Winter Solstice wishes

Thanks to everyone who visited us on the day of The Mill Road Winter Fair and indeed for all of your support and loyalty to the shop this year. 

We've been rather busy since the fair! so catching up today and thought we'd share a few photos with you. 

The Fair saw the return of our ever popular `pop up Cafe'

 We were joined by local raw chocolatiers Rawr and their amazing chocolate fountain

From us all, Happy Winter Solstice (today!) Happy Christmas & a healthy 2014!

Please note our holiday opening hours are as follows

Tuesday 24th December 9.30am-4pm

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) Closed

Thursday 26th December (Boxing day) Closed 

Friday 27th December Closed

Saturday 28th December 9.30am-6pm

Monday 30th December 9.30am-6pm

Tuesday 31st December 9.30-6pm

Wednesday 1st January (New Years Day) Closed

Reasons to buy Zaytoun...

`They planted so we eat, we plant so they eat'

Palestinian proverb

Zaytoun is an award winning fair trade company sourcing artisan produce from Palestine.  In 2009 they launched the first Fair trade olive oil in the U.K, and have since added couscous, dates and soap to their range.  Working closely with farmers who cultivate some of the oldest olive groves in the world (some trees are believed to be as old as 1500 to 2000 years), their work with women's co-operatives in Palestine has earned them several awards including "The Ethical Women in business award", whilst the superlative quality of their olive oil has been recognised by The Soil Association.

Mahmoud Issa, an olive farmer near Jenin puts its simply when he says;

"The zaytoun, the olive, means everything to us. My father and my grandfather farmed on this land, and now my children work alongside me harvesting. We can't do anything about our political situation but we can improve our economic situation.”

Not only does Zaytoun support and encourage local farmers through fair trade, but wherever possible tries to ensure all labeling and packaging also takes place in Palestine, creating further employment.

Arjuna is proud to support Zaytoun, and sells medjoul dates, cous cous and our personal favourite Za'atar!

A wonderfully versatile seasoning of thyme, toasted sesame and sumac, za'atar is great with roasted vegetables, added to houmous or simply with olive oil (zaytoun of course) and some crusty sourdough bread (we'd recommend our excellent Dovecote bakery loaf)

But don't take our word for it. Tasting is believing.  So next time you need olive oil call in and take home some Zaytoun. 

Read all about it!

We're pretty excited about the new books we just received!

If you're looking for some fresh inspiration, or a gift for a friend, come and have a browse! 

Our own favourites are Vegan cup cakes take over the world by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, and the now classic Vegetarian mains from around the world by New Internationalist.

Busy Bees!

We've been busy bees since we lasted posted here! Over the last few weeks the shop has been a hive of activity (I'm sorry) as we get ready for the Mill Road Winter Fair

The Fair which takes place on Saturday 7th December is an event created and run by the people of Mill Road, and a celebration of our very unique little corner of the city.  Arjuna has been involved with the fair since the beginning, and this year will see us return with our ever popular pop up soup and pizza counter outside the shop. We will also have local chocolate to sample and buy courtesy of our lovely friends at Rawr, as well as an opportunity to experience a taster session of acupuncture.

In other news, we've just collected some wonderful local honey from Saffron Walden. Springwell Apiaries produce excellent set, runny and borage honey as well as honey comb. We also have some very nice candles from them.

Finally, yesterday we attended an inspiring meeting organised by the newly created Cambridge Sustainable Food Network.  It was very exciting to exchange ideas and hear about some of exciting initiatives in the city such as Cambridge crop share.  

Seasonal and local

We don't like to brag, but Arjuna is quite unique in offering customers the chance to select loose, unpackaged organic fruit and vegetables.

If you just need one unwaxed lemon, a serving of Brussels sprouts (yes the first ones are here! we've also got the sticks too! see bottom left) Or perhaps you're after a whole sack of potatoes? Then we can help!

We receive deliveries nearly every day of the week and right now the shop is overflowing with a harvest of local pumpkins & squash, rainbow carrots and much more! 

And what's more we hope you'll be surprised at what good value much of our produce is 

The baking habit

As you've probably realised by now, we quite like Cakes.

 

From our classic date slice made from a secret yet simple recipe handed down through generations, to our new gluten free creations such as our sunny Carrot cake with teff, or bright and zesty lemon drizzle cake, we use organic ingredients whenever possible and coconut palm sugar or apple juice concentrate to give natural sweetness. 

 

Our most recent baking adventures resulted in a special apple and coconut cake for apple day, and a light but hugely comforting Bakewell tart.

 

Our selection changes daily, so next time you're passing remember to have a peek through the window and why not treat yourself? We think you've earned it:) 



Seasonal squash

Harlequins, Kabocha, custard & spaghetti! just some of the varieties of local squash we currently have care of the lovely people at Snakehall Farm and our good friends at Waterland Organics.

The little Kabocha squash are a staff favourite. Rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin C and potassium, and with a taste somewhere between sweet potato and chestnuts, we recommend this little pumpkin stuffed with green lentils, feta and rosemary.

We're also enjoying some excellent pumpkins from Frank at the Cambridge Organic Garden whose excellent raspberries are also a seasonal favourite.