The Natural Grocery Company

Grand Wine Tasting: French Native Varietals & Around the World

September 22, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

We’re doing it again! A Grand Wine Tasting is coming up at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito on Sunday, October 15, 2023, 2-5pm.

We’ll be tasting wines of the same varietals but from different parts of the world, side by side. This a is a great time to learn the characteristics of say, a pinto noir or a chardonnay, and be able to distinguish between the different wineries represented from across the globe and choose your favorite in each category.

Must be 21+ to participate, please drink responsibly.

Camper’s Stuffed Apples Recipe

September 15, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

If you have one foot in summer and one in fall, this recipe is for you! Still enjoying the outdoors with camping trips or grilling? This is the perfect dessert to cap a day in nature. You can also toss this together and pop it in the oven for a satisfying, warming peek into fall flavors. Stuffed apples give you all the flavor of apple pie with half the work. That’s a good recipe in any season.

Camper’s Stuffed Apples

Serves 6

Total Time: 50 minutes

Vegetarian

6 Braeburn apples

½ cup rolled oats

1/3 cup light brown sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter or plant-based alternative

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375° F. Combine oats, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl until well mixed.
Core apples, starting at the stem and core towards the base, leaving the bottom intact.
Fill apples with oat mixture and arrange in an oven safe baking dish.
Bake apples for 40 minutes or until knife tender. Alternatively, cover apples with aluminum foil and place pan on the grill to bake.

The Annex Sessions: Danilo y Trio Universal, Wednesday, September 20, 2023

September 14, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex) – “The Annex Sessions”

Danilo y Trio Universal

🎶 Singing in five languages and playing a dozen different rhythms, Danilo y Trio Universal truly have a repertoire with something for every musical taste.

In his extensive musical career, Danilo has performed as a percussionist with internationally known musicians such as Carlos Santana, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, and Mary Wilson of The Supremes. With his guitar trio, Danilo demonstrates his mastery of guitar and vocals. He is accompanied on percussion and lead vocals by Olga Vinnik, and on saxophone and backing vocals by Madison Bohrer.

Come Join us for an unforgettable evening!

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Spicy Mango Beverage Recipe

September 10, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

You can enjoy this spicy mango beverage as is, or you can add a little splash of something to make a refreshing cocktail. Tequila would be a natural choice here, but a tropical rum wouldn’t be out of place either.

Spicy Mango Beverage

Serves 4

Total Time: 15 minutes

Vegan, Gluten-Free, Grain-free

2 large ripe mangoes

½ cup lime juice

16 ounces ginger beer

¼ cup flake sea salt, plain or smoked

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

To make the mango puree, peel ripe mango and remove pit. Place fruit in a blender and bend on high until smooth. This makes enough puree for approximately four beverages.
To assemble, combine salt and cayenne pepper on a small plate. Dip the rim of four glasses in water then into the salt mixture.

Combine 1/3 cup mango puree, and 2 tablespoons lime juice in each prepared glass. Add ice and top off with ginger beer. Garnish with mint, lemon balm, or a jalapeno slice and serve.

The Annex Sessions: KTO Project, September 6, 2023

August 22, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex) – “The Annex Sessions”

The KTO Project’s Mafaro eZimbabwe “Unplugged”

🎶 Get ready for an incredible concert celebrating The KTO Project’s new album release, Mafaro eZimbabwe!

Kelly Takunda Orphan is joining forces with Mbira dzaSoko and guitarist Nathan Okite to present music from Zimbabwe, soulful vocals, rhythmic mbira and East African guitar. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Smoked Salmon and White Bean Spread Recipe

August 19, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Smoked Fish and Why You Should Be Eating It

With a surge in ‘fancy’ canned seafood that is a typical staple in many parts of Europe and the pandemic buying patterns that shifted to pantry stocking and canned items, it’s time to reconsider your relationship to canned fish and move beyond tuna salad.

Try this smoked salmon and white bean spread the next time you’re looking to break from your regular rotation of party dips or no-cook seafood recipes. Bright herbs and capers, creamy white beans, and smoked fish are perfectly balanced and an unexpected combination. The recipe is gluten-free, so if you’re looking to keep the meal that way, you can use seed crackers, veggies, corn chips, or gluten-free bread and crackers. It’s still high time for grilling, so toss some bread on the grill. Somehow grilled bread is instantly elevated.

We call for smoked salmon here, as it’s a highly approachable and familiar ingredient. Feel free to experiment: trout would be another classic to substitute or go wild with smoked mackerel or smoked mussels. Flaking smoked fish on top of this spread is a great way to enjoy the savory richness of seafood without needing to purchase a large quantity to satisfy the crowd. If you’re looking to cut down, either on your costs or your animal protein consumption, consider this a great blueprint!

The final thing we’ll say about this recipe is that it just might be your next pantry staple dish. Canned seafood and canned or dried beans are items you can keep stocked in your pantry. The addition of a few fresh herbs, picked up at the store or snipped from a windowsill herb garden, means you can whip it up on the fly year-round and for any occasion.

Smoked Salmon and White Bean Spread

Serves 4

Total time: 10 minutes

Gluten-Free

1 15-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 large garlic cloves, minced

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

4-6 ounces smoked trout or smoked salmon, flaked

2 tablespoons chopped chives

2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon capers, drained

Crackers or bread to serve

In a food processor combine beans, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Run processor until mixture is smooth.
Spread bean mixture onto a service plate creating swirls. Drizzle on remaining olive oil and top with flaked smoked fish, fresh herbs, and capers.
Serve with crackers or sliced artisan bread.

New Art at The Annex

August 17, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

An exhibit of acrylic artworks by Gabriela Nunez is happening at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito until October 16, 2023.

Please join us at The Annex for an Artist’s Reception on August 23, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm.

Stop by during our business hours to see her beautiful and stirring work.

Gabriela Nunez

I primarily focus on the women and their children of the Peruvian Andes. My inspiration comes from the innocence of the Indigenous of the Andes, the ready expression of emotions on their faces, the size and strength of their hands and feet and the hard work they do. I am impressed by the clothe knit, supporting traditions the exist amongst the women. My paintings represent my own vision of the Andean women of my country, I do it with creativity, love and respect. I would like people to see through my paintings the beauty of my culture.

Gabriela Nunez

Me concentro principalmente sobre las mujeres y sus hijos de los Andes peruanos. Mi inspiración viene de la inocencia de los Indígenas de los Andes, la pronta expresión de emociones en sus rostros, el tamaño y fuerza de sus manos y pies y el arduo trabajo que realizan. Me impresiona el tejido de la ropa, manteniendo las tradiciones que existen entre las mujeres. Mis pinturas representan mi propa vision de las mujeres andinas de mi pais, lo hago con creatividad, amor y respeto. Me gustaría que la gente viera a través de mis pinturas la belleza de mi cultura.

https://www.gabrielanunez.com/about

The Annex Beer & Cider Tasting, Sunday, August 20, 2023

August 11, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

We have a lot of really great local breweries that will be pouring tastes on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at The Annex. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of what local folks are bringing to the table, stop by and discover your new favorite beer or cider. It’s only $10 to taste and we are offering 10% Off on all beer & cider purchases that day at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA. (510)526-5150

The Annex Sessions: Andre Thierry & His Accordion Soul Music, August 16, 2023

August 9, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Wednesday, August 16, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex) – “The Annex Sessions”

Andre Thierry & His Accordion Soul Music!

Although born and raised in Richmond, California, Andre’s French-Kreole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana. He embarked on a path with specific knowledge and extraordinary talents at a very young age. True to his culture and love of music, he has crafted a career well beyond his years as an artist.

Andre grew up experiencing the French Kreole (La-La) dances his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church. The best Zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer traveled to California to play at these dances. The exposure allowed him to develop his love for traditional French Kreole music. Andre regularly played with visiting bands, such as the late John Delafose and many local Zydeco and Cajun bands, including the late Danny Poullard (California Cajun Orchestra). By age twelve, Andre formed his band, “Zydeco Magic.” Andre is self-taught and constantly increases his repertoire.

In his 30’s, he had already been deemed a legend. There is widespread agreement that he is an exceptional, multi-dimensional musician with a finely honed ability to merge his accordions with musical mastery.

The Washington Post called Andre “A master at pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can’t be lumped into Zydeco’s old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rap-inspired one: He and his band lay down both soulful, traditional slow-dances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.”

Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, considered the definitive book on the history of Zydeco music, wrote,”In America, great migrations produce great music. Just as Delta musicians took Highway 61 to Chicago and electrified their blues, so did the Kreoles and Cajuns migrate to California and establish vital dance communities. Now the California scenes rival anything back home in Louisiana, and that’s due to players like Andre Thierry, a standard-bearer for the new generation. Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition.”

Andre’s style isn’t conventional; he and his accordions provide a signature sound by creating magnetic, sonic landscapes. The rhythmic songs drive an atmospheric blend, giving his band a powerful edge, naturally building a dedicated following through performing, touring, and a string of album recordings like “It’s About Time,” “A Whole Lotta Somthin” and “Are You Ready To Learn”.

Thierry leaves his musical imprints on recordings like “Live! At the Woodshop”, “Kreole United, Non-Jamais Fait” and “Kreole United, Tu Kekchause A’ Korrek”, even when singing, songwriting, and producing with a collective of artists, while their contributions are discernible,

In his “Bouncin With The Blues” album, Thierry performs songs written or popularized by music legends: Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Clifton Chenier. Breaking all accordion stereotypes, unforgettable performances with Sammy Hagar (gritty hard Rocker) and David Hildago (influential Latin singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist) showcased fabulous fusion with Andre in his musical zone and pumping genre-bending sounds.

The Accordion defies all national and continental borders. Andre Thierry was the first American artist to perform in the Akkordeonale, International Festival (Program 2016). Representing the USA — Impelling Blues with Kreole Roots- Andre celebrated with audiences touring Germany, delivering awe-inspiring performances, coming together with musicians in a vivid interchange. Though the musicians came from different cultural backgrounds and musical styles, they shared the language of music, creating a thrilling coexistence on stage.

Forthcoming about his journey, Andre Thierry’s music creations are intoxicating and timeless. Enjoy the unfolding of this charismatic artist as he vibrates Accordion Soul, raising the frequency with stimulating beats, attracting any music lover to the dance floor!

Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music | Award Winning Kreole Musician

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Superfood Kale Salad Recipe

August 8, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Keeping Kale Relevant

The darling of superfoods for decades after languishing as a salad bar decoration, kale is a somewhat divisive vegetable. People typically love it, or they hate it. One reason for the naysayers is the texture. Kale is fibrous and can be difficult to munch compared to other greens like romaine lettuce or spinach. One way to overcome this and enjoy tender kale salads? Massage!

That’s right, getting your hands in there and rubbing or kneading the greens—after you’ve removed the large stems, of course!—breaks down some of the tough fibers. Add a bit of acid and salt, and you’re well on your way to a bowl of tender, well-seasoned greens. With the addition of creamy avocado, it’s like a perfect bowl of guacamole that helps make sure you’re getting a full serving of veggies.

Think of this recipe as the perfect canvas. You can enjoy the subtle nuttiness of sunflower seeds and hemp hearts. Add it to wraps or sandwiches that could use a boost. Top with your favorite protein for a more substantial meal. Grilled tofu will keep things plant-based. You can also add some grilled shrimp, cotija cheese, diced ripe mango, and a bit of your favorite salsa for a shrimp taco salad. The canvas can take anything you throw at it, so don’t sleep on this superfood kale salad!

Superfood Kale Salad

Serves 2-4

Total time: 15 Minutes

Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegan

1 bunch green kale

1 large ripe avocado, peeled and pit removed

2 large garlic cloves, minced

⅓ cup nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup roasted sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons hemp hearts

Remove stems from kale and chop leaves into bite size pieces. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl place avocado, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt. Fork through the mixture to mash avocado and to blend ingredients.
Add kale and mix thoroughly with both hands, massaging until kale is fully coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
To serve, garnish with sunflower seeds and hemp hearts.

« Previous Page

Our Stores

Annex

Who We Are

What’s New?

Eat Well

Contact