Herma's News - Refreshing Flavours of Spring, Cheese Platter for Spring

On soft spring nights I’ll stand in the yard under the stars. Something good will come out of all things yet. And it will be golden and eternal just like that. There’s no need to say another word. – Jack Kerouac

Dear Customers,

One aspect of spring that makes us particularly joyful are the seasonal fruits and refreshing flavours we long for that are available during warm months. We take great pleasure dining al fresco and love to have the opportunity to share ideas concerning all of the foods we find enjoyable this time of year.

Manoucher Bread

For over three decades, Manoucher Breads of Toronto have been praised by well known food critics, won international bakery awards and have been requested by specialty food shops, restaurants and hotels globally.

Manoucher produces handmade breads using a Flash Freezing Technology that allows the bread to retain its moisture, texture and flavour. Once thawed, Manoucher’s bread continues to taste and feel fresh, as though it came right out of the oven.

Find in Herma’s Freezers…Baguette (both whole and half size available) – NEWEST Pocketed Flat Bread with Poppy Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Garlic and Onion – Basil Loaf hand-shaped and folded (Great for sandwiches.) – Persian Noon Bread hand-shaped and folded (Great for sandwiches.) – Fokachio Olive Oil and Herb Bread – Round Fokachio Romana Rosemary and Onion Bread – Mediterranean Sunset Sundried Tomato Bread – Everything Nak’D Loaf – Nak’D Rectangular Vegetarian Pizza

Cafiti Pickled Vegetables

Steamed and Pickled – enjoy alongside charcuterie platters, barbecued foods and salads!

May be an image of 1 person, food and indoor — photo by Cafiti

Cafiti’s pickled vegetables are homegrown from Quebec. Herma enjoys serving with all sorts of foods and especially while dining outdoors. In order to showcase the vegetable’s stunning colors and shapes, she places them in clear, long-stemmed glasses.

1830 Bremond Fils Balsamic Vinegars with Fruit

1830 Maison Bremond has selected aged and fragrant balsamic vinegar from the best Modena grapes in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. They have expertly paired these balsamic vinegars with the sweetness of fruit which make the perfect oil to drizzle over food and into drinks for an exquisite tasting experience.

At Herma’s we carry Raspberry, Blueberry and Mango Balsamic Vinegars.

For information on how to pair and use these oils go to the blog section of hermas.ca or click on the following link…

Raspberry, Blueberry, Mango and Lemon Balsamic Vinegars – Beautiful summer oil to drizzle and enhance your dishes. – Herma’s Fine Foods & Gifts (hermas.ca)

Scallops with Fruit Recipe

using 1830’s Bremond Fil’s White Balsamic and Mango

Ingredients

12 Scallops (found in Herma’s freezers) – 1 Pear – 1 Royal Gala Apple – 2 Endive Hearts – 4 spoonfuls White Balsamic Vinegar with Mango – 1 spoonful Extra Virgin Fruity Mature Olive Oil – Fleur de Sel Salt, Black Organic Kerala Pepper – 25 g Butter

Instructions

1. Rinse the apple and the pear and cut them in 4 lengthwise. Rinse the endives, wipe them and cut in half.

2. Brush the scallops lightly with olive oil and cook them in a frying pan for 2 minutes, turning them half way through. Keep them warm between two plates.

3. Put the slices of apple and pear in the frying pan and fry until golden brown, regularly adding white Balsamic Vinegar and Mango. When they are soft, put them on 4 plates.

Heat the scallops quickly in the frying pan before adding them to the plates, with the half endives and drizzle a little white Balsamic Vinegar on them.

4. Reduce the juices of the fruit and scallops in the frying pan and pour over the plates. Serve immediately.

Cheese Platter for Spring

May be an image of fruit — Harry’s Cheese Board branded with Herma Fine Foods

Enjoying a lovely cheese plate or platter can be heavenly enjoyed outdoors with a glass of wine on a warm spring day, and it can be as elaborate or quaint as you desire.

Graze all afternoon on a big feast that will take the place of lunch and maybe dinner or enjoy a small plate of artfully chosen cheese paired masterfully with just the right fruit and honey. Either way you’ll have treated yourself to one of life’s great pleasures.

Variety

Variety is the spice of life, especially if more than one person is joining you on the patio. Choose from among these four types of cheeses based on their texture and firmness.

Varieties of cheese with examples of each…

Aged: Aged Cheddar or Gouda – Soft: Brie de Meaux or Chateau de Bourgogne – Firm: Manchego or Parmigiano-Reggiano – Blue: Gorgonzola or Roquefort

Another way to categorize cheese is to divide it up into the type of milk used…cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo.

Of course the number of cheeses doesn’t matter as long as the one you are enjoying is special. We are particularly fond of showcasing one soft, creamy cheese alongside cherries to celebrate the season.

Charcuterie

Add Prosciutto or Pancetta in pretty folds to your cheese plate or platter. Chorizo and/or Salami sliced and fanned or scattered about is also a special treat and will add lovely contrast to your cheese.

Consider wrapping prosciutto around foods that it compliments – foods like cantaloupe, pears and asparagus.

Breads and Crackers

As far as what vehicle to choose upon which your cheese will sit, we recommend baguette sliced thin, found in our freezers, or Herma’s Homemade Crostini, found in our Cheese Shop. Prosciutto has an adhesive quality that allows itself to be wrapped beautifully around an Italian breadstick crackers.

Fruits and Honey

In spring cheeses are particularly mild, thanks to the animals’ diet of tender greens. This mildness makes pairing your cheese with fruits, spreads and preserves especially exciting.

Either add the actual fruit to your cheese platter or spoon a fruit preserve on top of your cheese just before you take a bite.

Below are pairings we enjoy…

Honey ~ Blue Cheese

Cherries ~ Soft Creamy Cheese

Cantaloupe ~ Prosciutto

Sweet Pears ~ Semi Hard Cheese

Raspberry ~ Mascarpone, Buffalo Mozzarella or any Fresh, Soft Cheese

Mango, Peaches or Apricots ~ Brie or any soft ripened cheese

Apples ~ Manchego, Parmigiana, Pecorino Romano or Cheddar

When to serve cheese…

About 2 hours before serving, remove cheese from the refrigerator, unwrap and allow the cheese to come to room temperature.

Custom Cheeseboard

Call 905-885-9250 to order a custom cheese and charcuterie platter that you may enjoy on your patio, cottage or deck. 24 hour notice is appreciated.

Savings Reminder…

Sale into Summer

25% OFF Cheese + Prosciutto, Pancetta and Fennel Salami

Ask to have these meats sliced to your liking. Sale takes place NOW until June 2nd.

We look forward to your visit and wish you all the best as you take in the joys of spring.

Sincerely,

Meredith Ender

Communications Coordinator

Herma’s Fine Foods & Gifts

p.s. Herma’s is open 7 days a week to in-store shopping, however, for your convenience we do have an online Shopify page from which we are able to sell non-perishable items online. Just go to hermas.ca, click on our Shopify page and then Catalogue to view items being sold.