Come on out for this fun & yummy annual picnic with a purpose! There’ll be great things to eat, including grilled chicken, gourmet sausages, vegetables and delicious desserts, as well as kid’s games, live music, a food-inspired silent auction, beer and wine, and more. All of the proceeds help Food Gatherers to distribute 5 million pounds of food annually to 160 non-profit programs serving low-income families in Washtenaw County. Tickets are available at all Zingerman’s businesses and here.

Grillin’ for Food Gatherers
Sunday, June 12, 3-8pm
Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds,
5055 Saline-Ann Arbor Rd.
$50 Adults ($40 is tax-deductible) in advance; $60 at the door
$10 Kids ages 3-13 ($7 is tax-deductible), Kids age 3 and under are free

Food Gatherers is not only Michigan’s first food rescue program, but the first program of its kind to be founded by a for-profit business, our own Zingerman’s Delicatessen. In 1997, Food Gatherers also assumed responsibility for the county food bank. Today, it is an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors and operated by 19 staff people and more than 5,000 different dedicated volunteers. Food Gatherers is now the primary distributor of food in Washtenaw County.

You know you’ve been looking forward to this day! The Westside Farmers Market season kicks off this afternoon, 3-7pm in the Roadhouse parking lot. Bring your friends and family and join in the fun, meet new people and shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and baked goods from local producers.

The Westside Farmers’ Market was founded in 2005 by a group of volunteers within the Ann Arbor community who are passionate about putting great, local food into the hands of as many local residents as possible.

Today it remains an all-volunteer endeavor, and the market provides customers with the best products available, sold to the consumer directly from the hands of the producer. The market also serves as a catalyst for community development by offering entertainment, weekly demonstrations that spark creativity and an educational component sponsored by local non-profit organizations.

See you there!

Just in time for the long weekend, outdoor seating opens at Zingerman’s Delicatessen! The season officially kicks off at 5pm this evening when the new courtyard area – located in the old driveway approach between the Deli building and the Next Door coffeehouse – debuts and you can enjoy your favorite sandwiches and salads al fresco. Stop by and help us celebrate, and check out the what’s new with our construction!

Yay! We’re so excited about seeing Charlie and Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory on the Food Network last night! You can check out Zingerman’s Zzang! candy bars’ super sweet appearance on the program Kid in the Candy Store when it airs again Saturday, May 29, at 4:30. Wowza! – all the sudden I’m craving chocolate and raspberries. Luckily I know just the fix!

Check out this cute story that showed up in our in box this morning!

Dear Zingerman’s,
On my way out of Ann Arbor last weekend, for a ride on the Kal-Haven trail, I stopped at the Deli for a sandwich. With my bike on the roof I headed to Kalamazoo never considering the ramifications of the thunderstorm I was to drive through. Got to the trail head and was faced with a very wet and soggy foam bike seat. What to do? Using the best resource I had at hand, I quickly ate my lunch and clothed my bike seat in my Zingerman’s bag. Two days, seventy miles and a dry bottom.
Thank you,
Jo Ellin Gutterman

We are so excited about seeing Charlie Frank, Zingerman’s candy man, on the hit Food Network program, Kid in a Candy Store, next week! The show airs Monday, May 23, at 8:30pm. According to our sources, host Adam Gertler “checks out the decadent candy bars at Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory in Ann Arbor, Mich., where handmade nougat layered with original specialties delight candy lovers everywhere.” It’s going to be super sweet!