"Eat Fresh-Eat Local" Month-Week #2: the Stache Natural Foods

the Stache Natural Foods: "Gluten free personal chef, catering & weekly dinner service"

tori@thestachenaturalfoods.com

Owner of the Stache Natural Foods, may be young in age, but she is mature beyond her years in her ambition, wisdom & entrepeneurship.  High school student, Tori Cuce' began her business summer 2010 at the Plumsteadville Grange Farmers Market.  She provided a variety of flavorful, creative and tasty dishes with an emphasis on her mission and philosophy:  "100% gluten free...organic locally sourced and sustainable produce whenever possible."   Through the Stache's influence, my diet and appreciation expanded to enjoy the satisfaction of wholesome eating.  

The Stache Natural Foods is also known in the Lehigh Valley by its presence at the Emmaus Farmers market 2010.  However, it is now serving dinner orders through delivery to Lehigh & Bucks County.  

For loyal customers on its email listserv, The Stache will send out a weekly email with the menu.  Not only will the selections be tantalizing, it will also provide you with the nutritional health benefits of each product.  The Stache's chef works in conjunction with holistic health counselor, Eileen Cuce', who values the power of "healing foods."

Beyond being friendly for those with a specific diet (ie.gluten free, raw, vegan, organic), anyone would benefit from the flavorful, wholesome goodness of the Stache--delivery included!!  Check out their website to sign up for menu emails.

Here is a sampling of this past week's menu:

Dinner service for Friday, July 7th: Organic black bean, brown rice and sweet potato tacos with all the classic fixins! Includes side containers of: guacamole, organic cheddar cheese, salsa fresca and tofu sour cream (tacos are vegan with any toppings except cheddar cheese)

                                     Family size: $75   Individual: $20

Health benefits of this meal: Brown rice is an excellent source of magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese, and the vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6, dietary fiber, protein, and gamma-oryzanol (SMILE- a mineral that stimulates the release of endorphins!)
 

Black beans are like magic beans-they aid the digestive tract, the blood sugar regulatory system and the cardiovascular system. A serving of black beans also contains as much protein as a serving of meat and more protein than a serving of fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy products, nuts and seeds, or seafood. And a bonus, black beans also contain fiber, which makes the protein more digestable! The protein in common animal products is prominent, but difficult to digest without the fiber it naturally doesn't contain.
 

Sweet potatoes are an excellent anti-inflamitory source of antioxidants, beta carotene, fibrinogen (required for successful blood clotting) and when passing through our digestive tract, they may be able to lower the potential health risk posed by heavy metals and oxygen radicals.
 

Not to mention the monounsaturated fat of the avocados in the guacamole, which is the kind that has been proven to lower cholesterol levels.

The Stache also offers a variety of weekly dips (available in 16 or 32 oz. containers):

• Any flavor of hummus (please ask for list of original flavors
• Fresh, preservative-free guacamole (so much fresher than that processed, premade grocery store excuse for guacamole!)
• Mediterranean baba ganouj
• The Stache signature pistachio pesto
• The Stache signature sundried tomato pesto (as featured in the famous breakfast sandwiches at last year's Emmaus Farmer's market)