For some reason I had tons of energy this morning. I got a lot accomplished and ALSO went on a 5 mile run!!! It was a great run – the rain held off and Mother Earth cranked up the heat for me.
I biked down to the bakery for lunch and an afternoon of holiday organization and planning.
Eileen met me for her lunch break!!
We chatted over Monticello Garden sandwiches – hummus and olives and veggies on Cville Crunch.
Oh, and a slab of tofu snuck onto mine!
We ended our lunch with a few bites of muffin –
And here is my afternoon challenge!! Turn retail items into gift ideas.
Jes @ Becoming Less of Jes says
Looks like such a yummy lunch!
I just found your blog recently and love it! Thanks for all the recipes and healthy tips!
KathEats says
Welcome Jes!!
Angel7 says
The storefront is looking great! I love the green table!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
That sandwich looks delicious and so does the muffin! What kind of muffin is that?
I really like that green table. The store looks great!
KathEats says
Carrot Raisin Walnut!
Sarah@The Flying ONION says
Mmm…those muffins! Delicious. They’re inspiring me to bake up a loaf of banana breakfast bread for tomorrow’s breakfast. 😀
katie @KatieDid says
Fun lunch, and yay for productivity! Wish I could say the same but the gray skies have me dragging. The show must go on though 🙂
Kathy W. says
You’re probably already doing this, but how about baskets (or boxes!), custom-packed to their preferences? Could offer breakfast-themed baskets, sweets-lovers baskets, or just a grab-bag of assorted goodness…
KathEats says
That’s what I”m working on
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
That’s a fun project Kath!!!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
that is such a great idea! i would be a big fan of a great harvest gift basket with all of your best selling products. you two are such great business-people!
sandwich looks delish. is the monticello new? i love all the fresh veggies.
Emily says
that sounds like the most fun afternoon project! plus your lunch was right up my alley…i get hummus with veggies for college dinner all the time!
Cait's Plate says
Gah! I want that sandwich every time you show it! (Actually I want every single GH sandwich every time you show it).
Glad you had a lunch buddy! There’s no better way to spend your lunch break if you ask me 🙂
eliza says
me too! My mom used to own a deli and yours reminds me of the good ol days! I hope you are planning on having a cranberry sauce, turkey, stuffing sandwich.. sooo good!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Good luck with the gift ideas. I’d be horrible at that stuff, I’m so uncreative!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
I have no doubt that you will come up with some creative holiay gift ideas!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
I love going into a store where they have their products arranged as gifts. Sometimes I just can’t think how to do it and when the store helps me out I appreciate that!
Meaghan O'Connor (My Spoonful of Inspiration) says
Yum! I love your lunch sandwiches! 🙂 I wish we had a Great Harvest on our campus.
Ilane says
Your bakery is the best!! The Great Harvests in Austin do not have a place to sit, are small and are not bright like yours. I cannot wait to go up there to try almost everything on your store’s menu. 🙂
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love to get some Great Harvest retail for Christmas 🙂
Tammy says
Just an idea…what about a handmade giftcard of some sort offering your lunch services? Maybe the buyer could get a free cookie with every purchase? Maybe $10 and it includes a beverage (I don’t know how much you sandwiches cost)?
KathEats says
Do you mean giftcards in general? We have those! Or is this suggestion a special deal the gift receiver gets?
Tammy says
A little of both! Maybe since you have giftcards, offer deals. Buyer get a free something small for every set amount of money spent on cards. Or design a new card (or homemade flyer) for a set price. But instead of being able to use it on anything..make it good for only a sandwich/lunch/dessert deal? Just my suggestion.
Jen says
That’s a great idea actually. It saves you time from packaging baked goods – and it increases traffic to your shop. If someone gets a gift certificate or deal, their more likely to come back.
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
Yum! I love hummus in my sandwich! Have a great productive time with your ball of energy. 😉
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Tofuuuuu! Makes life so much better. Literally. It’s warm here too, ironically — considering it was basically snowing yesterday.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
I LOVe veggies and hummus together. SUch a nice combo. YUMM 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Oooh I love gift wrapping! Sounds like a fun challenge for an afternoon!
Betsy says
The walnut in that slice of break looks stupendous! I love the combo of chewy/soft bread (GF) with a crunchy hunk o’ nut in there, yum. Raisins welcome also.
Hillary says
I would love love love to set up displays like that. So creative, fun, and different!
Susan H. @ the food allergy chronicles says
I am also a fan of the green table! Perfect for displaying all your goodies! Bundled up gifts get one in the spirit…have fun!
robin says
wish I was there to help with those gift ideas!
Kena says
Those look like fun gift items! Cute place!
Jen says
Kath what do you think is the best way to steam kale without making it soggy? For example, the kale I saw on your “Shrooms two ways” post… Also, can you store steamed kale in the fridge or will it get gross?
Thanks!
KathEats says
It sounds like you’re just steaming it a wee bit too long. Mine is usually chewy, not soggy. Just take it out a few minutes earlier. You can store in the fridge – but sogginess might arrive then
Jen says
i actually don’t know how to do it at all i never have! when you say “take it out a few minutes earlier” what do you mean? do you do it with one of those steamer baskets? or in a wok or pot or microwave? top on or off? how long? lol i have no idea where to start. thanks so much!
KathEats says
Oh I just put mine in a pot wet (so I wash but don’t dry) and put the lid on, stirring once or twice in about 5 minutes. Then I season and serve. If it’s too dry, add a few tbsp of water to the bottom but any more will leave you will a sopping watery mess.
KathEats says
[I call this “steam sauteeing”]
Jen says
awesome sounds like i can try it! thanks!
Roxanne says
Now I have a word for how I do my mushrooms! Thanks Kath!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Retail items into gift ideas sounds like a fun project! I could go crazy. I love projects like that!
Claire @ LoveNotLipo says
First of all, I just found your blog, and I love it! Pure eye candy. I’m just trying to get a handle on what you’ve got going on. The bakery is yours? And today’s post is you seeking out ideas for gifts from retail items at your shop? What a creatively stimulating job Lucky Girl!!! How about a “cheap date night” basket? I was going to do a blog post with great “cheap date night” ideas.
….I’m going to keep thinking of more. Looking forward to following you!!
KathEats says
Hey Claire! Welcome!
My husband, Matt, and I own a Great Harvest Bread Co. that we opened in Charlottesville, VA this June. We’re gearing up for a holiday season and putting together gifts. Love your date night idea 🙂
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel says
Throw them all in a basket, stick a bow on it, and–boom–GIFT! That’d be enough for me!
Laurie says
How about a free loaf of bread with any gift card purchase over $XX.
Sara says
Hi! Did you have to ask the Thomas Jefferson Foundation if you could call your sandwich the Monticello?
KathEats says
We didn’t – I didn’t think there were any protections on Monticello because I’ve seen other restaurants use it – but if they approached us we would certainly oblige.
Khushboo says
Love tofu and hummus in sandwiches- such a great combo…next time try it with nut butter instead of the hummus!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Looks great so far! I’ll email Matt our gift guide in case you’re interested…