Staff Picks – Holiday Edition

Cauliflower is one of the most underrated vegetables! You can roast it, steam it, rice it, smash it, or enjoy it without cooking it at all. My favorite is to air fry it with olive oiland curry powder; it’s great as an appetizer with chutney or an addition to your favorite curry dish! – Dustin, Purchasing.

Alter Eco Super Dark Crisp Mint Chocolate The combination of really dark chocolate plus mint with a little crunch is so delicious! Before I tried this bar, I’d never seen a 90% bar that was flavored, and I think it’s a great option to have. This company’s chocolate is very luscious and smooth. So if you too have been looking for an extra dark chocolate bar beyond the basics, this is the one! – Helen, Cheese.

Hu Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Bar I first tried this chocolate when I went on a Portland, Oregon vacation this summer and couldn’t wait to request we bring it in at Willy Street Co-op. I came back to work, and to my delight, we started carrying it already! 70% dark chocolate, paleo, and vegan, but you’d never guess. How do they do it?! It’s so smooth, with a layer of hazelnut butter in the center, and absolutely no junk ingredients. Coconut sugar as the sweetener helps prevent that “candy crash” that can often happen after indulging in a sweet treat. You can *try* to share a bar, but maybe just keep this one for yourself. – Abigail, General Merchandise.

Potter’s Crackers Caramelized Onion Crackers If you’re looking for the perfect cracker for a cheese plate, this is the one! Potter’s Crackers are made with organic and locally sourced whole-wheat flour, milk, and butter in Madison, Wisconsin, and most of their produce also comes from small, local farms. This flavor goes with so many cheeses, but I recommend it with Dream Farm’s Farmstead Goat Cheese. – Lacey, Logistics.

Utz Sourdough Extra Dark Pretzels I don’t even like pretzels that much, but dang these are some nice pretzels, especially for the price. Crispy, flavorful, perfect for dipping. I’ve been digging into these with my favorite goat cheese and can’t get enough. North only. -Tara, Front End.

Rio Star Grapefruit Grown in Texas, this is the best tasting grapefruit we carry all year! Always tasty; buy it now until it is gone in early spring. Try adding it into a salad with thinly shaven red onion, celeriac (celery root), and fennel fronds, dressed with a vinaigrette. Cutting everything on a mandolin will make it quick and easy! -Max, Produce.

Quince & Apple Preserves These locally made preserves come in a bunch of amazing flavor combos like fig and black tea. We carry them in full-size jars and mini jars. The mini jars make it easy to sample every flavor to find your favorite. – Kelsey, Front End

Willy Street Co-op Olive Bar You can put together your own assortment of high-quality olives, whether just a few for a snack or a lot for a party tray. Also allows you try something new without buying a whole jar. -Joe, Logistics.

Alessi Sesame Breadsticks Perfect for snacking. I like to stand them up in a small cup and add them to a charcuterie board. -Jess, Purchasing.

Chestnuts They are good for roasting or braising. Seasonal and limited supply. -Paul, Produce. 

Deer Creek The Blue Jay Blue Cheese If this local award-winning QUINTUPLE cream blue cheese is decadent, delicious, and ultra-creamy. It is made with crushed juniper berries, giving it bright, earthy notes—making it the perfect pairing with wild game like venison, bison, or elk. Try this on top of an elk burger with red onion or smear it on a cracker with braunschweiger. You WILL NOT be disappointed! -Collin, Cheese.

Carr Valley Cocoa Cardona Grown “Chocolate and Cheese” is no longer just the name of your favorite Ween album. This semi-firm, decadent goat’s milk cheese from local cheesemakers, Carr Valley, is the perfect dessert cheese (think chocolate mousse).Super nice paired with an iced wine or Shiraz. -Laura, Admin.

Miyoko’s Cheese Wheels It’s a great food to bring and share with friends and family. It’s got a great flavor and any of the varieties are a hit with my family.-Evan, Logistics.

Underground Meats ‘Nduja A spicy pork spread that is perfect with a slice of cheese on crackers. Careful, or you’ll eat it all in one sitting! (which I have never done… never…….) -Laura, Admin. 

Dreamfarm Cranberry Ginger Chevre Makes a perfect addition to any cheese platter. It’s just the right amount of sweet to pair with anything savory! -Dustin, Purchasing.

Meredith Dairy’s Marinated Sheep & Goat Cheese This is my new favorite cheese—thanks to Dan in the Cheese Dept. at Willy East. It is so good warmed up under the broiler on some crusty bread. Such a treat and would make a perfect gift for any cheese lover in your life. -Caitlyn, Communications.

Nutkrack First, a warning. These caramelized pecans are seriously addictive. Second, they make an awesome gift for just about anyone without a nut allergy. Nutkrack goes great on a cheeseboard, but unless you get more than one you’ll probably finish them before you get your board set up. -Dan, Cheese.

Organic Satsuma Mandarins These mandarins are very easy to peel and have a perfect sweet and sour taste. -Tara, Front End.

Prasad Incense Many wonderful scents to brighten your holidays brought to you by a company in a Maharishi community in a small town in Southern Iowa. Who knew? -Laura, Admin.

Forest Floor Foods Zesty Brussels Sprouts This is a must for the at-home bartender. Great in Bloody Marys or Old Fashioneds! East and North only. -Amanda, Co-op Services.

Fever Tree Ginger Ale + Ginger Beer These come in 4-packs and they are just the perfect size for mixers or on their own! North and West only. -Amanda, Co-op Services.

Kalamazoo Candles-Obsidian I’m obsessed with the “obsidian” scented candle from Kalamazoo! To be honest, I’m obsessed with most of the scents they offer. Straight from Michigan, these candles are long-lasting, 100% soy, and are fragrant but not sickeningly smelly. They also make great gifts (hint, hint)! Available scents may vary. -Abigail, General Merchandise.

Casas Del Bosque Pinot Noir Red wine is perfect for a nice cold winter day. This will warm you up. It is a perfect drinkable wine that most enjoy. I like to bring it to gatherings and share it with friends and family. -Amanda, Co-op Services.

Tillen Farms MERRY Maraschino Cherries Great for an Old Fashioned or put some of the cherries in your ice cream. They have a wonderful quality and taste. They almost seem homemade. They are a must-have staple in my home. -Shelly, Logistics.

Siren Shrub Co. Tart Cherry Sparkling Shrub As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I’m always on the look out for an interesting non-alcoholic drink that isn’t soda. Siren Shrub Co’s sparkling shrubs are such a nice non-alcoholic drink option for special occasions! The flavor is complex and pleasant. Not super sweet like sodas or juices. I would compare the taste to kombucha but with more prominent fruit and herb taste. For those who partake, the shrub can be used as a mixer in a cocktail (there are cocktail recipes on their website) but they’re amazing on their own. I also love that Siren Shrub Co. a local and woman-owned business! -Hahna, Prepared Foods

PB8 Probiotics PB8 offers a very affordable way to increase your digestive flora. This is especially helpful for maintaining your gut health during the holiday season and is also a great way to boost your immunity!. -Katherine, Admin.

Silk Road Bazaar Felt Ornaments These cute ornaments are hand-felted and hand-stitched by artisans in Nepal. I got a flamingo and a unicorn to put on my tinsel tree last year. Can’t wait to add to my collection this year! -Caitlyn, Communications.

Pacha Soap Co. These soaps smell so good! And they are so beautiful; it’s hard to pick a favorite. Sustainably sourced natural ingredients make them even more special. They would make such a nice gift. Definitely the most delicious smelling package we receive at the Co-op.-Lacey, Logistics.

Booda Butter Daily Moisturizer Booda Butter gets my skin through the long, dry Wisconsin winters. It’s more effective than any other lotion/balm/butter I’ve used on my hands and it smells amazing. The unrefined organic cocoa butter gives it a light, natural chocolate aroma (I think it smells like brownies). I love that it’s vegan, organic, fragrance- and dye-free, and only has five ingredients. -Hahna, Prepared Foods.

Weleda Skin Food Body Butter If you’ve ever tried Weleda’s Original Skin Food Moisturizer and thought, “wow this is amazing but kinda on the thick and greasy side”, then their new body butter is for you! It’s made with simple ingredients, deeply moisturizing, easy to apply and has a subtle fresh scent that I find really nice. I really dislike a moisturizer that’s oily or greasy, and this is neither! My new go-to! -Tara, Front End.

LuSa Organics Uplifting Sugar Scrub Like LuSa says, it can be used from shoulders to toes, and I really like to use it on my hands and arms. It’s a great moisturizing and exfoliating treat after a long day of both frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing to make your hands and arms feel soft and smooth again. The citrus scent really is “uplifting,” and bonus! LuSa is a local producer too.-Kirsten, Co-op Services.

Wonderstate Coffee All of the Wonderstate Coffees are amazing! I respect the decision to rebrand and I love the new name and packaging. It looks and tastes so good that I like giving their coffee as a gift to friends. -Ben, Facilities.

FEED Bakery Sugar Cookies First of all, I have to say that I have never had something from FEED that I haven’t loved. These sugar cookies are just the latest. They’re chewy and delicious. I also love the FEED Bakery Training program, which helps un- and under-employed folks on the north side with baker training and job placement. Good food, good organization, what’s not to love? -Kelsey, Front End.

FEED Bakery Cheese & scallion scone These are so rich and buttery, with a great crumbly biscuit/scone texture. Add a scrambled egg and you have a filling and super tasty breakfast sandwich. -Carolyn, Deli.