untitled.pngWritten by: Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN  Senior Nutritionist Bring your appetite and sense of adventure to our Italian Fest! Italian cuisine is popular around the world -the dishes are simple, elegant and have few ingredients, but those ingredients have superior quality and intense flavor. There are twenty different regions in Italy, and each has unique agriculture, traditions and recipes. Enjoy some wonderful treasures and bring these flavorful Italian foods to your own table. Start your journey with pasta – Italy is the world leader in the craft of pasta making, with a heritage that is over 500 years old. Explore the regional pasta varieties like DeCecco gnocchi and pasta, Rummo and Bella Italia Regionali pasta, and the fresh Rana pasta in the deli case.  Cucina Amore has taken creamy risotto, polenta and nutty ancient grains, and applied innovation to ensure time-pressed cooks can bring these traditional flavors to their kitchen table. What a wonderful way to explore culture and authentic ingredients you can share with family and friends. Dress all of those pastas and grains up with exciting sauces and flavors – Urbani fresh canned pesto or cherry tomatoes with summer truffles, regional extra virgin olive oils, peppery and bright, and Bella Italia Regionali or Rienzi prepared sauces. Explore Mutti, Ceccato and Price Chopper certified authentic Italian tomato products – make your own sauce with these and you will know why Italian dishes have traveled the world.  Alessi vinegars, with flavors like white balsamic, pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon add depth, complexity and brightness to your dressings and sauté’s. The artisan cheeses will transport you – there are over 600 varieties of cheese made in Italy, and we can offer you a delicious tour in most of our stores. Taleggio, a soft Alpine cheese aged in caves pairs well with fruit and honey. Locatelli Romano, from the region near Rome (hence the name), is one of the world’s oldest cheeses. Montasio, made from the milk of three different breeds of cow, was first made by 13th century monks. Gran Cacio Estrusco is a semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese, cave-aged for four months, wonderful over silky gnocchi with lemon, peas and a touch of Prosciutto di Parma. What a great dish to herald spring! Round out your meal with fruit-infused San Pellegrino sparkling water, and the fresh, bright flavor of Italian kiwifruit. Imported from the South Pacific by adventurous Italian farmers 30 years ago, Italy is now the largest producer of kiwifruit. If you would like recipes that are authentic as these amazing ingredients, check out our Extraordinary Italian Taste Pinterest board. Join us on a delicious journey around Italy, and embrace the Italian treasures that bring the Mediterranean diet to life, right in your own kitchen. Buon Appetito!Extraordinary Italian Taste Logo.jpg   Written by Sara Lilkas, Marketing Intern   Spring is here! Well almost, but in only a few short weeks the first day of spring will be here (March 20th to be exact) and hopefully some warmer weather! Even though warmer weather is not guaranteed by a date on the calendar, spring seasonal craft beer is! The March lineup features four great breweries from New York State, featuring ingredients that are also produced in New York State. First up is Shmaltz Brewery from Clifton Park, NY. Their new seasonal Brewer’s Wanted is a pale ale made using malts and hops from New York State. The beer is exclusively sold in shmaltz-brewing-logothe state of New York and a portion of the sales goes towards training new brewers. Shmaltz has teamed up with Schenectady County Community College and the Greater Capital Region Work Force to create a training program for new brewers. But for now more about the beer! The Brewer’s Wanted Pale Ale is a crisp spring seasonal perfect for an early spring BBQ! Try Shmaltz Brewer’s Wanted: Saturday March 5th, 2016  Sunday March 6th, 2016 Next up is a new brew from Davidson Brother’s brewery from Glens Falls, NY. As part of davidson brewingtheir beer tour through the British Isles, they are stopping in Wales with their Welsh Braggot. Braggot’s are traditionally made from ale and honey and is a mix of a mead and what is considered an ale today. As a brand new brew to the Davidson lineup, stop by and try this new take on a very old brew (braggots date back to the 1500s!) Try Davidson Brother’s Welsh Braggot: Friday March 11th, 2016 Saturday March 12th, 2016 Adirondack Brewery is the next New York State brewery being featured in March. They will adkpublogobe featuring their new Peanut Butter Porter. A dark beer the combination of chocolate malts, coffee, and peanut butter makes for a delightfully delicious porter! Try Adirondack Brewery’s Peanut Butter Porter: Friday March 18th, 2016 Saturday March 19th, 2016 The last tasting of the month is an IPA collaboration between Olde Saratoga Brewing Co, Adirondack Brewery, and Death Wish Coffee. The brewers from both breweries worked together to create a unique blend of flavors taking the best flavors from their respective IPA’s and then adding Death Wish Coffee Beans to the mix! Try Olde Saratoga Brewing Co.’s Deathwish IPA:saratoga Friday March 25th, 2016 Saturday March 26th, 2016   We have had a last minute addition to the tasting schedule! Boulevard Brewing Co, from Kansas will be featuring The Calling. An IPA featuring topical fruit aromas and a dry finish, this IPA uses a variety of hops! Try Boulevard Brewing Co.’s The Calling: Friday March 25th, 2016 the calling ipaSaturday March 26th, 2016   Make sure you follow us on Twitter (@PriceChopper and @Market32byPC) to stay up to date on changes and additional tastings added to the schedule!   Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs January 24th, 2016

RICOLA DUAL ACTION HONEY LEMON 

Ricola’s Dual Action Honey Lemon combines a unique blend of ten natural Swiss alpine herbs and natural menthol.  It has a soothing honey lemon syrup center for fast safe relief you can trust.  Ricola Dual Action Honey Lemon relieves cough due to a cold and occasionaldual-action-honey-lemon-bag minor irritation and pain due to a sore throat. All Ricola products are Gluten Free and made with only Natural flavorings and colorings.  They are Lactose and Nut Free, Kosher and suited for a Vegetarian diet. Ricola Dual Action Honey Lemon and many other varieties are available in the Cough/Cold pegged section.

WISE INTRODUCES CINNABON POPCORN 

Wise has teamed up with the folks at Cinnabon to deliver the irresistible, world famous flavor of Cinnabon classic cinnamon rolls on Wise popcorn.

cinnabon-1The one-of-a-kind flavor will help you remember to take a moment for yourself to enjoy the simple pleasure of this delicious sweet escape.

Wise Cinnabon Popcorn does not have any artificial flavors or colors and is packed with whole grain, gluten free goodness that’s insanely delicious.  At only 75 calories per cup, this will soon be your favorite snack to banish snacking guilt once and for all.

 Look for Wise Cinnabon Popcorn in the Salty Snacks aisle.

Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs January 17th, 2016

HALLS REAL HONEY COUGH DROPS 

  When you’re sick with a scratchy throat and cough, you need a cough drop that will soothe your throat and taste great – without being too harsh or halls honey.jpgoverpowering.

 Introducing Halls Honey – a delicious way to gently temporarily soothe your sore throat and relieve your cough.  Each cough drop is uniquely formulated with Real Honey to provide sweet, delicious, soothing throat relief so you can feel better.

Look for Halls Honey Flavor in the Cold and Cough section.  

SOFTSOAP STAR WARS FOAMING HAND SOAPS

These colorful pumps will help encourage hand washing and collecting too! When little hands press the oversize pump, liquid soap magically transforms into foam softso8starwarhandsoap3and good clean fun. Good things come from using Softsoap brand products because good things are inside.  Every liquid hand soap is carefully formulated using safe effective ingredients. Available in three varieties: Yoda, R2-D2 and Darth Vader – Look for Softsoap Star Wars Foaming Hand Soaps in the Hand Soap Section. Written by Sara Lilkas, Marketing Intern  Happy New Year! We hope that everyone had a happy and safe New Year’s celebration and that you are looking forward to 2016 as much as we are here at Price Chopper and Market 32. As part of 2016 we will continue to have craft beer tastings every month at all of our locations with Growler Stations. This month features breweries that call the Greater Capitol Region home and even feature ingredients from other local businesses. Learn more about the breweries being featured this month below! First up in 2016 is Brown’s Brewing Company, featuring their Uncommon brownsPorter. The Uncommon Porter features a blend of different coffee flavors from local coffee shop Uncommon Grounds which is based out of Saratoga Springs, NY. One of my personal favorite brews from Brown’s, the Uncommon Porter features caramel, chocolate, and just a hint of vanilla. Try Brown’s Brewing Company Uncommon Porter: Friday January 8th, 2016 Saturday January 9th, 2016 Since it is the beginning of a new year it is only fitting that a new beer should be featured this month! New from Founders Brewing out of Grand foundersRapids, Michigan (they are the one exception to the local brewers featured this month!) is the Azacca IPA. As the name implies this beer is made with Azacca hops which are named for the Haitian God of Agriculture. Azacca hops feature citrus and tropical tones. Try Founders’ Azacca IPA: Friday January 15th, 2016 Saturday January 16th, 2016 Shmaltz Brewery from Clifton Park, NY is the next brewery being featured this month! A year-round offering, the Slingshot American Craft lager features a citrusy aroma and is a light straw color. Brewed in the style of an American Pale lager, it is brewed without any “cereal” elements such as rice or corn. Try Shmaltz Brewery’s Slingshot American Craft:shmaltz-brewing-logo Friday January 22nd, 2016 Saturday January 23rd, 2016 New from the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company is the PB&J stout. A twist saratogaon their classic Oatmeal Stout the PB&J stout, is in fused with peanut butter and raspberry jam! Try Olde Saratoga Brewing Company’s PB&J Stout: Thursday January 28th, 2016 Friday January 29th, 2016 Saturday January 30th, 2016 To finish up the first month of the New Year, Davidson Brothers Brewing Company will be sampling their Coffee Stout. Featuring a caramel, chocolate, and coffee aromas, the Coffee Stout is a lighter and tasty stout. davidson brewingFor those who usually only drink lighter colored beers, don’t let the dark color of this brew fool you, the Coffee Stout is the perfect introduction to darker beers. Try Davidson Brothers’ Coffee Stout: Saturday January 30th, 2016 Sunday January 31st, 2016   Follow us on Twitter @PriceChopper and @market32bypc for updates and changes to the schedule. Please enjoy responsibly! Written By Jerry Golub, CEO Jerry_jamOne of the most enjoyable aspects of our business is helping our customers celebrate their holiday traditions as they come together to create special moments and lasting memories.   Knowing that we play this role is incredibly fulfilling, as it speaks to our higher purpose and the important difference we can make in peoples’ lives. As I visit our stores during the holiday season, it’s apparent that our teammates share this feeling.  The excitement of the season seems to transcend their interactions with our shoppers and with each other.  As a result, the bonds that have been built over time between our teammates and shoppers appear to be highlighted and strengthened as a result of those exchanges. As a company, we are completely focused on delivering a great shopping experience on a consistent basis throughout the year.  Whether someone is shopping for a special occasion such as their holiday meal, or to satisfy any number of everyday needs, our goal is to be viewed by each customer as a valuable resource.  In order to accomplish this, we depend on all our teammates to understand and meet our shoppers’ many different needs through their interactions with thousands of individuals every day. I believe those interactions between our teammates and our customers have been even more important this holiday season than in past years.  During a time of uncertainty and disruption for many around the world, the reassurance of everyday connections we share and the caring we show each other during our daily routines can act as a very powerful grounding force for everyone. So I have two messages this holiday season. First, to all our teammates, I want to thank you for the incredible job you do.  You are able to set aside the pressures of your own daily lives, and focus on delivering a great shopping experience to our customers every day of the year.  For that, I am extremely grateful. Finally, I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a very happy, healthy, and fulfilling new year.  May 2016 bring an increased awareness of the humanity we all share and with it a universal goal of achieving peace, both in our own homes and in the world. Happy New Year, everyone. Musical Inspiration:  Here’s a recording of a classic, but very timely song, performed by some exceptionally talented local high school students at the 2007 “Melodies of Christmas” concert at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady.  This annual concert benefits the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Albany Medical Center, and is also broadcast on Albany’s CBS station on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxCOrfS_NY0       Written by Sara Lilkas and Tyler Blance  We’re proud to support farmers and producers of the Northeast throughout the whole year! Our Christmas trees are grown and harvested on farms in New York and Vermont: When it’s grown here, we get it here. We recently were able to talk with Richie Hourihan, our farmer at Cabot Christmas Tree Farm in Cabot, Vermont about everything from growing Christmas trees from seed to keeping them beautiful once they are decorated at home! homegrown Christmas Trees   PC: How long does it take from seed for a tree to grow full-sized? RH: It usually takes about 12-20 years from seed to grow a full-sized tree. When planting new trees we usually transplant trees that are already about 5 years old and 14 inches tall.   PC: When do you start cutting down trees for the Christmas season? RH: I usually start cutting down trees the day after Halloween, however with the warmer weather this year we had to continually put off cutting down the trees. Every tree must go through 2-3 hard frosts or “killing frosts” before they’re ready for cutting and bring home. After 2-3 hard frosts the trees enter dormancy, when trees are cut in dormancy they last longer in household temperatures and hold onto their needles.   PC: How long did you have to wait to cut down trees this year as a result of the warmer temperatures? RH: This year we started cutting trees down a few days before Thanksgiving, and I was able to start delivering them the day after Thanksgiving.   PC: How many new trees do you plant each year? RH: About 3,000 new trees every year.   PC: What growing methods do you use for your Christmas trees? RH: No chemicals, sprays or fertilizers are used. The farm is USDA GAP [Good Agricultural Procedures] Certified. GAP ensures safe, environmentally friendly growing practices, regardless of the crop. We voluntarily go through this audit to verify the produce and trees we grow are handled and stored in the safest way possible.   PC: What’s your favorite variety of tree to grow? RH: Balsam fir. Balsam fir trees are indigenous to the area (since they are native to the area they grow fast than other varieties) and they hold up the longest once cut and put indoors. An added bonus to growing balsam fir trees is that the deer do not like to nibble on them unlike other varieties!   PC: What is your favorite part of growing Christmas Trees? RH: My favorite part of growing Christmas trees takes place in the summer time. After a long day on the farm attending to the other crops [Richie also grows berries, corn, and other vegetables] is mowing in between the rows of trees. I go out after dinner when it’s still light out and everyone who works on the farm with me has gone home. Mowing in between the trees is very peaceful, quiet, and I have a beautiful view of the mountains.   PC: What are some tips you could offer for keeping a healthy tree during the holiday season? RH: When you get your tree home, cut about an inch off the base. When the trees are first cut sap starts to bleed and forms a cement-like layer along the base of the tree preventing it from taking in any water.   PC: How often should you water your Christmas tree? RH: You should check to make sure the base is full every one to two days. A tree can use up to a quart of water a day!   PC: How should trees be disposed of, once the holidays are over? RH: I recommend checking to see if there are any local ordinances in place. Many towns recycle Christmas trees either into mulch to be used in gardens and parks or are used to make barriers to prevent soil erosion.   We would like to thank Richie Hourihan for being a partner with us and for taking the time to share his knowledge about harvesting trees. We love being able to provide locally grown products to our customers and that would not be possible without farmers like Richie. From our family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas.   Written by Sara Lilkas, Marketing Intern December is here and I’m honestly not quite sure where this past year went. All I know is that since the holiday season is here with all the merry cheer and holiday beer I’ve never been more ready for December!  Get your growlers ready the tasting events this month are sure to get you into the holiday spirit! First up is the Hop Hunter IPA by Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada has developed a unique method to gather pure hop oil which makes for a Sierra-Nevada-Logo1uniquely aromatic beer. The Hop Hunter Sierra Nevada pairs nicely with wood-grilled salmon (stop by the seafood department after you’ve filled up your growler to check out our signature salmon options! ) Try Sierra Nevada’s Hop Hunter IPA: December 4th, 2015 December 5th, 2015 Just in time for the last few nights of Hanukkah the Shmaltz Brewery shmaltz-brewing-logofrom Clifton Park will be featuring their Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass the Beer. Bring home a growler of this dark ale to pair with your latkes! Happy Hanukkah! Try Shmaltz Brewery’s Hanukkah, Chanukah: December 10th, 2015 from 4-6pm at Market 32 in Clifton Park, NY. December 11th, 2015 from 4-6pm at Market Bistro in Latham, NY. December 12th, 2015 Now that the schedule is moving into mid-December hopefully the weather hasn’t gotten too cold and all of your holiday shopping is done. If davidson brewingit isn’t and you need a shopping break. I suggest stopping in for the Davidson Winter Ale tasting. Davidson Brother’s is a brewpub out of Glens Falls, NY and is family owned and operated. Try Davidson Brother’s Winter Ale: December 18th, 2015 December 20th, 2015 The tastings at Market Bistro and Market 32 in Clifton Park will be extra special today! Both tastings will feature a Barbershop Quartet singing Christmas Carols! One of my personal favorites will be featured the week leading up to Christmas. Straight from Cooperstown, NY Ommegang’s Three brewery-ommegang-85412382Philosophers will be featured in tastings for three days. Three Philosophers is a unique beer that actually ages in a way similar to wine when stored correctly.  Featuring a mix of Belgian-style dark ale and cherry ale, Three Philosophers is known for its sweetness making it the perfect brew to serve with desserts. Try Ommegang’s Three Philosophers: December 22nd, 2015 December 23rd, 2015 December 24th, 2015 A seasonal beer tasting wouldn’t be complete without the current seasonal offering from Samuel Adams. Brewed with cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel, the Winter Lager is a holiday season staple. Try Samuel Adams Winter Lager: SamuelAdamsLogo-575December 19th, 2015 December 31st, 2015 Last up for the month of December is Brown’s Brewing Company out of Troy, NY. Their Oatmeal Stout is a staple at the brewpub located in downtown Troy and has even won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup! Try Brown’s Brewing Company Oatmeal Stout:browns December 29th, 2015 December 31st, 2015 As always let us know what your favorite brews were this month in the comments below! Please enjoy responsibly.         Written by Sara Lilkas, Marketing Intern  Thanksgiving is right around the corner and for almost everyone it is a day to be thankful for what they have, spend time with family, and most importantly eat a delicious Thanksgiving Feast. Since the majority of us are guests at these Thanksgiving events we do not have to worry about cooking many of the complex dishes that are expected to be served as part of the festivities. Now even for experienced cooks, the Thanksgiving meal can be a daunting task. Even if you aren’t cooking for a large group of people there are usually high expectations that go along with Thanksgiving dinners and no one wants to disappoint their guests. Holiday dinnerIf you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, it is essential to sit down and plan out the tasks that need to be completed ahead of time and create your plan of attack. At this point you have to think about what kind of planning works for you. I like making lists where I can check things off as I do them. (For some reason the physical act of checking something off makes me feel like I’m actually accomplishing something and makes the whole task seem more bearable.)  I find it especially helpful when I am presented with tasks that seem overwhelming or difficult. As with almost everything in this world what works for me might not work for you, so it might be beneficial to host a smaller gathering (maybe with a few friends) as a test run to see how you like to plan or organize these kind of events. Now that you know how you want to organize your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s time to actually plan it. Starting to prep around two weeks in advance is the ideal time frame. This is when recipes should be gathered and narrowed down to the final menu. When planning the menu think about what time you are planning to serve dinner as well as what kitchen tools will be needed for each dish and how long everything takes to prep and prepare. As part of the planning process you will want to make sure you have everything required to complete those recipes. Timing is another thing to consider. Since it’s safe to assume most people only have one oven, planning out the space andiStock_000006683483_Medium time every dish needs to be fully cooked is essential. At this point go back through your planned menu and see what can be prepped and prepared ahead of time. Items such as pie crust dough and cranberry sauce can be made a few days ahead a time. Many vegetables can also be chopped and prepped ahead of time. Take a look at the menu and decide which items can be prepped early to save you some time on Thanksgiving Day. Now let’s get talking about that turkey. The weight of your turkey determines how long it takes to defrost if you have purchased a frozen turkey. It could take DAYS!( Please refer to our We Know Turkey guide for more information about defrosting and cooking turkeys!)Make sure you plan accordingly, no one wants a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving Day! Also make sure you have a safe environment to thaw your turkey out in. Plan out how you are going to cook your turkey and if you are worried about how it will turn out, it’s not a bad idea to practice on a smaller turkey or a whole chicken in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Pricechopper has plenty of different turkey recipes to try out and who knows maybe one will become your new holiday favorite! I hope these tips help to make your holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable! Make sure to share your Thanksgiving table pictures with #PriceChopper and #Market32 on Twitter and Instagram! Written by Sara Lilkas, Marketing Intern  Now that we can put the frightening antics of Halloween behind us we can focus on the upcoming holiday and winter season. Even though I am not a fan of the inevitable snow storms that come along with living in the Northeast, I am a fan of the seasonal flavors breweries put out for the holiday and winter season. This November we have a spectacular preview of winter flavors put out by a variety of different brewers. We are happy to welcome the Chatham Brewery, a local favorite out of Columbia County! They will be featuring their brew Farmer’s Daughter during their Growler Station debut. Farmer’s Daughter is a Rye India Pale Ale featuring rye malts from Hillrock Farm Distillery. Chatham Brewery’s Farmer’s Daughter is a locally brewed beer from start to finish! chatham brewingTry Chatham Brewery’s Farmer’s Daughter: Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Cherry Doppelschwarz is an Imperial Schwarzbier featuring chocolate and coffee flavors, balanced off with cherries. The various flavors present in this brew, makes it perfect for the holiday season! Try Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Cherry Doppelschwarz:big eddy Our friends at Magic Hat are at it again with their Feast of Fools Raspberry Stout. The name of this brew dates back to Medieval Times and the celebration of the winter solsticemagic hat feast of fools. The seasonal brews of the past may be long gone, but the Feast of Fools is an ode to a time where you couldn’t just switch on a light. The Raspberry Stout reflects the long winter nights and the sweetness of the holiday season. Try Magic Hat’s Feast of Fools Raspberry Stout: Thanks to Samuel Adams we have a special early release of the Grapefruit Rebel IPA this November! You will be able to try a growler of the newest release from Samuel Adams before it’s available in bottled packs! Samuel Adams Grapefruit Rebel IPA is brewed with real grapefruit that only compliments the citrus notes from the hops. On tap just in time to bring a growler home to share with family and friends this Thanksgiving! rebelgrapefruittaplg--en--6a0409e2-9510-4b4e-82a5-79b7d18950acTry Samuel Adams Grapefruit Rebel IPA: The next selection for the month is Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout. An imperial stout aged in a bourbon barrel, it features chocolate, vanilla, and caramel flavors. This incredibly flavorful stout is perfect for the holiday season! Try Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout:goose-island-logo-2014 Let us know what your favorite brews were from this month’s tasting schedule and as always please enjoy responsibly!