Creative Ways to Stock your Shelves From Downtown Businesses
You’ve heard it before and will hear it again: shopping local is super important. By shopping local, you directly boost your city’s economy, help nurture your community and help conserve energy (just to name a few big ones). Take it from us - it’s truly so much more and you can’t even begin to understand the amazing warm fuzzies that these business owners get when you choose to spend your money with them.
But we aren’t just talking about special-occasion gifts or a growler fill of craft brew. Join us as our very own Deidre Stone heads out on an adventure to shop for groceries Downtown. You might just be surprised to see how her unique shopping trip provided everything she needed for some delicious, locally-purchased meals!
All items purchased in Downtown Lynchburg.
Hi everyone! Deidre here….
In case you don’t know me, I am the Administrative Coordinator at DLA and I love Downtown Lynchburg. There are many reasons why I do, but one of the most special parts of Lynchburg to me is the community. I love the fact that I’ve been able to get to know local business owners and truly become friends with many of them. I, myself, have a small business and so does my partner (you’ll see a shameless plug for his business down below). We have so many amazing and supportive people keeping our businesses going and it is extremely important to both of us that we shop local at any and all opportunities. And that includes food. About 75% of the food we eat, we source locally. So, when the opportunity was presented to me to show folks how to stock their shelves by shopping solely Downtown, I jumped at the chance. Follow along with me as I share a few recipes and show you how you can stock your shelves (and fridge) JUST by shopping in Downtown Lynchburg.
where to shop
Produce
Lynchburg Community Market - Saturdays for full selection and during the week at their pop up produce stand inside the market
Marigold Cafe - grab a quick banana or orange
Fresh local fruit and vegetables from the Lynchburg Community Market.
Fresh Bread and Baked Goods/Desserts
Father’s Cafe - fresh bread, doughnuts, bagels
Mrs. Joy’s - take & bake frozen cookie dough
Batter Bar - assorted sweet & savory treats
Mama Crockett’s - doughnuts
Meat and dairy
Check out the many vendors on Saturday mornings at the Lynchburg Community Market that offer meats, cheeses, eggs, butter, and bones (homemade bone broth has been a game-changer for our soup recipes)
Crooked Creek has an amazing selection of eggs, cheese, butter, meat, and jams.
Non-Perishables
Philippine Delight - for unique canned goods and sauces
Pride of VA - Candies, pickled veggies, spices, local wine, and more
Scratch Pasta - local noodles and pasta (look by the produce stand in the Lynchburg Community Market)
Philippine Delight gives an array of unique non-perishables to up your cooking game.
Spices and Herbs
Gilded - check out my partner’s company Stone Spice Co
Live Trendy or Die - loose herbs sold by the ounce
Pride of VA - essential spices and dip mixes
Gilded carries Stone Spice Company dry rubs and seasonings.
Bagged coffee and Tea
Grains of Sense - coffees and teas
Mission House Coffee - espresso blend and more
The White Hart Cafe - custom blend coffee and pods
Dublin 3 Coffeehouse - Onyx Coffee Lab
Live Trendy or Die - loose teas
Spearman Artisanry - Fair Trade tea and coffee
Fresh Seafood
Marsh Roots Seafood - fresh-caught fish from the North Carolina Coast
The Water Dog - Fresh raw oysters
Marsh Roots brings us fresh fish weekly straight from the Carolina coast.
Snacks
Market at Main - chips, candy bars, and bottled drinks
Gilded - unique snacks
Spearman Artisanry - miscellaneous chocolate
PRE-MADE GOODNESS FROM YOUR Favorite spots
Al Ryan - Hummus, baba ganoush, tabouleh
Hot & Cold - pita bread and chutneys
Aji Ramen & Sushi - broth
El Jefe - Salsa and guacamole
Father’s Cafe - a signature bottled vinaigrette dressing
Marsh Roots Seafood - Seafood salads and dips
Delicious chips and salsa from El Jefe.
BEVERAGES
Gilded - beer and wine
Three Roads Brewery - beer to go
Starr Hill - beer to go
Market at Main - wine and beer to go
Mama Crocketts - apple cider
Everyday Sommelier - wine
The Water Dog - crowlers of beer to go
T.C. Trotters - Bloody Mary mix
Starr Hill has all of your favorites ready to take with you.
Now, what to do with all of this amazing local goodness?
In case you needed inspiration, I’ve written up some recipes below to get your creative juices flowing.
4 Recipes to make using locally sourced food
VEGAN CRISPY POTATO TACOS
For a super quick and easy meal using some leftovers, look no further. We had some leftover tawa paratha and mango chutney which are both vegan and made in-house at Hot & Cold cafe. We hate wasting leftovers, so we got creative. These tacos are quick, healthy, vegan, and oh so satisfying.
Feeds 2; Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
4 small potatoes of your choice (we used Yukon golds from Hillbilly Gardens)
small head of purple cabbage (purchased at Great Day Gardens)
2 spring onions (purchased at Great Day Gardens)
tawa paratha from Hot & Cold
mango chutney from Hot & Cold
2 tablespoons olive oil
season to taste- we made ours a bit spicy with a teaspoon of Stone Spice Co “Kissed By Fire”
Step 1: Cut your potatoes into small bite-size pieces. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat and fry your potatoes stirring occasionally to keep from burning. Cook until your desired tenderness and crispiness is achieved. About 10-15 minutes.
Step 2: Chop up your purple cabbage into small pieces. Mix in mango chutney and spring onions to taste. Season to taste with salt and pepper or your favorite spice.
Step 3. Warm-up your tawa and load it up with potatoes and your cabbage slaw. We also added some spinach and squeezed some fresh lemon over top. Bon appetit!
APPLE CIDER CHICKEN
This meal is comforting and simple. The apple cider and apples caramelize to make this dish feel very decadent. Especially combined with the salad recipe below, and some fresh bread from Father’s Cafe dipped in Kelly’s Persian Foods za’atar chutney. This is a perfect meal to indulge in.
Feeds 2; Cook time: 30-45 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breast (we purchased ours from Restoration Acres Farm)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt, pepper, and we always use Stone Spice Co since we make it!
2 medium-sized apples sliced thick (I used one Pink Lady and one Winesap from Hungry Hill Farms but you can use your favorite variety)
1/4 cup onion (we purchased ours from Thistle Ridge Farm)
12oz apple cider (did you know Mama Crockett’s sells fresh apple cider in 12 oz and 1/2 gallon sizes? Score.)
1 tablespoon of butter (the only butter we ever eat is from Crooked Creek Farms - seriously store-bought butter is just bland to me now)
Step 1: In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken and cook 3-5 min each side until browned, flipping once. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to medium, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, butter, onions, apples, and 2 teaspoons (or to taste) of Stone Spice Company Buzzin’ BBQT (can be purchased at Gilded). Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add 1 cup of apple cider and bring to a simmer-about 3 minutes.
Step 3: Add chicken and any juices back to skillet. Also, add the remaining apple cider. Adjust the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the internal temperature of chicken is 165 degrees (about 3-4 minutes).
Step 4: Enjoy your locally sourced creation!
ROASTED VEGGIE SALAD
I was very excited when I saw spinach and kale at the market this past weekend so making a delicious warm salad was a must. Simple and nutritious with a quick homemade dressing, even picky eaters will approve.
Feeds 2; Cook time- 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients: (all veggies purchased at Thistle Ridge Farm)
1 handful of kale (stems removed)
2 handfuls of spinach
2 small beets cut into one-inch pieces
2 small purple sweet potatoes cut into one-inch pieces (that’s what they had this week – regular sweet potatoes would be great too)
Note: Any roasted veggies would be great. Play around with your favorites.
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey (purchased from Hungry Hill Farms)
2 teaspoons Stone Spice Co Buzzin’ BBQT
Step 1: Toss your cut veggies in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of Buzzin’ BBQT. Roast in a dish or on a baking sheet at 375 degrees for 45 minutes-1 hour depending on your desired tenderness. Stirring occasionally while roasting.
Step 2: While your veggies are roasting, clean your kale and spinach and lay out to dry.
Step 3: To prepare your dressing, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of Buzzin’ BBQT. I put this all in a small to-go container and shake it up really well.
Step 4: Once your kale and spinach are dry, mix in the dressing. I like to use my hands to massage the dressing into the greens really well. Once your veggies are done roasting, mix them in. I actually prefer this salad a bit warm. If you are not into that, just wait for the veggies to cool.
LOCAVORE SPRITZER
To top off the recipes, I had to share a quick local cocktail. Bright and bubbly and just right. If alcohol isn’t your thing, just swap out the champagne for seltzer water (you can snag a Perrier at Market at Main in their to-go section).
Ingredients:
4 oz of your favorite bubbly (my personal favorite is Hacienda Cava Brut from Gilded)
1-2 teaspoons of Kelly’s Persian Foods Rose Syrup (depending on your taste)
2 slices of apple (I used a Pink Lady from Hungry Hill Farms)
Step 1: Pull out your favorite cocktail glass. Pour in your bubbly. Then add the rose syrup and give it all a little stir. Garnish however you’d like with apples.
Step 2: Enjoy and repeat step one as many times as you’d like-but please do so responsibly:)
I hope that this has encouraged you to start looking for some staples to stock your shelves in Downtown Lynchburg.
I can guarantee you, your food will taste better and the satisfaction you get knowing you’re supporting so many small businesses and farmers is unmatched. Now get out there and enjoy ALL Downtown Lynchburg has to offer!
XOXO,
Deidre
