Thursday, April 30, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - May 1st & 2nd


I will not be at Fresh Market on Saturday as I will be at Southern Season for their Cinco de Mayo event.  There will be music and sampling throughout the store from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.  Pat and I will be sampling products from Robert Rothschild Farms and Earth & Vine.  FYI - there is also a Farmers Market in Southern Season's parking lot.


Friday, May 1st (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Cheese

Wines
  • Handprint Chardonnay
  • Kris Pinot Grigio
  • Dark Horse Cabernet
  • Bran Caia Red Blend


Saturday, May 2nd (1:00 to 4:00 PM)  
(Leslie is filling in for me.)

Food
  • Cheese



Wines
  • Butterfield Station - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet



Stock Up Saturday Sale wine
Butterfield Station 
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet
Sale Price - 2/$12


Monday, April 27, 2015

You're Invited! Cinco de Mayo sampling


I know I said this blog was only for my wine and food tastings at The Fresh Market, but ... I lied.


I will not be at TFM Saturday (May 2nd), but will be at Southern Season (Richmond) sampling Stonewall Kitchen, Robert Rothschild Farm, and Earth & Vine Provisions.

Southern Season will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with music and samplings throughout the store. 

Mark your calendar for: 
Saturday, May 2nd
12:00 to 5:00 PM

Pat will be there with me, as will our little friends Eduardo and Pedro.






Recipes: Wild Maine Blueberry Tartlets - Peach Melba - Goat Cheese, Cream Cheese and Basil Cheese Ball with Strawberry Jam


The Fresh Market had Stonewall Kitchen jams on special this month.  With this being the last weekend before they went off sale, I prepared samples for Mother's Day.  All were easy to prepare, delicious, and a big hit with customers.

This first recipe is from Stonewall Kitchen's website.  

Wild Maine Blueberry Tartlets
½ c. whipping or heavy cream
2 Tbl. sugar
1/3 c. Stonewall Kitchen 
     Wild Maine Blueberry Jam
4 oz. Mascarpone cheese, 
     room temperature
24 Clearbrook Farms Read-to-Fill 
     Mini Sweet Tart Shells
Garnish: Blueberries, candied lemon 
     peel, lemon zest, or whipped 
     cream with a small mint leaf

In medium bowl, beat cream and sugar until soft peaks form.

In another medium bowl, beat Mascarpone and jam until uniform.  Beat in whipped cream.

Place blueberry filling in a pastry bag fitted with a large tip. Fill each pastry cup. Garnish with a small blueberry, candied lemon peel, lemon zest, or whipped cream with a small mint leaf.

Yields: 30 tartlets

I did not use a pastry bag to pipe the filling into the tartlets.  I used my small scoop; quick and easy.  I garnished with lemon zest and a fresh blueberry.

Wild Maine Blueberry Jam is packed full of wild Maine blueberries.  My husband loves it on toasted English muffins.

*******

Not only is this next recipe delicious, it's versatile.  You can use pound cake, angel food cake, sweet tart shells, or short cake.  One customer is going to use an angel food cake and layer it with the jam, fruit and fresh whipped cream.

Pound Cake base


Angel Food Cake base

Peach Melba
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
confectioners' sugar, to taste
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam
1 can (16 oz.) sliced peaches
1 cake of choice - Angel Food Cake (sliced), Pound Cake (sliced), 
     Sweet Tart Shells, or Shortcake (split)

Place cream in a medium mixing bowl and beat until soft peaks form.  Add vanilla and confectioners' sugar.  Beat until firm peaks form.  Refrigerate.

Place cake on serving plate.  Spread jam on top of each slice.  Top with sliced peaches.  Garnish with whipped cream.  Serve and enjoy!

*******

This last recipe was an "Oops!", but it was a delicious "Oops!" and customers couldn't stop eating it. Strawberry and fresh basil is a great combination.

Goat Cheese, Cream Cheese and Basil Cheese Ball 
with Strawberry Jam
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. Beemster Goat Cheese, shredded
fresh basil, chiffonade, to taste
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Strawberry Jam
garnish: sliced almonds
crackers

Place cream cheese, goat cheese, and basil in a medium mixing bowl.  Blend together by hand until it holds together.   Form into a square, or rectangle and place on serving dish. Top with jam and garnish with almonds.  Serve with your favorite crackers.

I really wanted to put the jam over goat cheese but all Nicole had was Beemster's goat cheese which is hard.  So, I went with it.  Looking back the cheese ball was quite firm and I'm thinking adding a tad of cream would soften it.  Well ... maybe next time.  

This recipe also works with Brie, Strawberry Jam, fresh basil and almonds.

Stonewall Kitchen's Strawberry Jam is also delicious on toast.  My daughter cannot get enough of this jam.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - April 24th & 25th


This is the last weekend for the sale on Stonewall Kitchen jams.  I'm going to sample three of them with easy, delicious recipes for celebrating Mother's Day.  Treats you won't want to miss.

Friday, April 24th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Goat Cheese with Strawberry Jam, fresh Basil and Almonds
  • Brie with Wild Maine Blueberry Jam and fresh Thyme

Wines
  • Tipping Point Chardonnay
  • Equilibrium White Blend
  • UNO Cabernet
  • Saved Red Blend

 Saturday, April 25th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)


Food  (Mother's Day Celebration)
  • Wild Maine Blueberry Tartlets
  • Peach Melba
  • Brie with Strawberry Jam, fresh Basil, and Almonds

Wines
  • Beach House White
  • Beach House Red
  • Liberty School Chardonnay
  • Liberty School Cabernet


Stock Up Saturday Sale wine
Grand Noir 
Sale Price - 2/$14

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - April 17th & 18th



I got to select the wines for Friday's tasting. I'll be pouring wines that are new into the store and one from 90/20.   

Friday, April 17th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Robert Rothschild Ginger Wasabi Sauce over Cream Cheese with Rice Crackers

Wines
  • Untold Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sonnenband Riesling
  • Handprint Red Blend
  • Untold Zinfandel
  • Masi Campofiorin

 Saturday, April 18th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)


Food
  • Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Cheese Ball

Wines
  • Blackstone Chardonnay
  • Rainstorm Pinot Gris
  • Rainstorm Pinot Noir
  • Blackstone Pinot Noir
  • Blackstone Merlot
  • Blackstone Cabernet


Stock Up Saturday Sale 
Gravelly Ford  
Sale Price - 2 for $12.00
(Remember, Fresh Market has changed their policy and you MUST purchase at least 2.)

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - Aprl 10th & 11th



I'm back!  After 2 weekends, it's time to get the party started!

I'm not working for my distributor this weekend, so I got to pick the wines.  A little white.  A little red.  A LOT of fun! I hope you all enjoy my selections.



Friday, April 10th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Willie Byrd Peppermint Chocolate Sauce
  • Willie Byrd Dark Chocolate Sauce

Wines
  • Sileni Sauvignon Blanc
  • Rainstorm Pinot Grigio
  • Rainstorm Pinot Noir
  • Clayhouse Cabernet
  • Oronta Garnacha

 Saturday, April 11th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)


Food
  • Willie Byrd Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Sauce
  • Willie Byrd Espresso Chocolate Sauce

Wines
  • Hawthorne Ridge Chardonnay
  • White Clover Sauvignon Blanc
  • White Clover Pinot Noir
  • Hawthorne Ridge Cabernet
  • Hawthorne Ridge Merlot



Friday, April 10th 
&
 Saturday, April 11th 


20% off your wine purchase of 12+ bottles (excludes sale wines).




Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Alamos.  Sale Price - $7.00.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - April 4th


Tasting scheduled last minute.

Saturday, April 4th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)
(Leslie is filling in for me.)


Wines
  • Columbia Crest H3 Chardonnay
  • Seven Daughters Chardonnay
  • Seven Daughters Pinot Noir
  • Columbia Crest H3 Merlot


Stock Up Friday and Saturday Sale wine is Castle Rock.  Sale Price - $6.00.