We received our order from the east coast on Monday evening. We are stocked full of olives and olive oil, sweet and hot paprika, fig cakes, orange cakes, lemon cakes, saffron, sherry vinegar and even cava vinegar. We also have artichoke hearts from Spain and piquillo peppers. Marcona almonds and the wildly addictive chocolate almonds too.
What did not get here was the Biellese items. Our box got overlooked and will be out next week. To make matters worse the hot sopressata and the basque were not ready yet and did not make it into our box. Our friends at Biellese are trying to figure out how to get product to us quickly and cost effectively. In the mean time we are really happy with what did come in especially the cheese. We have Beaufort, Comte Ft. Lucotte, Fleur de Maquis, the 5yr aged Gouda, Chimay Grand Cru cheese (really great with beer) and Maytag blue. We will be posting what we received from Biellese when it actually gets here. Stay tuned.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Loaded Up!
Happy Monday everyone! Well, we are receiving our order this evening from the east coast. This brings to us Salumeria Biellese and their wonderful charcuterie as well as some great cheese from Europe. We will also be receiving our first shipment in a really long time of Miguel& Valentino. Miguel & Valentino were on our shelves when we first opened and we have missed them dearly. Our previous distributor for this was not able to deliver consistently and at the quality level I expect. So we have been working long and hard with M&V to find a way to get it to us. And here you go. I will post a list of everything that came in on Tuesday or Wednesday so that all of you can get first crack at it Thursday. There are some items that will go quickly so keep checking here and if you want something specific call us. Cheers.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Shades of things to come
As I write this news of Anheuser Busch being bought by InBev is breaking. Now I am no fan of AB's "beer", but it is an American company and they have been here for a long time. Not only that, but AB does give back to their community in numerous and often unseen ways. But InBev is a behemoth from Belgium. Of course everyone is thinking "hey, I like Belgian beer" but there is much more to this than meets the eye. You need to be able to see in to the future a bit to see how this is going to hurt us all.
Prices for grain are at an all time high. The price for hops has tripled and even quadrupled just in the last year. This means that brewers either put in less hops (read less flavor) in their beer or they raise the price (read less people buying it). As less people buy it they are faced with lagging inventory. This is where the small brewers get squeezed. They either minimize their profits to nil to stay in business, or they sell or go under. But who would buy a business like this? Who could buy a business like this? The behemoth can and will.
InBev is the largest beverage company in the world. They are the Wal-Mart of beverages which means they can affect prices. They can buy a large share of the worlds grain and hops and force prices upwards. The small guys either raise prices or cut quality or go under.
We will soon see the attrition in the ranks of small local brewers, not just here in Walla Walla but across the nation and even across the world. Your favorite brew will become more expensive then will disappear. This will begin to happen with other items as well. Corn is now being made into bio fuel. This will drive up the price of ear corn, tortillas and tortilla chips, popcorn, and even soda (high fructose corn syrup). Wheat prices are skyrocketing too. The price of pasta is at an all time high, the price of bread is beginning to go up. Cereals will soon start this upward climb. Can you imagine paying an extra dollar or more for your wheaties?
So what can be done? You can boycott all of InBev's products (Beck's, Stella Artois, Hoegarten (ever wonder why we don't carry it?),Bass, Bohemia, Boddington's, Fransiskaner, Kokanee, Labatts, Spaten, St. Pauli Girl) these are only a FEW. You can boycott Wal-mart, but since they are opening new stores in China it won't make any difference.
The real solution is to buy local. Really local. Encourage your local brewer to buy the local grains. Encourage your local farmers to sell their grain locally. Here in Walla Walla we grow wheat. All kinds. Why couldn't we be milling at least a portion of that wheat here in town and supplying local bakers and brewers with that grain? Support your local businesses. Don't get your produce at Costco or Wal-Mart. Go to your local green grocer or even better your local farmer.
AB's buy out may not be the end of civilization but it might just be the start.
Prices for grain are at an all time high. The price for hops has tripled and even quadrupled just in the last year. This means that brewers either put in less hops (read less flavor) in their beer or they raise the price (read less people buying it). As less people buy it they are faced with lagging inventory. This is where the small brewers get squeezed. They either minimize their profits to nil to stay in business, or they sell or go under. But who would buy a business like this? Who could buy a business like this? The behemoth can and will.
InBev is the largest beverage company in the world. They are the Wal-Mart of beverages which means they can affect prices. They can buy a large share of the worlds grain and hops and force prices upwards. The small guys either raise prices or cut quality or go under.
We will soon see the attrition in the ranks of small local brewers, not just here in Walla Walla but across the nation and even across the world. Your favorite brew will become more expensive then will disappear. This will begin to happen with other items as well. Corn is now being made into bio fuel. This will drive up the price of ear corn, tortillas and tortilla chips, popcorn, and even soda (high fructose corn syrup). Wheat prices are skyrocketing too. The price of pasta is at an all time high, the price of bread is beginning to go up. Cereals will soon start this upward climb. Can you imagine paying an extra dollar or more for your wheaties?
So what can be done? You can boycott all of InBev's products (Beck's, Stella Artois, Hoegarten (ever wonder why we don't carry it?),Bass, Bohemia, Boddington's, Fransiskaner, Kokanee, Labatts, Spaten, St. Pauli Girl) these are only a FEW. You can boycott Wal-mart, but since they are opening new stores in China it won't make any difference.
The real solution is to buy local. Really local. Encourage your local brewer to buy the local grains. Encourage your local farmers to sell their grain locally. Here in Walla Walla we grow wheat. All kinds. Why couldn't we be milling at least a portion of that wheat here in town and supplying local bakers and brewers with that grain? Support your local businesses. Don't get your produce at Costco or Wal-Mart. Go to your local green grocer or even better your local farmer.
AB's buy out may not be the end of civilization but it might just be the start.
Bagging!
It's time to bag. If you are pregnant, or faint of heart you should navigate away from this page now. All warnings have been given, so if you are still here there is now no excuse as to what to expect. This is the part where I go off on a tangent about something that most people would consider insignificant or a minor nuisance at most, but I consider a serious annoyance. But, you'd been expecting that right?
What the heck is a gourmand? You think you know? Let's review:
From Webster's
Gor"mand\, n. [F. gourmand; cf. Prov. F. gourmer to sip, to lap, gourmacher to eat improperly, F. gourme mumps, glanders, Icel. gormr mud, mire, Prov. E. gorm to smear, daub; all perh. akin to E. gore blood, filth. Cf. Gourmand.] A greedy or ravenous eater
I know some want to think that it means gourmet, but alas no. I do not ever want to be considered a GOURMAND. It sounds disgusting. There also seems to be an elitist connotation to it. Like they think that they are better than the rest of us. People it is just food. Food is not art, nor a birthright, nor a condition of status-at least it shouldn't be. If some one tells you that they are a GOURMAND then tell them what it really means and tell them to come down off their high horse. It's just food. Cheers.
What the heck is a gourmand? You think you know? Let's review:
From Webster's
Gor"mand\, n. [F. gourmand; cf. Prov. F. gourmer to sip, to lap, gourmacher to eat improperly, F. gourme mumps, glanders, Icel. gormr mud, mire, Prov. E. gorm to smear, daub; all perh. akin to E. gore blood, filth. Cf. Gourmand.] A greedy or ravenous eater
I know some want to think that it means gourmet, but alas no. I do not ever want to be considered a GOURMAND. It sounds disgusting. There also seems to be an elitist connotation to it. Like they think that they are better than the rest of us. People it is just food. Food is not art, nor a birthright, nor a condition of status-at least it shouldn't be. If some one tells you that they are a GOURMAND then tell them what it really means and tell them to come down off their high horse. It's just food. Cheers.
Udon Mentsuyu
What is Udon Mentsuyu you ask? We'll udon as many of you probably know are noodles, the largest of Japanese noodles. Mentsuyu is a dipping sauce for said noodles. So what does this have to do with anything? Well cold udon noodles are usually served with mentsuyu or other sauce in summer in Japan and since Sasayama is our sister city, we are serving them here. This will be available all weekend until supplies run out. We are serving this in store but it can be packed to go if need be. Cheers.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Salumi my heart!
We just received in our latest shipment from our friends at Salumi in Seattle. The bad news is we did not receive the Agrumi (now very popular), and the Finnochiona. The good news is that we received in a new Culatello, (yes we have friends in high places) and the Lamb Prosciutto. We have a whole leg of the lamb prosciutto so come and get it!
All of our Salumeria Biellese comes in next week, including a few new items. We will also be receiving in some olives and olive oil that we have not seen in a year or so. We were finally able to get this going again and you no longer have to be without. We will also have back in stock the fig, orange and lemon cakes that many of you fell in love with.
Summer Produce is really starting to come on now and we just received our first batch of local Blueberries! We also still have a few cherries left, local fava beans and the first of the Hermiston Watermelons. If there is something you are looking for but can't find let us know. We'll try to locate it for you.
We have some great wines right now including great summer quaffers! If you have never tried Vinho Verde you must this summer. Light and refreshing this is THE summer drink of Portugal. We have other great chilled wines including a great selection of rose's.
We are also serving in store this week cold udon with mentsuyu. This is a classic Japanese summer snack. Cold udon noodles served with a dipping sauce. Great when you need a little something but nothing too hot or heavy. Cheers until next time.
All of our Salumeria Biellese comes in next week, including a few new items. We will also be receiving in some olives and olive oil that we have not seen in a year or so. We were finally able to get this going again and you no longer have to be without. We will also have back in stock the fig, orange and lemon cakes that many of you fell in love with.
Summer Produce is really starting to come on now and we just received our first batch of local Blueberries! We also still have a few cherries left, local fava beans and the first of the Hermiston Watermelons. If there is something you are looking for but can't find let us know. We'll try to locate it for you.
We have some great wines right now including great summer quaffers! If you have never tried Vinho Verde you must this summer. Light and refreshing this is THE summer drink of Portugal. We have other great chilled wines including a great selection of rose's.
We are also serving in store this week cold udon with mentsuyu. This is a classic Japanese summer snack. Cold udon noodles served with a dipping sauce. Great when you need a little something but nothing too hot or heavy. Cheers until next time.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Liquid Gold. . .or green
Our Olive Oil Bar is now open and ready for all those looking for great oil and less waste. Waste? you ask? Yes, waste. Every time you buy a bottle of olive oil in glass that glass is usually thrown away. Especailly here in Walla Walla where for no good reason the city does not recycle glass. Think about all of the wine bottles we have to throw away! So in the effort to promote real recycling and better product we started the olive oil bar.
We currently have four different oils to choose from and as interest grows so will the selection. Right now we have Italian EVOO, Spainsh EVOO, California EVOO and a Turkish EVOO. Turkey is one of the oldest olive producing countries in the world and as you might expect they are pretty good at producing oil. Many Italian EVOOs (extra virgin olive oil) are produced from olives from around the mediteranean, including Turkey. All of the oils have distinct flavors and are very different. No, we are not going to tell you all about them, that would spoil the surprise for you. You'll just have to come in and find out for yourself.
We are also fortunate to have some fantastic fava beans right now. These are locally grown and are delicious lightly sauteed in EVOO(shamelss plug) with a little grated Pecorino Romano (shameless plug). If you have never tired fava beans before you must, especially when they are this fresh, and maybe with a nice chianti. . .
We currently have four different oils to choose from and as interest grows so will the selection. Right now we have Italian EVOO, Spainsh EVOO, California EVOO and a Turkish EVOO. Turkey is one of the oldest olive producing countries in the world and as you might expect they are pretty good at producing oil. Many Italian EVOOs (extra virgin olive oil) are produced from olives from around the mediteranean, including Turkey. All of the oils have distinct flavors and are very different. No, we are not going to tell you all about them, that would spoil the surprise for you. You'll just have to come in and find out for yourself.
We are also fortunate to have some fantastic fava beans right now. These are locally grown and are delicious lightly sauteed in EVOO(shamelss plug) with a little grated Pecorino Romano (shameless plug). If you have never tired fava beans before you must, especially when they are this fresh, and maybe with a nice chianti. . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
