Please be aware that all Co-op locations are closed on Thanksgiving day. Enjoy the holiday and we'll see you Friday!
Dazzle ’em! Simple Hors d’Oeuvres & Delicious Cheese
by Rachel Horton, Cordata Specialty Cheese
Feeding a crowd? Dazzle ’em with simple hors d’oeuvres and delicious cheese!
My suggestion? Bring a smile to everyone’s face with a round of Ile de France Brie, topped with Divina Sour Cherry Spread, and paired with La Panzanella Gluten-Free Oat Thins.
This simple yet posh dish brings so many flavors for a few minutes of work, plus it won’t break the bank!
Feeding a crowd? Let them nibble on these irresistible morsels.
If you’re anything like me, you love the holidays! We enjoy getting together with friends and family. But, when you really think about it, we love the holidays because we love to eat. The holiday recipes that seem too fancy for everyday living make us all feel like we are gourmet chefs in the kitchen. It’s a chance to impress your family members while trying something new.
you’ll supply the amazing hors d’oeuvres
This year, the specialty cheese department is here to help excite you and all your friends with delicious easy-to-prepare treats. Let the family gourmet chefs prepare the main courses; you’ll supply the amazing hors d’oeuvres!
My suggestion? Bring a smile to everyone’s face with a round of Ile de France Brie, topped with Divina Sour Cherry Spread, and paired with La Panzanella Gluten-Free Oat Thins, as pictured above.
This simple yet posh dish brings so many flavors for a few minutes of work, plus it won’t break the bank!
Ile de France is a mild brie and great for anyone just starting to try soft ripened cheeses. It has a slight mushroomy scent with a tangy aftertaste that pairs perfectly with the sweet and sour cherry spread.
The new Gluten-Free Oat Thins from La Panzanella in Seattle is a great option if you are trying to please everyone’s palate and consider various dietary needs. La Panzanella has long been a best-seller at the Co-op and their new gluten-free crackers don’t disappoint.
Building a cheese tray?
A basic serving suggestion is 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of each cheese per person; round down if you are serving three or more cheese varieties, round up if serving only one or two cheeses.
Another great option when feeding the masses is a cheese tray.
grab something for everyone and fill your platter with salamis, cheeses, olives, fruits, and crackers
Grab something for everyone and fill your platter with salamis, cheeses, olives, fruits, and crackers. The Co-op has some approachable and affordable suggestions.
A great starter cheese tray would look something like:
(see descriptions of each selection below)
- Comté
- Brie du Pommier
- Pérail Papillon Sheep’s Milk Cheese
- Bennings Mild Goat Gouda
- La Panzanella Artisan Crackers
- Divina Castelvetrano Olives.
Simply add your favorite meat and fruit, and enjoy!
STEPHANIE SAYS
by Stephanie Willard, Downtown Specialty Cheese
The cheese case can be overwhelming. Don’t know where to start? These selections offer something to please everyone.
Benning Goat Gouda
Popular Dutch cheese with a pleasantly mild, fresh taste and pure white color. It is made from light, fresh goats’ milk, formed into classic Gouda-style wheels and aged to a rich yet mellow flavor and a creamy smooth texture. It’s a great “beginners” goat cheese.
Uses: Texture is firm enough to slice or cube, but also melts beautifully in anything: omelets, pizza, or quesadillas.
Fromager d’Affinois
Mild, buttery flavor reminiscent of a silky triple-crème. The texture is a thick, nearly whipped spread of tangy, milky goodness. A flawless rind adds flavor to the sweetness of the cheese.
Uses: Popular on cheese platters with a sweetness that pairs well with champagne and fresh fruit. Smooth and gooey when warm from the oven: serve with crackers or toasted crusty French bread slices, topped with Divina Sour Cherry Spread, or wrapped in phyllo and baked for an impressive Brie en Croûte.
Comté
Creamy texture with nutty, earthy flavors that range from stone fruit to brown butter. Captures the essence of a raw-milk, mountain pasture-fed cow’s milk cheese.
Uses: Super versatile and fairly firm, it can be sliced, cubed, or grated. Great eaten by itself, or used in cooking. Those nutty flavors work well melted into everything from fondue to Croque Monsieur—or jazz up a bowl of mac & cheese, sprinkle over veggies, or fold into a plate of eggs.
Pérail Papillon
Melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, full but mild flavor, with notes of sweet grass and wildflowers. A thick, creamy disc of fresh sheep’s milk with a fudgy center and downy velvet rind. The sheep graze lush floral pasture on the Causses, a group of limestone plateaus rich in minerality in the South of France.
Uses: At room temperatures, it gets almost unctuous and runny, making it perfect to spread on crackers or a baguette with sour cherry jam and toasted nuts on the side.
Brie du Pommier
Classic bloomy rind and soft paste with earthy and vegetal aromas that intensify as the cheese ripens. Full-flavored and mildly funky, with flavors that range from milk and sweet cream to mushroom and cauliflower.
Uses: follow suggestions for Fromager d’Affinois
Divina Spreads
Delicious shimmery spreads from Divina are customer and staff favorites all year long, but particularly popular during the holiday entertaining season.
Uses: Serve one of these spreads on the side or generously spread over a rich brie or smooth goat cheese to instantly elevate your appetizer plate. Choose from sour cherry, fig, and orange fig.
Castelvetrano Olives
These olives were my gateway olive. Never having liked olives in the past, I was encouraged to try these. I was not disappointed. Castelvetranos upon first glance stand out because of their lively, pale shade of green. They are firm and meaty with a mild and buttery taste that’s both salty and sweet. They appeal not only to olive aficionados, but also to those who shy away from stronger, brinier varieties.
Mix & Match Wine Sale
Mix & Match Wine Sale
Friday, Nov. 9 though Wednesday, Nov. 21
Both stores
15% off any 6 bottles; 20% off any 12 bottles
Stop in and save! Need recommendations? Ask our wine stewards: Tim at the Cordata store or Vic at the Downtown store.
The Return of the Turkeys!
Holiday turkeys will be in stores on December 15.
Choose from
- Non-GMO free range, $2.49/pound
- Certified organic, $3.49/pound
Learn more about Mary's Free Range Turkeys, get cooking tips, and see a video of the farm.
We are pleased to work with Mary’s Free Range Turkey, a third-generation family farm operated by the Pitman family in California’s Central Valley since 1954. Turkeys from Mary’s Turkey Ranch are raised in a humane manner with plenty of open space to roam in a stress-free environment that is four times the size of the average commercial ranch.
No need to pre-order your turkey. Simply stop by and choose from our ample selection. We can store your turkey for you to pick up closer to Thanksgiving Day after it has been selected and paid for.
All the Mary's Turkeys We Sell Are
- Fresh, not frozen
- Non-GMO Project verified
- Raised without added hormones
- Gluten free
- Preservative free
- Receive no antibiotics
- Fed an all-vegetarian diet
For Thanksgiving: May We Suggest …
by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team
Ever wonder what Co-op staff always buy for their Thanksgiving celebrations? Now you can get the inside scoop from the experts. We asked Co-op department managers to share their top recommendation for Thanksgiving. Here’s what they said.
Pecan Pie
“Made with Wild Missouri Pecans and without corn syrup, making it amazingly delicious without being tooth-achingly sweet.” —Lisalyn, bakery
Gaia Herb Golden Milk
“Great hot drink when mixed with a favorite milk or milk alternative. Has holiday flavors and is a yummy alternative to teas and cocoas. Turmeric is all the rage for its purported health benefits.” —Allison, wellness department
Organic Black Lentils and Heirloom Lentils from Timeless Foods in Montana, distributed by Hummingbird Wholesale
“Low priced, low on the food chain, and crazy rich in flavor. They add a great color dimension to salads and entrees. Even with meat on the table, they are a fantastic meat-free protein that your relatives will love at the holidays! Besides, what better choice to have for the United Nations FAO International Year of Pulses (legumes)!” —Tim, bulk department
In-House Ground Mild Italian Sausage
“Try adding some mild Italian sausage to your stuffing this year! It’s delicious!” —Melissa, meat department
Washington Chestnuts
“These farmer-direct seasonal treats are perfect for celebratory times. Whether roasted over an open fire or otherwise, they are simply delicious!” —Megan, produce department
Pumpkin Spice Latte
“It’s a perfect blend of sweet and spicy and makes everything nicey. It’s like fall in a cup!” —Tasha, bakery café
Herb Roasted Turkey in the deli service case
“It’s the goods!” —James, production kitchen
Pumpkin Cheesecake
“It’s the best thing ever.” —Darcy, bakery
Digest Gold from Enzymedica
“Unique patented formula is highly effective for digestion of all those deliciously tempting holiday foods that you might not regularly indulge in.” —Jenny, wellness department
Fresh Cranberries
“To make Jalapeño Vodka Cranberry Sauce.” —Russell, produce department
Lodge 10-inch Cast Iron Skillet
“It is a versatile, easy to clean, and healthier alternative to nonstick pans. You can cook with it and bake with it. And the best part is, with proper care, you’ll have it for years to come.” —Erica, mercantile
Gewürztraminer
“When I think of wine for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, I think gewürztraminer. It’s a crowd pleasing white wine with spicy flavors that match well with holiday foods. Gewürztraminers are made in a variety of styles from crisp and dry to dessert sweet. Some of the best gewürztraminers come from Alsace in France, but it is also grown in Washington and California. Look for a few selections prominently displayed in Co-op wine departments throughout the holidays.” —Vic, wine department
Get Ready to Gather Around the Thanksgiving Table
by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team
The Co-op has everything you need to make your Thanksgiving dinner the best it can be—from decor to dessert!
Thanksgiving is the Olympics of food, family, and traditions. The rituals and foods we eat on Thanksgiving evoke memories of years gone by, and set traditions that future generations will carry forward: laughing and working together in the kitchen, preparing beloved family recipes, savoring the aroma of a favorite entree as it wafts through the house, setting the table for a sit-down dinner with friends or neighbors, or opening a special bottle of wine saved particularly for this holiday celebration.
The Co-op knows how important this meal can be, and we have carefully selected the very best ingredients to help you make this Thanksgiving memorable, and manageable. We’re here to lend a helpful hand with appetizers, side dishes, entrees, desserts, and wine.
Deli
The case will be brimming with delicious salads, stuffings, gravies, side dishes, and even roasted turkey and other entrees. Every item is prepared from scratch in the Co-op kitchens using the highest quality ingredients we can source. Ask to taste a sample of any item in the case.
Deli To Go
Our deli also offers a variety of prepared trays—veggie, fruit, cheese, Mediterranean, meat and cheese, sandwich, or kabobs. Housemade entrees are also available by the pound—spinach lasagna, veggie and bean enchilada, chicken enchilada, or vegetable frittata.
Bakery
Our bakers are at the ready to create the dessert of your dreams. Pies, cakes, and myriad other delights are available to pre-order with 72 hours advance notice. Or just stop by the store to pick up your favorite! Our bakery cases will be full of delectable goodies, including vegan and gluten-free options.
Specialty Cheese
Peruse our carefully curated selection of cheese, charcuterie, jams and jellies, and fancy crackers for all your entertaining purposes, as well as chocolate for holiday baking and decorating. We also have butters, mascarpone, ricotta, crème fraiche, and cream cheese for those mouth-watering holiday recipes.
Meat Department
We are pleased to once again offer a large selection of Mary’s Free Range Turkeys. We’re also happy to suggest other options for folks who would rather forgo the bird.
Produce Department
Revel in the abundant selection of fresh organic produce to make your holiday meal shine. And pick up a beautiful floral bouquet for the table.
Grocery and Bulk
Find all the extras you need to spice up your meal and take it to the next level of deliciousness. Experiment with new spices and ingredients from bulk, and shop for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and other specialty organic grocery items.
Wine, Beer, and Spirits
Shop the vast selection of the best local, imported, and specialty adult beverages. There is something for every budget, and our wine and beer buyers are happy to make pairing recommendations that will perfectly complement your meal.
Mercantile Department
Explore our selection of one-of-a-kind goods: kitchenware, tableware, serving dishes, wine glasses, candles, and distinctive decorative items to set the perfect mood.
Other Inspiration
Be on the lookout for tastings and other special events prior to the holiday. We wish you a festive and scrumptious holiday with your loved ones.
Special Orders
Don’t forget that Co-op member-owners can special order items from most any department by the case for a 15 percent (or greater) discount off shelf prices. Just ask at the service desk and learn more about how you can save with special orders.
At the Service Desk
Have questions? Need help finding something? Just ask our friendly service desk staff. They are always happy to help!
