Local Cheeses

More Tasty Goodness from Sprout Creek Farm.

Look for 3 cheeses: Ouray, an old favorite - nutty and buttery, Bogart, Mild and crumbly and Batch 35 - something of a maverick (not in the John McCain way) - washed rind, semi-soft and delicious. On the shelf this week.

Sprout Creek Farm

Bela Sardines Are BACK!

And I ordered 50 cases of each flavor, so don't panic purchase

Hot Sauce, Lemon Sauce, Olive Oil, Tomato and the Boneless & Skinless varieties. They're all in the store and on the shelf. Come and get 'em,

Weekend snacking

Zapp's Cajun Dill Tater Chips & New Zealand's Favorite Licorice

Speaking as an snacker, not a grocery buyer this time, there are two salty, sweet treats dangling above our heads.

SALTY
Kevin is starting a flirtation with the Zapp's Kettle Chip people in Louisiana. First in, the Cajun Dill flavor, which packs a little picante along with the pickley goodness. We found them above the meat freezer, although they may move. From their site:
"Back in the age before computers ruled the world, great potato chips were cooked in kettles, a batch at a time. Zapp's is unique, continuing in this traditional method of slow cooking our thick cut potato slices in a cholesterol free peanut oil blend for maximum crunchiness and flavor. Then we season them with our great spices that make your mouth say 'It's Mardi Gras Time!'"

SWEET

RJ's Natural Licorice, seen here in Raspberry. The package says it's New Zealand's Favourite Licorice, and we have no information to the contrary. The shape is peculiar, but the flavor is great if you love licorice ropes. (I love licorice ropes.) Intriguingly colored by elederberry and black carrot juice, and flavored with actual raspberry juice, it's vegan, preservative-free, and family run. Located hanging at the end of Aisle Seven.

http://www.zapps.com/
http://rjslicorice.co.nz/

Transport yourself to the sunny Mediterranean (or maybe Canada) with these delicious yogurt delights

Expanding our local selection with another 2 great flavors from those Canadians at Liberte

Liberte's New Coconut and Lemon Mediterranean Yogurt

If you think it's cold here in Brooklyn, think about how cold it is in Quebec?!?

Imagine the yogurt makers up there at Liberte sitting in their creamery one cold day chewing on some hay, milking their cows when they said "Goodness I could use a holiday! Somewhere warm, with beaches and coconuts. I miss those lazy summer dog days, evenings with lemonade on the porch..."

That's all it took. Mediterranean-style, like the Greek isles crossed with sandy white palm tree beaches of the tropics. "I've got it! Coconut flavored Mediterranean style yogurt. Take me away!"

Or maybe thoughts were closer to home. "Say, I miss those warm summer evenings, fresh squeezed lemonade on the portch. What should I make for that picnic? Hmmm... Lemon Meringue Pie!"

Eureka! That's all it took.

Liberte recently announced 2 new flavors to their already stellar lineup of Mediterranean-style yogurt - Coconut and Lemon. We want 'em. I know we do. Heck, yesterday I brought the Coconut upstairs and put it on the shelf for the first time. 15 minutes and BLAM-O. Over half a case was gone, disappeared into the neverending pit, that fantasy shopping cart that holds everything you'd ever want to eat...delicious.

Think coconut cream pie. Think lemon meringue pie. Think BREAKFAST just got a whole lot better. In the yogurt case now! (Unless it already sold out! I'll try to keep up with demand.)

UPDATE: Today, Friday the 6th, we were shorted both the Coconut and the Lemon yogurts from our Supplier. OH NO! We should get many more cases on Monday though. Sorry if you missed out, but once we get it in stock, it should never leave again...except in your belly.

Southern Tier Brewing embraces winter with it's strong seasonal line-up

New York state has been putting itself back on the brewing map for a couple decades now. One brewing company that has been building up a good head of steam recently is Southern Tier. Based in Lakewood, NY they've been brewing up a storm since 2004.

Southern Tier started out with a fairly conservative stable of solid beers and from there has built a creative, diverse, and, delicious portfolio. Here is a shortlist of some of the limited release, seasonal brews are worth exploring at the coop:

Gemini - Hoppe & Unearthly blended together & placed in this vessel, the mission of our Gemini is to travel high & take passengers on a journey far into the heavens. 10.5% abv
Krampus - Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts. 9.0% abv • Imperial Helles Lager
Cuvee 1 - ALE IMPRESSIONS: Light copper color, slight malt flavor with mild bitterness, dry finish with subtle hop aroma. FRENCH OAK IMPRESSIONS: Qualities of toasted coconut, almond biscotti and toasted almonds with a taste of honeysuckle. 11.0% abv
Choklat - Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle. 11.0% abv • Imperial Chocolate Stout
Oat - Pour Oat into a snifter, allow its thick tan head to slowly rise, releasing unbridled aromas. The color of Oat is as dark as a moonless night. The first sip reveals Oat’s thick and nourishing taste. Like a haversack to a horse, a bottle of this stout is a meal in itself. Enjoy responsibly. 11.0% abv • Imperial Oatmeal Stout

*info courtesy Southern Tier Brewing

NEW FROZEN PRODUCTS!!!

Helen's Kitchen frozen entrees are here! After staring at the freezer for quite a while, I realized I had a bit of room for some more frozen dinners. While perusing the UNFI catalog, I came across Helen's Kitchen. Besides the fact that Helen offers organic, GMO free, and in some cases gluten free vegetarian meals, the package was nice and I had a great aunt Helen who was a wonderful lady (she wasn't much of a cook though and we usually just ate Chinese take-out). I started with the Thai Red Curry with brown basmati and tofu chicken and the Cheese Enchiladas with tofu steaks in Spicy Red Sauce. Both are gluten free.

Also, in an ongoing struggle to meet the hand-held meal needs of Kevin and Janet, two new burritos have found their way into the freezer. Kevin has been begging for Amy's Southwest Burrito (filled with all kinds of peppers, corn masa, and Monterey Jack cheese) and I try to keep him happy cause he needs some meat on his bones. Janet overheard Kevin's request and chimed in with a suggestion for a new breakfast burrito so I picked up Phil's Breakfast Burrito with Green Chili.