With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are realizing that our normal holiday shopping strategies simply aren’t going to cut it this year. Oliver’s Markets have been faced with a similar challenge: how to we bring great holiday deals to our customers while still minimizing risks? We’ve grown used to the boisterous crowds that flood our stores come holiday-time, but this year, that is simply not option if we want to keep our customers and employees safe. After much deliberation and careful consideration, we came up with a solution: why limit holiday deals to just the holidays? Why not give our customers the entire month to stock up on holiday essentials? And that’s exactly what we’ve done!

Starting this week, stop into any of our four Oliver’s locations for great Thanksgiving deals all month long! Whether you’re stocking up on holiday necessities or arranging your very own Oliver’s holiday feast, we’ve made sure that all of our customers can enjoy great deals on their holiday necessities regardless of when they decide to shop. With this in mind, our buyers and coordianators have combed through their holiday files to find the very best deals on their very favorite holiday essentials, like authentic Parmigiano Reggiano and MiFrom cave-aged Gruyere cheeses. Brought in as whole wheels and sliced to-order, these gourmet cheeses have arrived just in time to lend their intense flavor and delectable creaminess to any of your holiday dishes, and surprisingly, they’re perfect for buying ahead of time.

To store them, avoid using plastic wrap and instead opt for cheese paper. This special paper is designed to allow the cheese to “breathe” (so to speak) without losing all of its moisture, preserving the delicate flavor and preventing mold. Plastic wrap traps the moisture against the cheese, leading to mold, and the oils and fat in the cheese with bind with the oils in the plastic, causing the flavor to change over time. If you can’t find cheese paper, substitute with a piece of parchment or wax paper, then loosely wrap the cheese in plastic wrap or place in partially open plastic bag. This will help mimic the effect of the cheese paper, albeit less effectively but without the negative effects of plastic. Regardless, you’ll also need to change the paper any time the cheese is opened, which will also help to prevent mold and keep the flavor fresh.

Read more on these fantastic cheeses below, and remember to stop by Oliver’s any time for all holiday essentials!

Parmigiano Reggiano

($14.99/LB)

The “King of Cheese”, Parmigiano Reggiano is regarded by many as the best cheese in the world. Handcrafted in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy by master cheesemakers, the cheese must be made with local raw milk in traditional copper vats. Massive, 90-pound wheels are aged for 2 years, revealing an intensely flavored cheese with deeply savory flavors, hints of roasted nuts, and a surprisingly fruity finish. Oliver’s cheese-mongers hand crack each wheel, providing the freshest possible cheese. Grab a wedge today for all of your Holiday recipes, from roasted vegetables and stuffed squash to classic dishes like Cacio e Pepe. And don’t forget to save your rinds – they give an umami boost to your turkey soup!

MiFroma Cave-Aged Gruyere

($16.99/LB)

Hailing from high in the Swiss Alps, 80-pound wheels of gruyere are crafted from the raw milk of cows who spend their lives grazing on wild herbs and grasses.   Following centuries old-world tradition, the wheels are washed in a salt water brine as they age in natural caves.  Bold and complex flavors of hazelnut, brown butter and savory caramelized onion compliment a supple texture boasting crunchy crystals. Gruyere is by far the king of melting cheeses; it is a must have for Fondue, macaroni and cheese, or a delicious Potato Gratin.  Stock up now for your Holiday dishes, like these delicious Savory Scones.

You can find these and many other great holiday deals all month long at Oliver’s! Still not sure of how to do your shopping safely? Beat the line completely by ordering ahead of time. Simply call or stop by any of our cheese departments to place and order, then pick it up at a time convenient to you!