 cents each, red, green or black grapes are $2.98 a pound, yellow peaches or nectarines are also $2.98 a pound, and containers of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or blackberries are all $2.98 each (one pound for the strawberries, six-ish ounces for the others).

Elsewhere in the store, in addition to the vitamins and body care sale, I'm liking half pounds of Kerrygold's wonderful pure Irish butter at $2.50 each, and I haven't tried them, but fans of raw foods might be interested in Sprouts' own brand of raw superfoods at 25% off.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Eagerly Awaiting Munson Corn

So I stopped by Munson Farm's stand, newly opened for the season, at 75th and Valmont yesterday afternoon. I was bummed but not surprised that they do not yet have their marvelous local corn, given what an awful growing season this has been for everybody. Woman at the stand reported that there was a possibility that Bob Munson might be bringing some after 2 pm today, but also that they expect to be "in full production" by this coming weekend. Yahoo!

Monday, July 20, 2015

Vote For Boulder Farmers' Market

No surprise that the Boulder Farmers' Market has been named one of the 20 best farmers' markets in the country by USA Today. You get to vote to help them choose which of the 20 form the very best 10, and you can even vote daily. Here's the news from the Market:

What a happy Monday! The Boulder Farmers Market was nominated for USA TODAY's 10Best Farmers Markets! Their team has nominated 20 wonderful markets around the country and will narrow them down by public voting. We need your help! You can vote for the Boulder market every day from now until August 17! It only takes 3 seconds. Thank you for your support! We are so very excited about this honor.
Voting for the Best Farmers Market is open! Cast your vote daily to help pick the 2015 10Best Readers' Choice Award for Best Farmers Market.

Munson's Is Open!

But do they have corn??? My favorite Munson's farmstand at 75th and Valmont is now posting that they are open, with a caveat about the terrible growing season making produce slower. They generally don't open until the corn is available, and when I checked the site last week, it still said something about Christmas trees. I'm very hopeful, although I'm sure it has been a very tough year for the corn.  Here's what they say:

Munson Farms is now open for 2015 growing season.  

Due to cold and wet spring of 2015 various produce will be slower to market than usual.

Open daily from 9 am till 6:30 pm 

Imagine Broth $2.50

Back on Wednesday, I mentioned that my favorite Imagine organic broth is part of the big sale Sprouts is doing through this coming Wednesday on Hain Celestial products. Got there yesterday and found its sale price is $2.50 a box, pretty good for a product with a regular price closing in on $4. This is a great chance to stock up, as its usual sale times are from Thanksgiving through New Year's, with another round usually happening at Easter. It has a long shelf life (the ones I bought yesterday say "best before 22/OCT/15") and greatly improves anything that might otherwise be made with water, chowders, rice, etc. etc.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Boulder Farmers' Market Today

What a lovely day for the Boulder Farmers' Market. Here's what they say you can expect, and look, you should still be able to get sugar snap peas, snow peas, and fava beans! Here's what they say:

In Season Now 

peaches, apricots, carrots, beets, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, fava beans, zucchini, yellow squash, sugar snap peas, snow peas, spicy greens, arugula, spinach, mizuna, basil, thyme, lavender, mint, and chives. Fresh cut flowers include lilies, sweet peas, and Canterbury bells.

All season long, you will find honey, bread, baked goods, eggs, beef, lamb, goat, pork, chicken, locally-made cheeses, preserves, mushrooms, and greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.

Coming soon: sweet corn and tomatoes!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Jam Class Tomorrow

Sorry I just noticed this, but Cure Organic Farm will be offering a jam-making class tomorrow. Here's what the Farmers' Market says about it:

Cure Organic Farm Summer Jams Class
Saturday, July 18: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Cure Organic Farm in Boulder
You’ll learn traditional jam making techniques without the use of added commercial pectins. This method yields a softer set jam with the sweetened but true flavor and cooked texture of fruit, and will allow you to experiment with fruit combinations and the addition of the flavors of herbs, spices, wines and liquors on your own. You learn a few ways to determine if the jam has “set,” including altitude adjusted temperature measurement and appearance at various stages of cooking. You’ll also learn how to water bath can the jarred jams to ensure they’ll last a full year on your shelf, if you don’t eat them before then! You’ll take home finished jars of jam of a seasonal fruit, plus fruit prepared to cook and can at home the next day.
 

This Week's CSA

Here's what my Red Wagon Organic Farm CSA has been distributing in this week's shares. Interesting comment about the tough growing season for fruit on the Western Slope. What a hard year for Colorado farmers. Here's what Red Wagon says, always a good indicator of what you'll find at tomorrow's Boulder Farmers' Market:


This week we hope to bring you:Beets at CSA
Regular Share
-New Potatoes
-Beets
-Garlic
-Carrots
-Choice: Baby Fennel OR Leeks
-Choice: Onions OR Zucchini
-Choice: Collards OR Chard OR Green Curly Kale OR -Tuscan Kale
Large Share Additions
-Extra New Potatoes
-Basil
Fruit Share
-Cherries
**Note on Fruit Share: The Western Slope is also experiencing a difficult growing season. The extreme temperatures and excessive rainfall have devastated fruit crops. Fruit availability will be unpredictable and we will have to see how it goes on a week-by-week basis.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Longmont Wednesday Farmers' Market News

Sad that things haven't worked out well this year for the downtown Longmont Boulder Farmers' Market, the newest of the four Boulder County markets. Next week will be the last of the season, closing two months earlier than planned. But this has been such a strange weather year, both for the farmers valiantly trying to produce these crops, and for the markets themselves. Talking yesterday with folks who've had a booth at the Wednesday Longmont market, it has evidently rained just about every one of them this year, although last night was reportedly just beautiful. Here's what the Times-Call has to say.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Special Sales At Whole Foods

Whole Foods is offering us a slew of special sales, but they are messing with my mind again on the details. Here's what they say, but note that July 15th (today) through the 19th is not a three day sale, and perhaps they meant it as a weekend sale instead, per the usual? Or it's a five day sale. At least the marvelous one week sale on wild coho salmon is clear. Here's what they say:


Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

ROBUSTO CHEESE

$14.99/LB
Jul 15-21st
:: SEVEN DAY SALE ::

WILD-CAUGHT COHO SALMON

$9.99/LB
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

STARKEY WATER (16.9 OZ)

2 FOR $3
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

STARKEY WATER (1 LITER)

2 FOR $5
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

SAFFRON ROAD CHICKPEA SNACKS

2 FOR $5
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

SAFFRON ROAD SIMMER SAUCES

2 FOR $3
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

SAFFRON ROAD FROZEN ENTREES

2 FOR $7
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

BOULEVARD ICE CREAM (1 PINT CONTAINERS)

2 FOR $7
Jul 15-19th
:: THREE DAY SALE ::

SO DELICIOUS ALMOND OR COCONUT MILK ICE CREAM (1 PINT CONTAINERS)

2 FOR $6

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while the new one just started at Vitamin Cottage continues through August 15th (look two posts below for that one). Here's what's looking good to me now.

In Sprouts' new sale through July 22nd, value packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts are $1.88 each, their very good stuffed chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound (and one breast more than serves two people), boneless center-cut pork loin chops (roast also) are also $2.99 a pound, whole or split chickens are $1.69 a pound, all chicken sausage is $3.99 a pound, and ground chicken is $2.99 a pound. Fresh farmed Atlantic salmon is $5.99 a pound, but I'd go for wild in this fresh wild season. Sprouts isn't advertising their price on that this week, but I'd bet they'd have a competitive one. If not, you can find fresh Alaskan sockeye for $8.88 a pound at Safeway, $8.99 at King Soopers, both with card. Also check out the post just above this for a special one week sale on coho at Whole Foods for $9.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, on-the-vine tomatoes are stunning at just 98 cents a pound, red or green leaf lettuce and hothouse cucumbers are all $1.50 each, red, green or black seedless grapes are $2.98 a pound, and containers of blueberries (six ounces) or strawberries (one pound) are both $2.98 each. In conventional produce, sweet corn is six for $1, but I am so eager for our local Munson corn instead. Elsewhere in the store, there's a big sale on Hain Celestial brand products, with 35% off over 700 products. Hain Celestial is a wide umbrella, and the number of brands is surprising even me - per the picture, my favorite Imagine organic broth is among them. Also, some Lundberg whole grain rice blends are $1.50 a bag (quinoa and rice pictured, looks good), and Fage Fruyo Greek yogurts are $1 each.

At Whole Foods through July 28th, I'm liking organic heirloom tomatoes at $2.98 a pound (if you want to go fancier than those 98 cent tomatoes at Sprouts), perhaps to be combined with WFM fresh bocconcini mozzarella at $4 a container. I've never tried barramundi fillets, and they look intriguing at $8.99 a pound, but I'll probably pass on the lobster cakes for $23.99 a pound. Stonyfield Greek yogurts are $1.25 each, some Nature's Path cereals are $3 a box, and packages of Applegate bbq sliced chicken breast are $2 off at $3.99 each.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Organic Blueberries At Alfalfa's

Wow, am I reading this correctly? In a hilarious nod to Pluto, Alfalfa's just posted a one-day sale today on organic blueberries for just $3.99 a pound. That's not per small container, that's per pound. Here's what they put on Facebook:

Is Pluto really a Dwarf Planet or a Blueberry? Today, the New Horizons spacecraft finds out! In the meantime, get your ORGANIC blueberries here at Alfalfa's Market for only $3.99/lb! ‪#‎pluto‬ ‪#‎newhorizons‬ ‪#‎fiskeplanetarium‬ ‪#‎boulder‬

New Sale At Vitamin Cottage

There's a new sale just started at Vitamin Cottage (aka Natural Grocers), lasting all the way through August 15th (eek, towards the end of summer already). For those hot days, having all bottles by Sigg a whopping half off is pretty nice. I'm also liking Earth Balance buttery spreads at $3.29 (besides having no cholesterol, they're vegan), some Tofurky products on sale, meatless sausages $3.19 for a 14 ounce package and meatless deli slices $2.19 for 5.5 ounces, big party size Garden of Eatin' tortilla chips at $3.79 for that large 13 to 16 ounce bag, Newman's Own Organic family recipe cookies $2.19 for 7-ish ounces, some Amy's burritos $1.99 each, Monte Bene pasta sauces $3.49 for a 24 ounce jar, and Westbrae organic canned beans $2.19 for the big 25 ounce size. I've never tried them, but pricing looks good on frozen Glutino gluten-free sandwich breads and English muffins (also on Natural Grocers own gluten-free rice pastas). Plus, being Vitamin Cottage, there are lots of good deals on supplements.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Slow Flowers Event

First we had slow food, now we have slow flowers. Here's what the Boulder Farmers' Market says about an upcoming book event at the Boulder Library:

*American Beauty: The Slow Flowers Movement, a Book Event 
Thursday, July 16: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., Boulder Library's Canyon Theater 
Award-winning author, Seattle-based Debra Prinzing will speak about the resurgence of American flower farms and the emerging eco-floral design movement, followed by Boulder-based Miche Bacher, author of Cooking with Flowers. Debra’s visually elegant presentation explores the “slow flower” concept featured in her 2011 book, The 50 Mile Bouquet, which includes a chapter about Boulder Farmers Market's very own Kristy and Chet Anderson of The Fresh Herb Co., and her 2012 book Slow Flowers. She will discuss ways to use flowers that often times grow right in your own backyard. The presentations will be followed by a book-signing. 

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Boulder Farmers' Market Today

With everything drying out and heating up, what a great day to get to today's Boulder Farmers' Market. And a great time of year also, with those earlier treasures like sugar snap peas still available, while the fruits and summer squashes are starting to come in. The Market says corn is coming soon, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that, given the weird cooler, wetter weather that has characterized the end of spring/early summer, but heck, the Market knows best. Here's what they say:

In Season Now 

peaches, cherries, apricots, beets, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, fava beans, zucchini, yellow squash, sugar snap peas, snow peas, carrots, spicy greens, arugula, spinach, green garlic, mizuna, thyme, lavender, mint, and chives. Fresh cut flowers include lilies, sweet peas, and Canterbury bells, and plant starts and hanging baskets will be available for only a couple more weeks.

All season long, you will find honey, bread, baked goods, eggs, beef, lamb, goat, pork, chicken, locally-made cheeses, preserves, mushrooms, and greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.

Coming soon: sweet corn! 

Friday, July 10, 2015

Red Wagon CSA This Week

Here's what was in my Red Wagon Organic Farm CSA pickup this week, always an indicator of a few of the things you'll find at tomorrow's Boulder Farmers' Market. What a hard choice it was between all those kales, the collards, and the chard. Here's what they said:

This week we hope to bring you the following:

Regular Share
-Lettuce 
-Garlic
-Choice: Beets OR Carrots
-Choice: Onions OR Scallions
-Choice: Basil OR Mint
-Choice: Red Russian Kale OR Green Curly Kale OR Tuscan Kale OR Collards OR Chard

Large Share Additions
-Extra Choice: Beets OR Carrots
-Cauliflower

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Heads Up Re Vitamin Cottage Sale

Just a heads up that the current long-lasting runs for just three more days, counting today, through Saturday. You can read what I said about it back at the beginning of June here. Stocks do tend to run low at the end of a sale, and who knows what the future sale may bring.

Weekend Sale At Whole Foods

Just one item is being advertised in the link from Whole Foods this week, Sir Kensington's condiments half off for tomorrow through the 12th.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

We have a new sale starting today at our Boulder Sprouts stores, while the current one continues at Whole Foods through July 14th and at Vitamin Cottage through this Saturday, the 11th. (Heads up on that one.) Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through July 15th, I'm liking fresh wild Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets for $9.99 a pound (wonder if they'll still have that unadvertised price on king for just $1 more that I found a couple of days ago), previously frozen Alaskan cod fillets $8.99 a pound, previously frozen raw ez peel 21/25 count shrimp $6.99 a pound, bone-in country style pork ribs just $1.99 a pound (spare ribs are $2.99 and baby backs $3.99), and chicken Italian sausage (pork also) is $3.99 a pound.

In organic produce at Sprouts, strawberries are $2.50 a one pound container and blueberries are $2.50 for six ounces, grape tomatoes are $2.50 a pint, white peaches are $1.98 a pound, and red or green grapes are $2.98 a pound. Elsewhere in the store, I'm particularly liking their bulk coffee at $6.99 a pound, bulk cut smoked gouda $3.99 a pound, some Tillamook Greek yogurts are $1 each, while some Brown Cow yogurts are 69 cents each, and Annie's mac & cheese is $1.50 a box. There's a promo between Earthbound Farm and Silk, where if you buy and two Earthbound Farm frozen products, you can get one 64 ounce Silk beverage for free, and the two companies are also sponsoring a contest to win a healthy wellness retreat to either Sedona, AZ or Monterey, CA, two of my favorite places (details at sprouts.com/getaway).

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

King Salmon At Sprouts

When I was at the Sprouts store on Arapahoe yesterday, they had fresh wild king salmon fillets for $10.99 a pound! For king, not just sockeye. For comparison, king was $19.99 a pound yesterday at Whole Foods. I was shopping for a fish to put in yesterday's chowder, so I snapped up some of that king at Sprouts (never thought I'd be using such an exalted fish to merely chop up into a chowder). Since it got the humbling chowder treatment, I can't speak to how the fish would have been on its own, but it was a fresh and very handsome piece.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Good Deal At Chef's Catalog

My timing couldn't have been better. I'd just decided it was time to ditch my motley set of cookware, some pieces dating back as far as college, in favor of a decent set for a change. After looking around, I settled on All Clad stainless, and while I prefer to shop locally, Chef's Catalog had an exclusive combination of pieces that fit what I wanted perfectly. I'd already placed my order this weekend, then realized they were offering a special extra 15% off on American-made products for the holiday weekend. I quickly called their customer service number, and sure enough, my purchase qualified and was in time to be modified. Great customer service, Chef's!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

A Certain Store Is Driving Me Crazy

So I went to the Pearl Street Whole Foods today to pick up a bucket of fried chicken on what was previously marked, both in store and online, as the last day of the $8.99 sale, only to be told by two people that the sale ended yesterday. As they do say, "subject to change without notice." Guess I'll spend more time at Sprouts and Lucky's. Yup, I'm ticked.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th!

Happy and safe 4th of July to you. If you still don't know what's going on the grill or the rest of the table, here's a reminder of the 4th of July recipe guides I previously posted.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Boulder Farmers' Market Tomorrow

Yup, those hard-working farmers will be out there tomorrow, with the Boulder Farmers' Markets in both downtown Boulder and Longmont open on the 4th of July. Here's what the Market says to expect (PEACHES!):

In Season Now

peaches, cherries, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, strawberries, fava beans, zucchini, yellow squash, sugar snap peas, snow peas, carrots, spicy greens, arugula, spinach, green garlic, beets, mizuna, thyme, lavender, mint, and chives. Fresh cut flowers include lilies, sweet peas, and Canterbury bells, and plant starts and hanging baskets will be available for only a few more weeks.

All season long, you will find honey, bread, baked goods, eggs, beef, lamb, goat, pork, chicken, locally-made cheeses, preserves, mushrooms, and greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.
Note: Boulder and Longmont farmers markets will be open on Saturday, July 4th. 
New to the market: ripe, juicy Western Slope peaches. Don't forget a napkin; you'll need it! 

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Whole Foods' Special Sales For The 4th

Whole Foods finally posted something about the variety of special sales that started yesterday around noon today. In addition to the fried chicken buckets, salami, and scallop sales I've already noted below from walking around yesterday, here are some others:

July 1 and 2, all beer 20% off.

July 1-4:

Red, white and blue 9 inch pie $9.99,
Twelve ounce Applegate hot dogs $3.50 a package.

July 1-5:
Ten ounce Jackson's Honest tortilla chips $3 each,
Honest lemonade (32 ounce) $1 each.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Bunch Of Special Sales At Pearl Whole Foods

And since there's been no notice distributed per usual custom, even the cashiers were speculating about whether these were limited to Pearl or extended locally. Crazy mix of one-, three-, four- and five-day specials that you just have to cruise on their own. The olive bar is $6.99 for today only, a fabulous deal at $3 off, especially if you choose the higher end items like the artichoke hearts or pesto. Two kinds of Creminelli's hand-crafted salamis are half price at $6.99, perfect for a weekend picnic (think that was marked as a three-day sale, yet the dates said 7/1-4, making it four days). Further temptation noticed was eight piece buckets of fried chicken for $8.99 each, signage said three day sale 7/3-7/5, but they're out there now marked at that price. So I guess you just have to go look, and see how things ring up!

Sea Scallops At Whole Foods

Whole Foods is doing a one week sale on North Atlantic 10/20 count sea scallops, at $14.99 a pound. They're Marine Stewardship Council certified, and have been frozen within hours of harvest. The sale starts today and runs through July 7th.

This Week's Hot Grocery Deals (IMHO)

Happy July! We have new sales starting today at our Boulder Sprouts and Whole Foods stores, while the current one continues at Vitamin Cottage through July 11th. Here's what's looking good to me now.

At Sprouts through July 8th, chicken breast tenders are $1.99 a pound (and it doesn't say value pack), whole or split chicken's are $1.69 a pound, bone-in pork shoulder roast, country style ribs or spare ribs are all $2.99 a pound, their very good stuffed chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound, bone-in ribeye steaks are $8.99 a pound, and fresh farmed salmon fillets are $5.99 a pound. (But in the midst of fresh wild salmon season I'd go with wild instead. Sprouts isn't advertising a price for that this week, but sockeye fillets are $9.99 a pound with card at Safeway.)

In organic produce at Sprouts, mini seedless watermelons are great at just $1.50 each, red or green leaf lettuce is $1.50 a head, baby carrots are $1.50 for a one pound bag, yellow peaches and red plums are both $1.98 a pound, and blueberries (six ounces) and strawberries (one pound) are $2.98 a container. Elsewhere in the store, a 32 ounce bottle of Santa Cruz organic lemonade is just 99 cents, Kettle brand popcorn or potato chips are $1.50 a bag, there's a Snack Attack chip sale, with a bunch of snacks 50% off (and I see lots of good brands in the picture, including my favorite Lundberg rice chips), there's a line drive on Frontera brand at 35% off, a bunch of ice cream is on sale, 24-packs of Arrowhead water are three for $10, and some six packs of Sanpellegrino sparkling soda are $4.99 each.

At Whole Foods through July 14th, wild fresh king salmon fillets are $19.99 a pound (a lot to pay for a piece of fish, but king is the king), sirloin tip steak is $3 off at $6.99 a pound, and their excellent brined pork chops are $5.99 a pound. Organic blackberries look good at $2 for six ounces, but their organic mini seedless watermelons are twice as much as at Sprouts this week, $2.98 at Whole Foods. Four types of Rumiano organic cheese slices are $3.99 a package (size not mentioned), 20-packs of Whole Foods' own chocolate chip cookies are $5.99 each, Honest organic lemonade is $1.50 each (size again not mentioned, and also consider that 99 cent deal on Santa Cruz organic), and Mrs. Meyers liquid hand soap, always by my kitchen sink, is $3.99 a pump bottle.