Chef's Pantry

Affordable Luxury

"I've learned some things over the years about cooking. I spent a little hanging out in the kitchen of the original Café Provencale in Clayton. Some of the best, local chefs use The Merch to procure things for both home use and in their restaurants. It's always fun to talk to them and to see what they're trying next. I've also travelled with some chefs in France's wine country. Call it earning through osmosis. Cooking can be downright daunting. Where do you start? Classes are a good beginning. The Kitchen Conservatory on Clayton Road (www.kitchenconservatory.com) conducts a variety of cooking classes. Many of these are taught by local chefs. The most important thing that I've learned from professional chefs is to use high quality ingredients. The very best raw materials. Look for seasonally fresh veggies and fruits. Ripened on the vine/tree/plant produces the best flavors, aromas and textures. We have a nice variety of farmer's markets in the area that can help you. Keep some key, high quality ingredients on hand. Dry goods. These are easy to store and have a conveniently long shelf life. Spending a little more on the raw materials will produce an excellent return. We call it affordable luxury. At home I keep a small supply of these dry goods on hand. I replace them as they're used so the out of pocket amount is comfortably reasonable. Start with just a few things. Good sea salt, extra virgin olive oil and an aged red wine vinegar can be used in a multitude of dishes. You can then add handmade/hand-harvested staples like pasta, rice, polenta, a variety of olive oils, canned olives, salt-cured capers, a few mustards and mustardas, vinegars including balsamic, red wine, white wine or champagne and Spanish sherry vinegar, a variety of salts, pimenton smoked paprika that's all the rage), black pepper, white pepper, cornichons (little green French pickles), whole vanilla beans, dried fruit; figs, raisins, apricots, dates, canned fish; tuna, anchovies, sardines, dried beans; French green lentils, black-eyed peas, flageolets, cranberry beans, etc.We're going to periodically feature items from our Chef's Pantry in our e-mail newsletter. Stay tuned."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

Honey for Your Sweets
Our Cheese Department stocks a variety of high quality, interesting dry goods. This week we're featuring some outstanding examples of honey from around the world. Great stuff that you can use on a variety of things. Mention our e-mail newsletter and you'll get a 20% discount on each of these outstanding examples...

Fleurs de France Organic Lavender Honey
The most elegant of all honeys. Delicate lavender blossoms from the mountains of Beaujolais help to produce this perfectly perfumed, richly-flavored honey. Just pop off the lid and you'll be hit by the perfume. We love it in tea or on hot buttered biscuits. 100% Organic.

Fleurs de France Organic Chestnut Flower Honey
This delicious Chestnut Flower Honey is an unusual treasure. It has a beautiful deep color, is intensely full-flavored with a depth that will, quite simply, blow you away. The rich, molasses-like flavor is not only suitable for sweetening, but would also enhance many savory dishes. Marvelous with strong cheeses, roasted nuts and for glazing meats and poultry. A rare treat.

Ames Farm Single Source Honey
Current honeys from Ames Farm include purple loosestrife, basswood, alfalfa, sweet clover and early summer.
Ames Farm Single Source Honey is collected over one specific time period, from one unique geographical location and from one single hive. Ames Farm keeps their 300 hives in 18 different locations in several counties across the State of Minnesota. The major flower source being visited by the bees during the time period they are producing the honey is assigned as the name of the honey variety. Each container of honey is searchable in the Ames Farm bee yard database, using the hive number and location printed on the side of every container. The database provides information about the geographical location where the honey was collected, the time period it was produced and the individual flavor profile.

Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey
This one is hard to describe. It's magical because it seams to do mysterious things to your taste buds. It's sweet, with floral and eucalyptus undertones. Savory too. And the top is always a little bit foamy. Try it mixed with fresh chevre for a delicious bagel topping.

Volcano Island Honey Company Rare Hawaiian Organic White Honey
Unlike most honeys, Rare Hawaiian Organic White Honey has a deliciously, delicate tropical flavor and a texture that is naturally thick, soft and smooth - a delight to the palate. This creamy, opalescent honey floats off your tongue leaving you to savor its subtle, yet rich, tropical essence. National Geographic Traveler Magazine calls it "some of the best honey in the world." It is a single floral source, certified organic, unheated raw honey.