In this season of being busy, rushing around, and spending too much money on holiday gifts, fun and free stuff sounds especially good.
For those in the San Diego area, there’s a Dressing Rehearsal on Thursday, December 12th from 6 to 8 pm at Whole Foods Market Encinitas (687 S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024)
And there’s a music performance with Mat Kearny on Saturday, December 14th from 4 to 6pm. Take a break from your holiday shopping to join a unique music and wine experience!
You’ll be able sit down with musician/songwriter, Mat Kearney, in a private setting prior to the public event. Taste some of his wonderful new wine, Verse and Chorus, and learn about his inspiration in a short Q & A session.
Mat Kearney was raised in Oregon, with vineyards in his parents’ backyard. He received critical acclaim for his debut album, Nothing Left to Lose, and is releasing his fifth album in the upcoming year. Now he is honoring his love for wine by working by working with two of the best family vineyards in Napa Valley to create a rich and flavorful bordeaux-style blend.
- Thursday, 12/12/13 from 6 to 8 pm
- Features of the event:
- Beer & Wine – Holiday favorites, pairings and sampling
- Holiday Cheese Board – How to create
- Premier Party Dips sampling
- Coffee and seasonal treats sampling
And for everyone, there’s a free national Cheese Night event that will be taking place in all Whole Foods stores on December 10.
Don’t know jack about cheese? Whole Foods Market removes the guess work with step-by-step instructions for an all-star cheese plate.
Tips for How to create a cheese board
• Pick cheeses of contrasting textures and flavors: creamy, firm, sweet, pungent.
• Contrast Old World cheeses with New World selections.
• On a budget? Buy one or two fantastic cheeses, rather than five or six so-so options.
• Two ounces of cheese per person is a good rule of thumb.
• Let sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.
• Serve with bread and crackers for different textures and flavors to accent the cheese.
• Talk to your cheesemonger. They can offer suggestions on which cheeses pair well with others. Not to mention, Whole Foods Market has 147 Certified Cheese Professionals™ in stores throughout the country, who have mastered the art of cheese from making to aging to handling. Don’t forget to ask for a taste!
One lucky winner will win a $100 Whole Foods Gift Card!
Winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to reply, at which point another winner will be selected if winner does not reply.
Using Rafflecopter, enter to win the giveaway by completing the first three tasks and any optional ways you’d like to enter.
Leave a blog comment below in response to the first question and follow the prompts for additional entries. Sometimes the widget is a bit slow to load, so please be patient.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also be sure to enter the $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway and the Outshine Fruit Bars Giveaway
I’d use it to get some good quality fresh sea food.
I’d buy fig and almond pressed “cake” (sold in the cheese section), GF pie crusts, and big jars of ghee. Also other GF treats, scented soaps, and organic produce.
Sounds Exciting! :) I am so in!
I would stock up on soy-free chocolate! ( have a soy lechethin intolerance. super negative when wanting chocolate, but whole foods has a lot of options!)
I would love to have the gift card to use as a back-up whenever expenses get tight and we need additional staples like coconut oil, produce, and bulk items.
i would stock up on random, unique finds. i love looking through whole food’s new products and local products, but because i’m on a tight budget i usually only buy what i need
I would love to buy their breads and produce!
I would just love to go and see everything that it has to offer.
I would go in without a list or a thought as to what I want and just see what grabs my attention and taste buds. That would be a fun trip!
I would buy beef tenderloin and crab for our Christmas dinner. Thanks for the great giveaway!
cheese and wine :)
I would buy some meats.
I always eat the whole foods selections during festive celebrations. I’ll have the wonderful cheeses with veggies instead of chips/dip. Hummus, too. I also keep busy in the kitchen so that when I do get to eat, I really want to slow down and choose carefully.
I’ve stayed away from Whole Food in Houston because I’ve heard stories about how expensive they are! I’d love to go try out so many of their goodies, but I think their snacks and chocolates might be where I’d go NUTS. Oh, and maybe try some organic meat – another thing I don’t eat because of the price! Maybe I’ll change my mind on the quality over the cost!
I love their fresh produce and meats! That’s what I would be using it for.
Fruits