Mother’s Day is coming!
Gift BasketSurprise Mom with something special. Pick out a unique pottery piece from a variety of our favorite ceramics from Spain, France, and Tunisia.  Put together a gift basket of gourmet food and cookware for the culinarily inclined. Choose from olive oil, rare sherry vinegars, cassoulet, paella ingredients, delicious wines, cavas, European soaps, linens, and chocolate fig bonbons. It’s sure to put a smile on Mom’s face!

 

Dragées de Verdun Leon Braquier $9.49
A bite size confectionary, these “Dragées” are made from Avola Almonds grown in Sicily and covered in a vanilla-sugar coating. Avola almonds are renowned for their fine, smooth Braquier Drageestaste and lack of bitterness, making them a delicious match for a sweet, crunchy coating. Leon Braquier has been producing these delicatable dragées for more than two centuries in the town of Verdun, which, according to Braquier is the birthplace of this small confectionary. In France, dragées are typically given as gifts for birthdays, marriages, baby showers, and other special family celebrations. We carry classic white and pastel colored dragées, each packaged in a beautiful retro tin. These would make a wonderful spring treat for Mother’s Day!

Clos Mogador Olive Oil $39.99
Produced from ancient olive trees, planted among the spectacular vineyards of Clos Mogador in Priorat. These olives are harvested with the same care as their grapes and with Clos Mogador Olive Oilrespect for the environment. Cold pressed and made from a blend of Arbequina, Empeltre, and Rojal varietals, this extra virgin olive oil offers pure, concentrated, and intense fruity flavors with tomato notes. Only 500 liters produced per year. A superb olive oil worthy of gift giving!

 

Sweet Wines For Sweet Moms
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and what better gift to surprise Mom than a bottle of sweet nectar—fine dessert wines from France, Spain, and Portugal! These are wines that can be consumed on their own, or as an accompaniment to a dessert. In any case, your Mom will be sure to appreciate the thought and the sweetness in these modern-day nectar of the Gods.

NV Jorge Orsonez S.L. ‘Botani’ Sparkling Muscat $6.99Sweet Wines
100% Muscat of Alexandria. For centuries, the beautiful floral bouquets using bunches of jasmine, have been sold in the streets of Malaga. Each flower is inserted carefully one by one, to form a perfect cluster. Sparkling Botani reflects every detail of an honorable tradition with centuries of existence. Each bunch of grapes is picked by hand to create a sparkling wine so vibrant that it explodes on the palate and fills the glass with exotic floral aromas.

“The 2012 Botani Sparkling Muscat is Spain’s answer to a Moscato from Northern Italy. The first sparkler made in Malaga, it has 5% alcohol, beautiful, fresh bubbles that give uplift and precision to the flowery, exotic perfume, and a good bit of residual sugar. However, the acidity balances out the sugar, resulting in a big, crisp, sparkling fruit cocktail that consumers will adore. The price is a steal.” –Wine Advocate.

2014 Chateau Coutet ‘La Chartreuse de Coutet’ Sauternes (500ml) $20.99
Château Coutet has been producing its second label, La Chartreuse de Coutet, an AOC Sauternes since 1977. Its subtle nose is characterized by hints of honey, almond, citrus, exotic fruits, as well as very ripe, soft apricot, with some floral notes of acacia. On the palate, the wine is honeyed, round and suave. Its wonderful concentration and broad palette of aromas express the richness of the fruit flavors with orange zest, honey, honeysuckle, ripe fruits and citrus, complemented by toasty notes and some minerality. Full of finesse and elegance, the result is a young, beautiful wine full of vivacity and freshness. A blend of 75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle.
Perfect by itself, or paired with fresh fruit, fruit tarts, or with its classic pairing, Roquefort blue cheese.

NV Bodegas Sauci S’ Orange (500ml) $19.99
A delicious blend of Perdo Ximinez and Palomino Fino grapes, macerated with dried orange peel for up to eighteen months, and aged for a period of 10 years in American oak barrels, using the Solera method. A rich, amber color. Smooth, easy-drinking, with a distinctive aroma and flavor of sour orange, which counteracts the natural sweetness. Ideal by itself, or paired with chocolate, foie gras, patés, or any time of day, on the rocks, with a slice of orange as a garnish. Yum!

NV Dios Baco Cream Sherry $22.99Sweet Wines
In 1963 Palomino & Vergara became part of the huge Rumasa conglomerate, which was dissolved by the Spanish Government in 1983 after some large-scale business scandals. In 1985 the bodegas were sold to Harveys, but after some internal restructuring the Dios Baco cellar was sold to the current owner José Páez Morilla in 1992. He renovated the cellar, and today José and his daughter Alejandra handcraft small batches of sherry. Dios Baco purchases all of its base wines from external companies. The old Palomino & Vergara building at the heart of Jerez is used for maturing Fino and VORS wines, but there’s also a modern building outside of the city center, holding the other soleras as well as the offices and distribution facilities.

“Loaded with power, this wine’s nose is nutty and creamy, with caramel and popcorn aromas. This feels lively, but also rich and layered. Flavors of buttered toast, caramel, toffee and walnut lead into finishing accents of cocoa, caramel and salty buttered popcorn.” –Wine Enthusiast.

The Rare Wine Co.  Historic Series Madeira New York Malmsey Special Reserve $55.00
These are the most affordable, representative examples of classic Madeira available. A collaboration between the importer and Barbeito’s Ricardo Vasconcelos Freitas, the idea behind these bottlings is to capture some of the magic of vintage Madeira: the beautiful aromas, intensity of flavor, and most importantly, the acidity. Given the fact that 2 to 3 ounces is a sufficient pour, and that once opened, these simply will not go bad, these wines are an incredible deals for those looking for a truly unique addition to add to their cellar, or for mere drinking pleasure–an absolutely delicious treat, and a lovely example of a classic sweet Madeira made from the Malvasia grape. Rich in color and luscious in body with notes of toasted hazelnuts, toffee and dates. This would make an excellent pairing with any nutty dessert. Guaranteed to please even the most discriminating Moms!

 

Mother’s Day Brunch!
Show Mom you care by whipping up a Sunday breakfast. Poach eggs for Eggs Benedict with Christian Potier Hollandaise sauce ($6.49). Or cook up the rustic Iberian dish, Migas, made from chunks of bread, chorizo, and eggs, for a satisfying spanish-style breakfast. She probably wouldn’t mind a Cava Mimosa while you’re at it..

Migas con ChorizoMigas con Chorizo
Recipe from Saveur
Serves 4

Ingredients
3 1⁄2 tbsp olive oil
2 oz Spanish chorizo, thinly sliced
4 oz crusty bread, such as French, Italian, or a kaiser or Portuguese roll, torn into 1″ pieces
8 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1⁄2 tsp crushed red chile flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Heat 1 tbsp oil and the chorizo in a 10″ skillet over medium heat. Cook until just browned, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to a plate. Add remaining oil to skillet and add bread; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and slightly crisp, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to plate with chorizo. Add eggs, chile flakes, salt, and pepper to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until eggs are soft-scrambled, 8–10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in reserved chorizo and bread.

 

Cheese Plates!Cheese Plate
Want to present your guests or clients with something different? Or perhaps a tasty addition for an office happy hour or party, and don’t care for charcuterie? A tastefully-designed, well-thought out cheese platter an be the perfect solution. We have a wide range of French, Spanish and Portuguese cheeses to choose from: Mimolette, Ossau-Iraty, Sao Miguel, Mahon, Delice de Jura, Manchego, and St. Nectaire, just to name a few! Call or email us with your request and we can give you an estimate of the cost. Contact us in the morning and your cheese platter can be ready in a few hours.