This week we are excited to start carrying local treats, King Caramel. Hedy Anderson, the ‘Queen’ of King Caramel, hand makes and hand wraps her caramels on Vashon Island, WA. Sweet, soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth morsels that will make you want to sit back and savor their chewy deliciousness. We carry two exquisite flavors: Sea Salt and Black Licorice. Read here for an interesting article on Hedy Anderson and King Caramel.
Pont L’Evêque $10.99 each (220g squares)
Cistercian monks created this washed rind cow’s milk cheese in Normandy, France. Flavors of butter and hazelnuts compliment the cheese’s long fruity, tangy finish. These small squares come in wooden boxes and look exceptional on a cheese platter! We recommend pairing this with Viognier or Cider.
Mixologist Alert!
“Gone are the days when a lonely bottle of Angostura bitters held court behind the bar. A cocktail renaissance has swept across the country, inspiring bartenders and their thirsty patrons a new fascination with the ingredients, techniques, and traditions that make the American cocktail so special.” –Brad Thomas Parsons, Bitters.
Absolutely right. Aromatic cocktail bitters, not the kind made for sipping such as, Italian amaros, but the kind added in dashes to enliven a cocktail are back and bigger than ever. No self-respecting mixologist, professional or amateur, would be caught without them in their arsenal of tricks, and tracking down exotic bitters can become a mild obsession. Did you know Paris Grocery stocks an impressive selection of bitters for all your cocktail needs? Whether it’s a bottle of orange bitters or something a tad more exotic, like say, Xocolatl Mole or Jamaican Blackstrap, this is the place to come for Fee Brothers, Scrappy’s, Peuychaud’s, Regan’s, and more. We also stock Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. cocktail cherries, tonic and small batch grenadine, as well as Amarena and Morello cheries from Italy and France. Look no further for bitters to add flair and a dash of spice to your latest creations!
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about bitters; their history; what they are; how they are made, with recipes for you to try, and which ones to buy.
Bitters, Brad Thomas Parsons. $24.99, availabe at Paris Grocery.
The French Blonde
(Recipe from Saveur)
This cocktail combines lillet, lemon bitters, fresh squeezed grapefruit, elderflower liqueur, and gin to create a fresh and citrusy libation that is sure to refresh on a hot day!
1/2 oz Elderflower Liqueur, like St. Germain
1 oz dry gin
2 oz Lillet Blanc
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
A few dashes Lemon Bitters
Shake together all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker for at least 30 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Bon Apéro!
Two New Wines To Try
Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Rosé 2015 $15.99
A Ventoux rosé from the Rhône Valley, made from 50% Cinsault, 25% Syrah and 25% Grenache. A taut and light rose with hints of savory herb and thyme, followed by a light core of strawberry and watermelon rind. Refreshing and delicious!
Domaine Poli Ile de Beauté Niellucciu Rosé 2015
A fine rosé from the Ile de Beauté, aka Corsica! Niellucciu is thought to be a Corsican clone of Italy’s famous Sangiovese grape.
Penetratingly pungent herbal scents including thyme and lavender link up with white peach and pink grapefruit on a luscious and refreshingly juicy palate, leading to a long finish replete with reprises of high-toned and pungent herbal essences that already lent the nose such striking distinction.
A Bientôt!
Kelsey & Manuel