Natural Grocery

Independently owned, organic grocery store. Our Annex serves prepared foods and offers a selection of wine and beer. Our florists are here to help you with fresh local cuts and dried bouquets.

EL CERRITO STORE
10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-1155
Every Day Hours
PREPARED FOOD ANNEX
10387 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
Every Day Hours
BERKELEY STORE
1336 Gilman St.
(510) 526-2456
Every Day Hours
Download Sales Flyer
Email Us
Join Our Mailing List
  • Our Stores
    • Our Stores
    • Sales Flyer
    • Departments
    • Calendar
    • Produce Notes
  • Annex
    • Annex
    • Sales Flyer
    • Menus and Departments
    • Calendar
    • Wine & Beer Notes
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Resources
    • Eat Well
  • What’s New
    • What’s New
    • Sales Flyer
    • Calendar
  • Order
    • Order
    • Gift Certificates
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Join Our Team
    • Hours & Holidays
    • Maps & Directions
    • Gift Certificates
  • Our Stores
  • Annex
  • Who We Are
  • Contact
  • Order
  • Gift Certificates
Home / Archives for Antioxidants

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Burroughs Family Farms

March 7, 2017 by WineAndBeer

Burroughs Family Farms – Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

We recently started selling Burroughs Family Farms organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed extra-virgin organic olive oil [aka EVOO]. This exemplary family-owned farm, situated in the Sierra foothills below Yosemite, is one of our favorite regional producers. We already source quality pastured eggs, organic cheese, and almonds from their property.  The Burroughs Family Olive Oil is a blend of Arbeqina, Arbosana and Gretchenina olives (originally from Spain). The oil has a pleasant fruitiness with hints of grassy undertones. It is very versatile and may be used in sauces, salad dressings, as a topping to bread and for low heat cooking.

Here is what Burroughs Family Farms says about their oil:

Our olives are first cold-pressed at temperatures that do not exceed 80 degrees F. This protects the polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins that give the oil its nutritional value and its aroma and flavor.

Why extra-virgin olive oil?

  • EVOO is known to contain stronger concentrations of phytonutrients (especially polyphenols) that have well-known anti-inflammatory properties
  • EVOO supports blood vessels not only by providing antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene, but also also providing unique molecules like HT that actually work at a genetic level to help the cellular walls of the blood vessels remain strong.
  • Cholesterol lowering and blood pressure lowering benefits of monounsaturated oil (olive oil contains 75%)

High quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of around 405ºF (191ºC), making it ideal for lower temperature cooking such as light sautés and non-cooked uses such as dressing salads and dipping bread. Such uses protect the nutritional value and beneficial qualities of the oil.

Why California Olive Oil?

As with wine, it has taken years for people to discover that some of the world’s finest olive oils are produced in California. Our family owned and operated farms rest on the rolling hills near Yosemite National Park, where the combination of the moderate Mediterranean climate with good soils and water grows some of the world’s finest quality olives.

Buying California olive oils vs. imports supports our farm economy, and California olive oils have a lower carbon-footprint because their shipping distance is much shorter than that of imports.

Conservation on our farms

Ours is not the easiest way to grow olives, but we think it’s best for our land and for our family who lives and works here. From organic production to state-of-the-art irrigation systems, we do whatever we can to protect air, soil, and water from herbicides, pesticides, petrochemical nitrogen fertilizers, and genetically-modified organisms. All that, plus our hedgerows of native plants support the health of native species and bees who have the most important job – the pollination of the olive flowers.

We do it for the future of our farms. For you, it’s deliciousness and more.

Burroughs Family Olive Oil is certified annually by the California Olive Oil Council (COOC). Year after year it’s labeled “extra-virgin” by the council. To get the seal the oil is lab tested and undergoes a critical analysis by an expert panel. The trained sensory panel (think of these people as the sommeliers of olive oil) ensure that the oil is free of defects in flavor or odor. In the U.S., many oils are labeled “extra-virgin” but do not undergo any such testing.

Filed Under: Antioxidants, Blog, Health foods, Know Your Farmer, Miracle Fruit, Non-GMO, Organic farming, Stores_both, Superfoods, Sustainability, Wonder Foods Tagged With: Healthy Fats, Local Producer, Olive Oil, Organic, Organic Farming, Superfood, Sustainable Production

Slow Cooking – Groats

January 16, 2017 by WineAndBeer

Whole Groats

While shopping in our El Cerrito store bulk section, I was tempted to try the organic oat groats instead of the rolled oats. I was both inspired by the current sale price ($1.19/lb) and want the healthiest option for our five year old son. Our bulk buyer, David gave me another reason. He said, “why not eat things as close to the way mother-nature produced them as possible.” I can’t argue with that logic so I bought a bulk bag of groats.

 

Here’s what I did to process the groats: 

1 cup of groats in 3 cups of water

 

Before bed, I put one cup of groats in a heavy bottom stainless steel pot along with three cups of water.

 

 

 

 

Simmering groats

 

In the morning, I turned the burner on medium heat and started cooking in the same pot where I soaked the grains.

 

 

Every 10 to 15 minutes, I checked the pot and stirred. 30 minutes into cooking, the groats were sticking to the bottom of the pot so I added more water (1 cup). I also added ¼ cup of raisins, a pinch of salt and a dash of cinnamon. 20 minutes later I added another 1/4 cup of water because the water was nearly absorbed. The groats cooked for a total of 1.5 hours. I added additional water (1/4 cup) another three times during the cooking process.

If you cook groats at home, add water as you see fit. It takes a lot to overcook groats but very little to burn them when there is not enough water in the pot. In other words, keep ’em hydrated.

Toppings: pecans, maple syrup and whole milk

Hearty Breakfast

Leftovers – tomorrow’s breakfast!

The groat cooking process took longer and required more attention than the rolled oats. However, the nutritional benefits make the extra time worth it (when time allows!). For hurried mornings, consider cooking a larger batch. Soak the groats before heading off for your day, cook them in the evening and re-heat them with a little extra water and/or milk in the morning. Or, make enough for leftovers every time you prepare groats.

 

Why Eat Oat Groats? Here’s what one of our wholesalers (Hummingbird Wholesale) writes about this wonder grain:

Organic Oat Groats are whole oats with only the outer husk removed.

In general, oats have more protein and healthy fats, and less carbohydrates than most other whole grains. This grain is high in beta-glucans, which work to stimulate the immune system. They contain more soluble fiber than any other grain, and oats are also beneficial for their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-itching qualities.

Sounds like a great food if you ask me! Here’s to your morning meal!

Filed Under: Antioxidants, Blog, Bulk Foods, Eating Well, El Cerrito Store, Health foods, Organic foods, Recipe Ideas, Superfoods, Sustainability, Wonder Foods

Pomegranate: The Apple With Many Seeds

October 5, 2016 by The Natural Grocery Company

Source: www.biolib.de

Source: www.biolib.de

Pomegranate: The Apple With Many Seeds                            

The word pomegranate translates from Latin to ” the apple with many seeds’, but did you know that it is actually classified as a berry? There are over 760 different varieties of pomegranates worldwide and some of these trees can grow to be more than 200 years old! This super fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months but at my house they don’t last more than a couple of days before we crack into them! There are a few different ways to eat a pomegranate, but my favorite way is to cut it in half along the equator, turn them flesh side down over a bowl of cold water and smack it with a wooden spoon until all of the arils’ fall out. The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl while the pith, or white part, will float. The arils will keep in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days and can be eaten by themselves or sprinkled on top of a salad, over yogurt or mixed into a rice pilaf with chopped walnuts. If you don’t mind a mess, you can also juice them using a citrus juicer!

Pomegranate season is from September to February in the Northern Hemisphere. This has earned it the nickname “The Jewel of Winter. The pomegranate is native to Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Northern India, Bengal, and Southern Asia and is cultivated widely throughout the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa. The pomegranate was first introduced to California by Spanish settlers in 1769. Pomegranate concentrate is a popular ingredient used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes. The juice is concentrated to about 250% stronger to form a thick sauce (grenadine). When added in cooking, it gives unique flavor and intense sweet taste. Grenadine is used to make cocktails, sorbets, and in several mouth-watering Middle-Eastern dishes. The city of Granada, Spain is named after the Spanish word for pomegranate, “Granada.” In early English, the pomegranate was called the “apple of Grenada.”

Pomegranates are not only delicious, they have amazing health benefits as well! There are two unique substances in pomegranates that are responsible for most of their health benefits. The first is Punicalagins. Punicalagins are extremely powerful antioxidants found in the juice and peel of a pomegranate. They are so powerful that pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant activity of red wine and green tea! Pomegranate extract and powder is typically made from the peel, due to its high antioxidant and punicalagin content (almost 3 times the amount found in the juice). The next is Punicic Acid. Punicic acid, also known as pomegranate seed oil, is the main fatty acid in the arils (seeds). Punicic acid also contains unique polyunsaturated oil, an omega 5 fatty acid, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. The oil fends off free radicals to keep skin aging at bay. It also provides protection against sun damage. Pomegranate seed oil provides relief to people suffering from eczema, psoriasis and sunburn. The anti-inflammatory properties of the oil calm irritation and redness of the skin. It also heals wounds and restores skin health. The juice is also a good source of many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), folates, pyridoxine and vitamin K, and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, and manganese.

So far this season we have had 3 varieties for sale. Early Foothill, Sweet Israeli and Wonderful. Come in and grab some of these awesome miracle fruits and try them out in a new recipe! They are also great to use as a natural food coloring when baking up your favorite cakes or cookies!

 

By Casey Goode, Produce Manager at ECNG

Filed Under: Antioxidants, Blog, Eating Well, Health foods, Miracle Fruit, Organic foods, Produce Notes, Recipe Ideas, Superfoods, Wonder Foods

Subscribe Here!

* indicates required
Email Format

ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

OPEN EVERY DAY
Stores: 8:30am to 8:30pm
Annex : 9am to 8:30pm
Cafe opens at 6:30am
EL CERRITO STORE
10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-1155
Every Day 8:30am-8:30pm
EL CERRITO ANNEX
10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
Every Day 9am-8:30pm
Cafe: 6:30am-8:30pm
BERKELEY STORE
1336 Gilman St.
(510) 526-2456
Every Day 8:30am-8:30pm

Our Stores

  • Our Stores
  • Sales Flyer – Stores
  • Calendar

Annex

  • Annex
  • Sales Flyer – Annex
  • Calendar

Who We Are

  • Who We Are

What’s New?

  • What’s New
  • Sales Flyer
  • Calendar

Eat Well

  • Eat Well
  • Resources

Contact

  • Contact
  • Maps & Directions
  • Join Our Team

Copyright © 2019 · Natural Grocery Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in