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 would buy their natural peanut butter, cheeses and baked goods like breads and cookies.
I would definitely stock up on pork and sausage were I to win a $100 gift card to Whole Foods! Whole Foods is the only grocery store in my area that sells ethically raised, non-Smithfield pork. And since I don’t have a Whole Foods right in my neighborhood, I don’t get there too often, so when I do, I try to stock up on the pork!
Whole foods has all my favorite nut butters that I can’t live without, so I’d definitely stock up on those with the $100!
I would definitely hit up the bulk bins and get a nice chocolate bar or two!
I’d definitely get some unique cheeses to enjoy over the holidays, and I’d probably hit up some of their bulk item bins as well. Yum!
bakery items, and some nice nut butters :)
Tons of nuts and cheeses!
I am hosting a wine party so wine, cheese, olives, crackers, and chocolate….of course : )
I would use it on a few spectacular trips to their awesome salad bar!
I love the granola and nut butters!
Oh, I’d definitely hit the cheese section first. Then It would be international foods. But definitely. Cheese.
Baking supplies and almond/coconut milk!
Cheese & wine.
Some fancy chocolate, fancy ice cream, and fancy cheese/yogurt!
Definitely hot bar and salad bar food! So addicting!
I entertain a lot of would definitely spend it in the cheese section and getting charcuterie platter type foods!