Spanish Artisan Chocolate

Just in this week - CARO artisan chocolate from Spain. This family has been making chocolate for three generations, and it shows in the quality of this product. My brother, who swears by Spanish Nestle (it is different) ate an entire block tonight then went back to try the dark chocolate.

We've cut these into smaller pieces so you can try it out. The whole bars are 1K (2.2 lbs), wrapped in paper, tied with string - very old world. Great gift that you won't see many places. Break on whole bars - $30, compared to the per pound price for pieces - save over $6.

Lots of dark in this week; ample milk to last until next week when my order will be filled.

If you are interested in this as a holiday item, PREORDER! This is not a stock item for my vendor so we need some lead time.

Stop by, check it out. If you tell me you saw it on my blog and there are no samples out I will open one up for you!

Fig & Marcona Almond "Cakes"

New this week! Whole figs pressed into a "cake" with those fabulous Marcona almonds. Slice it and serve it with cheeses -wonderful with Manchego or other sheeps' milk cheeses. Cut in smaller pieces, so you don't have to commit big up front!

St. Andre is back!

I've done one heck of a lot of cheese prepping this week! One of your favorites is back - St. Andre!

This piece is very young, so there is ample time for aging. Even young it has a buttery, cheesecake-like texture, and is very creamy on the palate. As it ages, it becomes softer, and butterier. A triple creme, when perfectly ripe and with the right wine, it makes my eyes roll back in my head.

I like this cheese particularly with a buttery chardonnay with and a bit of oak, such as Lava Cap Chardonnay ($20). We have many other wines that would also match well for more and less.

New Cheese - Romao Queso al Romeo

(row-MAY-oh) is an artisanal sheep's milk cheese from Cuenca. Hand-rubbed with oil and fresh rosemary, it is cave-aged for eight months. Estanslao and his brother have been making this cheese for many years. It is full flavored and complex, with a long finish that highlights the rosemary. Right now I am sipping a glass of Lustau Papirusa light Manzanilla sherry, and boy do I wish I had a little piece of this cheese to nibble on.

This is the same cheesemaker that produces the raw milk Manchego that everyone has loved so much!

New Cheese - UnieKaas Gouda

There are lots of goudas out there, and this is something special. Royal Black Gouda is a premium aged Dutch Gouda, aged eighteen months. Almost but not quite as hard as Parmesan Reggiano, this cow's milk cheese is firm, golden, and has a wonderful rich nutty flavor. It can be enjoyed with wine or beer, or grated onto pastas, gratins and other dishes.

New Cheese - Mahon

This is a D.O cheese from Minorca Spain. Made from pasteurized cow's milk, Mahon has a texture that melts on th palate, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Slightly nutty with a full arouma, somewhat buttery. Appropriate with all Spanish red wines or beer.

New Cheese - Taleggio

One of our newest arrivals! Taleggio is a washed rind cheese from Italy. This is name/place controlled (DOP) to assure quality. (tah-KEDGE-oh) is made from cow's milk (this one is pasteurized) , and has a creamy, nutty, slightly saline flavor. Rub or scrape away the over wrapping and enjoy it alone or with a dry Italian wine!

Robert Rothschild Now In Stock

By popular demand, we now have Robert Rothschild Farms sauces, salsas and spreads in stock. We’ve had repeat requests for the raspberry salsa – we’ve got it now!

This is a start-up order of their best-selling items. If there’s a favorite you don’t see, let Robbie know! Here’s what’s in the first shipment: raspberry honey mustard dip, blackberry honey mustard dip, onion blossom horseradish dip, roasted pineapple and habanero dip, raspberry salsa, southwest dip, raspberry wasabi mustard, Anna Mae’s smoky mustard, apricot mango wasabi sauce, ginger wasabi sauce, toasted garlic horseradish dip, roasted green chili salsa, Asian sesame oven & grill sauce, Anna Mae’s sweet smoky oven and grill sauce, hot pepper peach preserves, hot pepper raspberry preserve, strawberry rhubarb preserve and red raspberry gourmet sauce. Lots of recipes are scattered about the display. Nice lineup with interesting and unusual flavor profiles!

Carol's Cookies

Hi All. We've had Carol's Cookies in for about three months now but many Cincy folk are not familiar with just how fabulous these cookies are. They're big - about a half pound each. They are made with natural ingredients, real butter and what you would put into YOUR cookies! No preservatives. Here's a link so you can read more. These are available at some very high end retail stores Carol's Cookies

Staple items are chocolate chip and sugar cookies, but you'll occasionally see other flavors making a cameo appearance. Try one! Warning: they are addictive!