Happy Father's Day from Lemon Tree Grocer!

Not sure about you, yet Father's Day is always a great holiday! Dads just want to grill, chill, and drink some brew (yeah sorry we couldn't keep up the rhyme) So, if you haven't set your grills in stone yet, then get over to Lemon Tree Grocer for our Father's Day Cookout!

Lemon Tree Grocer has an entire schedule filled with a bit of grilling education from Owner Tim Canning himself, a dunk tank to shut the trap of loud parents and children;), and best of all (think about those Monday night burgers that you all love so much) Niman Ranch will be not only supplying the grilled products...wait for it...Steve Heun the Niman Ranch Hog Farmer will be here to educate us as well!

This costs everyone a whopping nada, no reservations, and you get 10% off your spirits for the rest of the month!! (Who can argue with that) Aw yeah!

Last but not least, if you didn't have a moment (or you just plain forgot- we won't tell) to pick up a gift for pops; Lemon Tree Grocer has some great gift ideas you can sneak in and pick up while Dad is learning about open flame cooking!

Let's do this people; Sunday, Lemon Tree Grocer/Zest, starts at 10:15am, and don't forget: Happy Father's Day!!!!

Would You Like Some Extra Money to Spend at Lemon Tree?

So, we're really excited for every single one of our fans, and we want to thank you for all the support you have given Lemon Tree since we've opened. You are the reason why Lemon Tree was chosen by the Downers Grove Junior Women's Club as the Local Business of the Year!!!!

How does winning some extra cash for Lemon Tree Grocer sound as a thank you? We thought you'd like that, so here's the deal: we really would like to reach 2500 Facebook Fans, and we'd appreciate your help;)

All we're asking is that you share Lemon Tree with your local friends, family, neighbors, etc that aren't already fans of the Lemon Tree Grocer Facebook Page! This way they can be as informed as you are about contests, tastings, special events, giveaways, and more! We know our fans like to share, and so do we! So, lets continue to make Downers Grove the place to be!

We want to thank everyone in advance, and can't wait to give out some extra Lemon Tree cash to help you purchase whatever your heart desires!

P.S. We hope you like some of the pictures from our "Swine, Wine, and Hops Dinner" with Ari Weinzweig!

Memorial Day Goodies at Lemon Tree Grocer!

What are your plans for this Memorial Day weekend? Let's hope that this summer weather finally shines through and we can do all the fun outdoorsy activities we've been planning for the past month ;p

Whether you're heading to a friend's cabin, throwing a big bbq, sitting out by the pool, or just having a social gathering with some friends: you're going to need tasty food & beverages! What better place than Lemon Tree Grocer to fulfill these needs?

Make sure you stop by the deli and see Yuriy for the amazing deals we have on Boars Head meat, and you can even ask for your favorite sandwich prepared right then and there! Plus, we have super sales on grocery items (only this weekend) that Brittney would love to direct you to.

If you're doing any kind of barbecuing- you must see Meat Mike for the best meat in town to slap on that grill, and then you should definitely feed the sweet tooth by picking up some pastries from Anne (we know those pictures have you drooling).

Finally, who can have a fiesta without the booze? Don't forget to see Ryan if beer is on the brain, and Melissa if you want to stick your pinky in the air while swirling some tasteful wine around those gums!

If this sounds like too much for you- just cater the darn thing! Let Stephanie know you want us to do all the work while you sit back and relax.

See; we have unlimited options for you to enjoy that extra day of fun...See you this weekend!

Downtown Downers Grove Farmers Market

Who stopped by the opening of the Downtown Downers Grove Farmers Market last Saturday? We're hoping it will be a bit nicer this weekend than last, yet who's to stop you from purchasing items from your local amazing stores..

The Downers Grove Farmers Market is described as: "Open air seasonal community market offering more than 15 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, perennials, cheese, vinegars, bath/body oils, organic bread/baked goods, spices, crafts and many other items. This market is open annually from mid-June to mid-October."

Make sure to stop by the Lemon Tree Grocer tent, and say hello. We will have different items each weekend for you to purchase, so you will always be surprised! Also, keep us posted on the items you love, like, and want to see more of. We're always looking to keep you happy with the selections we have available at the Farmers Market & in our store!

See you this Saturday, May 14th for Round 2 of the Downers Grove Farmers Market! Oh, and thanks to @MayorTully for the great photo-op!

Valentine's Day Special...

Who's ready for Valentine's Day this year? If you haven't a clue, and you have someone special in your life: you better get on it! If you answered yes to having the perfect Valentine's Day planned- do tell: heart-shaped chocolates (old news), cute Teddy Bears (maybe for your infant), or even a heart-shaped balloon? (I think I just gagged a bit)

Valentine's Day is all about what you make of it; so be creative. Now, what's more inventive than some heart-shaped meat? Not just any meat: Lamb Loin Chops!!! Not from just any grocer either: Lemon Tree baby. Oh, and how can I even forget that it's not just any meatress that will prepare you and your snookums for a day filled with juicy meat, and some even juicier...well you fill in the blanks there: MEAT MOLLY ya'll!

So, if you want to really WOW you're sweetie: get off your tush, and do something that takes a little thought, and of course- a lot of HEART;)

Here's Molly....Love is in the air (for some of us at least). I’ll try to keep my Valentine’s Day bitterness at bay. For those of you who are feeling the love this weekend- I have good news. I rustled up a sweet deal on some lamb loin chops for your sweetheart meal. Normally these lil lovelies go for around $14.99 lb. here at Lemon Tree. I’m chopping off a few bucks to help you out with your Valentine’s gift purchases. I’ll have them on sale at $11.99 lb. This gives you a few more dollars to spend on that diamond you’ve been eying for your snookie! (not the one on Jersey Shore of course)

Lamb loin chops are super easy to prepare. I made it for a date too with huge success! Hey, I’m the Meatress, I’m here to help so, here’s a link to a recipe I tried and loved:

http://bbq.about.com/od/lambrecipes/r/bl10310b.htm

So, here's where I get corny- The shapes of the chops lend themselves well to looking like a heart shape, if you place them with the fat sides facing the outside. Since Valentine's Day is all about being a romantic cheese ball; this should help in accomplishing this goal. Feel free to use these tactics, yet remember where you learned them- and please let me know how the night turned out (at least the part about the lamb chops: the rest you can keep to yourself because you shouldn't kiss & tell)

This Week's Meat Treat...

Meat Molly has a mouth watering special that you better take advantage of right now! After all, what can make you feel better than a succulent little piggy that falls off the bone after being cooked on fiery hot grill? (Yeah I didn't think you had an answer for that)

Ok, so I know its winter. Football season looks a little too yellow for my palate. The temperature hovers between -10 and +10, too cold for most grill enthusiasts. Boo hoo, boo hoo. So I started thinking… What can cheer me up?

All of a sudden, images popped into my brain. I saw juicy ribs roasting over an open fire, the flame hissing as heated fat hit the bright red coals… I saw pork. Baby back ribs. The Best! You don’t have to brave frigid temps to enjoy baby backs this time of year; and talk about a great way to get you thinking about summer.

What started all these porky dreams was a chance encounter with a slab of Niman Ranch ribs I had the other day. Joe Lessard, our fabulous chef here at Lemon Tree, asked me what I had for him to put on special that night. I had recently received some baby backs from a distributor, even though I was hesitant to buy them (it is winter after all). I told Joe about them and his eyes lit up. An hour and a half later I was shaking, literally shaking meat from the ribs!

This struck me as a bit odd. Usually when I cook ribs, it takes at least a few hours before I’m getting messy with some falling-off-the-bone goodness. After picking Joe’s brain for his secret, I found out there wasn’t any secret. These ribs are just that good. He braised them at low heat for an hour and a half and shazam! Perfection!

I’m running these Niman Ranch Baby Back Ribs on special (6.29/lb) for another week just so everyone can take advantage of the low price. Plus, these ribs are the perfect diversion from the winter blues. Trust me. Come summer, it’s going to cost you to take these babies home.

MEAT MOLLY...The New Face of Lemon Tree!

Who's stopped into Lemon Tree lately? If you have; maybe you've seen a new face lurking behind the deli counter? (Sorry if she scared you, yet she really does mean well) This fresh face would be Meat Manager Molly!

Ladies and Gentlemen; this is your neighborhood's savior when it comes to knowledge about ANYTHING dealing with meat. She won't just throw your pound of bologna at you, and give you the evil eye because you won't get out of her sight fast enough.. Molly wants to get to know you, answer any particular questions you have (does that woman ordering honey turkey have a crush on you...ok maybe not that question), and be the person you can come to when you need specific recipe or cooking tips.

Either way, let Molly show you the meaty way! She wants to know your name, (yes like Cheers) hold your hand, ok let's not get ahead of ourselves..Anyway, enough blabbering from me..Let's MEAT MOLLY ( get it MEAT MOLLY hahha..)

So it's a new year and a new job for me. Hi folks, Molly here, your new meat manager at Lemon Tree Grocer. Sometimes, you gotta hit the road to find home again, and for the last ten years, that's been my story. My journey took me as far away as Alaska and as close as Indiana, with a lot of points in between. During the last decade, I picked up quite a few stories, and a plethora of skills; one being meat-cutting. Now, I'm back in sweet home Chicago, and I'm looking to share what I've learned with you.

I started out cutting meat in Anchorage, Alaska and have worked as a butcher in Wyoming and Illinois as well. All this traveling exposed me to many different types of people, all of which enjoy varying cuts of meat. As a result, I've seen multiple ways of cutting and naming steaks, chops, and sausage.

The Lemon Tree offers a unique opportunity for me to blend other skills I attained as well. I have a degree in Journalism from Columbia College where I also studied photography. After talking to Lemon Tree Grocer owners Tim and Shaun (we all agreed), the Lemon Tree is where I need to be. Look to me in the future for any and all of your meaty needs. In the coming weeks and months ahead, remember to check back here for any updates or meat specials at the Lemon Tree. I also hope to share cooking methods and tips for buying the perfect cut. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you!