Herma’s News – Elevating your Tasting Experience

Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all. – Harriet Van Horne

Dear Customers,

Summertime, especially in Canada, is a time to let loose and celebrate life. A time to enjoy the company of others not seen for a long time. What better way to form bonds and reconnect with others than by sharing a table of special foods.

At Herma’s we aim to provide you with foods, condiments, cheese, meat, oils and dressings that will make your ordinary meal something extra-ordinary. On Saturday Herma looks forward to offering foods to sample that will be sure to inspire.

This Saturday between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Herma will be serving a lovely Olive, Basil and Lemon Pasta from France. She will be serving this lemony fresh pasta with lemon olive oil, olives, Parmigiana, fresh ground pepper and Maldon salt. Charcuterie items will also be sampled. All refreshing and lite – perfect for hot summer evenings.

Summertime Meal Suggestions

Dipping Bread

Simple ingredients sometimes offer up the most delicious results.

Olive Oil Bread Dipping Sauce Instructions

For an amazing dipping sauce for bread combine a handful of garlic cloves (roasted), lots of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (grated), a smidgen of dried oregano, a pinch of salt and a crack of pepper into a small bowl for dipping (Red Pepper Flakes are nice too if you like heat.). Add good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil as your main ingredient and you have something really special to enjoy by yourself or with friends and family.

How to Roast Garlic

Preheat oven to 400 F. – Peel and Cut off tops of garlic cloves. – Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil. – Roast for 20 minutes. – If the garlic cloves become a little charred, peel the black away. – The garlic cloves will be mild and soft. Really delicious!

Manoucher’s Baguette or Focaccia are our favourite bread choices for dipping. Find in our freezers.

Choosing Olive Oil

Depending on your budget, if your olive oil is not going to be heated for cooking, choose your olive oil based on (1) if possible, the most recent harvest date. (2) Look for PGI, PDO, DO or AOC abbreviations that guarantee that the oil is produced in a specific region using traditional olive varieties. (4) Above all, it should taste fresh and fruity with the flavours of healthy, fresh olives.

Note that estate brands may not be regulated with protective status, but it should mean that the brand owner grew the olives used for the product. Some even grow the olives, mill and bottle them. Check the label for this info.

At Herma’s find an entire wall dedicated to olive oil and balsamic.

Parmesan Truffle Seasoning for Fries…Yum!

How to create…

After your French Fries are baked in the oven, drizzle truffle oil to taste. The strength of flavour and poignancy differs depending on the type of oil you are using, therefore you may want to use verrry sparingly at first. Add Maldon salt, crushing it with your fingers as you sprinkle it over the fries. Also sprinkle fries with fresh, grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese (found in our cheese coolers). Serve immediately.

Find delicious fries to bake in our freezers.

What are truffles?

Truffles are earthy, intoxicating and infuse an intriguing flavor to anything they touch. They are very expensive because of how difficult they are to harvest, making them all the more desirable! Hunters use specially trained dogs and pigs to hunt for these truffles which are found underground. For our purposes, truffle-infused oil is the most accessible way to enjoy the flavor of truffles. We also carry a truffle salt which would actually serve as a nice alternative to the oil and Maldon Salt mentioned above. 

Find a whole slew of truffle products, including the truffle itself, next to our wall of oils and balsamic. 

Burger Toppings

Ketchup, mustards, barbecue sauces, seasonings, pickled veggies, caramelized onions and more elevate the tasting experience of your burger turning what you have just grilled from something ordinary to something extra-ordinary. The list below involves products we feel would truly make your hamburger special.

From Stonewall Kitchen…

Farmhouse Red Relish (This relish contains red cherry peppers, mellow onions and red bell peppers.)

Maple Bacon Aioli (Real bacon and sweet maple syrup is added to this aioli. Great for burgers and also breakfast sandwiches.)

Roasted Garlic Aioli (Creamy, homemade mayonnaise, slow-roasted garlic and a touch of mustard is added to this aioli sauce. Spread on hamburger buns before toasting. Yum!)

Sriracha Aioli (Sun-ripened chilies, garlic and sriracha combine with a creamy mayonnaise, creating a uniquely robust and spicy aioli.)

Caramelized Onion Mustard (Hand-caramelized onions are added to a robust base of Dijon mustard.)

Smokey Peach Whiskey Sauce (Smoky peaches are combined with the smoothest whiskey for a barbecue sauce that will introduce something new to your tastebuds.)

Saltspring Kitchen Co.

Spicey Tomato Savoury Spread (Tomatoes, fresh ginger, onions, jalapeños, and a cheeky heat are what make this spread special.)

Candied Jalapeños (Pickled for a sweet, unique heat that can’t be beat.)

Charcuterie Mustard (This mustard caviar is made with Salt Spring Island Ales’ Heather Ale and honey which will most definitely add sophistication to your burger.)

Cafiti

Sweet Bread & Butter Pickles (These pickles are handmade and taste as if they came from your grandmother’s garden.)

Burgers with Personality

Think like a gourmet by choosing ingredients that will create a party in your mouth when you pair them together.

Black & Blue Burger (Add mayo, Brickstone Fine Food’s Caramelized Onion Confit & Blue Cheese to your blackened burger.)

Bold & Boozy (Smother your burger in your favourite BBQ Sauce, top with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, mayo, pickles and top with caramelized onion confit soaked in Beer.)

Earthy & Grand (Season your burger with white truffle oil, goat cheese, wild mushrooms, caramelized onion confit, arugula and Dijonnaise.)

The possibilities are endless.

Prairie Berry Sauce on Ice Cream

End your summer meal with a scoop of ice cream topped with a delicious, tart berry sauce. Harvested at their peak to get the best flavor possible, Gourmet Inspirations has taken two delicious berries, succulent blueberries and saskatoons, and made a luscious dessert sauce with amazing health benefits.

Serve it with ice cream or cheesecake, or make a tantalizing baked brie with this berry sauce as the topping!  We’ve even used this sauce in mixed drinks, like margaritas or martinis, and added it to make fruity summer popsicles.

Choose from our varied selection of cheese which have been sliced fresh, carefully wrapped and lovingly placed on shelves in our coolers.

We also carry a lovely selection of charcuterie including Prosciutto DOP which may be sliced to your liking. And don’t forget about all the amazing made-from-scratch Signature Dips and Spreads which are perfect for snacking or offered as hors d’oeuvres and appetizers.

Featured Cheese – Shropshire Blue

This beautiful, orange blue from Clawson Dairy hails from Nottinghamshire, England and has been described as a cross between Stilton and Cheshire. Its sharp, strong flavour and slightly tangy aroma pairs well with Port Noir and Riesling. Winner of silver at the 2014 World Cheese Awards.

Herma’s Savings – Body Care and Candles

Castelbel Portus Cale from Portugal 50% off

Their soaps, lotions, candles and home fragrances capture the aromas, colors and environment of Portugal, a country whose sun, heat and sea are food for the soul and comfort for the spirit – a journey for the senses.

Pretty fragrant candles in jars with floral shaped lids are also on sale…feminine, elegant and pretty.

That’s a wrap!

Are you aware that in addition to gift baskets we also offer to place select items in a Herma’s Signature Gift Box? Gift baskets and gift boxes will be priced according to products chosen. Just ask at the front desk or call 905-885-9250 and we will be happy to take care of your gift-giving needs.

Have a wonderful weekend. We look forward to seeing you in coming days.

Sincerely,

Meredith Ender

Communications Coordinator

Herma’s Fine Foods & Gifts