JANUARY-MARCH 2026
There is clearly a time when "Happy New Year" gets a little long in the tooth but we are going with the "it's better late than never" school of thought and saying it anyway. Despite January's slow pace it seems to fly by as we "RE" everything...re-charge, re-order, re-stock, re-new. You get the picture. Before we move on to 2026, I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 2025. To my wonderful staff for keeping the store humming all year round but especially over the holidays. Their decking the halls, cooking, baking, merchandising and exceptional customer service is second to none! To all our customers - thank you thank you for shopping local and helping us keep the lights on! We thrive on your positive feedback and are so very grateful to be your "go to" place for all your gifting, culinary and entertaining needs! We hope that continues this year!
As you know our kitchen never sleeps and each week there are people peeking in the window to check what's "on the Menu" (we also post it on Instagram). Stop by and check out what's going on!
Our goal for the year is that going forward our Newsletters will be on time!
Lisa
"Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers." -- Kahlil Gibran
"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
– Oprah Winfrey
2026 Winter Cooking Classes have started!
Subject to the odd cancellation, our classes for this session are sold out. We are working on the next round (Spring-Summer) and will keep you posted!!
IN THE STORE
"Wine and the sun will make vinegar without any shouting to help them." ~George Eliot
For the love of vinegar...
Vinegar can often go unnoticed or get upstaged by beautiful olive oils or other ingredients they are paired with. Not so for the very special vinegars in this pic, which are just a fraction of the gorgeous ones we have in store. Reale Balsamico with Salt has a velvety viscosity that must be tasted to be believed. There's a white version and an 8 year old both of which would make any foodie very happy. Mussini makes a beautiful line of flavoured balsamic vinegars whose names and flavours (Arancia Calamansi, Limone di Amalfi and Lampone Rosso) will transport you to sunny southern Italy in summer. Fleur d'Olive is a Quebec company that sources ingredients from around the globe for their Canadian product line which includes Tarragon, Shallot and Oriental vinegars. We also have a new line of vinegars from a winery in Prince Edward County that we sampled in store around Christmas. All who tried it bought them! We are carrying the Solera Pinot, Black Currant and Peach selections from Canadian Vinegar Cellars.
Maxwell Williams Braisers
These cast iron beauties went like hotcakes over the holidays. If you were lucky enough to receive one, we thought we'd check in to see what you are cooking in them! Please let us know. With a 3.3 litre capacity it is the perfect size for a weeknight braise - simmering away while you shovel another round of snow! Check out our recipe below if you need some inspiration. If you weren't lucky enough to receive one, we still have a few in store and the rectangular roasting pan will be back in stock soon. Gorgeous colours make it hard to choose which I like best. What's your favourite?
Nothing like a good cuppa...
Coffee & Tea season
It's not like that's not all year but in these colder months we may slow down and have a little more time to have people over and linger over a cup of tea or coffee. It's the perfect time to brew a whole pot of something so there's enough for a second cup and more conversation. To help with that we have lovely loose leaf teas and tisanes, teapots, strainers and tea. If coffee is more your jam we have a beautiful stoneware French press that you will love, particularly when paired with our signature blend of coffee beans. Add to that mugs and frothers, dessert plates and napkins and tea/coffee time is certain to be a hit.
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.”
-- Edith Sitwell
WELCOME TO TRUFFLE LAND!
Enter into Truffleland! We have "all the things" you might want... truffle salt, black and white truffle oil, truffle ketchup or mustard (hello great burger on a brioche bun), truffle honey (a fave for drizzling on a cheese board or pizza) and truffle Gouda (no explanation required)! From Italy we have whole black truffles from La Rustichella as well as an adjustable truffle slicer from Sanelli Ambrogio to help you get them super thin. (Truffle slicer also great for shaving garlic and ginger). Pat dry before slicing as thinly as possible and finish dishes like pasta, risotto, eggs or steak to impart an earthy, umami packed flavour.
CHEESE NEWS
GLUTEN FREE CORNER
DEFINA gluten free pizza products!
We are so excited to offer this fantastic new product for our celiac (and other) friends! From the famed restaurant Pizzeria Defina in Toronto we are offering their excellent Margherita, Pepperoni and Diavolo Pizzas as well as three pack of dough balls to make your own creations. It just came in and we've already had to re-order because It's almost sold out. Can't wait for you to try them!
RISE & SHINE IT'S PANCAKE TIME!
Most of you know one of my favourite "all purpose" GF flour is Cup for Cup in the blue bag but did you know they also have a Cup for Cup Pancake & Waffle Mix? We have both in stock along with a Pancake & Waffle Mix and Cornbread Mix from Stonewall Kitchen. This is important information since maple syrup season is upon us and you need a decent platform for the deliciousness that is this quintessential Canadian elixir. Carrick Bros. (one of our local suppliers) has a fabulous Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup that shouldn't be missed. That's the "elbows up" part but if you wanted to gild the lily further you could add our Beurre D'Isigny demi salted French butter to the stack. Cook up those beauties on our Victoria Cast Iron Griddle that can be used on your stovetop, BBQ or even over a campfire (perhaps while you are allowing the tree sap to evaporate into syrup). Doesn't get better than that!
L'ARTISAN BOULANGERIE had to cancel their last pastry delivery but it has finally been re-scheduled for March 10th. We'll be restocked by then including their fabulous puff pastry!