storefront daytimeWe are open regular hours from 10 AM – 6 PM on Monday, January 21 (Martin Luther King Jr. day).   Come down and enjoy the peace and quiet on Western Avenue without the 80 decibel* roar of Viaduct traffic.  (*WSDOT estimate).  We’ll be here to help pick out wines, pantry staples, paella ingredients or specialty groceries.

Frying Pan Santa Fe Ole tortillasSALE!   50% off clay “frying pans”.  A cazuela with a lid and handle which we call a “frying pan” is incredibly easy to move around and has all of the versatility of regular clay cookware.  Cover the pan with its lid to bake fish, simmer bean dishes, heat tortillas or roast Cornish game hens.  Use it on the top of the stove, in the oven, microwave and dishwasher.  It’s got a pour spout on one side, so pan juices or sauces can be easily served.  Be sure to immerse it in water before using the first time; both the bottom and the lid must be soaked for 4 hours.  This rehydrates the clay and prevents cracking.  A recipe and care instructions are included with purchase.     Available in terracotta or chocolate brown, in small (pictured), 17 cm which measures 6 1/2″ across the outer edge and 2 3/4 inches deep or large 25 cm (9 1/2″ across the outer edge and 3 3/8″ deep).   Great Valentine’s Day gift instead of chocolate as you can enjoy the results over and over.

Zhug spiceSpices – Update a standby recipe with a different spice blend and effortlessly create a new dish!  Zhug is a fiery mixture of Chili, Garlic, Coriander, Cumin, Sea Salt, Cardamon, Clove, and Cilantro, that is widely used in Yemeni recipes.   Sprinkle this over fish, roasted potatoes or soups, or any food that needs a spicy punch.  Peruvian Huacatay is a culinary herb native to Peru.  Also called black mint, its taste and aroma is like a mixture of basil, tarragon, mint, and lime. Huacatay plays an important role especially in southern Peruvian cuisine. It is used as a condiment in stews, soups, and Peruvian ajis and as an ingredient in herb marinades for meats. Huacatay is added to the famous Pachamanca and its paste is also used to make the popular Peruvian potato dish called ocopa.

New Wines in Stock
Tons de Duorum 2015, Douro ($10.99) A blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional, and 20% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) aged 6 months in oak. This impressive wine shows ripe dark fruit aromas.  Focused and lifted on the palate, it has a round texture with hints of toast and mineral.  Medium-bodied and very food friendly, this is another great value from Portugal!

Luigi Bosca Malbec D.O.C.Luján de Cuyo 2015, Argentina ($29.99)   We recently dined at The Buenos Aires Grill and liked this wine so much I ordered it for the shop.   It’s now in stock and it’s a fantastic compliment to grilled red meat or empanadas.  Bodega Luigi Bosca, established in 1901, is the oldest family-owned winery in Argentina.  The 2015 vintage is 100% Malbec, from a 70-year-old vineyard located at 960 meters in elevation, aged 14 months in oak.   To be labeled a D.O.C. Luján de Cuyo Malbec, the wine must be produced following stringent rules.  Among other requirements, it must be grown in a vineyard that is at least 50 years old, and vinified according to a strict protocol in order to preserve the character of Malbec from this region.   Smooth, ripe and beautifully balanced, this red was as light on its feet as a tango dancer.  With notes of black pepper, spices, and vanilla, it offers up sweet and ripe tannins.   Richly satisfying, this wine seems miles apart from the Malbecs we carried a few years ago.   We now stock a limited selection of South American wines.