Well Hello November! Pumpkins, falling leaves and fall chores are fading into the rear view mirror. The unseasonably warm weather has allowed us to stay in denial a little while longer but many of us are pulling out the flannels, sweaters and snow tires and steeling ourselves for the winter ahead . It makes these last sunny days feel all the more magical when we all know what is coming. So make some noise and kick up some leaves and when you're done with that settle in to hear our news...
But first a note of thanks. Remembrance Day on November 11th is always honoured in such a profound and respectful way by our town as we take the time to remember our veterans past and present. Thank you to all those who participate in this endeavour.
At the store we are in FULL ON DUCK MODE! That is to say, everything looks reasonably quiet, calm and controlled when you pop in but beneath the surface we are paddling like crazy!! The slow build to the holidays has begun. We are decking the halls, stocking the shelves and cooking like crazy. (We are wading back into soup season and the hotly anticipated returning favourites will start to reappear in our prepared meal lineup. The "bourguignones" are back, the labour-intensive lasagna is in the works, along with pies and such topped with potato or puff. Plus all manner of new entrees we don't even know about yet!) Don't forget about the Apple Crisps! A perfect finale to a fall dinner and technically it has apples and oats so it can also be breakfast food.
New classes will be released in the next newsletter (we're shooting for November 27th) with registration on Tuesday, December 1st, just in time for holiday gifting. Christmas orders are rolling in and we are busy planning and conjuring up delicious things for the freezer to make this time of year as stress-free as possible for you. Think easy-prep appetizers, comforting prepared meals and slice and bake cookies. Plus so many unique items for gifting and entertaining. To quote one of our favourite ladies… “How easy is that?”
We love the hustle and bustle of the holidays and work hard to try to find unique and classic gifts, fine food items, cheeses from near and far and prepared foods as delicious as those you would make in your own home. We hope to be part of that for you. Santa Claus will be swinging through town on November 21st. We are on his parade route and will be providing free yummy hot chocolate! Drop on by friends! Things are happening!
"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
~Henry Beston
WHO DOESN'T LOVE A COLLECTION OF YUMMY THINGS?!
The Perfect Gift is within your grasp.
Did you know we make AMAZING GIFT BASKETS? Each one is specifically curated for the intended recipient. You choose what you want or tell us about the recipient and we'll take it from there. It's one of our favourite things to do! Perfect for every occasion but especially so for the holidays.
Thoughtfully designed to deliver an unforgettable experience. From artisan truffle oils and delicious chocolates to unique gourmet items sourced from around the world, each basket is hand-packed with premium products. Stop stressing over store aisles and shipping deadlines. Call us today and we'll do the heavy lifting for you! (literally... we'll even bring it to your car...)
the best fish sauce in the land!
Red Boat Fish Sauce
This premium fish sauce is made with only TWO INGREDIENTS! Anchovies caught off the clear waters of Phu Quoc and sea salt. No dilution from water, sugar or extracts. This is the only fish sauce I use (both at home and in the store) and is widely considered the gold standard in artisanal brands. Just fully restocked!
Archie's Waffles have landed
Those of us with celiac disease are often limited with what we can eat and sometimes the substitutions offered are terrible. These waffles are not that. Developed by our own mother-daughter team (Connie works in the store and Haley has taught our baking classes), they wanted to make something everyone could enjoy. They wanted our friends and family to say "I'll have what she's having" rather than "I'm sorry you have to eat that". They believe gluten free food should be every bit as delicious as the original. These waffles are crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and are DELICIOUS! Available in our freezer now!
can you guess what this is?
Rouladenklammern and Nadeln
Many countries have a version of thinly sliced meat, rolled with something inside and enclosed in some manner (string or toothpicks or metal skewers). The Germans have Rouladen. The meat is spread with mustard (German of course), laid with bacon or lardons, onion and pickle (hotly debated whether it is slivered or whole) and braised. They invented the "Rouladenklammern" which translated is a Beef Kramp! Basically you clamp them together to avoid the tying process. Genius. Yes, use it for rouladen, or involtini (Italy), Beef Olives (UK), Paupiettes (France) but they'd also work for whatever needs "bundling" during cooking like asparagus. We also have the "Nadeln" which are metal skewers. Great to have in your arsenal when you don't quite know what to use - truss a chicken, poke a hole in an egg, and so much more. Stainless Steel and dishwasher safe.
Who needs a good olive?
Organic Bella Di Cerignola Olives
... from Puglia, Italy are just begging to be added to a martini. These large, meaty olives are known as the "Queen of Italian Olives". They feature a crisp, firm texture and a mild, buttery, subtly sweet flavor. So delicious!
santa claus in comin' to town...
on Saturday, November 21st
... and the Passionate Cook is on his route!
For the 16TH YEAR IN A ROW, we will be handing out FREE hot chocolate to help you celebrate the Santa Claus parade.
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!
GLUTEN FREE CORNER
Cookie it up biscuits are back! Gluten free peeps, we've got you. Gluten Free Chocolate chip and Butterscotch shortbread and they are absolutely delicious!
Hey pasta lovers!
Most of us have had La Venezianne in various shapes (penne, fettuce, the little Ditalini and lasagna sheets). It's one of my faves and a regular on our GF shelves.
We also just got a new Cannelloni from Piaceri Meditterranei. Made in Italy and ready to try with your favourite filling - spinach and ricotta or meat and topped with a lovely sauce of your choice.
We have lots of fantastic Gluten Free goodies for the holidays.
Our Belgian chocolates are gluten free, we have our favourite pastries from Montreal in stock as well as many other delicious treats, including our house made Slice & Bake Cookies and Cheddar Coins. Stock up on some waffles or pastries for Christmas morning or make something sweet or savoury using the GF puff!