Can’t get enough of local craft beer? We’ve got just the thing! Check out True Brew Magazine, a bi-monthly publication made by local craft beer lovers for local craft beer lovers. In each issue you’ll learn about new local breweries, trending area brews, and all of the major stories and events you need to stay in the loop.
In the current edition, True Brew hops into the story of Schenectady’s newest powerhouse Frog Alley Brewing.
The best part? True Brew Magazine is available for free in select, Capital District NY stores! You can find the full list of locations here!
FROG ALLEY BREWING CO.
LEAPS ONTO THE CAPITAL REGION BEER SCENE
by Erik Budrakey
When you think of most of your favorite breweries, they probably have a story that goes a little something like this: Guy or Gal likes beer. Takes up home-brewing. Starts brewing regularly. Shares beer with friends and family. Friends convince said guy or gal that their beer is the best beer on the planet. Guy or Gal decides to go for it and open a brewery. Brewery starts off small, slowly growing a loyal following. Brewery expands, becomes the toast of the town. And so, on and so forth…
Well, if that defines the path of the typical brewery, then it is safe to say that Frog Alley Brewing Company will not be a typical brewery. Born as the brainchild of local architect JT Pollard, Frog Alley serves as the centerpiece for a larger vision. The brewery occupies the bottom two floors of what is to become known as the Mill Artisan District, a sprawling retail, entertainment, and apartment complex that has now sprung up on Lower State Street in Schenectady, NY.
DESIGNING A REVITALIZATION
The Mill Artisan District project was conceived by Pollard to serve as a multi-use development and is designed with a goal to help revitalize lower State Street and Downtown Schenectady. The 30 million-dollar, soon-to-be completed project will include 74 residential apartments, training space for SUNY Schenectady and their brewer’s certification program, about 20,000 square feet of high-tech office space, and other retailers such as Bountiful Bread and some other yet-to-be named retailers.
As for Frog Alley Brewing Company, upon entering the taproom at the State Street level you are immediately greeted by a very large bar. Okay, it’s a HUGE bar! It features a draft system that has 40 beer taps and seating for more than 30 at the bar itself. It fills up the left side of the entrance while a bar rail with stools lines the right-side room, allowing for patrons to look out over State Street. The large room is split by standing/sitting round-top tables with a large space on the far side that allows for bands, dancing, and events. Venture towards the back/middle of the brewery and you’ll find games such as corn-hole and a giant connect four. Beyond that still and a few steps up brings you to an area referred to as “the landing”, that sits looking directly over the brewery and the canning and bottling lines below. Here, the air becomes thick with the smell of boiling malts and spicy hops. Pretty much the best smell in the world (unless you are hung-over). The Landing serves as a great private event space that allows guests to get the true experience of being in the brewery. Beyond the landing is another large event/education room.
Back in the main bar taproom, the left side of the room is lined by 5 large pods which will eventually serve as mini-tasting rooms for start-up and tenured breweries that contract brew their beer at the Frog Alley brewery. The pods are each ½ inside the taproom and ½ outside of the taproom, making them accessible from the immense patio that lies on the other side. That patio also features ample seating for patrons and event space for private parties and live music.
It’s a huge and aspirational project. And, the fact that it was conceived by a non-brewer might make some business insiders and craft beer traditionalists nervous. So naturally, we felt compelled to get the story. As I am waiting to meet the brewery founder, JT Pollard, I belly up to the busy but comfortable bar and order a Frog Alley Captain Ellis Porter. It’s rich and dark in color, approaching black with ruby highlights. This brew has strong roasted notes of the malt bill balanced perfectly with gently hop notes. This is a Robust Porter that weighs in at 6.4% ABV and 40 IBUs. I should note that Porters are my favorite style of beer and The Captain Ellis comes in as near perfect. Straight up delicious!
Before long, Pollard comes down, joins me at the bar, and we get into a discussion about a non-brewer opening a brewery. We discuss his love of beer and acute awareness of the craft beer category and how craft breweries have helped revitalize down-towns across the nation over the past dozen years. He assures me that he is fully aware of what he doesn’t know about brewing. He eludes that the first thing that he did as his vision for the project became clearer, was partner up with two experienced, reputable, and locally established brewers.
“When I conceived the idea to build a brewery, I knew that I would need to hire the best possible talent that I can find,” Pollard tells me. “As much as I love beer, I really knew very little about brewing beer or the equipment that was necessary to do it at a high level. I needed to build a team that not only knew how to brew great beer, but also understood the process, the equipment, and the logistics of a brewery. Luckily, I found Rich Michaels and Drew Schmidt!”
RICH MICHAELS
Rich Michaels is a very well-known brewer, not just here in the Capital Region, but across the state and much of the nation. He started brewing beer commercially in the Capital District over 25 years ago when, in 1992, he knocked on a on the door of the then Brown and Moran Brewing Company in Troy with a six pack of home brewed beer and asked for a job. The beer was good enough to get him in the door as a brewer. He got started on his brewing career at Brown’s and worked their until the mid-90’s when he departed to become the Brewmaster the formed Big House Brewery in Albany.
In 1997, he left the Capital Region to complete his education in Chicago at the Siebel Institute of Brewing. The Siebel Institute, founded in 1868, is the oldest and most reputable brewing school in the United States. While in Chicago, he met up with a few guys who were working to open a brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After finishing his diploma, he went to work as Brewmaster at Founders Brewing Company. As the first employee, he was responsible for recipe development, brewing and packaging. (Editors Note: Little known fact, Michaels was the brewer that developed Founder Porter. We are not huge on ratings at True Brew Magazine, but Founders Porter is rated 100 by Ratebeer.com, and it’s damn good. Might be a good idea to try Frog Alley’s Porter!)
In 2001, Michaels left Founders and moved south to brew beer at Walt Disney World for the Gordon Biersch Brewery Group. Later, Rich also owned and operated Dutch Ale House, a craft beer bar for three years. Most recently, Michaels worked for FX Matt Brewing Company (Saranac) as the quality and innovation manager. He was responsible for product development, brewing quality and process innovation.
Rich also teaches a brewing program at Schenectady County Community College, which focuses on educating students for successful employment in the craft brewing industry. The program provides brewing knowledge and hands-on training in commercial brewing practices.
It’s safe to say that when Pollard scored Michaels, he scored indeed! “When I first met JT, I thought his vision for this project was a bit of a crazy idea.”, says Michaels. “The concept of an anchor brewery supporting 5-6 other breweries and actually allowing them to pour their beer in their taproom was not something that we have seen here on the east coast. When I met him, I was working at Saranac and running the Brewery Workforce Development program at SCCC. Lots of driving back and forth. I wasn’t actively looking for a change, but the more I got to know JT and understand his vision, the more I became intrigued. In 2017, he showed up at the Craft Brewers Conference in Washington DC and I realized that he was serious and was moving forward with his plan. We got to talk more in depth and ultimately, we agreed for me to come on board as a partner and brewmaster.”
DREW SCHMIDT
Drew Schmidt began his brewing career early on in the Craft Brewing revolution. In 1992 he started as an assistant brewer at Zip City Brewing Company, New York’s second brewpub. In 1993 he left Zip City to attend the Siebel Institute and graduated with a diploma in Brewing Technology.
Upon graduation, Drew moved to the Baltimore area and became the Head Brewer at the Oxford Brewing Company. During this time, the brewery shifted its focus from traditional English style ales to American style beers and quickly expanded to Maryland’s largest microbrewery.
In 1996, Drew settled in Albany where he worked alongside Rich Michaels at the Big House Brewing Company. At the time, the Big House was the largest brewpub in the nation, producing 2,000 barrels of beer in a single location. Drew became known for his IPA at the Big House, and his raspberry wheat beer. After a brief hiatus, Drew returned to brewing as a Shift Supervisor at Olde Saratoga as well as the lead brewer at Mad Jack Brewing Company. Most recently, you could find Mr. Schmidt at Shmaltz Brewing Company in Clifton Park where he acted as the Production Manager. Drew left Shmaltz in 2017 to focus all of his energy to the construction and planning of Frog Alley Brewing Company.
“Rich and I worked together at the Big House in the ’90’s but had become sort-of separate and disassociated for about 15 years. We became reacquainted after I got back to the region and, as he and I got more familiar with JT’s vision, it became a no-brainer for me to come on as a brewmaster/partner as well.” explains Schmidt. “It’s awesome that after more than 25 years in the business that we have circled back and are working together again. We are vested. We are in it! And we are looking forward to turning out some really good beers”
“How would you define your brewing style and what consumers can expect when they come into Frog Alley Brewing?” I ask.
“As far as ‘brewing style’,” Michaels responds, “you’ll find a nice mix of beers that are brewed authentically to style and beers that are experimental and creative. With 40 draft lines, once we get going, you’ll likely see 10-15 creative beers.
“We have a 17-barrel brewing system that allows us to produce our ‘everyday’ beers very efficiently and very consistent, which is important,” says Schmidt. “One thing that enticed Rich and I to get involved with the project was that we knew that JT would invest in top-of-the-line equipment. And he has! Most breweries run at about 65-80% brewing efficiencies. We run at more than 95% efficiency. This leads to us using less energy, less raw materials, and less waste.”
Michaels continues, “While we have a creative side, beer lovers should expect to have a super-premium beer experience here at Frog Alley. When it comes to brewing to style, look for our beers to be technically excellent. Drew and I both possess the knowledge to produce a beer that we know will taste the way that we intended for it to taste”
MORE THAN JUST A BREWERY – A DESTINATION
While Frog Alley Brewing certainly aims to put themselves on the craft beer map by producing consistent and technically awesome beers, the Mill Lane Artisan District, including the brewery, also aim to become a downtown destination for great beer, great food, live music and special events. The brewery has recently hired local special events guru to manage the event and entertainment schedule. AJ Bodden, the brainchild of events such as America on Tap, Saratoga Beer Fest, and scores of other local, regional, and national events over the past15 years, has come on board for Frog Alley as their Business Development Manager and has already led the charge to bringing large crowds into the brewery’s event space. “This space is prime for great events and for live music,” Bodden explains. “Inside alone is designed perfectly for optimal sound and viewing but, once the patio opens in the spring, watch out!”
This summer and fall have been proof-positive that Frog Alley is already making noise as an event destination. The brewery hosted numerous events including live music by Skeeter Creek, Shake-Rattle-Roll Dueling Pianos and Thirsty Thursday’s Country Night. Throw in the occasional paint & sip, cornhole tournament, or local rock band and you’ve got yourself a good time.
“Not only is it a great time,” says Schmidt, “it’s a great time with great beer. It’s been interesting to see how the type of live music that we’ve hosted have influenced the types of fans that we have had in, and the types of fans have influenced the styles of beers that we poured on a given night. Typical non-craft beer drinking consumers are coming in to enjoy the live music and are getting turned on to craft beer while they are here. We’ve found that the older crowds soak up the Pils and the Cherry Wheat style beers while the younger generation is more into IPA’s, Sours, and experimental beers.”
As Frog Alley heads into the winter season, there is no plan to slow down on production, nor on events. Last year the brewery signed on with Saratoga Eagle to distribute their beer and the distributor has come out focused and aggressive with Frog Alley. The brand is all over the Capital Region and is receiving raving reviews for the beer itself. Frog Alley’s brews can be found on draft in about 90 different local bars and restaurants. The brand has also found its way onto store shelve in 16oz cans at retailers such as Price Chopper/Market 32, Hannaford, Stewarts, most local beverage centers and more.
“For events, Frog Alley is hosting a couple of big ones coming up,” says Bodden. On Saturday, January 25th we’ll be hosting The Frozen Frog. The event is scheduled to be from noon-7pm, but I expect the party to go on into the night! We will be featuring a Limited-Edition Can Release of Morad NEIPA in honor of WEQX legend Jeff Morad. There will be an Ice Bar featuring Frog Alley beers, Tito’s and Casamigos Drinks in the Ice Luge! The patio will be rockin’ with live music on the outdoor stage by Swimmer, SixFoxWhiskey, and Run River North.”
“Then, on Saturday February 8th we are going to be hosting BREWMAGEDDON BEER FESTIVAL 2020. There will be a VIP hour from 2-3pm and then a general session brewfest. This event will take place throughout the entire brewery including areas not open to the public giving attendees a sneak peek at all the exciting things happening here as well as a chance to drink beer where beer is brewed!”
According to Bodden, BREWMAGEDDON will feature:
- 40+ Breweries from throughout the Northeast Beer direct from the breweries themselves
- Beer poured BY THE BREWERS
- Special releases
- Food Vendors
- Live music by The North & South Dakotas
VIP Tickets are on sale now for $65 and include 1 Extra Hour of Sampling, Mingling and Chatting with the brewers + Souvenir Sampling Glass + a Frog Alley Souvenir + 1 Token for a Pint of Frog Alley Brew in the Taproom. GA Tickets are $45 and include 3 hours of Sampling + Souvenir Sampling Glass.
We’d like to welcome Frog Alley Brewing Company to the great Capital Region craft beer scene and encourage you to take a trip down to Schenectady to check them out. Make an afternoon/evening of it. Check out the brewery, grab a bite to eat and a fresh, local beer, and enjoy innovation. The Mill Artisan District and Frog Alley Brewing are located at 108 State St in downtown. There is plenty of parking behind the brewery.
Hours
Monday: 4-8 pm
Tuesday: 4-8 pm
Wednesday: 4-9 pm
Thursday: 4-11 pm
Friday: 4-12 am
Saturday: 12 pm – 12 am,
Sunday: 12 pm – 8 pm
10 Creative Chocolate Covered Treats for Valentine’s Day
It’s the week of Valentine’s Day and we can’t seem to get these “chocolate covered” thoughts out of our heads. After all, ‘tis the season for showing your love and appreciation through sweet treats. With this in mind, we thought we’d give you a roster of fun ideas for creative chocolate covered goodies this year.
Dip into our 10 chocolate covered treat ideas below!
- Chocolate Dipped Fruits: Our hand dipped in-store chocolate strawberries are an essential this time of year. Same goes for our chocolate covered pineapple. However, apple slices, orange slices, watermelon slices and bananas are also fantastic when covered in chocolate. You can’t go wrong with pretty much any sweet or tart fruit.
- Chili Peppers: The flavor of a chili pepper mixes beautifully with the savory taste of chocolate. A sweet pepper could be an interesting choice, but a spicy pepper adds a perfect contrast to the sweetness. Give it a try.
- Pie: Yes, pie. The whole pie. Whip up your favorite key lime pie recipe and cover it in chocolate. You’re at the top of the dessert game! Congrats.
- Potato Chips: This one’s easy. The saltiness of a potato chip combined with the sweet flavor of chocolate is addicting!
- NEW Market 32 Pretzels & Graham Crackers: We’ve introduced these before here on our blog, but seriously, we just can’t get over how satisfying they are! Get them before they’re gone!
- Pickles: This might seem questionable at first but the sweet and tangy flavors mix well. You have to try it yourself to fully understand!
- Filet Mignon: If you’re interested in going all out for Valentine’s Day why not combine dinner with dessert? It’s a thing. Trust us. If you try it, let us know what you think!
- Peanut Butter Crackers: Peanut butter crackers are a top tier snack by themselves, but dip them in some chocolate and you’ve added a dynamic star to your romantic snack game.
- Edamame: If you’re looking for a healthier treat to snack on for Valentine’s Day and beyond, try chocolate covered edamame. Edamame is a nice alternative to common salty snacks like chips, so it’s ok to go ahead and add some chocolate.
- Strawberry Cookies: Everybody loves chocolate dipped strawberries, but how about chocolate dipped strawberry cookies? It’s a simple, yet creative spin on a Valentine’s Day classic.
Chocolate treats are always in our minds around Valentine’s Day. We hope you enjoy these unique ways to try chocolate like you never have before. Need a chocolate mix to get started? Find it here.
Happy chocolate-covering!
Redeem your AdvantEdge Rewards points for MasterChef Knives*!
At Price Chopper and Market 32, we’re committed to helping home cooks thrive. For the sharpest deal in town, starting February 9th, you can redeem your AdvantEdge Rewards points for MasterChef Knives*! These high-end knives are versatile and dependable. And nothing makes meal preparation easier than a brand new set of professional kitchen knives.
MasterChef Knives* feature full tang, three rivet handle construction, and are ergonomically designed for comfort. Their blades offer an angled bolster design for precision control so that you can prep like a pro! Each knife is made for a specific function that enhances your knife skills and everyday meals. Choose from the following knives:
Large & Small Santoku: Meaning “three uses,” Santoku knives originated in Japan. They’re versatile and best for slicing, dicing and mincing veggies, meat and fish. With a thinner blade, they’re adept at more refined slicing.
Bread: Serrated bread knives are ideal for slicing through hard exteriors. Use them on everything from crusty bread to squash, melons and tomatoes.
Utility: A smaller version of a chef’s knife, utility knives have 6- to 8-inch long blades. This all-purpose knife can be used for chopping fruits and veggies, carving poultry or mincing garlic, onions and delicate herbs.
Cook’s: Cook’s knives are the go-to knives for professional chefs. Their broad and sharp blades are perfect for a variety of kitchen tasks, including chopping herbs, prepping meats and vegetables and much more.
Steak: Combining sleek design with superior performance, MasterChef steak knives are extraordinarily sharp and sturdy, offering precision and ease with every cut.
Start your MasterChef Knife collection* with just 750 Rewards points. Promotion runs 2/9/2020-4/18/2020 or while supplies last.
Visit pricechopper.com/rewards for terms & conditions.
Learn about other essential knives in our Kitchen Knives 101 blog!
©2020 MasterChef and the MasterChef logo are trademarks of Endemol Shine and licensed by Endemol Shine IP BV. All Rights Reserved. Used under license by TCC Global N.V., World Trade Center Amsterdam, Zuidplein 84, 1077XV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. *MasterChef the TV Series range of knives.
Location, Location…Location? The home.grown. Story of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
We provide a wide variety of home.grown. products to our customers, but did you know that one of America’s favorite cream cheeses is one these products? Philadelphia Cream Cheese is actually the product of small town Chester, NY, not Philly. So why is this tasty spread labeled Philadelphia when its roots are in NY? This is the tale of Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
As you can imagine there are a lot of myths of how Philadelphia Cream Cheese got its name. Tales such as “it originated in Philly then was stolen and brought to Upstate New York,” or “it’s from Philadelphia, NY” float around, but are untrue. According to the research done by world-renowned cream cheese expert Rabbi Jeffrey Marx, the name “Philadelphia Cream Cheese” is nothing more than a clever marketing scheme.
In the 1880s, Philadelphia was the country’s goldmine for all things dairy, producing the highest quality products due to its fertile land. At this time, many American dairy farms were producing a fresher, un-aged version of what in Europe is known as Neufchatel, a soft, crumby, mold-ripened cheese. Philadelphia was a hotbed for cheeses of this kind and had earned itself quite the reputation.
Meanwhile, in Chester, NY, dairyman William Lawrence was boosting the cream content in his cheese recipe, creating something new simply called, “cream cheese.” Lawrence was doing well, selling enough of his recipe to run a solid business, until he met New York cheese broker Alvah Reynolds. Reynolds pitched the idea of adding Philadelphia to the name of the recipe for better advertisement. Lawrence was intrigued, and “Philadelphia Cream Cheese” was born. Lawrence’s product became a booming success and eventually turned into the product that we love today.
Fast forward to the present day and cream cheese is still celebrated in neighborhoods in our region. In Lowville, NY, just a few miles from our Carthage Price Chopper, they host an annual Cream Cheese Festival featuring recipe contests, games, music, and more. Every year the event is a hit!
Craving cream cheese? Now that you know its rich, home.grown. history…it’s time to enjoy some! Find it at your local store or on our website, and check out our recipe picks below for some treats that put cream cheese in the spotlight!
7 Valentine’s Day Essentials Beyond Flowers and Candy
Valentine’s Day is approaching and love is in the air at Price Chopper and Market 32! We always enjoy the classic flowers and chocolates to help you put a smile on the face of your valentine. However, this year we thought we’d introduce you to some new Valentine’s Day ideas…you know, just to keep your special someone on their toes.
- Hallmark Cards: Never has there ever been a time when someone received a Hallmark card and it didn’t make them feel warm and fuzzy inside. You can’t go wrong with Hallmark, especially on Valentine’s Day when displaying your appreciation is imperative. Luckily, we have these joyful cards available at your local store for you to do just that!
- Hot Sauce: Hot sauce is definitely a Valentine’s Day sleeper. Just a small bottle makes a fantastic gift, and can heat up more than just your food. Check out our variety of hot sauces, from our classic PICS Hot Sauce to the fiery Hoff Sauce from our friends at Hoff and Pepper out in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- NEW Market 32 Chocolate Covered Pretzels & Graham Crackers: Our bakery team took it into their own hands to add a new element to the chocolate covered treats game. Introducing NEW Market 32 Chocolate Covered Pretzels & Graham Crackers: trust us, they taste even better than they sound. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to give them a try!
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries: What more can we say about these? A Valentine’s Day classic that always has us looking forward to this time of year. We hand-dip them ourselves in store!
- Chocolate Dipped Pineapple: It all started during a strawberry shortage. Jim R., a former Produce Team Leader in our Newburgh, NY store never panicked, deciding to dip pineapple rings into chocolate as a substitute. His idea was a hit and the rest is history! We’ve offered these unique treats in our Produce departments around Valentine’s Day every year since then.
- Local Craft Beer: We partner with a wide variety of craft brewers in our region: folks like, Ithaca Brewing Company in Ithaca, NY, Stony Creek Brewing in Branford, CT, and Magic Hat Brewing in South Burlington, VT. Did you know you can build your own six pack in our stores? Combine all of your loved one’s favorite local flavors into one, and let them sip their way to Valentine’s Day glory.
- Price Chopper & Market 32 Limited Edition Valentines: Send your Valentine one of our custom sweet nothings before they run out! Visit our Instagram page here to view our latest set of custom valentines. Screenshot them and send them to your special someone!
Flowers and candy are great, and you can order flowers from us here, but there are a bunch of other ways to showcase your feelings this Valentine’s Day. Get creative and try something new from this list!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Our February home.grown. Brewer of the Month: Brooklyn Brewery
We love all things local, and one of our favorite sectors of local food is local beer. There are so many different brews, flavors, and styles, and so many stories to tell! That’s why we’ve embarked on an exciting home.grown. adventure: to bring you fresh craft beer stories each month from our Northeast region. Our region is home to some of the best craft breweries in the world, and we’re telling their stories to our craft beer fanatics here on our blog.
Up next: Brooklyn Brewery!
When good beer is hard to find, sometimes you have to make it yourself. That’s exactly the story of Brooklyn Brewery. In 1988, Steve Hindy took his homebrewing knowledge from his days as a foreign war correspondent and started the business with his friend Tom Potter. Together they hand-delivered the first batches of Brooklyn Lager to a handful of local bars.
Today Brooklyn’s beers now travel to more than half the U.S. and over 30 countries. Brewmaster Garrett Oliver, a James Beard Award winner, and his team brew everything from classic styles to bold experiments, collaborating with their peers across the globe to keep pushing the boundaries of beer.
Brooklyn believes that great beer should be delicious, unpretentious, and support the community where it is enjoyed. This belief is engraved within the combination of flavors in its Brooklyn Lager. Toffee, toast, and caramel all unite with a dry-hopped aroma of grapefruit, flowers, and pine to represent the hometown.
Whether it’s at home or on the road good beer is always present at the best celebrations. That’s exactly where Brooklyn’s quirky Rosé de Ville shines. This sour ale harnesses perky raspberries and a tart edge, leading to a satisfying balance of sweet fruit and clean acidity. It’s bright, bubbly finish, and brilliant pink hue leaves your worries behind and lets the good times take over.
Interested in trying some Brooklyn brews?
Check out our in-store tasting schedule below to sample Brooklyn’s craft beer, take home some custom home.grown. coasters and more.
Saturday, 2/1: 11am-2pm at our Warwick Price Chopper
Saturday, 2/8: 11am-2pm at our Market Bistro Growler Station
Saturday, 2/15: 11am-2pm at our Clifton Shopper’s World Market 32 Growler Station
Saturday, 2/22: 11am-2pm at our Altamont Ave Price Chopper
Saturday, 2/29: 11am-2pm at our Newburgh Market 32
Interested in visiting the brewery?
Make the most of everything Brooklyn Brewery has to offer! Visit brooklynbrewery.com/ for taproom hours and menu, info on brewery tours and more.
Brewery House Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
The Big Dinner Game
Here comes the Super Bowl, and you want to have some great food, but need time to make your party game come together. We have some plays that will set you up for a win on Sunday and all week long!
First Quarter – start the week with this slow cooker pulled pork recipe Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders. Pair up with Bakery Cornbread. Shred the pork, season with spices or your favorite PICS BBQ Sauce, and freeze the rest for game day. Check out the home.grown. section of the store for some great local sauce options – put them out with the remaining pulled pork and offer a pulled pork slider bar! Some fresh Market 32 coleslaw completes that part of your event.
Second quarter – White Chicken Chili, another versatile meal that can be an easy weeknight meal. The recipe can be doubled/frozen/served on game day. Add fresh color with some chopped avocado, PICS Sour Cream and PICS Tortilla Chips and add to your game day buffet!
Third Quarter – Buffalo Rotisserie Chicken with an Iceberg lettuce Wedge Salad/Marzetti Blue Cheese dressing combo play add points to the board and points to your AdvantEdge card.
Fourth Quarter – PICS Hummus, Market 32 Fresh Guacamole, Market 32 Fresh 7 Layer Bean Dip, Fruit Burst Bowl and a fresh Veggie Platter team up create a snack play that everyone loves. This strategy means you have great snacks for the week and for the game.
Celebrate your win – Sweet treat Bakery fresh Gourmet Brownies and Halo Clementines make the final play fresh and fun!
The New Year and new decade has begun! Keep everyone happy and healthy eating together as often as possible, and enjoying some fun new meal and snack ideas. Using the new Know Your Colors nutrition guide can move your whole family toward eating well with smart choices that are also the easy choice.
Kick off the day with the Kids Cooking Club Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie.
Made with fresh strawberries and PICS Milk or PICS Almond Milk, you will power up everyone’s taste buds and morning energy with this fun PBJ combo. Need something with more protein? Get the benefit of probiotics and over 15 grams of protein when you pair PICS Icelandic Yogurt with Strawberries, Blueberries or Blackberries in a fresh yogurt parfait. Sprinkle some PICS Pumpkin and Flax Seed Granola (the bag you have been hiding in the pantry 😉) for whole grain crunch and flavor!
Sheet pan dinners that include Know Your Colors Protein and Heart Smart lean Pork Tenderloin or assorted pork chops, roasted with Empire apples, Carrots and Onions, checks all the boxes for great taste and great for you. A super side of PICS Quinoa and Veggie Bowls adds whole grain goodness to this hands-off, smiles-on meal.
Love Buffalo Chicken? Love Ravioli? Check out this mash-up fun twist on these favorites – fresh Market 32 Buffalo Chicken Ravioli! Find it in the fresh pasta Deli Case. Enjoy with a PICS Blue Cheese Dressing-topped Fresh Express Salad, or pair up with crunchy carrots and celery and that same PICS Blue Cheese Dressing to dip.
Snack Smarter with PICS Trail Mix and Market 32 Produce Snack Trays. Both are easy to grab and go – on the school bus, on your work break, or after your workout.
If a bag ban hasn’t happened in your area yet, it’s probably coming soon. This means that you will no longer be able to get plastic bags while grocery shopping. In case you missed our previous blog, “5 Substitutes for Plastic Bags at the Grocery Store,” we’re here to give you 5 additional plastic bag alternatives so you can be prepared.
Grocery cart bag
Grocery cart bags fit directly into a shopping cart and allow you to conveniently separate your items, such as keeping meat away from fresh produce. After checking out, place all the items back into the cart bags, then easily remove from the cart and place in your car.
No bag
If you’re only running into the store for a thing or two, opt for no bag! We have been trained that each time we go shopping, we need to leave with our items in a bag. You’d be surprised how quickly these small purchases can add up to a lot of unnecessary bags.
Pillow cases
This option may be a bit unconventional, but if you have a few extra laying around the house, it’s a great way to repurpose them. If you’re looking for your next DIY project, you can even add handles to the pillow case so it’s easier to carry.
Bring your own personal cart
Although these have been nicknamed “granny carts,” they’re a great option for groceries. Many of them are collapsible, so they can easily fit in your car. These carts will also make it easier to bring your groceries from the car to your house.
Woven basket
A woven basket can be a rustic alternative to plastic bags and can be used countless times. As long as you’re not worried about being able to tuck it into a small place, like in your car, this may be an option for you. It can even be used beyond grocery shopping, like for picnics, the beach, and other shopping trips.
Whichever option you choose, remember to bring it next time you’re shopping at your local Price Chopper/Market32. If you’re worried about forgetting your plastic bag substitute, try putting them in a place you’ll see them before leaving for the store, like by the door or in your car.
Eating Well Together – Know Your Colors Leads the Way
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
At Price Chopper and Market 32, we are committed to bringing our customers and communities the foods they love and resources to enjoy delicious, nutritious and healthy lives. That commitment gets a big boost as we launch the Know Your Colors program, a nutrition attribute tag program that guides shopping in stores and online. Life is busy, and nutrition is personal – we believe we have created a resource the whole family can use to take care of themselves and each other.
The program includes 8 attributes, all of which meet strict standards to ensure your choices meet your needs. For example, the Heart Smart attribute includes criteria for sodium, saturated fat, carbohydrate quality and sugar management – all summed up in an easy to see red shelf tag that makes it fast and easy to compare and shop. Pick your favorite items and have more confidence you are making Heart Smart choices! Explore the store and look for Organic, Gluten Free, Whole Grain, Low Sodium, Carb Smart, Protein Smart and Plant Powered. Learn about the individual standards for each at cms-uat-pch.unataops.com/colors.
The program is rich in its ability to cut through labeling confusion – and even help you and your family learn more about eating well together! Solve some of your shopping frustration by using the shelf tags in the store. Picky kids? Let them “scavenger hunt” the Whole Grain shelf tag in the cereal section and everyone goes home happy to enjoy their “find”. Helping family members prevent or manage chronic health issues? You will find shopping stress goes way down and confidence goes up when you use the Low Sodium or Carb Smart shelf tags to short cut finding the right products for your lifestyle. Exploring Flexitarian or Mediterranean lifestyles? Plant Powered and Heart Smart attributes point you in the right direction. Shelf tag colors making finding items quick and easy, or, shop online and build your basket using the attributes right on our website. You may also discover old favorites make the grade and bask in the glow of knowing you are already on the right track.
Over 10,000 items have one or more attributes, and we are still adding items to the system! It is a great snapshot of the efforts food companies large and small are making to ensure they are part of the healthier lifestyle shoppers are seeking. Together, we can help you live well and choose well with Know Your Colors!
