Snowflake Social at the Co-op, 2014

by Jaimie Jusczyk, Marketing Specialist

In case you missed the Co-op's last sampling event at our Concord store, you can catch up on all the excitement here on our blog at the Snowflake Social held on Thursday, December 11. We lucked out and in between icy pellets had a few snowflakes fall to create the perfect cozy atmosphere here in the store, perfect for sipping hot chocolate, enjoying the holiday menu off the hot bar and a prime rib carving station and samples throughout all departments.

Kris and Kim serving up hot chocolate

We welcomed all our regular shoppers and their guests to try our very own hot chocolate bar where you could choose from a whole milk and half'n'half blend or a non-dairy almond milk option, both made with Navitas Naturals cocoa powder, maca powder, sweetened with raw sugar and given a pinch of cinnamon for an extra special spicy treat. Then to top it all off there was whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, and sprinkles, all-natural of course!

Sap House Meadery in the holiday spirit!

If you were looking for something a little more adult, Sap House Meadery were pouring samples of five of their best selling meads that you can find at the Co-op. Moat Mountain Brewery happily shared samples of their ales until we sold out! And Derek returned to sample the Co-op wines of the month from Charles Smith Wines and a couple bottles of Gruet Brut to get the party started!

Executive Chef Scott Jones hand carving prime rib for hungry shoppers.

In case you were hungry, Executive Chef Scott prepared with his team a holiday hot bar menu featuring roast duck sliders, creamy seafood alfredo, broccoli au gratin and roasted fingerling potatoes to name just a few things. During the event Chef Scott also hand carved prime rib to order with the hot bar selections.

Pastry Chef Lori handing out snowflake cupcakes to the kids.

The highlight of the night for most was the Bakery Box dessert tables. With their spreads of raspberry whoopie pies, holiday cookies, cream puffs, festive cupcakes and more, everyone found something to enjoy as determined by the very few left overs.
As well as our own creative staff presenting holiday treats, Miles Smith Farm was present sampling their pork/beef mix, Émoi Dips were being scooped up, Angie's Holidrizzle popcorn was crunched away, and cheese and cracker platters devoured.

My guess is that everyone had a great time, there was plenty of holiday cheer and happy full bellies leaving at the end of the night. Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and came out to shop at the Co-op! If you are looking for the full album of photos from the evening click here.
Stay tuned for more fun Co-op events as we prepare our 2015 calendar at the Co-op, click here!

Thanksgiving at the Co-op, 2014

by Jaimie Jusczyk, Marketing Specialist

It's Turkey Time and the Co-op has all your holiday goodies at both our locations, Concord and New London. Yesterday the Concord store opened it's doors to customers with the scent of home-cooked turkey with all the fixings as the hot bar menu featured a Thanksgiving meal menu. Executive Chef Scott Jones and his team in the Celery Stick Café gave us a preview of what's to come when you place your Thanksgiving meal to-go. There was oven roasted turkey, savory gravy, mashed potatoes, sausage apple stuffing, whipped butternut squash, orange cranberry sauce and more like green bean casserole and maple dill glazed carrots. For only $8.99/lb the Co-op hot bar is definitely the biggest bang for your buck in town. To place your orders for a Thanksgiving meal to-go available for pick up Wednesday, November 26 call the Celery Stick Café chefs at (603) 225-6840 and click here to view the order form and menu.

To complete the hot bar meal the Bakery Box and Co-op Bakehouse supplied us with lots of free samples of their Thanksgiving pies and desserts. We were treated to bite sized pieces of apple pie with vegan and gluten-free options (I could barely tell them apart, both were delicious), honey wheat and parker bread rolls with dollops of fresh Amish butter, and pumpkin pie. Café Indigo vegan treats for sample included truffles with different toppings, the coconut was amazing. You can order your Thanksgiving desserts by calling our bakers at (603) 225-6840 and click here to view the order form and menu.

To wash it all down our grocery department was busy handing out samples of eggnog, hot pumpkin harvest tea and hot apple cider with mulling spices. Mmmm, so once we were fully in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we were asked to try Marich candies, apple chips from Terra Chips and lots more! There were over 15 stations throughout the store with all kinds of seasonal goodies to try. I hope you found something new for your next holiday party to share with family and friends.

We also had some of our favorite farmers in to sample their products including Miles Smith Farm and Huckins Dairy. It is always great to be able to stop in and chat with the farmers who supply the Co-op with the products you love. Plus our farmers are a lot of fun :)
Stay tuned for details on our next big sampling event as we prepare for end of year celebrations! The Co-op's Snowflake Social will take place on Thursday, December 11 from 4 pm - 6 pm in the Concord store again. Chef Scott has a holiday hot bar menu and prime rib carving station planned, the Co-op bakers will be bringing in more yummy desserts, there will be wine and mead samples, cheese platters and a hot chocolate bar with all different kind of flavors and toppings to create yourself the perfect and extravagant chocolately delight. There will be the option to purchase a fun Co-op moose print mug to create a full sized treat in, supplies are limited to don't be late! Save the date, you won't want to miss this holiday event! For more details about the Co-op's Snowflake Social sign up to our email list on the bottom of our website or click here.

SNOB Film Festival Beer Tasting at the Co-op, 2014

by Jaimie Jusczyk, Marketing Specialist

The Co-op participated in celebrating the first night of the Somewhat North Of Boston Film Festival again by opening our doors to hungry movie goers with a pub fare hot bar and free beer samples.
Executive Chef Scott Jones from the Celery Stick Café inside the Co-op, treated us to some good pub grub to complement the beer. We enjoyed pulled pork sliders, loaded potato skins, chicken pot stickers, buffalo wings, dragon balls, cheesy gravy fries and more. With plenty for everyone to enjoy the hot bar was, again, hugely popular.

The first night of the film festival is all about craft brews so what better way to start than with a few friendly drinks with the brewers themselves. In the Co-op we featured Tom from Out.Haus Ales, Jim serving Redhook, Tuckermans and Founders, head brewer Chris from Henniker Brewing serving their SNOB limited edition Reel Ale and Craig from Stark Brewing with their current line up available for purchase at the Co-op.

While we all ate and made merry, many new friendships where formed and old ones reignited as we recognized familiar faces from last years event. Thank you to all who came out to enjoy the food and beer with us at the Co-op. We hope you enjoyed the films at SNOB Film Festival and see you next year.