Herma's News - Ready for Easter, St. Patrick's Day Celebration Ideas, Herma's NEW Hours of Operations

A strange blend of shyness of pride and conceit and a stubborn refusal to bow in defeat. She spoiling and ready to argue and fight, yet the smile of a child fills her soul with delight. Her eyes are the quickest to well up in tears and her strength is the strongest to banish your fears. Her hate is as fierce as her devotion is grand and there’s no middle ground on which she will stand. – unknown

Dear Customers,

This week at Herma’s we are enchanted by all the Easter Chocolate and cute cuddly rabbits and tulip girls that have just recently arrived. Not only are we excited about Easter, however…St. Patrick’s Day is only one week away. A great time to celebrate in hope for better days.

Easter Chocolates at Herma’s

This year, Easter rivals Christmas at Herma’s for the amount of chocolates and treats we are offering for the season. It feels so magical and cheerful, one would think the Easter Bunny himself came for a visit creating pretty displays of chocolate and treats.

Below is just some of what you will find…

Holdsworth Chocolate from England

Chocolate Strawberry Easter Egg with Popping Candy, also included in box…Marc de Champagne Truffles topped with Popping Candy (seen in picture below)

Pretty little box of Easter Eggs filled with Sea Salt Caramel (seen in picture above)

Large Milk Chocolate Easter Egg with Sea Salt Caramel Truffles included in box (seen in picture below)

Hot Chocolate Bombs for Easter

Melts in your mug of hot milk. Fun to watch!

Hot Chocolate Bunny Bombs with Marshmallows – Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bombs with Marshmallows

Galerie au Chocolate

Tulip Design Box of Handcrafted, Belgian Chocolate which includes creative flavours like Carrot Cake, Rocky Road, Chocolate Barks, Speckled Eggs and Caramel Crispy Rice – Also find wrapped with ribbon their milk and dark assorted chocolates for a traditional classic.

NEW from Aunt Sara’s

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs Gift Box (seen in picture above) – Classic Belgian Truffles (gold box) – Belgian 54% Raspberry Puree Truffles – Krispy Clumps – Sweet & Salty Peanut Crunch – Dark Chocolate Butter Crisps – Chocolate French Mint Leaves

NEW Bunny Dolls and Tulip Girls

Couldn’t be cuter, these adorable dolls will make the most precious gift for little ones at Easter.

St. Patrick’s Day Food Ideas

These delicious, easy-to-prepare food ideas are not only special because they are traditionally enjoyed in Ireland, they are also perfect meals to enjoy during the last days of winter.

Irish Stew

Transform the Village Grocer’s Beef, Beer & Onions by making it over into an Irish Stew for St. Patrick’s Day. Add Hak’s carrots and peas, also potatoes (boiled, sliced and quartered).

Bangers and Mash

Place the Village Grocer Mashed Potatoes on a plate with two Village Grocer Sausages on top. Pour a mixture of gravy and broth over the food and you have a delicious Bangers & Mash. Add a can of Jean Nicolas’ Peas for something green.

Tip: Herma likes to add olive oil and/or melted butter to her mashed potatoes for smoother consistency.

Enjoy each of these dishes with a nice tall glass of Guinness as you make a toast to the Emerald Isle.

Herma’s Cheese Shop

Irish Cheeses for your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Irish Whiskey Cheddar (Ireland)

Ireland is home to many fine food and drink exports, but few go together quite as well as whiskey and cheddar. Both require time and patience to reach the required level of maturity for consumption. When combined the cheese has a fermented, almost sour-like sweetness that is deliciously Irish.

Porter Cheddar (Ireland)

A mild and smooth cheddar that has been infused with Irish porter. The paste is supple and patterned with brown where the beer has been added to the cheese.

Other festive cheeses perfect for your Cheese and Charcuterie Board…

NEW Caramelized Onion Cheese (England)

Made from pasteurized cow’s milk in Somerset England, caramelized onion cheddar is rich and creamy with slight crumble. The flavour is dominated by onion with a slight sweetness and just hint of a vinegar. With meaty, savoury aromas, it pairs well with sausage and is the perfect choice for a charcuterie board.

NEW Whiskey Cheese (England)

The Wyke Whisky cheddar is rich and creamy with slight crumble. The whisky aromas are clear and crisp leaving a slight tingle on the roof of the mouth and a lingering taste. Apples pair well with the salt of the cheddar and compliments the whisky flavour as well.

Paulus Abbey Beer Cheese (Holland)

This Dutch Gouda blends the gentle saltiness of a well-matured gouda with the fresh, slightly bitter fruitiness of Paulus Beer. To us it is the quintessential beer cheese – really one of the best we’ve ever tried.

Cheese & Charcuterie Board for St. Patrick’s Day

We suggest…

Irish Whiskey Cheese or Porter Cheddar – Herma’s Signature Beer Cheese Spread – Caramelized Onion Cheese – Graskaas Gouda – Black Pepper Salami – Salami Bastoncini Cranberry Sticks – Porchetta Ham (have sliced to your liking) – Mortadella Sausage (have sliced to your liking) – the Village Grocer’s Bacon for something unexpected. – Pub Inspired Mustard or Saltspring Kitchen’s Charcuterie Mustard. – English Cucumbers – Cornichons – Pearl Onions – Peas – Fresh Rosemary – Cheesy Biscuits or Cheese Sticks – Saltspring Kitchen’s Raspberry & Habanero Spicy Pepper Spread – Crusty Baguette from Manoucher – Herma’s Homemade Crostini – the Fine Cheese Company’s Buttered Crackers – Luxury Beer Nuts – Green Grapes – Dried Fruit – Aunt Sara’s Chocolate Mint Leaves

Tips for your Cheese and Charcuterie Platter

If there isn’t enough room on the platter for bread and crackers, place them in a basket.

Place peas, cornichons and pearl onions in small individual bowls so that the juice does not spill over onto your other foods.

Herma’s Signature Suggestion

Beer Cheese Spread – Just like in the old pubs!

We believe Herma’s Signature Beer Cheese Spread would be a wonderful addition to your St. Patrick’s Day Cheese and Charcuterie Platter as it is just like spreadable pub cheese served in Ireland. Mmm…scrumptious.

Burrata is back!

Burrata means “buttered” in Italian and is a really rich cheese. It resembles a ball of mozzarella, but when you take a closer look you will find this round of cheese is softer, and when cut, has an interior that spills out, revealing soft, stringy curd and fresh cream. Pair with prosciutto and peas, roasted tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, olive tapenade or pesto.

Herma’s Spring Cleaning Sale – Reallite Candles ONLY 50% Off, Select Dessert Plates, Cups and Saucers, Mugs 50% off, Jacqueline Kent Jewelry 50% off

Herma’s NEW Store Hours – beginning March 14th

Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Like many parents preparing to spend time with their children during March Break next week, I will also be spending time with my daughter, Herma’s granddaughter. For this reason we will not be providing a newsletter next week.

We wish everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day along with better days to come!

Sincerely,

Meredith Ender

Communications Coordinator

Herma’s Fine Foods & Gifts