giveaway

Thrive Market for Feel Good Shopping + Giveaway

January 24, 2018 by Alyssa

Thrive Market is my new favorite online retailer! It offers organic products without the big-box market up, shipped straight to your door. Think Costco meets Whole Foods!

Read on to learn more about their social mission and for details on how win a Thrive Market prize pack filled with some of my favorite organic products.

I’ve recently become obsessed with Thrive Market. They offer organic brands at 25-50% below regular retail prices across major categories including food, pet, home, and beauty. When shopping at Thrive Market, I feel good about my product choices. I know Thrive Market products are good for me, my family and the longterm sustainability of our planet. Thrive Market also has strong social and environmental values which provides transparency when shopping plus their customer service is out of this world amazing.

Why I Love Thrive

It’s a company that gives back

Thrive Market is a membership-based site but I promise, you’ll make back your membership fee in savings — I made mine back in just 2 orders. And, if your membership doesn’t pay for itself in savings within 1-year, you’ll get the difference back in Thrive Market credit when you renew! Plus, for each paid membership, they donate a membership to a low-income family, veteran or teacher.

For new members, Thrive Market offers a free trial period where you can test out the benefits and you can receive 20% off your first 3 purchases if you sign-up through my link. You’ll also receive free shipping, as long as your order meets their $49 minimum!

Thrive Market saves me money!

When comparing product prices across sites or when compared to purchasing organic products locally in a store, Thrive Market consistently saves me money. I did a few comparisons of items on my standard shopping like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products and Bob’s Red Mill flours and Thrive Market comes in lower when compared to big-box stores or other mass online retailers.

Also, much like a brick & mortar store that offers weekly sales, Thrive Market has regular deals, offering steep discounts on specific brands or free products with a minimum order amount. They also have a Deals tab you can shop so you never miss a sale.

I feel good about my product choices

Thrive Market allows you to shop by values if you have specific social or environmental interests like organic, fair-trade, FSC certified, sustainably farmed/caught or non-GMO. They also make it easy to find products that align with your own values!

Or, if you have dietary restrictions, you can shop specifically for gluten-free, vegan, raw, or paleo products! On each product’s page, Thrive Market provides the values that align with their own mission so you get even more insight into the story behind your purchase.

It sells local Austin products I love

Thrive Market’s awesome for Austinites because they offer local, Austin-based products like Epic, Siete, and Picnik butter coffee at prices lower than what you’d find at Whole Foods or HEB. I was shocked (and giddy!) when I did the price comparison here!

The Thrive Market store-brand products are quality and delicious

Thrive Market has their own line of products and the quality is astounding. I love Thrive Market’s tahini (for my hummus, obviously!), coffee, essential oils, beans, and other pantry staples. The costs are in-line with local store-brands (if you were purchasing organic) and a lot of the typical ‘canned goods’ are sold in BPA-free pouches so you avoid those nasty chemicals, while still recycling the packaging.

Their customer service is the best ever!

I once ordered an item that I didn’t like the taste of but was quite expensive. It was 100% my fault but I wanted to see if Thrive Market could exchange it.

Rather than exchange the product, Thrive Market directed me to donate the item to a local food pantry as return shipping causes an increase in their carbon footprint. They then provided my a Thrive Market gift card at the cost of the product.

I was so pleased with this experience, Thrive Market gave me a positive resolution, stayed true to their mission and it strengthened my loyalty to the company. I’ve never had such a positive customer service experience.

Giveaway Details

If I haven’t convinced you to try Thrive Market yet, then maybe a taste of their products will help convince you to join! Simply because I love Thrive Market, I’ve put together a goodie bag of my favorite Thrive Market products to share with one lucky winner!

This pack includes some of my favorite Thrive Market products and a few local Austin items:

Picnik Butter Coffee
Thrive Market Peanut Butter
Thrive Market Olive Oil
That’s It Fruit Bars
Thrive Market seaweed snacks
Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap
Banza pasta
Simple Mills Crackers
Purely Elizabeth Granola
Coconut Wraps

Head over to my Instagram post to enter! Simply follow me and in the comments of the Thrive Market image, tag your BFF who you’d share your goodie bag with! I’ll choose a winner via Instagram on Saturday, January 27th.

Disclosure: I am a Thrive Market affiliate so I do receive compensation if you sign-up but this is not a sponsored post. I put together this prize offering on my own without the collaboration of Thrive Market.

Ramona’s Hummus: Austin Food Truck Making a Meal Out of Hummus + GIVEAWAY

January 16, 2018 by Alyssa

Ramona’s Hummus is an Austin food truck making a meal out of hummus serving up hummus bowls topped with spicy meat and falafel, starring hummus in veggie-filled salads, and makes hummus poutine fries for those in need of a hangover cure. And it’s one food truck you’ve got to try.

I’m giving away two sets of BOGO cards to Ramona’s Hummus. Find details on Instagram.
Winner announced on Saturday, January 20th.

Hummus Plate with gluten-free falafel

If you don’t know by now, hummus is my favorite food. If it’s on a restaurant menu, there’s 110% chance I’m ordering it. Garlic hummus, curried hummus, beet hummus, whatever it is, I love it. (Except dessert hummus, someone made a mistake when they put chocolate and beans together…)

But none the less, I love hummus and Ramona’s Hummus is my favorite, crave-able spot to get my fix.

I’ve seen the evolution of Ramona’s Hummus from its days as a pop-up shop, cooking on a hot plate and a folding table through menu development and recipe testing, and now, as a full-fledged food truck. And with each visit, I find myself loving it even more.

Hummus plate with gluten-free falafel, pita, and cucumber salad

Ramona’s Hummus

I first met Ramona’s Hummus chef and owner, Will Elman, when I professed my love for hummus to him at Hops & Grain Brewing early last Summer. The moment I tasted Will’s recipe, I was in love. Ramona’s Hummus is thick, creamy, and heavy on the tahini. If you’re a hummus connoisseur, you’ll find Ramona’s hummus is more in line with a Israeli or Palestinian style of hummus. And it’s damn delicious.

Creamy, thick hummus

About Ramona’s Hummus

While chatting with Will over the course of many visits, I learned his hummus inspiration came from a friend’s Mom (Mona) who he refers to as the Queen of Hummus. The truck’s name is a nod to Mona, although Will developed his own hummus recipe which starts with dried beans that he soaks overnight before mixing with a few other secret ingredients.

Hummus and salad with soft-boiled eggs

Will, a self-taught cook, having only worked a few miscellaneous restaurant job, also developed his own pita recipe. It’s baked in a pizza oven at DeSano Pizzeria, creating a soft yet chewy pita, adding to its authentic flavor and making it the perfect accompaniment to the savory, thick hummus.

Fresh pita

What to Eat

Ramona’s Hummus Menu

My favorite Ramona’s Hummus menu item is the Hummus Bowl that comes with pita and cucumber salad. I typically add spiced chicken or an egg to round it out! The chicken is slightly spiced, just enough to add a bit of heat and pairs nicely with the cucumber salad. As for the egg, Ramona’s eggs are simply perfection and if you’ve never had an egg with hummus then you’re definitely missing out.

Hummus Plate with spice chicken

Salad Bowl with spiced chicken & egg, pita, mint lemonade

I also love the Hummus Bowl with Ramona’s gluten-free falafel for a full-vegetarian lunch! The falafel’s extra crispy on the outside but light and fluffy with a touch of spice on the inside from ancho chiles! YUM!

Hummus Bowl with gluten-free falafel

<3M loves the Pita Sandwich with Beef Shawarma (though, he often has a tough time deciding which is better — chicken or beef because they’re both seriously so delicious). The Pita Sandwich is packed caramelized onions, pickled veggies and a heavy serving of hummus in place of a sauce. <3M tops his with a hefty helping of Ramona’s homemade hot sauce, a fresh cilantro jalapeño mix!

Salad Bowl with walnuts, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate

Homemade hot sauce

If you’re looking for something a bit lighter or another veggie option, then the Hummus Salad is a great choice. Will mentioned the salad’s a big hit with the weekday office-lunch crowd! In the Hummus Salad, you get a little bit of everything — creamy hummus, cucumber salad, pickled veggies, plus some crunch and a bit of sweetness from walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate arils! It’s a light mix of savory, tangy, and salty! You also have the option to add a protein or egg on the side! (DO IT!)

And to wash it all down, a tart mint lemonade blended fresh to order. Ahhh!

Ramona’s Hummus Salad Bowl

Where to Find Ramona’s Hummus

Like any food truck, Ramona’s Hummus is a wanderer. Your best bet is to check their website or Instagram page for exact locations and timings. But most weekends, you can find Ramona’s Hummus at a local brewery serving up lunch and dinner — just look for the big yellow truck with Ramona’s face. And when you’re there, say hi to Will — tell him Alyssa sent you.

Ramona’s Hummus Chef & Owner, Will Elman

GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away two sets BOGO cards to Ramona’s Hummus, open to all local residents. Just head on over to my Instagram page to enter! I’ll draw a winner on Saturday, January 20th!

Ramona’s Hummus
Food Truck – Austin, Texas
www.ramonashummus.com

Vert’s Mediterranean Spring Plant-Powered Dinner + Giveaway

March 7, 2017 by Alyssa

This post was updated on March 15th, 2017 with giveaway winner.

I attended the Spring Plant-Powered dinner as a guest of Vert’s Mediterranean Grill. All opinions are my own and I was not asked by Vert’s to share this experience, I’m doing so because I truly enjoy dining there!

Vert’s Mediterranean Grill’s Spring Plant-Powered dinner showcased culinary creativity, featuring flavor Spring ingredients!

What do you think of when you think Vert’s Mediterranean Grill?

I used to think of Mediterranean food in a Chipotle-esque type atmosphere. A ‘choose your own adventure’ type meal — whether it be bowl, wrap, or salad where you mix in your favorite protein, toppings and sauces. The end result was always great food, that’s super filling, super fresh, and super flavorful. Believe it or not, Vert’s Mediterranean Grill is seriously the only fast-food (fast-casual) restaurant I’ll eat it (ask <3M — there’s no BK, Wendy’s or Whataburger in our life).

Vert’s Plant-Powered Tablescape

Based on my above confession, it’s obvious that I love Vert’s Mediterranean Grill but last month, I had a significantly different experience at Vert’s when I was invited to their Spring Plant-Powered dinner at their test kitchen near the UT Campus. This experience solidified my love for Vert’s Mediterranean Grill! It also reinforced how much Vert’s cares about ingredients, culinary creativity, and the overall dining experience!

Plant-Powered Menu

Simply walking into the dinner last month, I knew the entire meal experience was going to be different than previous ventures into Vert’s. <3M & I were greeted with a glass of sparking rose that I couldn’t put down the entire night — Graham Beck Brut Rose might be a new favorite and one I’m still craving today! When looking around the restaurant, I noticed that the tablescapes were beautifully decorated to match the Plant-Powered theme with eucalyptus leaves, seasonal vegetables like bright purple cabbage & beets, and elegant floating votives.

Vert’s also amped up individual place settings with earthy, wooden plate chargers, gold sparkly placemats, gold utensils and the world’s prettiest geo-shaped napkin rings! Each setting was personalized with place-cards written in gold paint on a real leaf. They truly went above and beyond to set the tone for this meal — classy, yet fresh and comforting and of course, delicious.

Grapefruit and Holy Basil Gin & Tonic / Marinated Olives & Carrots / Black Eye Pea Hummus

I truly enjoyed the Spring Plant-Powered dinner at Vert’s Mediterranean. With each dish I sampled, I was beyond impressed with how Vert’s elevated their culinary creations — it was like nothing I had experienced at a ‘fast-food’ restaurant before! Vert’s chefs added a sous vide duck egg to the top to their babaganoush and while they egg looked softly poached, it was actually fully cooked and a decadently creamy spread on their warm pita bread!

Babaganoush with Duck Egg

Beet Tartare with Fried Goat Brie Rine

I also enjoyed the fact that Vert’s chefs chose elevated ingredients like morels for their turkey meatballs. They also introduced zhug, an ingredient the other food bloggers and I weren’t at all familiar with, but now know as a type of Mediterranean hot sauce made with parsley. I personally found it similar to chutneys served with Indian cuisine.

Turkey & Mushroom Meatballs with Zhug

To end the meal, the chefs tackled jackfruit for a vegan take on the braised pork Vert’s typical serves in its restaurants. Although not my favorite dish, and executed a tad differently than other jackfruit meals I’ve enjoyed, it was still admirable and unique and I especially liked the chickpeas!

Braised Jackfruit & Butternut Squash

Overall, I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed Vert’s Mediterranean Grill’s Spring Plant-Powered dinner. It truly spoke volumes to how much Vert’s cares about the culinary process, the type of food they serve their customers, and the importance of offering quality, delicious menu items. This meal was obvious an inspiration for new menu items to come to Vert’s restaurants in the future and I can’t wait to see what they roll out with this Spring & Summer.

#GIVEAWAY — Now Closed

If you haven’t tried Vert’s Mediterranean Grill yet, then here’s your chance! Leave a comment below telling me about your favorite Spring vegetable, your favorite restaurant or a meal you recently enjoyed! Next week on March 14th, I’ll pick a random winner to receive 2 Free Vert’s Mediterranean Grill Meal Cards!