June 2007 Archives
We are delighted to be adding a new line of preserves. We will now have five fabulous flavors of fruit preserves from 'Mama's Preserves.' This is a family operated business in the Central Coast region of California outside the city of Arroyo Grande. They grow and pick their own vegetables and berries, and make the preserves. The berries are grown without pesticides. They have a wide selection of traditional flavors and combinations, as well as marmalades and preserves made with Jalapeno and fruit blends. Try the Plum Preserves which is one of their favorites, or prehaps the Ollalieberry Preserves!
Congratulations to Vineyard Canyon Ranch for their award winning oilve oils! This year in the 2007 Los Angeles County Fair Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, JT’s Kick Ass Blend won a GOLD MEDAL! Vineyard Canyon Ranch's Olive orchard is family owned and operated. It is located just east of San Miguel, on California's beautiful Central Coast. JT's Blend is a boutique style blend of six Tuscan varieties: Leccino, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Maurino, Pendolino and Cortina. The flavor is lively, pungent, intensely fruity, rich and peppery. This oil is extra virgin certified by the COOC. You can purchase a bottle of this fabulous olive oil at Gifts Gone Gourmet.
Olives were probably first cultivated in the fifth century B.C. in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean. Olive oil has been more than just a food to the people of the Mediterranean; it was revered for its medicinal qualities, and was believed to bring strength, youth, and power. Olive oil has tremendous health benefits due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. It has been shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL ) levels while raising the 'good' cholesterol (HDL) levels. It is the most digestible of oils. It helps to assimilate vitamins A, D and K, contains essential acids, slows down the aging process, and helps bile, liver and intestinal functions.
Olive oil is extracted by pressing or crushing olives. The quality of the oil depends on the amount of processing involved. Extra virgin is the highest quality oil. It is the least processed containing oil from the first pressing of the olives. While all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, olive oil from the first pressing of the olives contains higher levels of antioxidants.
When storing your olive oil keep it away from light and heat. Keep it in a cool and dark place, tightly sealed. Oxygen promotes rancidity, and like other oils, olive oil can easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures.
Gifts Gone Gourmet carries many award winning extra virgin olive oils, all freshly pressed within the last 18 months. Visit our website and select an extra virgin olive oil FOR YOUR HEALTH.
Garrett's Emporium is pleased to announce the addition of Boscorsia Olive Oil to our offering. Estate grown and bottled in Templeton California, it is a blend of 4 Italian olive varietals; Frantoio, Leccino, San Felice and Lucca. The olives are handpicked and fresh crushed, to give you that rich flavor that goes way beyond ordinary olive oils. This is a true gourmet oil, fresh from the Central Coast of California.
Garrett's Emporium is very excited to announce that we can now ship wine to Oregon and Idaho! Changes last year to the federal regulations made it necessary for us to apply to each state individually to sell wine. We will continue to add as many states as possible. Our wine collection includes 14 different types of wine from 12 wineries, all from the Central Coast of California. The history of wine producing in California stretches all the way back to the 1880's when the Franciscan padres planted grapes and made wine for the missions. It eventually became apparent that the microclimate of this region was ideal for producing world-class grapes. The Central Coast is now considered one of the best wine producing areas of the United States, second only to the Napa-Sonoma and Mendocino regions of Northern California. So visit our website and peruse the outstanding collection of premium wines.
Gifts Gone Gourmet carries many tapenades and confits made by 'Hand to Mouth Edibles'
from 'Hand to Mouth Edibles'
Serving & Recipe Suggestions for the Inspired Cook
Pizza: Take out the tomatoe sauce and add pizzazz to your next pie. Try using any of our tapenades or spreads as an alternative base to create a unique gourmet pizza.
Chicken: Season baked or barbequed chicken with our Roasted Red Pepper Rhapsody or Tantalizing Tapas. Used as a marinade or rub, the flavors will come together to make a delicious mouth-watering dish!
Vegetable Dip: Simply mix plain yogurt, mayonnaise or sour cream with a tablespoon of two of our tapenades - we like to use the Roasted Red Pepper Rapture or Sun-dried Tomato Pesto - to create a zesty dip for vegetables.
Fish: Use our Tantalizing Tapas as a rub, marinade or salsa. It complements the flavor of your favorite fillet of fish - we like it with a good salmon steak.
Meat: For an awesome barbeque experience season your favorite cut of steak, lamb or pork with our Green Olive Provencal - of course there's nothing like our Caramelized Onion Confit to serve with your perfectly grilled chop.
Salad Dressing: For a new and creative salad dressing, mix together extra virgin olive oil, fine vinegar and a tablespoon of your favorite tapenade. Let stand for a half hour, then shake well and serve.
