St. Patrick's Day, Spring Hours, Easter Chocolate and Cheese

Springtime is land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. – Lewis Grizzard

Spring has sprung at Herma’s. Not only do little bunnies and beautifully wrapped packages for spring grace our store front window, an amazing amount of beautifully packaged Easter chocolate in pretty spring colours have arrived and may be found throughout Herma’s – so pretty & cheerful. The silky-smooth chocolates inside the pretty boxes are amazing too.

Herma’s NEW Spring Hours have begun.

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

St. Patrick’s Day is this Friday!

When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away. – Bing Crosby, When Irish Eyes are Smiling

The beauty of Ireland and the charm of its people are in our hearts and minds this week as we look forward to a day of celebration. If you would like to create a meal that exemplifies what the Irish might enjoy at their dinner table look no further than Herma’s.

Two Irish-Inspired Meal Ideas

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 peas for something green.

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

Our favourite Irish toast of 2023?

There are good ships and there are wood ships. The ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friend-ships, and may they always be. – Irish Toast

Whiskey Glasses at Herma’s

If you are wanting to purchase a set or just one or two whiskey glasses for your celebrating with Irish whiskey this St. Patrick’s Day, remember that Herma has a beautiful selection from which to choose (like the Everst Whiskey Glasses seen above). A great souvenir for the festive occasion.

Herma’s Cheese Shop

Irish Cheeses for your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Truly Grass-Fed Medium Cheddar and Mature Cheddar (Ireland)

Truly Grass Fed Natural Aged Cheddar hails from the farms of Ireland, where herds are small and cows graze on green grass for most of the year. The medium cheddar is aged for six months (sweet) while the mature cheddar is aged for twelve months (bold, sharp).

Both cheeses are…Non-GMO – Growth Hormone rBST-free – Antibiotic Free – Graze 250 days on the Pasture. – Grass Fed – Creamy Texture

Other festive cheeses for your celebration?

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.

Coombe Castle’s Gaelic Gold Cheddar Cheese with Whiskey and Ginger

This savoury blend combines the classic flavours of Irish whiskey and stem ginger with a creamy cheddar to create a cheese like no other.

Taleggio

Taleggio is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the Val taleggio region in northern Italy. It is named after Val Teleggio, a valley in the Province of Bergamo in the region of Lombardy. The rind is stamped with the letter T. It has a strong, pungent aroma yet is mild in flavour and features tangy, meaty notes with a fruity finish.

The combination of the soft texture, pungent aroma, and melt-in-your-mouth, buttery flavours have proven to be addictive, especially when spread on fresh crusty bread. It may also be melted on pasta, risottos and is amazing on pizza. And for dessert? Enjoy after dinner with a drizzle of truffle honey. Taleggio pairs nicely with Italian Nebbiolo wines, as well as a wide range of reds and whites.

Cheese & Charcuterie Board for St. Patrick’s Day

photo by Saltspring Kitchen Co.

We suggest…

Irish Whiskey Cheese – Herma’s Signature Beer Cheese Spread – Gouda – Salami – the Village Grocer’s Bacon for something unexpected – Stonewall Kitchen’s Pub Style Mustard – Cornichons – Pearl Onions – Peas – Cheesy Biscuits or Cheese Sticks – Saltspring Kitchen’s Raspberry & Habanero Spicy Pepper Spread (or something like) – Crusty Baguette from Manoucher – the Fine Cheese Company’s Buttered Crackers – Nuts – Green Grapes – Dried Fruit – Fraktal’s Chocolate

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.

We hope you have a fabulous week and may the luck of the Irish be with ye as you prepare to celebrate the great heritage of Ireland and its people.

St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Hours, Easter Chocolate and Cheese

Herma’s NEW Spring Hours have begun.

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