Coborn's makes the holidays delicious

Smiles, Christmas tunes, tasty samples, and Christmas sweaters were in abundance at Coborn's on Saturday for Taste of the Holidays. This annual event showcases foods, recipes, and ideas to make the holiday season delicious. 

"We all love the Taste of the Holidays," said Store Manager Mitch Utecht. "It's fun to give back to the community. It's more festive and laid back for our employees and guests."

Date & Time Change

One of the biggest changes this year to the Taste of the Holidays event was the date. The event traditionally takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. of the first Thursday in Dec., but this year a corporate decision changed the event to occur Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Changing the day and expanding the event's hours were meant to try to catch holiday shoppers while they were out and about Saturday.

Tasty Treats

Throughout the store, sample stations offered scrumptious treats including Kemps Pink Peppermint Ice Cream, Coborn's Pumpernickel and Sour Dough Rounds with Spinach and Southwest Dips, Coborn's Signature Smoked Salmon, La Bonne Vie Triple Crème Brie with Fig Spread and Marconia Almonds, and two Boomchicapop Holidrizzle flavors: Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt and White Chocolate & Peppermint. 

Servers also roamed the store with trays of JR Watkins Egg Nog, Coborn's Peanut Brittle and Dove candies. 

"We're very happy to be here and share all this spirit with our guests," said Michael Leeseberg who was running a sample station with Kristin Kreuger. 

"We're excited to be able to share this with the community," added Kreuger. 

Santa Sighting

Families lined up to see Santa Claus. While parents snapped photos, the children told Santa what they hoped to find under their Christmas tree. 

When Brady Goedker asked Santa to bring him a minion **** machine, of Despicable Me franchise fame, Santa suggested that he add an air freshener to the present for Brady's older brother, Brendan. 

"The best part is watching the kids with Santa," said Utecht. "It's all about the kids."

Cookie Time

The Big Lake Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors ran the cookie decorating booth, where guests could try their hand at icing their own sugar cookies and adding sprinkles as the finishing touch. 

"My favorite part is decorating the cookies and trying all the samples," said McKenna Peterson who decorated her Christmas tree sugar cookie with white garland and pink ornaments. "We've been coming to Taste of the Holidays for five years, at least," added Tina Peterson as she frosted a star at the top of her daughter's sugar cookie. 

Sounds of the Season

The familiar lyrics, jazzy rhythms, and haunting melodies of favorite Christmas songs and carols filled the store, courtesy of St. Cloud musician Chris Stone. 

Stone boosted the holiday spirit by taking requests from guests passing by, playing favorites such as "Little Drummer Boy,""I'll Be Home for Christmas,""O Come, All Ye Faithful," and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."

"I love the spiritual songs," said Stone of the carols he played, "because I, for one, think Christmas is about Christ." 

Helping Hands

The Big Lake Fire Dept. was on hand to bag groceries at the checkout, and they pumped gas in their full fire-fighting outfits at Little Dukes. 

"It's great just meeting people in a non-emergency situation," said firefighter Mike Bondhus. This was his second year helping bag groceries at Taste of the Holidays. 

Volunteers also collected cash and new, unwrapped toy donations for Toys for Tots at the store entrance. Toys for Tots is a non-profit organization founded by the U.S. Marine Corps to provide toys for children who may otherwise not receive any gifts during the holiday season.

To put on Coborn's Taste of the Holidays it takes a lot of work and planning. Utecht attributes much of the event's success in the nine years he has been store manager to the organization of Natural Foods Manager Jane Maass. 

"It's a collaboration between the corporate offices, the vendors, and then the people at the store. It's a big deal. All of the people who volunteer on their day off are always appreciated," explained Utecht.