Share a Sip of Holiday Cheer This Weekend, December 20-21
In Portugal it’s known as vinho quente, in Spain vino caliente, and in France it’s called vin chaud, but here it’s best known as mulled wine: a mixture of fruity red wine, spices, sugar, and citrus served warm in chilly weather. We’ll brew a version that nods to the traditions on both sides of the Pyrenees and offer samples throughout the weekend as you search for gifts and treasures for your holiday table. We’ve bundled up the citrus, sugar, and spices so you can make this at home.
Tinned Fish
We have recently expanded our offerings of tinned fish to over 200 different tins from over 30 brands. We’ve sampled many of them personally and have selected others by recommendation from trusted sources. We seek to offer variety and quality genus and species as well as recipe and preparation. In addition to the classics: sardines and tuna, we’ve filled our shelves with more unusual items: baby eels, razor clams, skate wing, and long neck barnacles. Tinned seafood offers a great source of protein that is convenient to have in the pantry. Enjoy it straight from the tin, toss it in a salad, or add it to pasta or rice dishes.
A Trio of French Vinegars
Just arrived, fresh off the boat from France! Martin-Pouret has been making wine vinegars in Orléans since the 18th century. Back in the Renaissance while wines from the south of France were transported on the Loire towards Paris, some began a second fermentation. These wines were set aside on the docks in Orléans, where Vinegar Masters of the city refined this transformation into vinegar. At one time there were up to 400 vnegar makers. The house of Martin-Pouret is the only remaining house to continue the art of the Orléans technique. We’re stocking their white wine vinegar with tarragon; with espelette pepper, and with shallots from Brittany for oysters.