We've all been busy as bees at both shops - restocking Alameda and stocking Montclair. Staff is getting used to their new schedules ("Ring, ring. Hello? Hi Jeff, where the heck do I work tomorrow?"), and I've started my new routine of being in each shop every other day (If this is Tuesday, it must be Alameda).
Kudos to staff and Carol for being so patient with me (aka Mr. Crankypants) , and thanks to our Alameda customers for being so understanding in my absence.
Tastings
Rosé We're starting up our weekly tasting program at Montclair, and our first will take place on Friday evening (June 6), from 6-8, featuring Rosés from around the world, poured by my lovely and charming bride Carol Huntington.
JC Cellars
Then, on Saturday from 2-6, we welcome friend, customer, and world renowned winemaker Jeff Cohn from JC Cellars to Alameda, who'll be pouring some of his First Date white wine, a killer Rosé, two Syrahs, and a ZInfandel. Jeff is a lively presenter of his wines and one of Alameda's (and the world's!) great wine personalities.
Tastings at both shops cost $3 for the flight, waived if you purchase some wine or are a member of one of our wine clubs.
Burata and Bufala Our weekly shipment of Burrata and Bufala Mozzarella have arrived at both shops.
There's no need to wait until tomatoes ripen in August to enjoy these darlins! These fabulous balls of milky, creamy, supple goodness are amazing - by themselves, as part of a cheese plate, on a pizza, whatever. That's right, nothing soothes, satisfies, and stimulates like the fresh milky tastes of Burrata or Mozzarella di Bufala. The weather is warming up and the first burrata and bufala of the season have arrived in the shop. And boy, are they ever tasty.
Whether served on a bed of arugula, alongside fresh tomatoes, on a bruschetta with a savory jam, or (as I eat it) drizzled with EV olive oil and sea salt, these fresh cheese products need to be tried to be believed.
What's Burrata? It's a combination of fresh cow's milk mozarella and panna (or Italian style cream), and it's quite frankly too good to be believed. The outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, giving it a unique soft texture. It is usually served fresh, at room temperature. The name burrata means buttered in Italian. Our version is made by Gioia, a fabulous, local cheese producer (Los Angeles is way local compared to Puglia, Italy!!). These 4.5 oz babes are fragile and should be consumed the day that you buy them (or the day after).
Mozzarella di Bufala is a PDO* cheese made from Buffalo milk. No, not from Home on the Range Buffalo** milk, but from the milk of asian Water Buffalo (which were brought to Italy in medieval times by the Goths***). Soft and creamy with a slightly runny interior, Bufala is great on pizza, crsotini, or pasta; perfect with tomatoes, arugula, radicchio; or eaten slightly salted, with a knife and fork and a glass of Nero d'Avola.
*PDO= Protected Denomination of Origin, a system for protecting, promoting and preserving the names and recipes of traditional European foods.
** Those are actually called Bison. *** No, not pasty faced young people with black fingernail polish, the Goths were a group of eastern Germanic tribes who sacked Rome in 410, harassed the Vandals in Aquitane and generally made their presence known to all of Europe.
Because of the fragile nature of these ultra fresh cheeses, we only order enough to last through the weekend (Burrata has a 7 day shelf life, while Bufala lasts for up to two weeks).
So don't be disappointed, come in soon to pick yours up!
We Won! Thanks to the editors of Oakland Magazine, who named us Best Wine Store in the East Bay (tied with Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant).
Wine Clubs Our wine club selections have arrived in both shops. All of our wine clubs feature
- significant discounts off all non-club wines
- advance notice and discounts on our wine dinners and other paid events sponsored by or produced by Farmstead
- detailed notes on each wine selection
- recipes tailored to each wine
- a joining gift
- our undying admiration (including occasional genuflection)
- lyrics to the Farmstead Wine Club Theme Song
- Classic Club features a killer, heretofore restaurant only Albariño from cool northwestern Spain, a Rosé from the irrepressible Mick Unti, a Portuguese table wine and a St. Joseph (100% Syrah) from Guigal in the northern Rhone valley.
- the Italian Club highlights the cool Val d'Aosta this month, with a Petite Arvine and a lovely Gamay
- the Spanish Club features a killer, high scoring Ribera del Duero
- the Pinot Club features Jayson from the folks at Pahlmeyer; and
- the High End Red Club features an amazing Spanish old vine Grenache made by superstar winemaker Chris Ringland.
Charities of the Month Each month we choose a local charity to highlight in our shops. We put a crock on the counters, you put $$ into it, and at the end of the month, we double it and send off a check. Simple, really. Since we've started this program, together we've donated thousands of dollars to some great organizations, targeting seniors, the homeless, kids and the disabled.
This month, our charities are Alameda Meals on Wheels and Friends of Oakland Park and Rec's Shepherd Canyon Park Parking Lot fund.
Meals on Wheels is a locally-funded, seven-day-a-week program that has been delivering hot, nourishing meals to Alameda residents since 1973. Each day, holidays included, volunteers deliver a mid-day meal to hundreds of Alameda residents of all ages that need our assistance - whether due to recent surgery or hospitalization, because they aren't able to get out to grocery shop, or because they can't cook their own meals.
Shepherd Canyon Park Have you ever driven along Shepherd Canyon Drive when there is a youth soccer game going on? Lordy, lordy chaos ensues! Many dozens of cars jockeying for a few coveted parking spots, folks crossing the busy street (sometimes without looking) with young kids in tow, cars stopping, slowing, turning - all on a very busy thoroughfare. While the obvious solution might be enforced carpooling on behalf of the soccer leagues, we all know that's not a practical solution. The parking lot fund will expand and improve the parking lot.
Do you have an idea for a future Charity of the Month? Send us an email describing your pet Charity. You never know, you might see your favorite Charity in an upcoming newsletter!! (Please nothing political or religous. We like charities that serve local communities, with low operating overheads, and with very few exceptions, we tend to not sponsor entrants in races, walks, marathons or other like events).
It's Official! Red Wine Slows Aging and Is Good For You!!
Recent studies, reported in the Noo Yawk Times and the London Telegraph state that drinking red wine can slow the effects of aging, make you thinner and provide you with winning lottery numbers and accurate stock tips (ok, I made up the last ones, but the first two are true).
It seems that scientists have been studying resveratrol (an ingredient found in red wine and pomegranates) and have found that low doses of resveratrol mimic the helpful effects of what is known as caloric restriction, diets with the full range of nutrients but up to 30 per cent fewer calories than a typical diet, which extend lifespan and slow the progression of age related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
