Wine and Food Tasting - February 27th & 28th

Friday, February 27th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  

Food

• Cheese
• Dark Chocolate

Wines

• Ventura (I was told all varietals, but not sure what "all" TFM has.  Also, if there's a new and prior vintage I'll do a side-by-side tasting.)

 Saturday, February 21st (1:00 to 4:00 PM)

Food

• Cheese

Wines

• Rodney Strong Chardonnay
• Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Grigio
• Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir
• Rodney Strong Cabernet

Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Angels Cup.  Sale Price - $7.00.

Recipes: Over Cream Cheese

Yes, another over cream cheese.  It's my go-to when I need quick and delicious.  

I had no intention of sampling food this weekend.  All I planned was to wander TFM in search of Stonewall Kitchen's Maple Bacon Aioli.  It has not come in to the store yet, but I saw that one of my favorites - Stonewall Kitchen's Smoky Barbecue Aioli - was a "last chance" item. Fresh Market was no longer going to carry it.  Remember everyone's favorite recipe, Rotisserie Pork with Smoky Barbecue Aioli on White House Rolls?  Fantastic!  Anyway, Friday,  I decided I'd sample it out and took all the product off the shelf.  

Goat Cheese, Shrimp, and Smoky Barbecue Aioli
1 (8 oz.) log goat cheese
1/3 lb. shrimp, chopped
1/3 jar Stonewall Kitchen Smoky 
     Barbecue Aioli

Place goat cheese on a serving plate.  Top with shrimp, then aioli.  Serve.


Cream Cheese, Ham and Smoky Barbecue Aioli
8 oz. TFM cream cheese, softened
2 slices (¼ inch thick) Virginia baked ham, diced
1/3 jar Stonewall Kitchen Smokey Barbecue Aioli

Place cream cheese on a serving plate.  Top with ham, then aioli.  Serve.

My personal favorite was with ham.  Customer's favorite was with shrimp.  Regardless, sold all but 2 jars of Aioli.  Damn!  I wanted to sell out.  In any event, at TFM Midlo, the Stonewall Kitchen Smoky Barbecue Aioli is  no more.

*******

Since I was not able to sample the Smoky Barbecue Aioli on Saturday and I had diced ham left from Friday I had all Friday night to think "what to sample on Saturday?".  I decided on Stonewall Kitchen Apple Jalapeno Jelly over cream cheese with ham and smoked almonds.  It sounded fun in my mind, but ... Oh, what the heck.

Cream Cheese, Ham, Apple Jalapeno Jelly and Smoked Almonds

16 oz. TFM Cream Cheese, softened

2 slices (¼ inch thick) Virginia baked ham, diced
½  jar Stonewall Kitchen Apple Jalapeno Jelly
Smoked almonds, coarsely chopped

Place cream cheese on a serving plate.  Top with ham, then jelly.  Garnish with almonds.  Serve.

I prepared a quick sample of my recipe/idea and Nicole and I tasted.  It was, in my opinion ... good.  Nicole thought it was ... very good.  The smoked almonds were overpowered by the jelly, but the texture and crunch of the almonds was perfect. (So, use any nut  you would enjoy.) I put the finished dish on my table for sampling and ... who knew ... customers LOVED it.  "Yum" ...  "Delicious" ... "Excellent" ... "Perfect"  I was in shock but thrilled.  This recipe was the favorite of the weekend.  

Wine and Food Tasting - Febuary 20th & 21st

Friday, February 20th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  

Food

• I'll find a cheese or two.

Wines

• Columbia Crest Grand Estate Chardonnay
• Dreaming Tree Chardonnay
• Dreaming Tree Crush
• Dreaming Tree Cabernet
• Maybe I'll find some others to help us settle in for bad weather.

 Saturday, February 21st (1:00 to 4:00 PM)

Food

• Cheese

Wines

• Louis Jadot Macon-Villages
• Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages
• Primal Roots Red Blend
• I think we need more than 3 wines don't you?

Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Gravelly Ford.  Sale Price - $6.00.

Wine and Food Tasting - Feburary 13th & 14th

Wine tasting schedule is below.  But, first a couple things ...

Shiloh is at the vet's right now.  I brought him in for surgery and he took a turn for the worse.  Not sure if he'll even make it to surgery.  Joe, you told me Shi would let me know when it was time.  I'm afraid this might be it.  2/13/15 (Friday the 13th has always been a lucky day for me.) Soooo happy to say Shi made it through surgery. Spoke with the vet this morning and he's growling at them.  For those of you that don't know Shi, that's a great sign.  Relieved!

Jim emailed me today that the TFM sign went up at the Barnes & Noble that closed off Hull St.   He asked if I'd transfer there.  I've been considering it, but ... what do you think?  

Friday, February 13th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  
(Katherine is filling in for me.  I'll be at Southern Season for their wine tasting, Friday's Uncorked, serving Wild Hibiscus Flowers.)

Wines

• Mumm Napa Brut
• Mumm Napa Rose
• J Lohr Chardonnay
• J Lohr Cabernet

 Saturday, February 14th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)

Food

• Cheese

Wines

• Frexienet Brut
• Cupcake Red Velvet
• Cupcake Cabernet

Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Salvatore Principe.  Sale Price - $7.00.

Wine and Food Tasting - February 6th & 7th

Friday, February 5th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  
(Linda is filling in for me.)

Wines

• Dreaming Tree Chardonnay
• Dreaming Tree Crush
• Dreaming Tree Cabernet
• Coppola Rosso Bianco Rosso

 Saturday, February 7th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)
(Jen is filling in for me.)

Wines

• Rex-Goliath Chardonnay
• Rex-Goliath Pinot Grigio
• Rex-Goliath Pinot Noir
• Rex-Goliath Cabernet

Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Rex-Goliath.  Sale Price - $5.00.

Do you Dillapeno?

Dillapeno Fans.

Dillapeno Fans to be.

Non-Dillapeno fans (because you find it too spicy) who will become Dillapeno Fans.

At my TFM Parham wine tasting last night I selected the Jarlsberg Spread to sample out.   Because it was not a busy evening I had time to think (FYI - that translates to "The store wasn't busy so I was bored.") what food could I sample at TFM Midlo next time.  I had a light bulb moment --- DILLAPENO! You know it's my addiction.  What could be easier than TFM's Jarlsberg Spread topped with Dillapeno?  Grabbed the jar off the shelf and magic.  Customers enjoyed the combination and some even said the Jarlsberg Spread tasted better with Dillapeno.  

You could mix Dillapeno into the spread if you like.  I let customers put it on top themselves.  I think it also looks prettier.  Look how Dillapeno glistens; like green and orange jewels. (However, I would use a cracker that wasn't so "pale".)  Anyway, for those that don't like a little spice in their life, the dairy in the spread calms down the "heat".  Give it a try.  You'll be glad you did!

Since the Jarlsberg Spread is seasonal at TFM you can also make your own.  I have Jarlsberg Bacon Spread posted.  Serious.  What doesn't go with bacon?

Shiloh Update

Shiloh

I've said it before and I'll say it again, and again, and again ... 

I HAVE THE BEST CUSTOMERS!  

At my tasting Friday night a number of customers heard about Shiloh.  Saturday when they came in to the store they asked how he was doing and for me to post an update.  I am so VERY happy to say Shi came home this morning!

The internal bleeding has stopped.  The stroke has his walking off a bit, but not too bad. Can't do the stairs and has to be carried for that (something in his 14½ years of life, he's NEVER let us do).  It's the least of his issues.  His bronchial pneumonia is being treated.  He'll have x-rays in 10 days to see if the pneumonia is cleared up.  If it is he will have surgery to remove the tumor on his liver.  Between now and then we have to hope he doesn't bleed internally again.

Shi is happy to be home and resting.  I did give him his favorite toy and he was able to play with it. He's back to mooching for treats.  All positive signs. So far. So good.

Peanut

However, he's still not a fan of Peanut (Sarah's Jack Russell).

Thanks for asking and caring!  XOXO

Recipe: Chicken Cheese Spread

Last weekend and this, I had a two table sampling hoping to inspire ideas for Super Bowl parties.  Since I didn't have "TFM tme" I did products over cream cheese.  However, I was tired of "over cream" cheese by Saturday and had to prepare something that would not take a lot of time.   I made Chicken Cheese Spread.  As always, I was relieved when my ever faithful taste testers gave it the thumbs up.  I was even more relieved when customers enjoyed it.

My Chicken Cheese Spread was an adaptation of Robert Rothschild Farms Artichoke Chicken Spread.  Here's the original recipe:

Here's my adaptation:

Chicken Cheese Spread
12 oz. TFM Rotisserie Chicken Salad
½ c. red onion, diced
½ c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1 c. shredded NY Cheddar
½ c. Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip
1 tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. paprika
TFM French Rounds or Pretzel Crisps

Place all ingredients, except French rounds or Pretzel Crisps, in a medium mixing bowl.  Mix until thoroughly combined.  Place in serving bowl.  Serve.