BUY FRESH, BUY LOCAL

I have always thought that one of the best things about living in Lincoln is that we have four different seasons. Each new season brings along with it obvious changes in scenery, but there are also some more subtle differences like the feeling of the air outside or the type of sun we are getting. The Foodies at Leon’s think that the foods we eat should change with the seasons too.

Seasons form the natural backdrop for eating. How delicious is that first juicy hamburger cooked on the grill or the first homegrown tomato off the vine during the summer months? When you eat food “in season” it means that you are adjusting your diet to obtain the freshest ingredients available for the time of year.

We feel so strongly about eating food in season that we joined an organization called BUY FRESH, BUY LOCAL. The organization is committed to helping people discover farm fresh, locally grown food. Being a member of BFBL enables us to develop direct contacts with the same producers that you see on the weekends at the farmers markets around town.

These contacts will allow Leon’s to source fruits and vegetables that were grown here and probably in the ground or on the vine less than 48 hours earlier. We will be buying only foods that were naturally grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

The foods you eat should change with the seasons…it keeps things exciting and fresh at the dinner table. It can also keep you safe. In fact, with the recent food borne illnesses in the news there has never been a better time to Buy Fresh or Buy Local!

EVERYDAY WAYS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

Feeling overwhelmed or confused about what you should do to protect the environment? There are things you can do each and every day to lesson your impact.

How often does a typical family shop each month? If you kept reusable bags in your car for those grocery store and other stops, you would make a huge difference in the number of plastic bags that end up in landfills, all of which will still be around when your great-grandchildren are alive.

Leon’s now sells an attractive reusable grocery bag for $0.99. Every time you use one for your groceries, Leon’s will give you a .05 discount off your bill for each bag used. In fact, you could fill the bag with old newpapers in between shopping trips and then drop them off right outside at the recycling center before you stop in to do your shopping.

HOMEMADE BRATWURTS
The BRATWURST that we sell in our famous meat department are “made from scratch” right here at Leon’s? In fact, the recipes that we use have been developed over the past two years in a joint effort involving both our meat department staff and the chefs in our deli.

Our brats are made using only the highest quality and leanest pork available, shoulder and loin meat. The result is a brat with at least 20% less fat than leading bratwurst brands. When combined with the finest fresh ingredients the result is the highest quality specialty gourmet bratwurst around.

This Friday and Saturday Aug 8& 9 11-6, we will be cooking out in front of Leon’s featuring all four flavor of our brats for you to try! Enjoy, and as always…Bon Appetit!