June Disco Box
Or, surprise, It's a GIRL!
Hey! Hey! My disco dancers.
Every month I sit down to write this thing and somehow every month I am shocked by the calendar. HOW are we already in June? Summer is peeking around the corner, the kids are feral, my to-do list is multiplying overnight, and somehow we’re heading into month four of the new shop.
I joke all the time that Always Hungry is my third child. Surprise! It’s a girl.
And much like an actual baby, she’s finally starting to sleep through the night. We’re settling into routines. We’re figuring each other out. She’s growing into herself and honestly? It’s pretty fun to watch.
Do we have it all figured out? Absolutely not.
We’re still waiting on permits. Still waiting on signs. Still dreaming about the kitchen build-out (plans submitted, everybody cross your fingers and toes). Sometimes things still feel a little chaotic. If you saw the bag misprints recently... well... let’s just say sleep deprivation comes in many forms.
But despite the occasional spit-up moment, she’s pretty dang cute.
And more importantly, she’s still showing up every day to bring you the best groceries we can find in North County San Diego.
This month’s box feels especially fun because it’s packed with so many special thing. A bunch of these products aren’t even on our shelves yet. We wanted our founding members to be the guinea pigs first. Lucky you! We need your opinions! We need your feedback! We need you to tell us what you’re obsessed with so we know what deserves a permanent spot in the shop.
Basically, congratulations. You’ve accidentally joined our product development team.
One of our founding members also had what I think is a genius idea: a Disco Box text group. A place where everyone can share what they’re loving, how they’re using products, recipe ideas, favorite finds, and probably enable each other’s snack habits.
Naturally, we’re obsessed with this idea.
If you’d like to join, just let us know when you pick up your box, and we’ll get it rolling.
Okay. Enough housekeeping.
Let’s bust open this box!
This Product Contains Nuts - Varying flavors
GF, VG
We love a sauce. We love a vegan sauce. We love a healthier ingredient sauce. We especially love a sauce that makes me feel like I actually planned dinner when in reality I am standing in front of the fridge at 5:47 pm wondering what exactly happened to my day.
These guys became absolutely obsessed with bottled sauces and after tasting literally hundreds (seriously, they have a youtube doc about it) of them realized most are packed with seed oils, fillers, gums, and a bunch of stuff none of us are particularly excited about. So they did something about it.
The answer? Nuts.
And honestly, it’s kind of genius. Rich, creamy, flavorful sauces made from real emulsified nuts that somehow manage to taste indulgent while still being made from ingredients you actually recognize. No weird fillers. No artificial nonsense. Just a really delicious sauce that can rescue vegetables, grain bowls, proteins, wraps, sandwiches, or whatever random assortment of ingredients you’ve got hanging out in your fridge.
A very Always Hungry kind of product.
Reelie Crackers — Tomato Herb
GF, VG
Finding a gluten-free cracker that actually tastes like a cracker and not a packing peanut feels weirdly impossible.
Then these showed up.
Made with plantain and cassava instead of the usual rice flour situation, they have that satisfying crispy crunch that makes you immediately go back for another handful. The Tomato Herb flavor is especially lovely and basically begs for a schmear of goat cheese, a hunk of sharp cheddar, or honestly just eating straight out of the box while standing in your kitchen.
We took one bite and immediately started discussing shelf space. That’s usually how you know something is good around here.
Dan the Baking Man Cookies — Varying Flavors
Some GF, VG
Dan. Buddy. Friend.
Why would you send us cookie samples when we are already drowning in cookies?
Now look what happened.
We tasted them.
And now we’re conflicted.
Dan started this company because he was tired of “healthy” desserts tasting like punishment. As a marathon runner and CrossFitter, he wanted something made with real ingredients that still felt like a treat. Which honestly sounds reasonable because life is hard enough without disappointing cookies.
The problem is we already carry more cookies than any reasonable grocery store should.
So we’re putting this decision in your hands.
What do you think? Should these make the cut? Should Dan join the cookie party? You tell us.
Cumin Club — Varying Flavors
Some GF, Some Vegan
Listen. We all have nights where cooking feels ambitious.
These quick Indian meal kits come together in minutes but somehow still taste like something you actually want to eat. The ingredients are clean, the flavors are incredible, and they introduce dishes that most of us don’t usually find on grocery store shelves.
I especially love having these stashed in the pantry because they make me feel wildly prepared and responsible.
Am I prepared and responsible?
Questionable.
But the pantry says yes.
Ocean Ranch Granola — Varying Flavors
GF, VG
We receive approximately one million granola samples a year.
Okay maybe not a million.
But enough that opening a granola-only side business sometimes feels possible.
As you know, we make our own grain-free granola in-house and remain deeply obsessed with it. But we thought it might be fun to bring in something different for those of you who love a more traditional granola situation.
Ocean Ranch immediately stood out.
It’s crunchy, flavorful, beautifully balanced, and somehow manages to feel both wholesome and indulgent at the same time. Which is exactly what I want from breakfast. Or anytime really, if you know me, you know I’m 65% tinned fish and the rest is all granola, blueberries, and snap peas.
Sophie’s Organics Baby Food — Green Dream
GF, VG
We get asked about baby food ALL THE TIME.
And while we don’t exactly have enough room to become a baby food superstore, we wanted to find something that checked all the boxes.
Organic? Check.
Vegetables? Check.
Fruit? Check.
Something babies actually seem willing to eat? Big check.
Now. Full disclosure.
You do not need to currently have a baby to enjoy this.
I may or may not have kept one of these in my car as an emergency traffic snack before. Also, if you put this on a plate next to something fancy and swipe it into a little swoosh with the back of a spoon, suddenly you’re a Michelin-star chef.
Nobody has to know.
Your secret is safe with me.
Did you know we have an entire cleaning and wellness section?
Like actual grown-up things.
Toothpaste. Toilet paper. Trash bags. Sunscreen. Laundry soap.
I know. Very responsible of us.
Bloop is one of those products that surprised me because I originally fell in love with the people behind it first. They are local, lovely, and genuinely trying to make cleaning products that are better for the planet without feeling like a compromise.
And unlike some “natural” laundry soaps that leave your clothes smelling vaguely like disappointment, this one actually works.
It smells amazing. Your clothes come out clean. Everybody wins.
Listen.
I love a product that makes me feel prepared.
These toothpaste tabs live in my camping bag, my travel bag, my car, and honestly probably several coat pockets.
They’re tiny little toothpaste tablets that magically become toothpaste with a sip of water and a quick chew. No exploding toothpaste tubes. No TSA drama. No weird mess.
I especially love these for camping trips and long beach days because somehow brushing your teeth in a parking lot before a road trip coffee just feels like self care.
Adulting!
Who knew.
Cherrie Lane Popcorn — Butter
GF, VG
Summer is officially movie season.
Backyard movies. Campfires. Sleepovers. Late-night “one more episode” situations.
And this popcorn is just plain fun.
Instead of opening a bag, you’re actually popping an entire popcorn cob. Which feels slightly ridiculous and incredibly delightful all at once.
It’s one of those products that makes everybody stop and ask, “Wait...what is THAT?”
The answer is delicious popcorn doused in heart-healthy cacao butter.
Warm, buttery, nostalgic popcorn that somehow makes you feel eight years old again.
De Soi — Varying Flavors
GF, VG
We love a beach beverage.
We love a patio beverage.
We love a “I’ve had a long day and would like a little treat but also need to wake up tomorrow feeling like a functioning member of society” beverage.
Enter De Soi.
These sparkling non-alcoholic apéritifs are layered, botanical, slightly fancy, and make me feel like I have my life together even when I’m drinking one while folding laundry.
The flavors are complex enough that you don’t miss the booze, which is honestly the whole point.
Perfect for sunset hangs, dinner parties, book clubs, or sitting on your porch hiding from your children for ten minutes.
The Bitter Ginger Shrub — Blackberry Lemonade Mint
GF,VG
Okay. Shrubs are one of those things that sound intimidating until you try one.
Then suddenly you’re putting them in everything.
We love this mixed with plain sparkling water for a quick little fancy-feeling afternoon drink. Friends use it in cocktails. I’ve heard rumors of people making salad dressings with it.
Honestly, all excellent choices.
The Blackberry Lemonade Mint flavor is bright, tart, refreshing, and somehow manages to make a plain glass of seltzer feel like something you’d pay 21 dollars for at brunch.
A little splash goes a long way.
Which is good because once you start using it, you’ll find excuses.
Zee Zee Chickpeas
GF, VG
I am forever looking for snacks that actually hold me over.
Not snacks that pretend.
Actual snacks.
These roasted chickpeas are crunchy, salty, packed with protein and fiber, and weirdly satisfying.
I love them on their own. I love them tossed onto salads. I love them thrown into lunch boxes.
Basically if a crouton and a protein bar had a baby, this would be it.
J.R. Organics Shishito Peppers
GF, VG
IT’S SHISHITO SEASON.
One of my favorite signs of summer.
These are my secret weapon whenever people come over because they make me look significantly more impressive than I actually am.
Throw them on the grill with olive oil, salt, pepper, and maybe a squeeze of lime.
Done.
That’s the recipe.
Everybody thinks you’ve worked very hard.
Meanwhile you’ve spent approximately four minutes making them.
I usually serve them with sriracha mayo and a cold beverage and call it entertaining.
They also happen to be incredible on pizza, sandwiches, grain bowls, tacos, or directly off the sheet pan while standing in your kitchen.
Normal Ice Cream Bar — The Shortie
You know we love Normal.
The pints fly out of the freezer around here and for good reason.
But now they’ve gone and made my life even harder by putting all that goodness into a grab-and-go bar.
This one is strawberry milk ice cream wrapped in strawberry dip and covered in shortbread cookie crumbs. Yes, just like that bar you grew up with, but way more special.
Egglife Wraps — Everything Bagel
These are one of my favorite products in the entire store.
Full stop.
I eat at least one or two packs a week and I am not remotely embarrassed about it.
They’re made from egg whites, they’re high protein, gluten-free, and somehow stay soft and flexible without ripping apart the second you look at them wrong.
But the real magic?
They’re an incredible vehicle.
A vehicle for hummus.
A vehicle for turkey.
A vehicle for peanut butter and banana. (you can heat them!)
A vehicle for random leftovers that need a purpose.
My favorite version lately has been hummus, Greens & Gossip pickled beets, tinned fish, feta, and whatever greens are hanging out in the fridge.
Sounds slightly chaotic.
Tastes incredible.
I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without these.
Probably eat significantly fewer wraps.
Which sounds sad.
So That’s The Box!
And that’s June.
If this newsletter feels slightly chaotic, it’s because summer has arrived and my children are currently asking for snacks, looking for swimsuits, building forts, skateboarding somewhere they absolutely shouldn’t be, or generally creating the kind of memories that eventually become family stories.
And meanwhile, my little grocery store baby is over here demanding attention too.
Good thing I have a Disco Box full of snacks to keep everybody occupied.
I hope this month’s box inspires a few easy dinners, a few backyard hangs, a few beach sunsets, and maybe one moment where you stand in your kitchen eating something delicious and think, “Dang. Life is pretty good.”
Thanks for coming along on this wild little ride with us.
With love and buttered toast,
Katie Jayne