Happy Grilling!

      Meat, what can I say about Meat? Before I owned this natural food market I was a meat cutter for 30 years. I know hard to believe since I'm only 39. With the amount of knowledge I have about meat I could go on forever but I need to blog about other things also.
     Meat comes in several categories and sub-categories. The main ones are poultry, fish and red meats (beef and pork). There are many other red meats also such as venison, buffalo, yak, etc. To sub-categorize you can break them down into species for instance poultry could be anything from chicken, turkey or even rabbit. I won't even get started with fish because of the numerous species but I will tell you there is fish good for grilling and there is fish good for nothing
     Now days you can get meat that is raised naturally and also organically. These are the two ways that one should look for when purchasing any kind of meats. These meats will not have toxins such as antibiotics or hormones in then. They are usually raised in a more humane way also.
     Lets talk about red meats today and worry about the others another day. Most or at least some of you have looked at a steak and looked for two things. One, is it fresh? and two, is it marbled nicely. Marbling for those of you who don;t know is the amount or the flecks of fat that you can see throughout the meat. It is what gives it its flavor and also helps its tenderness. To get meat to marble nicely the grower has to at the right moment feed the cattle grain. Most of the grain has those toxins in it and are derived mostly from corn. Now on the other hand naturally raised cattle are not fed grain and are raised mostly on grass. Without being fed grain however you won't get that marbling that makes that steak so much more tender and flavorful. Don't get me wrong grass fed beef still has a great taste but it might not be what your used to if you have had grain fed beef. I  suggest you try grass fed beef for yourself since it is more healthy for you and your family. Here at Melvin's Market we sell grass fed beef right out of the freezer. No you can't look to see if it is marbled nicely because it is wrapped in white butcher paper but remember it is grass fed so it isn't marbled. The plus side of buying your beef from the freezer is that it is as fresh as you will ever get it. Think about it, it is butchered and put right in the freezer. The stuff you buy out of a fresh counter could have been there for days. Happy grilling!   

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Canned Fruit and Preserves

      Fill your pantry with canned goodness!

      Most of us can remember walking into our grandmothers, or in my case Momo's, fruit cellar or pantry and just be in awe at all the fresh and colorful canned fruit and vegetables. I mean lets face it it is not the same looking at an aluminum can with a picture of what is to be inside. I for one like to see what the product looks like before i purchase it.
      We would always grow a huge garden and eat as much as we could when it was fresh picked, talk about organic. Then as things started ripening faster and before it went to seed us kids and mom would go spend hours  picking the bushes clean, good times. Mom would get started on washing the hundreds of quart jars as us kids would snap the beans or play while mom and grandma did them, we were kids after all. My dad always had this sayin' he would bring out of the closest every year about this time. "Son, when it comes to the garden you eat what you can, can what you can't, then eat what you canned". Makes sense and I love my dad but you know how many times I've heard it.
      Well now you don't have to pick the fruit, clean the jars or steam up the whole house (in the middle of summer) trying to can your own preserves. From canned peaches, pears, dilled green beans, marinated mushrooms, sweet pickles to jams, jellies, marinades and even dressings you can see it in the jars and find it at Melvin's Fir Street Market.

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Organic Northwest Berries, Corn and Apples

You'll find the Freshest local and Organic Produce at Melvin's

       Looking for the freshest, local and organic produce in central Oregon. Look no further then Melvin's Fir Street Market. Melvin's produce section features seasonally local produce. Organic produce from Rainshadow Organic farm is raised just a few miles from the store.
       Fresh Oregon grown berries from strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and yes Oregon's own Marionberries are brought in fresh three times a week. As the seasons hit throughout the Northwest Melvin's is the first to have it in his produce section including Yakima corn and tomatoes, Oregon berries and cherries, Washington state apples and Oregon peaches and melons.
       Melvin himself drives to several Willamette valley farms just to get the freshest produce. Melvin's produce has been know to get so fresh you may have to slap it! 

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Deli Health Foods made to Taste Great

Fresh homemade meals ready to go at Melvin's in Sisters  

 I love pizza but what I love even more is fresh made salads and sandwiches. Customers come to me daily saying "I don't even cook anymore since I found your food". You can eat for weeks from our selection of food items and never have to eat the same thing twice.
      Sandwiches, wraps, green salads, wild rice salad, quinoa salad, beet salad, chef salads, chicken salad, egg salad, hard-boiled eggs, enchiladas, curry bowls, lasagna, fruit trays, veggie trays are just a few of the great items we make everyday in our kitchen. Gluten free items also for those that are looking for that .
      For dessert you'll find things like Sandee's applesauce cake, banana bread, apple brownies, zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting, cocoa zucchini brownies. I must stop I'm starting to drool. I would talk more about the food we make fresh everyday but I've become quite hungry and must go get me a tuna sandwich made with Melvin's Walla Walla onion and peppercorn dressing. Maybe I'll even wash it down with some Kombucha that we have on tap.

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Vegan and gluten Free caterings available at Melvin's in Sisters

For that next get together, get together with Melvin for your catering needs!   

   When I have a group of people come over or a business meeting the last thing I want to do is be stuck in the kitchen preparing food while everyone else is enjoying the party. Why not let Melvin's Market cater your next party. Simple yet elegant Melvin's food is sure to please and still stay within your budget.
       A platter of wraps or finger sandwiches, a veggie tray, a platter of fruit kabobs, a wild rice salad and cocoa zucchini brownies for dessert and your guest are sure to be talking about the party for weeks maybe even months but why wait that long before the next time you have us cater your get together.
      Have a quest coming that is vegan or gluten free we are a health food store and can make that happen.
      We will help you plan your menu although it may prove to be tough since we have so many great items from which to choose. All our food is made fresh right here in our own kitchen from naturally fresh ingredients. Our food is so good it is sure to make your tongue want to beat your brains out.

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Bulk Savings with Bulk Pricing

Bulk up and save big! Why pay for all that grocery store packaging and for someone else to package your bulk foods like rice, nuts or flour? 

Buy in bulk and you get what you want and as much as you want at a price you can afford. Melvin's Market has affordable gluten free products. Need just one more cup of sugar for that cake and don't want to feel like the big bad wolf and have to try to borrow from one of the three little pigs. Get just what you want from Melvin's bulk food section.


Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711