AUSTIN, Texas (February 29, 2013) – Whole Foods Market has teamed up with top foodie media outlets and entertaining enthusiasts to offer hosting tips, recipes, decorating ideas and kids cooking activities to help make springtime gatherings fun, eye-catching, delicious and easy.

Experts from national magazines and well-loved blogs including SAVEUR, cookbook author Aida Mollenkamp, Food52, Kiwi magazine, A Thought for Food blogger Brian Samuels, and Kinfolk Magazine have contributed to the company’s online spring gathering guide with useful tips around:

  • Cooking – Recipes, serving calculators and intrepid flavor makeovers for lamb, ham, brisket and eggs can be found along with tips for leftover matzo, four steps to perfectly-prepared asparagus, and devilishly different deviled eggs ideas plus a contest.
  • Hosting – Inspired ideas on fuss-free gatherings include pretty plating tips, big feasts in tiny kitchens, simple tulip arrangements, setting a beautiful buffet, and brunch baking.
  • Kids in the kitchen: From menu planning to preparation, tips to include small fries and big guys (and girls) along with natural egg dyeing are available.

Four Twitter chats with the experts will take place Thursdays in March and include:

  • Mar. 7 at 6 p.m. CST: Giving Opportunity around the Globe #WFMdish
  • Mar. 14 at 7 p.m. CST: The Great Wines of Argentina #WFMwine
  • Mar. 21 at 6 p.m. CST: Baby’s First Spring #WFMdish
  • Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. CST: Cooking with Spring Flavors #WFMdish

In-store, shoppers will find the same high quality ingredients that they’ve come to expect at Whole Foods Market to build epic spring feasts such as:  

  • Raised right to taste right meats: all meat the company sells – from ham to lamb — comes from animals raised with respect.
  • Passionately procured produce: Picked at their peak, springtime favorites such as asparagus, leeks, strawberries, and radishes are lovingly selected and hand-stacked.
  • Foodie finds: Whole Foods Market’s buyers and foragers are always on the hunt for the highest quality products to perfect any occasion. Favorites for this spring include: Foodman’s Whole Wheat Matzolah granola, Confectious Jelly Beans sweetened with real fruit juice concentrate, Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value® Organic Wildflower Amber Honey for glazing hams, creamy Kerrygold Kilaree Irish Cheddar to grate over spring greens, and Cocoawell Fair Trade dark chocolate bars with added herbs to support wellness.

To celebrate local egg suppliers, the versatility and deliciousness of eggs, and the fact that eggs in the dairy cases and the company’s kitchens and bakeries are cage-free, Whole Foods Market stores will host an “Eggstravaganza” event on Mar. 23, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Activities will vary but could include sampling egg dishes and recipes, a quick-fire egg cooking competition, natural egg dyeing demos, fool-proof tips for boiling eggs, a golden egg hunt, and more.

Recipes, photos and more spring gathering inspiration can be found at media.wholefoodsmarket.com/press/spring-entertaining.

More images