What's in Your Fridge? | Willy Street Co-op

by Ben Becker, Newsletter Writer

What's in your fridge? refrigerator illustration You are what you eat. This cliche statement could be considered through many nuanced perspectives and has been explored repeatedly in this newsletter. How much does what you eat say about who you are? Often times our culinary inclinations have some relation to our cultural identity, as we may manifest our heritage through the experience of traditional family recipes passed down through preparation and shared enjoyment. In addition to what the food we eat might say about our identity or who our ancestors are, what else can our food choices say about who we are? Does what we place on our table reveal something about our personality? Can our grocery shopping list offer a perspective into our souls? This month we try to gain some insight about a cross-section of Willy Street cooperators by asking, “What’s in your fridge?”

Robert Halstead: Owner

Robert Halstead headshot Arugula

Parmesan

Balsamic reduction

Bagels Forever Onion Bagels

Muenster Cheese Slices

Pomelo-Grapefruit Klarbrunn

Black Cherry White Claw

Mango Man Salsa

MoJo’s MaJik Sweet Barbecue Sauce

A journey to the heart of Robert Halstead’s kitchen will reveal that he is a man of discerning tastes. His cold storage harbors the sharp flavors of arugula, Parmesan and a balsamic reduction which when combined make a salad worthy of the more sophisticated palate. Complementing his go-to mix of greens, Robert is sure to pick up slices of muenster cheese when he swings through Willy North. Yet, as intimidating as these accoutrements may be; this refrigerator also contains the more relatable Bagels Forever Onion Bagel, a common favorite among many Co-op shoppers no doubt as a result of their comforting flavor and impressive value. When it comes to condiments, Robert keeps things local with Madison’s own Mango Man Salsa. All that flavor must build a powerful thirst, which can be reliably quenched by such preferred refreshments as the Black Cherry White Claw or a Pomelo-Grapefruit Klarbrunn.

Jesse Thurber: Front End Supervisor

Jesse Thurber headshot Bottle of Florajen

Mayonnaise

Bagels

Broccoli

Pre-bagged salad mix

Frozen pizza

Fage Yogurt

Cascadian Farms Frozen Peas and
Carrots

Honest Tea

Spice World Minced Garlic

Untitled Art CBD Water

Cedar Farms Sausage and Deli Meats

Jesse Thurber, a long-time front-end supervisor at Willy Street Co-op East, gives us the first peek into the inner workings of his icebox. At the top of Jesse’s list is a bottle of Florajen probiotics. This product is great for maintaining your gut health by helping to restore a normal balance of intestinal bacteria, which can help treat such issues as urinary tract infections or diarrhea. When speaking of his favorite condiment, Jesse states, “I love mayonnaise!” Jesse enjoys using mayo as a dipping sauce into which he will dunk both sandwiches and homemade corndogs. When it comes to toaster fare, Jesse keeps it simple, by warming up bagels with just a little bit of butter.

When feeling thirsty, Jesse will reach for one of the many non-caffeinated flavors of Honest Tea, or an Untitled Art CBD Water. “I really love that water. It’s a nice treat at the end of the night.”

Jesse also is sure to keep some fresher options on hand. Primary on this list is broccoli, as it is “Very good to eat raw or as a side.” Jesse also enjoys breaking into a pre-bagged salad mix, making use of its ease of preparation, noting that “it would be hard to replicate, very convenient, good mix of toppings, and it is almost a meal.” Jesse also makes good use of Fage Yogurt. A small tub is good to have on hand. You can use it to make dips by adding a mix or some Penzey’s Spices to it.” In order to keep things flavorful, you are always sure to find a jar of diced or minced garlic from Spice World, which has the advantage of staying fresh without having to worry about bulbs rotting or growing shoots. Of course, no refrigerator would be fully stocked without a spare frozen pizza in the freezer, whether just for fun or when you don’t want to make something more complex. Jesse also keeps a frozen bag of peas and carrots in his icebox which he says always make for a good side.

Anya Firszt: General Manager

colored headshot for Anya Firszt Kalamata olives

Mustard

Mrs. Clark’s Mayo

Sandwich fixins: schmear, bread, lettuce, tomato, peppers, meat, and cheese

Cheese

Organic Valley Sour Cream

Hot sauce or Sriracha

Tortillas

Salad fixins

Capers

Woodstock Pickles

Jeff’s Garden Banana Peppers

Kerrygold Butter

Westby Local Butter

Eggs

Milk

When stocking her refrigerator, General Manager Anya Firszt is sure to have a number of core items well represented. She will always have some kind of olives cooling down, but says, “If I can only pick one it would be kalamatas.” Anya is also a connoisseur of sandwich components, stocking savory spreads like mustard such as dijon or spicy brown, as well as Mrs. Clark’s mayonnaise. Cheese is another critical victual which Anya keeps for every occasion, including cheese to grate, a more grill-worthy variety, crumbly queso, or just something for noshing on such as brie. One of her favorites is the Farmer John Parmesan. Anya also keeps things spicy with a variety of hot sauces, and you can be sure that you will spot the iconic rooster on a bottle of Sriracha.

Anna Sisson: Owner

Anna Sisson heashot Smoked turkey slices

Siete Tortillas

Olives from the Olive Bar

Dashelito’s Jalapeño Hot Sauce

Lesser Evil Power Spicy Salsa Power Curls

Daiya Frozen Pizzas

Lotzza Motzza Pizza

Primal Kitchen Avocado Mayo

Cypress Grove Midnight Moon Cheese

Spicy Italian sausage

If one were daring enough to experience all that Anna Sisson’s fridge has to offer, they would quickly realize that such an undertaking is certainly not for the faint of heart. To keep hunger at bay, Anna makes sure to keep some potent provisions around. Unwilling to tolerate dull moments at her table, Dashelito’s Jalepeño Hot Sauce is one way she keeps blandness at bay. For some exciting snack fare, Anna will crunch down on the Spicy Salsa Power Curls from Lesser Evil. These paleo-friendly poppers provide protein-packed with a taste that can only be described as epic. Keeping in the spirit of a diet-friendly to our cave-dwelling ancestors, this fridge stays filled with Primal Kitchens Mayo. This spread made with healthy avocado oil is friendly to paleo or keto diets as it contains no gluten, grain, sugar, or industrially processed oil. Proceeding deeper into the chilly recesses of cold storage, Anna is undaunted when she reaches for a Midnight Moon Cheese from Cypress Grove in order to enjoy the complexities created when combining its nutty, buttery flavors with a slight crunch! Clearly a cheese lover, Anna keeps her freezer stocked with the Lotzza Motzza Brew Pub Pizzas, with each one boasting over half a pound of Wisconsin mozzarella.

Caryn Murphy: Board Member

Caryn Murphy headshot Brown Cow Yogurt

Blueberries

Yuppie Hill Eggs

Hummus

Klarbrunn

Baby carrots

Cheddar cheese

Shredded mild cheddar

Bagels Forever Onion Bagels

Stoneground mustard

Pickles

Ginger or ginger juice

Butter

Apples

Amy’s Pizza

Organic Valley Grass-Fed Half & Half

Salad greens

From examining Co-op Board member Caryn Murphy’s groceries, it would not be difficult to discern a set of principles and values which recommend her to a director’s seat. Placed prominently within her refrigerator is a demonstration of her concern for animal welfare embodied by her breakfast choices. When regarding her breakfast staples, Caryn notes her dietary reliance on the rich and healthy eggs from Yuppie Hill Poultry when explaining, “I don’t eat meat, so I try to eat eggs every morning.” Eggs are not alone in Caryn’s breakfast rotation. She currently favors Brown Cow as it fits her yogurt philosophy: “I think that yogurt should have fruit on the bottom.” When looking for a little more fruitiness she will also throw in blueberries to enhance this breakfast dish. And a complement to the most important meal of the day is a fresh carton of Organic Valley Grassfed Half & Half as a treat for coffee.

After breakfast time, Caryn keeps her fridge stocked with Klarbrunn in order to stave off dehydration throughout her day, noting that enjoying this fizzy beverage “helps me to drink a lot of water.” As the day wears on, this board member is always sure to have solid snacking options including baby carrots, apples, and two-year-old cheddar cheese. On another shelf sits a jar of homemade pickles, which are easily prepared by recycling new cucumber slices into leftover brine and topping it off with fresh vinegar. Once fully pickled, Caryn will use these slices to spice up her egg salad. For another homemade favorite, ginger or conveniently premade ginger juice is kept in the mix for making switchel, a potent beverage that can restore vigor on hot days. If a complicated dinner preparation is not in the cards, Caryn always has a few Amy’s Pizzas in the freezer for a quick and easy fix.