by Ben Becker, Newsletter Writer
You are what you eat. This cliche statement could be considered through many nuanced perspectives and has been explored repeatedly in this newsletter. How much does what you eat say about who you are? Often times our culinary inclinations have some relation to our cultural identity, as we may manifest our heritage through the experience of traditional family recipes passed down through preparation and shared enjoyment. In addition to what the food we eat might say about our identity or who our ancestors are, what else can our food choices say about who we are? Does what we place on our table reveal something about our personality? Can our grocery shopping list offer a perspective into our souls? This month we try to gain some insight about a cross-section of Willy Street cooperators by asking, “What’s in your fridge?”
Robert Halstead: Owner
Arugula
Parmesan
Balsamic reduction
Bagels Forever Onion Bagels
Muenster Cheese Slices
Pomelo-Grapefruit Klarbrunn
Black Cherry White Claw
Mango Man Salsa
MoJo’s MaJik Sweet Barbecue Sauce
A journey to the heart of Robert Halstead’s kitchen will reveal that he is a man of discerning tastes. His cold storage harbors the sharp flavors of arugula, Parmesan and a balsamic reduction which when combined make a salad worthy of the more sophisticated palate. Complementing his go-to mix of greens, Robert is sure to pick up slices of muenster cheese when he swings through Willy North. Yet, as intimidating as these accoutrements may be; this refrigerator also contains the more relatable Bagels Forever Onion Bagel, a common favorite among many Co-op shoppers no doubt as a result of their comforting flavor and impressive value. When it comes to condiments, Robert keeps things local with Madison’s own Mango Man Salsa. All that flavor must build a powerful thirst, which can be reliably quenched by such preferred refreshments as the Black Cherry White Claw or a Pomelo-Grapefruit Klarbrunn.
Jesse Thurber:
Front End Supervisor
Bottle of Florajen
Mayonnaise
Bagels
Broccoli
Pre-bagged salad mix
Frozen pizza
Fage Yogurt
Cascadian Farms Frozen Peas and
Carrots
Honest Tea
Spice World Minced Garlic
Untitled Art CBD Water
Cedar Farms Sausage and Deli Meats
Jesse Thurber, a long-time front-end supervisor at Willy Street Co-op East, gives us the first peek into the inner workings of his icebox. At the top of Jesse’s list is a bottle of Florajen probiotics. This product is great for maintaining your gut health by helping to restore a normal balance of intestinal bacteria, which can help treat such issues as urinary tract infections or diarrhea. When speaking of his favorite condiment, Jesse states, “I love mayonnaise!” Jesse enjoys using mayo as a dipping sauce into which he will dunk both sandwiches and homemade corndogs. When it comes to toaster fare, Jesse keeps it simple, by warming up bagels with just a little bit of butter.
When feeling thirsty, Jesse will reach for one of the many non-caffeinated flavors of Honest Tea, or an Untitled Art CBD Water. “I really love that water. It’s a nice treat at the end of the night.”
Jesse also is sure to keep some fresher options on hand. Primary on this list is broccoli, as it is “Very good to eat raw or as a side.” Jesse also enjoys breaking into a pre-bagged salad mix, making use of its ease of preparation, noting that “it would be hard to replicate, very convenient, good mix of toppings, and it is almost a meal.” Jesse also makes good use of Fage Yogurt. A small tub is good to have on hand. You can use it to make dips by adding a mix or some Penzey’s Spices to it.” In order to keep things flavorful, you are always sure to find a jar of diced or minced garlic from Spice World, which has the advantage of staying fresh without having to worry about bulbs rotting or growing shoots. Of course, no refrigerator would be fully stocked without a spare frozen pizza in the freezer, whether just for fun or when you don’t want to make something more complex. Jesse also keeps a frozen bag of peas and carrots in his icebox which he says always make for a good side.
Anya Firszt:
General Manager
Kalamata olives
Mustard
Mrs. Clark’s Mayo
Sandwich fixins: schmear, bread, lettuce, tomato, peppers, meat, and cheese
Cheese
Organic Valley Sour Cream
Hot sauce or Sriracha
Tortillas
Salad fixins
Capers
Woodstock Pickles
Jeff’s Garden Banana Peppers
Kerrygold Butter
Westby Local Butter
Eggs
Milk
When stocking her refrigerator, General Manager Anya Firszt is sure to have a number of core items well represented. She will always have some kind of olives cooling down, but says, “If I can only pick one it would be kalamatas.” Anya is also a connoisseur of sandwich components, stocking savory spreads like mustard such as dijon or spicy brown, as well as Mrs. Clark’s mayonnaise. Cheese is another critical victual which Anya keeps for every occasion, including cheese to grate, a more grill-worthy variety, crumbly queso, or just something for noshing on such as brie. One of her favorites is the Farmer John Parmesan. Anya also keeps things spicy with a variety of hot sauces, and you can be sure that you will spot the iconic rooster on a bottle of Sriracha.
Anna Sisson: Owner
Smoked turkey slices
Siete Tortillas
Olives from the Olive Bar
Dashelito’s Jalapeño Hot Sauce
Lesser Evil Power Spicy Salsa Power Curls
Daiya Frozen Pizzas
Lotzza Motzza Pizza
Primal Kitchen Avocado Mayo
Cypress Grove Midnight Moon Cheese
Spicy Italian sausage
If one were daring enough to experience all that Anna Sisson’s fridge has to offer, they would quickly realize that such an undertaking is certainly not for the faint of heart. To keep hunger at bay, Anna makes sure to keep some potent provisions around. Unwilling to tolerate dull moments at her table, Dashelito’s Jalepeño Hot Sauce is one way she keeps blandness at bay. For some exciting snack fare, Anna will crunch down on the Spicy Salsa Power Curls from Lesser Evil. These paleo-friendly poppers provide protein-packed with a taste that can only be described as epic. Keeping in the spirit of a diet-friendly to our cave-dwelling ancestors, this fridge stays filled with Primal Kitchens Mayo. This spread made with healthy avocado oil is friendly to paleo or keto diets as it contains no gluten, grain, sugar, or industrially processed oil. Proceeding deeper into the chilly recesses of cold storage, Anna is undaunted when she reaches for a Midnight Moon Cheese from Cypress Grove in order to enjoy the complexities created when combining its nutty, buttery flavors with a slight crunch! Clearly a cheese lover, Anna keeps her freezer stocked with the Lotzza Motzza Brew Pub Pizzas, with each one boasting over half a pound of Wisconsin mozzarella.
Caryn Murphy:
Board Member
Brown Cow Yogurt
Blueberries
Yuppie Hill Eggs
Hummus
Klarbrunn
Baby carrots
Cheddar cheese
Shredded mild cheddar
Bagels Forever Onion Bagels
Stoneground mustard
Pickles
Ginger or ginger juice
Butter
Apples
Amy’s Pizza
Organic Valley Grass-Fed Half & Half
Salad greens
From examining Co-op Board member Caryn Murphy’s groceries, it would not be difficult to discern a set of principles and values which recommend her to a director’s seat. Placed prominently within her refrigerator is a demonstration of her concern for animal welfare embodied by her breakfast choices. When regarding her breakfast staples, Caryn notes her dietary reliance on the rich and healthy eggs from Yuppie Hill Poultry when explaining, “I don’t eat meat, so I try to eat eggs every morning.” Eggs are not alone in Caryn’s breakfast rotation. She currently favors Brown Cow as it fits her yogurt philosophy: “I think that yogurt should have fruit on the bottom.” When looking for a little more fruitiness she will also throw in blueberries to enhance this breakfast dish. And a complement to the most important meal of the day is a fresh carton of Organic Valley Grassfed Half & Half as a treat for coffee.
After breakfast time, Caryn keeps her fridge stocked with Klarbrunn in order to stave off dehydration throughout her day, noting that enjoying this fizzy beverage “helps me to drink a lot of water.” As the day wears on, this board member is always sure to have solid snacking options including baby carrots, apples, and two-year-old cheddar cheese. On another shelf sits a jar of homemade pickles, which are easily prepared by recycling new cucumber slices into leftover brine and topping it off with fresh vinegar. Once fully pickled, Caryn will use these slices to spice up her egg salad. For another homemade favorite, ginger or conveniently premade ginger juice is kept in the mix for making switchel, a potent beverage that can restore vigor on hot days. If a complicated dinner preparation is not in the cards, Caryn always has a few Amy’s Pizzas in the freezer for a quick and easy fix.
What’s in YOUR fridge?
Whether or not the contents of your refrigerator stand as a true expression of our personality, it is clear that the foods we keep on hand may be an expression of our values, our practical habits, perhaps a penchant for the refined, or maybe a spirit of adventure. Even if an inspection of your crisper drawer doesn’t reveal hidden psychological depths, it does allow us to get to know more about our fellow eaters and to build human connection. Whether for some deep moments of self-reflection or just as a means to start your grocery list, you may want to ask, what’s in your fridge?