Last week, we took a look at the cheese population of our Grab & Go case. In doing so, we dipped our toes into another segment of the case: Hausmade spreads and dips.
Scallion Cream Cheese
A simple combination that yields a great flavor. This cream cheese dazzles tastebuds with just enough green onion flavor, and is the glue that holds together a grip of our deli sandwiches—the Northern Bagel, the Great Summer Caper, the Fuzzy Bunny (vegetarian), the Basic Bagel (also vegetarian!), the Sebu-Chan, and of course, the Cajun Finn. The Fish Basket pairs your selection of smoked fish with crackers and scallion cream cheese.
A favorite move among our staff is using scallion cream cheese as a kettle chip dip. Preferred flavor: Salt & Vinegar.
Scallion cream cheese is available upon request in our deli, and via pickup/delivery, for $2.25 per 4 oz container, $4.50 per 8 oz, and $9 per 16 oz.
Crayo
crayo sandwich
Crayo is so good it should be illegal.
The incomparable sauce that serves as the foundation for the Cold Turkey, Cedar's Secret, and Purple Range sandwiches is undeniably one of the greatest components on our sandwich line.
Blended with healthy doses of garlic, walnuts, and dehydrated cranberries, this mayo is a flavor explosion. Honestly, the slurry those three ingredients produce would probably make a great sandwich spread on its own, but the inclusion of mayo smoothes it out and takes it to the next level.
Like most of the things on this list, Crayo excels as a condiment and a dip. Any time you want a combination of sweet and savory, Crayo will likely scratch that itch.
Crayo is available upon request in our deli, and via pickup/delivery, for $3 per 4 oz container, $6 per 8 oz, and $12 per 16 oz.
Olivada
Olivada—Kalamata olives, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and thyme—is a spread that might even turn the most olive-averse. I would know, because that is me, and I quite enjoy this spread. Garlic is magical.
Olivada doesn't show up on any of our sandwiches—except for the short-lived Grab & Go Muffaletta (RIP)—but it's a favorite "secret" ingredient on our catering charcuterie spreads, and when making sample platters during lunch rushes.
Enjoying olivada is as simple as finding something to spread it on: crackers, toast, that chicken you're about to roast. Some might even enjoy it by the spoonful. Olivada compliments bright flavors like goat cheese or pepperoncinis.
Most days, you'll find NWS Olivada in the Grab & Go case, for $5 per 8 oz container.
Scallion Spud Spread
Whether you're placing it atop the potato, dipping the (fried) potato into it, or mashing the potato with it, our spin on the "Legendary" Midwestern dip has you(r potato) covered. Made with cream cheese, plain yogurt (rather than the traditional sour cream), scallions, garlic powder, and onion powder, and costing scarcely more than a bag of kettle chips, this deal is too good to pass up.
Our spud spread is available in our deli, or via pickup/delivery, for $1.50 per 6 oz container.
Smoked Salmon Pâté
Our Smoked Salmon Pâté is one of the most frequently re-stocked items in our deli. It's spreadable, but not too smooth, it features a unique blend of spices and seasonings that might sound like the work of a mad scientist—it is: his name is Eric Goerdt—if we revealed it, and the flavor is tied together with the brightness of lemon juice and horseradish.
Miraculously, this highly-sought after spread is also a way we save on potential food waste, with a significant portion of the smoked salmon in each batch coming from the Atlantic salmon chunks that won't retail well—those that are too moist to stay on the skin or hold their shape—and the leftovers when prepping smoked salmon portions for the sandwich line.
Smoked Salmon Pâté can hold its own on a cracker of your choice, but limiting yourself to just crackers would be foolish. A common pick-me-up snack for our deli staff is a slice of cucumber with a dollop of pâté, a slice of pickled ginger, and a cilantro sprig garnish. On our web store, we recommend making an omelette with S.S.P., which I have not personally tested, though if we're advertising it on our website, I imagine it's good. Try it out and get back to me.
In addition to making great snack fodder, S.S.P. is the main event on our Slammin' Gordon and Salmon Melt sandwiches.
If there's not Smoked Salmon Pâté in our Grab & Go case, something is likely wrong. It'll be back in-stock ASAP. We sell it in 8 oz containers for $13, in our deli, or via pickup/delivery.
Pimiento Cheese
This rich and mildly-spicy cheddar cheese, peppers, and mayonnaise spread makes a mean ham & cheese sandwich, or an excellent dip. Set this out at your family gathering or game day celebration and watch it quickly disappear.
To ensure maximum flavor, we make our Pimiento with the finest aged cheddar cheese and Duke's mayonnaise.
Most days, Pimiento is available in our deli, or via pickup/delivery It comes in 8 oz containers for $7.
NWS Boursin Cheese
Cream cheese, butter, garlic, lemon zest, and fresh handpicked herbs. This smooth and creamy cheese spread might be tempting to eat by the spoonful, though we recommend it alongside crackers and smoked salmon (or juicy, medium-rare steak medallions). This hausmade cheese is a staple of our catering offerings and the sample platters we put out during business hours. In addition to having a great herbal quality, it is also wonderfully sweet.
If you've exhausted all other ideas for using our NWS Boursin (or even if you haven't), you could always honor the great state of Minnesota by making a fancy Juicy Lucy burger, substituting around a half-ounce of NWS Boursin for the American cheese product slice.
NWS Boursin is available for $7 per 8 oz container.
We hope this gives you a better picture of our Grab & Go case offerings. There's a whole lot of daily variety, and new items hitting the shelves whenever the whim strikes us, but most of the products listed above can be expected on an average day.
If you find yourself in our deli and want to be even more intimately acquainted with these products, ask for a sample—we can usually oblige, and your own senses are the best judge of whether you like something.