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
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PREPARED FOOD ANNEX
10387 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
Every Day Hours
BERKELEY STORE
1336 Gilman St.
(510) 526-2456
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Home / Archives for Blog

Beauty in The Branches

February 1, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Beauty in the Branches

An exhibit of mixed media works by local artist Lucy Ames is happening through April 17, 2023 in The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA. Come by to see her beautiful works!
 
Artist’s Reception on
Saturday, February 4, 2023
5:00pm to 7:30pm
Pop-Up Shop on
Sunday, March 12, 2023
10:00am to 1:00pm
 
Lucy Ames Art

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Events

February 2023 Sales Flyer

February 1, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

2023 02 February Sales Flyer

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Stores_both

The Annex Sessions: Latin Jazz with The Bob Crawford Trio

January 26, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Wednesday February 1, 5-7:30pm will continue our music series at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex). The Annex Sessions are held on first and third Wednesdays. The Bob Crawford Trio will draw from a diverse repertoire, weaving Cuban, Brazilian and Jazz. This ensemble will bring you individual virtuosity and group creativity.

The series is co-produced by Sunjams, Javier Navarrette Music and The Natural Grocery Company. 

The Bob Crawford Trio is

Bob Crawford- keys

Julio de la Cruz- bass

Colin Douglas – drums

Musicians Bios-

Bob Crawford was born in Long Beach California and raised in the Bay Area with his 12 brothers and sisters. Primarily self taught, he started playing in bands with his saxophone playing twin brother during their college years. After graduating, Bob gained experience in various Bay Area ensembles, playing jazz, funk, Latin and Brazilian music. In 2001 he was offered the keyboard chair in Michael Franti’s band Spearhead. Bob logged multiple tours throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe and Japan. Bob also recorded on several of Spearhead’s albums and appeared on a number of international TV programs with the band. Also with Spearhead, Bob found himself performing with a who’s who of international stars, including Tre Anastasio, Me’Shell NDegeOcello, Chuck D, Ani DiFranco, Jack Johnson, Robert Randolph, Woody Harrleson, Mixmaster Mike, as well as members of Ozomatli, Zap Mama, and Galactic.

Bob took a break from extensive touring to spend time with his family, and to pursue his own musical vision. Now residing in the East Bay, Bob continues to perform and record with a variety of artists, including Fito Reinoso y su Ritmo y Armonia, Mazacote, Boca De Rio, Greg Errico (Sly and the Family Stone), Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo, Lee Oskar (War), Lenny Williams and Mic Gillette (Tower of Power), Pedrito Calvo (Los Van Van) Richard Bean (Malo), The New York Gypsy Allstars, as well as members of El Chicano, Santana, Tierra, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and many more.

Recently, Bob has served as the musical director for the Latin Kings Allstar band, which features members from Tower of Power, Malo, and The Whispers. He has worked with the fantastic Alayo Dance Company and the Stagebridge Theatre Group. He has also worked for two years with the San Francisco Symphony’s “Adventures in Music” program, bringing music to every public elementary school in San Francisco. Bob also leads his own piano trio, and is founding member of the latin jazz-funk band Machina Sol.

Julio De la Cruz was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. In 1980 at the age of 12, he first began his studies as a musician, specializing in percussion instruments while simultaneously studying music theory and composition.

From 1987 to 1992, Julio participated in several projects and festivals in Havana and other provinces in Cuba. In 1992 left Cuba to perform on tour with the Puerto Rican Singer José Feliciano as part of the released production: “Calle Latina.”

From 1993 to 2009, Julio moved to Mexico, where he lived and worked accompanying Celia Sanchez, one of the famous Sonora matancera singers, along with Salsa Queen Celia Cruz. Julio then moved to Los Cabos ( also in Mexico), where he became part of the house band rocker Sammy Hagar’s club Cabo Wabo and accompanied American guest performers such as Toby Keith and Sammy Hagar himself, among others.

During this time in Mexico, Julio continued to perfect his skills as a percussionist but also taught himself to play the Piano and Bass, making him a multi-instrumentalist performer. In 2009, Julio moved to The United States, joining many bands in the San Francisco Bay area in California. Julio plays with the Pacific Mambo Orchesta.

GRAMMY nominated drummer/percussionist Colin Douglas was born in New York City into a musical family. As the son of a music producer, her grew up experimenting with many different instruments and soon settled on drums and percussion. He went on to study percussion at both the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music as well as the Manhattan School of Music, where he worked extensively in both the classical percussion and jazz drumset programs.

After college Colin became interseted in the world of Latin percussion and studied both in Cuba, as well as with many master percussionists in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he has lived and played professionally for years.

Mr. Douglas has performed and recorded with a diverse group of musicians ranging from Latin acts such as Jesus Diaz Y Su QBA, Ray Obiedo, and the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet (with whom Mr. Douglas recieved a Grammy Nomination in 2013), to R&B and Rock acts such as Donna Summer and Slash.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Events, Neighborhood World Music Sessions, Special Events

More About “Moro” Blood Oranges

January 20, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic “Moro” Blood Oranges on sale in January 2023 for $2.59/lb

“Moro” blood oranges have a rind that is orange, kissed with red blush, and has a leathery texture, pebbled with prominent oil glands. Underneath the surface of the rind, there is a medium-thick pith that is white, spongy, and tightly adhered to the flesh. The flesh ranges in color from orange with red blush, to maroon, crimson, to a saturated, almost black hue, depending on the climate that it is grown in. The flesh is also soft, juicy, and nearly seedless, divided into 10-11 segments by thin membranes. Moro blood oranges have a slightly sweet, floral fragrance and a sweet-tart taste with notes of cherries and raspberries. The oranges with the deepest pigmentation will exhibit more intense sweet berry notes characteristic to blood oranges.

Moro blood oranges, botanically classified as Citrus sinensis, are an early season Italian variety that grows on a highly ornamental, evergreen tree that belongs to the Rutaceae or citrus family. Their color is due to a pigment called anthocyanin, not usually present in citrus but common in other red fruits and flowers. Fluctuations in temperature greatly affect the degree to which blood oranges develop their characteristic blush. Though the Moro can vary greatly in this respect, no other blood orange variety is known to exhibit such deeply red colored fruits.

Moro blood oranges are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, thiamine, dietary fiber and most notably antioxidants supplied by its anthocyanin content.

Moro blood oranges are both intensely flavored and colored, adding a unique citrus flavor as well as visual appeal to a dish. They are often used raw and can be sliced and mixed into parfaits, desserts, salads, salsa, and garnished over seafood and poultry. Moro blood oranges also stand up well in cooked applications and may be paired with sweet or savory flavors. Moro blood orange juice can also be served as a stand-alone juice, used in cocktails with prosecco, cooked into syrups, sorbets, marmalades, compotes, sauces, and vinaigrettes, or used to flavor cheesecake, pound cake, or muffins. Moro blood oranges pair well with meats such as duck, poultry, pork, and seafood such as Mahi Mahi, other citrus, mint, tarragon, soft cheeses, shallots, arugula, roasted beets, fennel, shallot, Dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, honey, rolled oats, pistachios, sweetened coconut, mango, cinnamon, avocado, ginger, lime, mint, and cilantro.

They will keep up to one week when stored at room temperature and up to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator.

Filed Under: Antioxidants, Blog, Organic foods, Produce Notes, Stores_both

The Annex Sessions

January 12, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Live music at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito will return soon.

Due to Winter illnesses and the rainy weather impacts to our staff and customers we will be delaying the return of these events. For now we plan on restarting The Annex Sessions on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Neighborhood World Music Sessions

January 2023 Sales Flyer

January 3, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

2023 01 January Sales Flyer

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Non-GMO, Organic foods, Stores_both

Happy New Year 2023!

January 2, 2023 by The Natural Grocery Company

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Stores_both

Happy Holidays

December 23, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

Store Hours The Annex, Berkeley & El Cerrito

December 24, 2022: 8:30am to 6:30pm

December 25, 2022: Closed

 

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Stores_both

2022 Bubble Bash Sale & Tasting

December 6, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

We are having a sale on sparking wines at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, December 9-11, 2022. 10% off on single bottles of bubbly or 20% off on a case (12 bottles, mix & match ok).
There will be a tasting event at The Annex on Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 1pm to 4pm. Come taste Old World versus New World Sparkling Wines!
21+ for tasting and a $20 tasting fee. If you choose to purchase a case of bubbly, on Sunday, December 11, your tasting fee will be put towards your purchase.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Events, Special Events, Wine Spotlight

Christmas Menu 2022

December 2, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

Order Christmas 2022 Meals Online

The Annex is preparing family dinners for six people (ham) and eight people (turkey & vegetarian) as well as individual meals (ham, turkey, vegetarian & vegan) plus pies and all the sides. You may order and pre-pay online for pickup at The Annex or Berkeley Store. You may also call or come in and place your order at either The Annex (510-526-5150) or Berkeley Store (510-526-2456).

Pickup day is Saturday, December 24, 2022 from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Last day to order dinners and meals is Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 8:30pm.

Last day to order pies is Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 8:30pm.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Holiday Menus, Prepared Holiday Meals

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OPEN EVERY DAY
El Cerrito: 8:30am to 8:30pm, seven days a week
Berkeley: 8:30am to 8:30pm, seven days a week
Annex : 8:30am to 8:30pm
Wine opens at 9am
EL CERRITO STORE
10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-1155
Seven days a week 8:30am-8:30pm
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10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
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1336 Gilman St.
(510) 526-2456
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