Herma’s News – Foods to inspire for Outdoor Dining and NEW Crystal Decanters

I’ve looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of magic – leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden – in all the places. – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Dear Customers,

Oh how wonderful it is to be alive this week with birds singing, flowers blooming and the sunshine beaming down. One can’t help but want to spend all their time outdoors. Combining beautiful weather with the enjoyment of delicious, scrumptious foods is truly a heavenly experience. Carpe diem! Seize the day! Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. In this newsletter we hope to inform and inspire for outdoor dining and grazing. But first let’s take a look at some new arrivals from the gift department.

What’s New at Herma’s

Crystal Decanters

This decanter was designed by Monika Lubkowska-Jonas and was handmade in Poland. Find other amazing crystal decanters at Herma’s as well. Great for wedding gifts, Father’s Day gifts, house-warming gifts or, best of all, a special gift just for yourself.

Wireless Phone Charger and Tray

Patio Dining Food Suggestions

We’re proud of the flat chickens, maple sugar ham and New York Sirloin Steaks we carry from the Village Grocer. How to dress and what to serve with these amazing foods is another matter. Let us give you some suggestions that will elevate your dining experience, turning something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Renee’s Favorite Honey Cider Vinegar for Salads…

For this salad Renee mixed baby greens, oranges, grapefruit, beets, cucumber ribbons and pumpkin seeds along with micro greens. Then drizzled with olive oil and the honey cider vinegar from Bell Mela (pictured). She said the vinegar was so palatable she could actually enjoy it on its own.

So many choices!

We can’t decide which ketchup (or tomato spread) we like better.

photo by Saltspring Kitchen Co.

A little info to help you decide…

Saltspring Kitchen Co.’s Spicy Tomato Spread from BC

Saltspring Kitchen Co.’s signature spread brings fresh ginger, onions, jalapeños and a cheeky heat to the table. Pairs with aged Cheddar, Brie, Camembert, smoked Gouda, grilled cheese, avocado toast, sandwiches, burgers, eggs, and tourtière.

Ingredients: Tomatoes, Sugar, Onion, Brown Sugar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Jalapeños, Lemon Juice, Ginger, And Spices.

Cafiti’s Fruit Ketchup from Quebec

Created from their family recipe, the Cafiti Ketchup will remind you of your grandmother’s recipe, with a little “je-ne-sais-quoi” for a renewed taste! They’ve added currants to absorb the excess acidity of the vinegar which also adds a pleasing, fruity texture. Their fruit ketchup contains only natural ingredients.

Spicy Roasted Pineapple & Tamarind Sauce

I got it straight from the founder of Ti Kay La herself, chef Victoria, as to what would be delicious with her special fruity and spicy sauce. She warned me to be careful as to whether I invite guests as they may not leave any food for me to enjoy. This sauce is that finger-licking good.

photo by Ti Kay La

The Garlic Box

The Garlic Box adds all-natural Ontario-grown garlic to their splashes, sauces, dressings, seasonings and marinades for amazing flavour.

photo by the Garlic Box

Garlic Steak Splash

Herma loves using the Garlic Box’s Steak Splash when she grills.

Once awarded Best New Product in Canada, this Garlic Steak Splash will deliver the BEST steak-house style steak at home. Also a great enhancer for ramping up the flavour of dips, chicken, pork, Caesar Cocktails, scrambled eggs etc.

Instructions: Grill steak about 8 minutes (to medium rare), squirt each side when turned with Garlic Steak Splash. Remove to cutting board, tent with foil. Thinly slice across the grain.

Other splashes include…

Balsamic Vinegar with Garlic (Drizzle on salads, cheese, soups, cooked vegetables, chicken and stews.)

Garlic Vegetable/Salad Splash (Use to grill, sauté or roast vegetables, a salad dressing and marinade.)

Chili Lime Chicken Splash (Adds depth and flavour to chicken, pork, fish, sea food or avocado dip.)

Horseradish Garlic Marinating Splash (Ideal for roasts, chops, burgers, Au Jus, gravy, steaks, burgers and veggies too. Caesar cocktail anyone?)

Also try these dressings by the Garlic Box…

Garlic & Mango Dressing

Garlic & Dill Dressing

Caesar Dressing & Dip

Herma’s Cheese Shop

Cheese AND CHARCUTERIE are the perfect foods to enjoy on your patio or deck.

Serrano Ham – Spicy Chorizo Sausages – Pepper Salami – Piacentini DOP – Prosciutto Crudo – Coppa – Genoa – Salami Trio – Selection of Antipasto – Bison – Artisinal Salami –  Bastoncini Salami with Cranberry – Bastoncini Salami with Rosemary

Also try Paulus Abbey Beer Cheese, Bufflonne Rousse, VSOC Gold Gouda (aged 3 years, rich with intense flavours of butterscotch), Le Delice de Bourgogne, Black Lemon Gouda on your cheese platter. All scrumptious!

Margaret’s recipe using Moliterno al Tartufo

Margaret has an amazing Linguini recipe in the Cheese Shop involving the above Moliterno al Tartufo Cheese (Pecorino Truffle Cheese), Truffle Oil, Dehydrated Porcini Mushrooms, Linguini and Onions. Come pick up a copy of the recipe along with ingredients while you are in the neighborhood.

While I recently loved Moliterno al Tartufo all by itself on a cheese platter, it is also fabulous grated into  scrambled eggs, shredded over a baked potato and crumbled on a grilled steak.

And for your burger we suggest…

Pacific Wildfire

For a blue cheese burger…

Herma’s Signature Products – Great for outdoor dining!

Job Opportunity at Herma’s