In order to keep things “new” and happening during our mandated Shelter In Place, I headed to the stores, masked and gloved, twice in the last 60 days to discover new edible treats.
Several products have been so addictive, such a taste-hit, that I want to share them with readers.
Haig’s Organic Hummus
Hard to imagine that a small tub of hummus could be so gratifying that I would elevate it to Star status.
My son mentioned that one of the things he regularly buys at Whole Foods is Haig’s Organic Hummus.
While Haig’s, based in San Francisco, also makes a conventional hummus, it’s their organic version that commands a 21-gun salute.
Late every afternoon, just before cocktail hour, I find myself heading to the fridge to take out the Haig’s tub; I dip 365 (Whole Foods house brand) Baked Woven Wheat crackers into the dip; or I rip large pieces off a sheet of Trader Joe’s Lavash for my dipping pleasure.
While I do NOT have an addictive personality, and can taste a single spoonful of most every dip and move on, there is an addictive element to my hitting the Haig’s Organic Hummus tub and I really have to work at convincing myself to have “just one more” cracker with dip.
Haig’s Organic Hummus is $4.99 at Whole Foods.
If you live much further south than Yountville, or much further north than St. Helena, you may not be eligible to enjoy this newfound source of nourishment: B’s Seedy STATION Granola.
The “B” is Brenda Bosetti, who is one of the most talented bakers and cooks in Napa Valley. She makes a lot of the tasty fare for Joel Gott’s new venture, STATION, in St. Helena, but the stand-out item for me is B’s“Seedy” granola.
B makes another STATION granola, but as it contains grains, it is unacceptable to gluten-intolerant consumers. B’s “Seedy” granola has NO grains so is an ideal snack for gluten-sensitive consumers.
I am NOT gluten-sensitive so the fact that I love B’s “Seedy” granola underscores how good, and how addictive, it is.
I love the playful, and perfect, levels of sweetness and salt in this granola. There is a draw which brings me back for another handful after every swallow. I find it hard to stop noshing on this crunchy, seedy granola, rich as it is with coconut, almonds, and sesame, hemp, chia and flax seeds. Brenda has dialed in the salt and honey levels perfectly.
Nice work, Brenda!
1-lb bag of B’s Seedy STATION Granola is $16, sold only at STATION, on Main St., St. Helena.
During quarantine, you must call in your order and arrange a pre-paid pick-up on the phone.
You may think I’m a chipmunk, given that I am listing another nut product as a Go-To on my list of newly discovered quarantine foods, but I love to have a few walnut pieces with my morning espresso, or cappuccino. And I have largely been disappointed with the walnut offerings in bulk bins. Too often, the nuts are only marginally fresh.
But Whole Foods 356 Organic Walnut Halves & Pieces presents a 10-ounce bag filled with fleshy, tasty walnuts. Delicious on their own, these would also be great if added to home-baked banana bread, or, if chopped, to home-made chocolate chip cookies. What are you waiting for?
These are the freshest, tastiest commercial walnuts I’ve ever had.
Whole Foods 365 Organic Walnuts, Halves & Pieces, 10-oz bag $7.99.
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