HELLO AUGUST! I cannot believe it's already here. Summer is marching along and although August came too fast, if you’re a foodie you can’t help but get excited at the embarrassment of riches available in our farmer's markets. So very easy to shop local! This time of year my menus always include tomatoes and peaches (my personal faves) but I've also warmed up to so many other vegies (eggplant, little turnips from our friends at Sundays and even my lifelong nemesis zucchini!) Let's face it there's not a lot you can't make delicious by grilling or roasting in a hot oven with a twist or sprinkle of seasoned salt (like the Fleur D'Olive mills or our new Kanel spice blends)! Gild the lily and try our Roasted Tomato & fresh Vegetable sauce (recipe below) on your roasted vegies or with pasta. This recipe was in five of our Summer in Italy cooking classes and it was always the unanimous favourite!
Our chefs are changing things up weekly and there is a constant rotation of new dishes in our meals freezer. We regularly receive accolades on both our new items and the favourite standbys. On that note, we regret to share that we are losing Mona, our wonderful cook and friend who has chosen to pursue other things. She has been an integral part of the Passionate Cook family and member of the Uxbridge community since she and her family moved here from Syria. We will miss her and wish her the best of luck in her new endeavours!
If you know someone who loves food and might be interested in being part of our team, we are looking for a cook as well as someone "front of house" in the store. Successful candidates must have experience cooking/baking for the public. Resumes can be sent to passionatecookuxbridge@gmail.com.
In the meantime for a little PCE assist, come in for our marinated meats (burgers, flank steak, spatchcocked chickens) or the plethora of evolving seasonal prepared meals including gems like Mexican Whitefish with charred corn, Beef Provencal and all the “corn things” coming soon (like Corn Chowder, corn bread, Shrimp & Corn Beignets to name a few). Yumma.
Fall Cooking classes will be released in our NEXT Newsletter. Although class planning is well under way, feel free to send the store an email if there's something you wold like to learn about in the next round.
We are closing the store on Sunday, August 2nd for the long weekend but we'll be here for you on Saturday, August 1st! Enjoy your summer weekend friends!
STORE HOURS:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD - STORE CLOSED
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Don't just walk by, drop in and say Hi!
Lisa
“August is the slow, gentle month that stretches out the longest across the span of a year. It yawns and lingers on with the light in its palms.”
— Victoria Erickson
EVOOs around the world!
A great quality EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) is a must-have for every kitchen and the perfect gift for just about every food lover. [The person who brings a premium olive oil to a dinner party may be remembered long after a bottle of wine has been consumed!]
We have a wonderful selection of EVOO from France (Nyons Olive and Moulin Cornille from Provence), Italy (Guglielmi Fruttato from Puglia), Spain (Junez de Prado and Castillo de Canena Oak-Smoked Oil) and Tunisia (a beautifully boxed ultra premium Chetoui oil from Dear Olives).
As long as we're on the olive theme, there are lovely olive wood accessories in store including little pinch bowls, utensils, boards and spoons.
kanel SPICE BLENDS
Founded by a crew of food and wellness-loving women in Montreal, Kanel makes perfectly balanced salts and spice blends from premium ingredients using fresh herbs and spices to bring out the boldest flavours. Their thoughtfully sourced blends are free from artificial ingredients and certified organic where possible.Try these blends tonight: Organic Sunday Roast, Organic Taco Night, La Vita e Bella, A Sprinkle of Sunshine or Butcher's Blend along with Holy Grail Garlic Salt.
La Maison du Gibier
La Maison du Gibier is a Quebec company offering lovely pates among other things. We now have the Campagne with Five Peppercorns (a classic country style pate) and the Duck Liver (and pork) with Pink Pepper and mead (a smoother duck liver mousse). Both are certified gluten free and a great addition to your charcuterie boards or on their own. Available in our Gourmet to Go fridge.
CIPRIANI BELLINI MIX
Our first two orders of this popular product were in and out of the store in short order!
The Cipriani Bellini is a famous Italian cocktail created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry's Bar in Venice. It blends 20% fresh white peach purée with 80% Prosecco. Each little bottle contains enough peach puree for 3 about drinks. Sold in packs of 4. You add the prosecco (or sparkling water for the non-alcoholic version). Get them while they last!
2026 Fall Cooking Classes to be released in our September Newsletter!
IN THE STORE
CHEESE NEWS
You choose what you want or we are happy to make the choices for you. Prices are based on the weight of the products chosen and we can work within whatever your budget is. Are you looking for crowd pleasing favourites for 12 or a higher end curated board for a small gathering with foodie friends? Either way we will make it look fabulous with the addition of dried fruit, nuts, seeds, olives, chutney and garnish. All you need to do is remove the lid and it is ready to roll! Let the nibbling begin!
Beemster Graskaas: This lovely selection from the Netherlands is only produced in the summer season. It is made only from the milk of Beemster cows, which are fed on the young spring fodder. Milk, taken during this specific period, is the creamiest milk of the year, which gives the cheese a rich and creamy consistency along with a deep flavour.
Pair with Rosé wines (like our Vendages Noctures)
Fromager d'Affinois Excellence: You already all love the double cream d'Affinois but this is the triple-cream version! It is an ultra-creamy, buttery, and silky triple-cream cow's milk cheese made by Fromagerie Guilloteau in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It features an edible, tender bloomy rind and an extra-rich texture created through a special ultrafiltration method.
Pair with a champagne or other sparkling wine to cut through that delicious fat!
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
TOMATO VEGETABLE MASCARPONE SAUCE
This was the undisputed FAVOURITE sauce of the season! Now you can try it too!
GLUTEN FREE CORNER
Cow's Creamery Moo Crisps
From the beloved creamery in PEI (and the people that brought us the practically viral chocolate covered potato chips), we have these tasty little oven baked cheddar crisps. Is it a cracker or a snacker? Only you can decide!
