City Paper: Feed The Need With Mugshots!

Meal Ticket - posted by Carlene Majorino on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.

Mugshots Coffee House, which has locations in both Manayunk and Fairmount, started its local food buying club just over two years ago. Co-owner Angie Vendetti says the idea sprouted from the scary thought of Manayunk-area residents not having a reliable source of locally grown food. “Most of our [Manayunk] customers are people that work there, as well,” says Vendetti, “so it seemed like a really good option for picking up food Friday afternoons for the weekend.”

Every Sunday afternoon, registered members grab an order form off the café’s Web site, and have until Tuesday to pick and choose from an array of local farm-fresh products. Orders are filled by the approaching weekend, with the option of picking up at either café. Non-members have access to a limited lineup of in-store choices, but you’ll have to enroll to gain access to the full selection of meats, dairy and veggies, as well as treats like garlic parmesan baguettes, coffee crumbcake rice pudding and Mugshots’ own chocolate chip banana bread.

The primary purpose of the club, Vendetti says, is to promote the benefits of buying locally to those who aren’t deeply engaged in the movement. “About 10 percent of our customer base is super loyal, and is going to go out of their way to buy something local or fair-trade,” she says. “Half will buy occasionally, but wouldn’t go out of their way, and the other 40 percent don’t really know what’s going on. The club is to engage more people like that.”

For more good eats sponsored by Mugshots, stop by City Hall on Wednesdays between 11 to 3 during the growing season for the Farm To City farmers market, where Mugshots has a stand offering organic food and drink.