On the Menu in Prep Foods

Adjust your attitude at Chestnut Hill’s Sandwich Station Happy Hours.

Four o’clock signals the start of happy hour — the food kind — at Weavers Way Chestnut Hill. Every day from 4 to 6 p.m., the crew puts a particular sandwich on sale for at least $2 off. The promotion started in February; previous sandwiches in the spotlight included hoagies, gyros and banh mi. On a recent weekday, the selection was La Vita Bella, a hoagie featuring fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and pesto in addition to the usual lettuce and tomato.

Bakery Bites

A legendary tomato pie from the Northeast has landed.

Another Philly classic has taken up residence at the Co-op, with both bakery departments featuring Gaeta’s tomato pies. This cornerstone Italian bakery, now located on Castor Avenue, was born in Germantown and has been in business for over 75 years. A quarter sheet box is $6.59. Delivery days vary between the stores, and may change in the near future, so it’s best to call ahead if you’re counting on it.

Goings on in Grocery

SmashMallow takes s’mores to the next level. And Bizzy Coffee Shots offer an organic amp-up. 

You really don’t need to improve on the s’more. But if you added flavor to the marshmallow, would that make it a bit better? SmashMallows is here to assist in your research. Made with organic sugar, they’re gluten-free and come in flavors ranging from espresso bean to toasted pineapple-coconut to mint chocolate chip. Flavors vary by store. 

To make sure you last for that late-night bonfire, pick up a Bizzy organic coffee shot, also now in both stores. Bizzy was started in Minneapolis by Alex and Andrew, two besties with a lot going on. The 2-ounce bottles, which come in three flavors, contain 130-150 milligrams of caffeine, about equal to two shots of espresso. Bizzy’s coffee beans are ethically sourced and purchased at fair trade prices, and the flavorings are also organic and contain no added sugars. 

The Deli Dispatch

Tweak your summer specialties with Buf water buffalo mozzarella.

Tomato season is in full swing, and many a shopper’s basket contains a container or two of fresh mozzarella. While some never stray from Claudio’s cow’s-milk version, the bolder among us might want to give the original water-buffalo version a try. Buf, of Charlottesville, VA, gets their raw materials from Colombian water bufulas that are free-range and grass-fed, and the cheese balls come in three sizes: largest to smallest, ovoline (egg sized), bocconcini (little bites) and ciliegine (cherry sized).

There will be many caprese salads and pizzas assembled before the last locally grown ‘mater has been plucked off the vine. Sometime before that happens, make room for these cuties in your fridge.