My daily bread...
Whew! βοΈ Well... for everyone who's been wishing for summer to finally show up, I'd say your wish has officially been granted! We are right in the heart of July, and Mother Nature has turned up the thermostat. If you're loving every minute of this heat wave, this is your season! As for me, you'll find me tucked into the nearest patch of shade with an iced coffee in hand, cheering you on from there.
One thing this heat wave has definitely done is change what everyone is craving. Last week was our biggest wrap week yet! Between the Smoked Beef Wraps made with that incredible Olds College beef, our Grilled Chicken Wraps, fresh salads, and grab-and-go favorites, the cooler was being emptied almost as fast as we could fill it. We absolutely love seeing you heading out the door with picnic lunches, lake-day snacks, and easy meals for the road.
With another week of 30+ temperatures ahead, we're going to press pause on Soup Wednesday once again. Instead, we're putting all our energy into keeping the salad cooler packed, rolling fresh rice paper salad rolls, filling the wrap cooler, and making sure there's plenty of delicious grab-and-go goodness ready for wherever your summer adventures take you. Whether you're heading to the lake, the golf course, a picnic in the park, or simply trying to stay out of the kitchen, we've got you covered!
Of course, summer at Rise isn't just about lunch. The pastry counter has been absolutely bursting with fresh-baked treats and all those little sweet indulgences that somehow taste even better with an afternoon coffee break.
And speaking of staying cool... this is definitely iced drink season! Every drink on our menu can be served over ice, whether you're an iced latte lover or an iced matcha fan. We'll have a big batch of fresh-brewed iced tea ready for Monday morning along with plenty of chilled drinks waiting in the grab-and-go cooler. However you like to cool off, we've got something cold with your name on it.
Here's to sunny days, patio lunches, lake adventures, and making the most of this beautiful Alberta summer. We can't wait to see you this week!
π A Quick Reminder... Have You Entered Yet?
We're so excited to be taking six Rise customers with us to the Sip & Snip at the Uchtenhagen Flower Farm during Open Farm Days on August 15!
Here's how to enter:
π Leave us a Google review.
π Every Google review earns you one entry into the draw.
π We'll be drawing six winners on August 7 to join the Rise Girls for an unforgettable afternoon.
We'll be joining forces with Eat Catering for an afternoon of beautiful flowers, delicious bites (yes... coconut shrimp!), bubbly, and a whole lot of summer fun.
Not sure how to leave a Google review? No problem! Just stop by the till and scan the QR code. We'll happily help you through the process and make sure your name gets into the draw.
π₯ What's Happening This Week
Monday is all about stocking the cooler!
Our Smoked Beef Wraps are back for another week. We have enough of that incredible Old's College smoked beef to keep us going this week, and we've already placed another order so we can bring them back as soon as it's available again.
We'll also be rolling out our always-popular Grilled Chicken Wraps, along with fresh Quinoa Salad Bowls loaded with colorful veggies and tossed in a bright, citrusy passion fruit vinaigrette. Light, fresh, and exactly what this hot weather is calling for.
One little change this week: our rice paper salad rolls will now be made fresh on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. Mondays have become our busiest prep day, and this small shift means we can get the wraps and salad bowls into the cooler earlier for you.
That's Monday morning at Rise. Music going, coffee ready, ovens on and all of us moving in about twelve different directions at once. Just the way we like it.π
Sourdough line-up...
Monday - no sourdough loaves
βTuesday - SuperSeed Multigrain Loaves and Red Fife Country Loaves
βWednesday - The Classic Brown 60/40 Loaf and 100% Whole Grain Organic Loaf
βThursday - Light Rye Loaves and Hokkaido Sourdough Milk Buns
βFriday - Red Fife Country Loaves
π TGIF Pizza β Mediterranean Prosciutto
We start with a creamy roasted garlic base, dotted with spoonfuls of our slow-roasted tomato sauce, then layer on mozzarella, provolone, artichoke hearts, and roasted red peppers before baking it to golden perfection.
Fresh from the oven, we'll finish it with silky ribbons of prosciutto, peppery arugula, a drizzle of our house garlic aioli, bright lemon zest, cracked black pepper, a splash of Parthena Olive Oil, and a delicate sprinkle of Vancouver Island Sea Salt flakes. Those crisp little finishing flakes add just the right pop of flavor and crunch, bringing all those fresh summer ingredients together in one delicious bite. Pizza coming out of the oven at 11am!
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βCHEESECAKE FRIDAY
We're keeping our little chocolate streak alive... but with a cool summer twist!
This week's feature is Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, inspired by one of my all-time favorite ice cream flavors. As a kid, if there was mint chocolate chip in the freezer, that's what I was choosing. Honestly... I'd still happily choose it today.
The funny part? Kiana and I were listening to a podcast this past week, and somehow mint chocolate chip ice cream came up. The hosts were absolutely convinced it tastes like toothpaste! π³
We couldn't disagree more.
Done right, mint chocolate chip is cool, refreshing, creamy, and absolutely delicious! And that's exactly what we're aiming for this Friday. Think rich, creamy cheesecake with just the right touch of fresh mint and plenty of chocolate folded throughout.
If you're Team Mint Chocolate Chip like we are, this one's for you.
As beautiful as this stretch of sunshine has been, Mother Nature has certainly been keeping us on our toes! Between the heat and these wild prairie windstorms, it's definitely been an eventful week. Here's hoping everyone stays safe, keeps a close eye on the sky when those dark clouds start rolling in, and still finds plenty of time to soak up everything that makes an Alberta summer so special.
Whether you're heading to the lake, packing a picnic, working in the garden, or simply finding a shady spot with something cold to drink, I hope you find a little time to slow down and enjoy it. These summer months have a way of flying by.
Have a wonderful week, stay cool, stay safe, and I'll see you back here next Sunday with another little taste of what's happening at Rise.π
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