For years, roses have been a go-to gift for Valentine's Day, but Niemanns supermarket in Mattoon is changing the game with a unique twist. This year, alongside traditional roses, customers can find something special to put on their dinner plates.
The store at 2000 Western Ave. offers beautifully crafted steaks shaped like roses, complete with asparagus or other green veggies for stems.
Josh Rakers, the meat manager at Niemanns, has been busy preparing these special eye-round steaks for the big day on Wednesday, February 14. It's a creative way to combine the romance of Valentine's Day with a delicious meal, perfect for those looking to add a little flair to their celebration.
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Mattoon Store Unveils Unique Valentine's Steak Roses
Niemanns supermarket in Mattoon, now a novel venture by Niemann Foods, Inc., offers a unique Valentine's Day treat: rose-shaped steaks. These special creations, a first for the
Mattoon store is the brainchild of meat manager Josh Rakers. This initiative marks a new direction for the store, previously a County Market, rebranded as the first Niemanns location last spring.
Store director Zak Britton emphasizes that these Valentine's steaks, crafted by Rakers, are an exclusive feature not found in other Niemann-owned stores. The company's philosophy of encouraging creativity has allowed Rakers to experiment and enhance the customer experience with his culinary artistry.
Rakers has displayed his skill in preparing for Valentine's Day by shaping eye round steaks into hearts. These unique cuts are showcased alongside the traditional heart-shaped butterflied ribeye steaks, also popular at the County Market in Charleston.
Rakers, a seasoned meat cutter with over two decades of experience, values the creative freedom at Niemanns. He collaborates with on-site pit boss Scott Ceder, often using a portable smoker outside the supermarket.
The idea for the rose-shaped steaks came from online research, leading Rakers devised his method using eye round steaks, perfect for crafting into rosebuds. He recommends oven-cooking these special entrees.
Britton sees these steaks as ideal for a romantic, home-cooked Valentine's dinner. To complete the experience, the store pairs steaks with side dishes in heart-shaped containers, ensuring a blend of quality and creativity in their daily meat offerings.
Seasonal Delights for Home Cooks
Rakers and Britton from Niemann's supermarket in Mattoon have observed a growing trend: more customers are buying ingredients for elaborate meals to enjoy at home. This shift, they note, has been particularly pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic.
As people have become more accustomed to dining in, there's also a noticeable inclination towards saving money by eating at home. The rising trend of cooking at home is positively impacting grocery store sales.
Responding to this change in consumer behavior, Niemanns focuses on meeting these evolving needs throughout the year. The store has introduced a variety of seasonal offerings to entice home chefs.
For instance, customers can find pumpkin-shaped meatloaf in the fall, while pork crown roasts become a highlight during the Christmas season. Around St. Patrick's Day, the store features corned beef briskets.
Britton emphasizes the store's commitment to reflecting the changing seasons through its culinary offerings. "We want you to know what season it is when you walk into the store," he says, underlining their effort to align the supermarket's offerings with seasonal celebrations and customer preferences.
This approach caters to the customers' desire for festive and thematic cooking at home and adds a unique shopping experience at Niemanns.
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