Welcome to Instore News! You'll find everything you need to know about whats happening at The Organic Grocer right here. So be sure to return on a regular basis!

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By golly, can you believe its that time of the year again?  We think you'd all agree that its been a bit of a horrendous winter with the lurgies taking a firm hold. We are certainly glad to have finally left all that behind us, and with the summer months ahead, its time to clean out those rusty barbe's (if you haven't already done so) and fire them up with all the summer treats that this season brings.

This winter has been a real challenge produce wise for organics - there were a few weeks where nothing green was available and the selections very limited. We breathe a sigh of relief however, as over the past few weeks, we are seeing more and more variety coming through. Asparagus is now available in abundance, as are fresh blueberries (a fav of ours), and for all you potato lovers the infamous Jersey Benne pots.

And with Christmas at our doorstep, why not give your loved ones the perfect gift with no nasties? We have a wide selection of gift baskets which are completely customisable to cater for a specific person, dietary requirement or price range. Come in and have a chat to our grocery team and have a browse through our selections.

We are now also taking orders for xmas hams. Chat to our team about the options available and if you place your order before December 12th, we'll throw in a pack of xmas mince pies!



LOYALTY PROGRAMME
For all our loyalty customers, you will now find we have regularly changing specials around the store, exclusive to those who are part of the scheme. If you haven't yet joined, it takes no time at all and is effectively free. Come in and find out about how you can enjoy all the exclusive benefits you will receive for being part of this programme. And don't forget, points can be accumulated in both the grocery and the cafe.

PICKINGS FROM THE CAFE
If you haven't visited the cafe lately, you will find a lot has changed. We've revamped our counter selection to include delectable delights which look as good as they taste.

Just like the seasons, the cafe offerings change along with what is in abundance. Whether its a hearty piece of the seasonal roast vege frittata, a filling spring lamb pie with celeriac and kumura mash topping, or the asian beef noodle salad, there is bound to be something to tempt you.

And if that wasn't enough, our all day breakfast/brunch menu has undergone a facelift too (starting this Saturday 6th December). Don't fret, your usual favs like the Grocer Special and the Pancakes remain - they are now just a whole lot tastier. Come in and try the grilled coconut and cinnamon bread, served with our own homemade lemon curd, honey syrup and cream, or the blueberry and banana french toast, made with buttery Pandoro brioche and lashings of vanilla bean syrup (or maple for those who prefer). Most meals can be modified to fit in with your special dietary requirements. You only need to ask.

Leading up to Christmas, look out for our special goodies, including gluten and dairy free gingerbread men, and our own scrumptious gluten free xmas mince pies. For the kiddies, come and check out our gingerbread house competition. The grand prize is a completely edible gingerbread house! Entries close 20th December at 4pm, so make sure you don't miss out.

Definitely worth a mention is our outdoor seating in the carpark area in the weekends. This area is drenched with all day sun, and is a great opportunity for you all to make the most of these warmer days, whilst enjoying our fantastic cafe fare.

VEGE BOXES
We have have a tremendous amount of positive feedback from our vege (and fruit) box scheme. If you like the idea of receiving the very best quality produce we have on the week, every week, then this is definitely for you! Choose from a $30 or $60 box, let us know your address and sit back and wait for your weekly box to arrive. Jam packed with only the best quality produce, you will also sometimes receive unusual items which we will give you ideas on how to use. Discuss your requirements with any of our grocery team.

 A SELECTION OF PRODUCTS ON OUR SHELVES



Nutrient Water
For when you're flat out, strung out, sweating it out .... or still out. Be Bad, Drink Good. Brand new to New Zealand from across the ditch, this fantastic range is sure to catch your eye when you pass our drinks fridge in the grocery. A fantastic range of health drinks sweetened with fructose (low GI and suitable for diabetics) and made from deionised water. The flavours range from passionfruit citrus to valencia orange to pomegranate berry. Just reading their quirky descriptions alone will be enough to entice you to pick up a bottle.



Martin Evers Naturkost Gourmet Pates
For those of you familiar with German brands, you will recognize Evers Naturkost as a well respected manufacturer of gourmet products. This delectable range of gourmet vegetarian pates are tasty and a great size. These pates are based on nutritional yeast, and are packed with vitamin B, and better still they are dairy, gluten, egg and soy free! Available in 6 different flavours, they are definitely worth a try. A great addition if you have special dietary requirements.

With flavours which range from white mushroom, to spicy Mexican, to black olives or just the natural creamy mild, there is sure to be something to tempt you.



Lisa's Gourmet Green Onion Dip
Check out Lisa's new range of tasty gourmet dips. The Green Onion Dip is just how you remember it, but better. With freshly diced green onion shallots combined with chilli and a dash of lemon, then blended with a traditional cream cheese, its a great new take on an old favourite. Don't miss also their Blue Cheese dip - also new - delicious and oh so versatile by itself or as a base for a dressing or sauce.



Chocolate Coconut Butter
For all you chocoholics out there, this is your dream come true! This rich decadent butter is loaded with super nutritional goodies. Enjoy the delicious flavour whilst benefiting from the anti bacterial and anti fungal properties of coconut oil and the antioxidants and magnesium of raw cacao. Whats even better, dark agave syrup is used as the sweetener - a raw low GI sweetener suitable for diabetics. Use direct from the jar as a spread for that guilt free treat. Your kids will love you for it!



Blue River Organic Cheddar and Feta
We're always on the lookout for good cheese, and what a find it was to discover Blue River Dairy - a boutique cheesemaker based in Southland. Both cheeses are Biogro certified and made from 100% pure organic Biogro certified milk. After production, the cheddar is left to mature for a minimum of 9 months, which enhances the creamy soft texture and its exquisite taste. So good, it won the bronze award at the NZ Cheese awards this year. Their delicious feta is salted by hand before being preserved in brine for 6 months, then left to mature for several months creating its creamy, full flavour. Check them out in our cheese fridge.

PRODUCT PICK OF THE MONTH



OLIVADO AVOCADO ZEST OIL
Brand new to Olivado's family of exquisite oils. The avocado zest oil is made from the extra virgin cold pressing of fresh New Zealand lemons and ripe avocado. A true taste sensation and just as versatile as using avocado oil on its own, with the tangy addition of lemon.

Research has shown that avocado fruit is full of monounsaturated fats, which are the 'good' fats that help to reduce the 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. The avocado also has a very high content of a natural plant compound called Beta-Sitosterol that not only helps prevent absorption of 'bad' LDL cholesterol into the bloodstream, it assists in redressing the balance by promoting 'good' HDL cholesterol.

Tests show New Zealand grown avocados have among the highest Beta-Sitosterol levels in the world in this type of fruit - up to 950mg per 100grams content compared to an average of 750mg per 100grams content for typical avocados grown elsewhere (AgriQuality Lab Network, May 2000). This level is preserved in the avocado oil. Compare that to olive oil, another recognized healthy oil, which has only 250mg per 100grams content and the New Zealand avocado is almost four times superior in this respect.

The benefits of avocado oil outweigh those of extra virgin olive oil. It is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E. Monounsaturated fatty acids are usually found in plant products such as avocados and olives and their oils. Monosaturated fatty acids lower the bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and protects cells in the body and is a defence against life-threatening diseases.

Avocado oil also has a high smoke point, at 255°C (it breaks up around 268°C), making it suitable for quick searing of food in very hot oil.

Use the avocado zest oil to heighten the flavour of your dips or guacamole. Drizzle it over a fresh summer salad, or use it to sear fresh seafood, then as a drizzle afterwards. The options are absolutely endless!

(Adapted from the Olivado website)

OUR FAVOURITE SUMMER DISH
For some reason or another, summer conjures up dreamy images of light and tasty food, and citrus features in a lot of menus. This is one of our favs. So many uses from the filling of a sweet tart to a dollop over your pancakes and everything in between. Enjoy!

Lemon Curd (makes 2 cups)
100gm butter
250gm sugar
3 lemons
4 eggs

Place the butter and sugar in a stainless steel bowl. Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water so the butter and sugar dissolves. Finely grate the lemon rind, and then squeeze the juice from the lemons. Put the juice through a strainer and add to the butter and sugar mixture with the lemon rind. Beat together well.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs well and add to the lemon mixture. Stir continuously over the heat until the mixture becomes thick. Pour into sterilised jars to cool.

FINALLY
We'll be well into 2009 by the time of our next news lot. From all of us here we wish you the very best for a joyous festive season and a successful start to 2009. We will catch up again in the New Year!

From The Team At The Organic Grocer

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Have you noticed our logo? Designed by our good friends at The Church, we feel it truly represents who we are and gives us the fresh contemporary feel that organics deserves today. Pop into the store and notice the difference. We've spent a long time designing it, and we're ecstatic with the result.

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