Ode to Lemon Tree Fans..

Who loved the Chicago blizzard we literally had 2 weeks ago? Maybe you had a day off work to drink a few 10 beers, made an amazing snowman (whom is now a puddle), or had fun shoveling out your parking space (which you decorated with your child-hood rocking chair in order to claim your spot) Then, how cold was it last week...20 below zero? So why am I wearing ONLY a long-sleeved shirt out today? huh...Oh we live in the Midwest I forgot;) Well, let's hope this sunshine is here to stay, and that nobody pissed the groundhog off enough to lie to our loving faces!

You all know what this means for Lemon Tree: closer to opening the patio up! Yes! Also, we have our newly opened cafe that everyone must experience. So, everyone wants to know when the winning name will be chosen: March 12th! You think it's going to be you who is $300 richer in Lemon Tree cash? Well, you will just have to wait until March 12th to find out!

This is a just the start to a great spring/summer/fall for Lemon Tree! You have all done a great job coming out of hibernation and supporting us all winter, and we truly do appreciate it. We'll continue to say it: we wouldn't be here without each an every one of you! We're lucky to have such a great town that continues to support us! Thank you Downers Grove!

Please, continue to share your opinions with us in the store, through Facebook, Twitter, and our blog! We want to know what YOU think we can do to improve YOUR experience. We also appreciate all the kind words, and have many more fun ideas for contests and giveaways coming in the near future.

On behalf of Lemon Tree; we hope the warmth is here to stay, and we hope to see you at the store soon!

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)

Greetings from the Cheese Monger....

So, it may be hard to talk about Cheese these days if you're a true Chicagoan and Bears fan. Yet, instead of boycotting it because we at no cost want to do the Cheese head's (dare I mention their name) any sort of favors than we already did; we should take this chance to demolish and devour all sorts of cheese. We need to show those Cheese head fans that we know there are more types of Cheese than Cheddar and American..(I know it's hard to believe, yet shockingly true)

Therefore, I'd like to introduce Stephanie Link from Lemon Tree; who is also known as: the Cheese Monger! Yep, that's right: she likes her name, and she's sticking to it. So, let Stephanie tell you about her cheese experience, and see if you can withhold yourself from falling in love with cheese all over again!

Here's Stephanie: I grew up in VERY southern Illinois, about 20 minutes from Paducah, KY. I graduated from high school there and briefly attended college at Murray State University. I then moved to St Louis, Mo. Then, in 2001 I moved to this area to be near family. I've worked in the food industry my entire life, I've been a roller skating carhop, a server, bartender, prep cook, hostess, manager pretty much everything.

About 5 years ago I decided to attend culinary school and after a bit of research I decided on the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. After school, I started working at Sam's wines and Spirits in the Gourmet Market. While working there I learned a LOT about cheese. I studied all of the different kinds of cheeses, where they come from, what pairs best with wine or beer or food. How to cook with it, How to make the perfect cheese plate. In the meantime I had taken a management job at a restaurant and wasn't too excited about working there.I found the Lemon Tree ad on Craigslist and the rest is history. Here at the Lemon Tree I'm trying to create a place where people can come to buy REALLY good cheese. We do lots of sampling, cheese and wine pairing, beer pairing, cheese plates.


Now for the reasons on why I love cheese so much: First, the reason I love cheese...It's fascinating. Like most people in the US, I grew up thinking cheese came in "singles" and made great sandwiches.When I started to learn about all the cheeses that are available, I was hooked. I'm a bit of a dork and wanted to learn all I could, I read books, did online research, I learned all I could about the cheese making process. I learned how cheese is made, what it's made of, how long it takes to make. Cheese is a living organism, there are so many steps in the process that have to go just right or it doesn't work.

Now, I want to share what I've learned, I want everybody to love cheese too, and there is something for everyone. Nearly every country in the world produces some sort of cheese. Cheese tastes good, it's nutrient dense, it helps build strong bones and teeth. You can eat it at any stage of a meal, from appetizer to dessert. There are a million reasons to eat cheese. What are some of the reasons you love cheese?

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!

Winner..Winner...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Lemon Tree! We want to stop and thank every amazing customer that has walked through Lemon Tree's door's this past year! We would not be here without every single one of you, and we are so excited for what's to come in 2011!

This being said, we would like to showcase the winner's of Lemon Tree's contests in 2010: Jim Beyer is the most recent with his lovely photo of his Xmas Tree and his daughter Jamie! We loved that all the ornaments were her height or below! We hope you enjoyed your Holiday Gift Basket Jim, and hopefully 'tis the season to share:)

The next was from our Ugly Sweater Contest: Kethy Hebert! Thanks for your bravery in coming into the Lemon Tree with that eyesore of a sweater! We absolutely loved it, and hope you loved your Holiday Gift Basket as well.

We can't forget our Free XMas Tree winner either: Jean-Overstreet Schaefer! There were so many participants in our Xmas Carol Contest, and the winning carol was: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! So where did the Xmas Tree go Jean: home or store?

Then we have Wendy Carter who won a $20 Lemon Tree Gift Card for being such a great Facebook fan! Thank you Wendy, and we hope you used your gift card to get whatever your heart desired!

Also, we have the Weekend Ribeye Dinner giveaways: Peter Haber knew that Memorial Day is the single largest beef consumption day of the year, and Michelle Lansky: you knew that Venezuela eats the 2nd largest amount of pasta a year! (First being Italy with 61.7 lbs of course) Hope you both enjoyed those Ribeyes!

We can't forget the winners who have previously been mentioned in other blogs either: Kelly Kelly Henrikson won a Thanksgiving Turkey! (Thanks so much for blogging about us Kelly. We hope you win more items, and then you can post another lovely blog). We also hope you enjoyed your favorite: Green Bean Caserole on the Thanksgiving Table this year.

Finally, we have our first winner ever of any Facebook Contest: Joy Ruzic Meyers! Thanks for entering your lovely children in the Halloween Costume Contest. Just for that you received Dinner For Two on Lemon Tree! (Thanks for your kind words on Facebook as well)

Well, Lemon Tree sure did give some great things away this year! Think about this: Everything given away was in the past 3 months!!! Can you imagine what is coming next year? Well, you better stay tuned to find out! (Hint: Lemon Tree will be having a contest for our biggest fans starting in January)

If you weren't a winner then, or even if you were: you always have the chance to WIN a great prize from Lemon Tree in the future!

Happy New Year!

The BEST Things Come in 3's...

Who attended the SOLD OUT event between Dream Interiors, Ballydoyle Irish Pub, and Lemon Tree Grocer? If you did; you know it was a magical snowy evening with these three Downers Grove hot spots aligned together?

First, we had to have Dream Interiors' Marta Cullen give us some tips on how to make your holiday table just a bit more festive (and less of a hassle, as table setting is normally saved until the last minute). What did we learn: well, setting the table early is a great idea, and there are easy ways to brighten up the table with simple decorations, centerpieces, and beautiful candles! Thanks Marta; now everyone in attendance should have the ability to throw a wonderful holiday party (which they must invite us to;)!

Next stop, was to see the Irish side of town at Ballydoyle! Here is where some amazingly great food and beverages started flowing! It was time to hit the buffet, and grab a pint of Guinness or an Irish coffee (whatever your poison of choice is). Just take a look at some of the pictures: it makes our mouth water! Phil Cullen was also an amazing story-teller; explaining where EVERYTHING in the pub came from, and his entire family history! (We're just kidding Phil, now we know how every item on your menu tastes just like Ireland)!

Final destination; for some more liquor, a bit of shopping, and of course dessert, was to the baby of the bunch: Lemon Tree! We welcomed Tony Alvarez back for some live entertainment, and saw that many people were really enjoying themselves as they swayed to the music! (The wine we donated throughout the event may have helped loosen people up a bit..just saying). It was a pleasure to have people shopping around to see what Lemon Tree is really made of. We had samples for guests to try, our lovely staff on hand to answer any questions, and of course: a plethora of wine and beer!

The moral of the blog is: this event was a really great time, and we hope for even more! So, stay tuned! (Also, thank you to everyone who came; there wouldn't have been an event without you all)!

P.S. Make sure you are checking out our and page for all of our contests! You will be sad if you miss them; we are giving away everything from Ribeye's to Holiday Gift Baskets! You could be the lucky Winner!

Don't forget either! We are basically handing out free bottles of wine right now, but only when you check-in to Lemon Tree!

Happy Holidays!!