ONE OF A KIND

One of the products we carry in our line is Nikki's Cookies. If you don't mind I have to do a little bragging about them. We've been selling them for 4+ years and couldn't be happier with the products and also the company that produces them. These are real homemade style cookies with that delicious butter taste. The bakers do not scrimp on any ingredients and always use the best available and that is how they firmed up a terrific reputation. Of their many creations the Maple Syrup Shortbread Cookies are a great seller in a great package, cute isn't it. And to complete the picture the cookies are shaped like a leaf. Taste also is just as terrific. It is so nice working with such a quality product and very nice people. www.nikkiscookies.com

HAVE YOU SEEN...

Rachael Ray's magazine, "Every Day with Rachael Ray" has a new column called "Supermarket 101." How smart is that! The first column in the April issue highlights shopping in supermarkets, all about receipts and more. This should be a really helpful thing for all of us.

Speaking of supermarkets, can you believe all the varieties of each type of product that is offered? I mean, why do we need 200 kinds of cereal to choose from. And how confusing is it that there are an infinate number and types of room air freshners. Isn't it getting a little out of hand. I guess if we don't buy all of these some will disappear but I'm sure they will be replaced by others as the manufacturers vie for more sales. Guess that is life in America!

Take care,

Pam

AN ADDITION

We are adding a new dimension to our "finding gourmet" blog: restaurant opinions. Being in the food industry we, of course, like eating out and generally prefer anything other than the big chains. Long ago we devised our own rating scale mostly as a fun diversion to critique our meals out. We do eat at a chain on occasion but more often want the experience of one of a kind eating.

This is how our rating system works. We rate DECOR, AMBIENCE, MENU, PRESENTATION, FOOD & SERVICE using the idea of 1, 2 or 3 spoons, 3 being the best and 1 being the poorest.


3 Spoons - worth going again


2 Spoons - so-so


1 Spoon - don't bother going back

We get a kick out of doing our rating; see what you think.


THE BARKING FROG GRILLE


We found this nifty place in Sedona, AZ and couldn't pass it up. The sign itself asked us to come in and give it a try. Yes, you know how I love signs and this is definately a winner as was the food. We had Cactus Fries with Prickly Pear dipping sauce which was an interesting

concept and they turned out to be quite tasty. Of course in this part of the country prickly pear is a common ingredient on most menus. What they can create from this cactus is just about anything and everything. Other goodies that we ordered (there were 4 of us) were Chipotle Chicken Pasta, Famous Buffalo Burger, Caramelized Sea Scallops & Shrimp Tamales. All delish! Oops, forgot to mention that 2 of us had the Arizona Sunset cocktail (check their menu for the ingredients) and the 4 of us shared the Dessert Sampler which was plenty.



Decor: charming, trendy,

Ambience: comfortable, warm

Menu: eclectic, something for everyone

Presentation: appetising, colorful

Food: excellent, nice size proportions, not too much

Service: friendly but way too slow

We give this restaurant: 3 SPOONS (but keep you eye on the service; afterall there is a lot of sightseeing to fill your time. http://www.barkingfroggrille.com/



Take care,
Pam

ANOTHER WINNER!

The other day when I was out and about I happened on a newer product from Sarabeth's. You might remember that I blogged about her Peach Apricot Preserves recently which has been one of my favorites for quite some time. Now I have found her Blood Orange Marmalade. What a treat! Blood oranges (the best come from California) are very seasonal and quite rare which makes Sarabeth's marmalade a really special delight. Added to the marm are apricots and pineapple which round out the flavors making for the most delicious of spreads for your breakfast English muffin. Of course the flavor fulfills its promise no matter how you use it and what you put it on. Try it as a glaze on chicken or pork. Yes, Sarabeth has come through for us once again

http://www.sarabeth.com/.

DID YOU KNOW...

July is National Blueberry month. This is the first I have heard that but it sure is fine with me. I love blueberries and eat them frequently. Never mind how healthy they are, they just plain taste delicious!

JUST READ...

In today's USA TODAY paper is a big article on the Five Guys burger chain. Recently we have had a couple infiltrate our region so of course we had to give it a try. As far as burger joints go I would say it is a cut above the rest. However, I'll take a good restaurant burger any time. If I'm eating all those calories and carbs I want a truly memorable experience. To me Five Guys doesn't rank with the big boys.

Take care,

Pam

FULFILLING A NEED

What do you do when you have that "need" for a sweet and not just any sweet. If I'm having that feeling I want the best, the most delicious and something I have deemed a favorite. So what do I think of? Brownies, of course. And when it comes to brownies one of the very best around is SIMPLY DIVINE HEAVENLY BROWNIES that are from Maine. Yes, those people have exceeded the usual brownie and made it into an art form. And talk about variety. Have a look at their website and you will see what I mean. 16 different ways and counting to indulge your cravings. You know what makes a brownie extra yummy? Frosting! And some of their brownies have the most delectible frostings you can imagine including Maine blueberry, peppermint, butter brickle (yeh, not really a frosting but oh so delish), cappuccino and the list goes on. Oops, got to go order some. Can't wait. http://www.simplydivinebrownies.com/.


A COMMENT ON AMERICA



This is a sign for an eatery we saw at the Wynn hotel and resort in Las Vegas. The name says it all and what it says is what you get. If they don't have what you want to eat, no one does.


Take care,
Pam

VISITING AN OLD FRIEND

When we were in Scottsdale, AZ this last week we took time (from relatives) to have lunch at one of my very favorite haunts: The Sugar Bowl. If you haven't been down there and heard about this delightful step back in time you have to give it a try. The Sugar Bowl has been in business for 51 years and still going strong serving yummy lunches and dinners and best of all the most wonderful ice cream concoctions you can imagine.

When you enter you are going back to a time when soda fountains abound and their shelves were lined with glistening glass dishes of every size and shape to accomodate all kinds of delicious ice cream medleys each one more tempting than the last. Sure they do the usual sodas and sundaes but their sundaes are in a cream puff in the bowl. Now that is my kind of sundae. And they serve extra soda with their sodas so you can refill when needed.

But this place isn't just about ice cream. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner and includes such old fashioned items as tea sandwiches, nut bread slathered with pineapple cream cheese and (do you ever see this on a menu?) cherry jello filled with peach chunks. Also one of my favorites is their chicken salad served with the afore mentioned nut bread and sliced avacado, pineapple and tomato. Guess I could go on and on but I think you get the message. The only other thing I will say is that yes, this is an old fashioned kind of eating place but it is also very current and creative. What's not to love!

SOMETHING NEW ON OUR HORIZON

Hooray! We are ready to launch our new line: SPARKLES. Yes, we are a gourmet food wholesaler but we do a couple of other things also and our latest is a line of Swarovski crystal earrings. To say I am excited is to understate my feelings. I've had this idea for some time and have put together these ideas and packaged the earrings to sell. I know there is so much jewelry on the market that it is mindboggling, but I feel what I have designed will be a perfect fit for our current economy. Keep your fingers crossed; I'll let you know how it goes.

Take care,

Pam

THE WILD, WILD WEST

What a time we had in Arizona. It was as exciting and interesting as we expected and so much fun. We began with 2 days in Las Vegas at the Mirage. After booking our reservation there I got an email that they were having a 20 year anniversary special and our room rate was reduced from $100 to $76 incl tax. How can you beat that! And was that room cushy. One night we ate at Mon ami Gabi in the Paris hotel which has been a favorite restaurant since our first visit to LV. As expected it was as good if not better than ever. Another time we treated ourselved to sweets at the Bellagio. They certainly do pastries beautifully with their own special flair. That I can tell you makes it very hard to choose. Al and I each picked different little cakes and then shared as did our traveling companions. And each was a little bit of heaven filled with raspberry, mocha, creamy custard and other goodies. Some were quite exotic with combinations of tastes that were out of this world. Oh to go back for a little bite each day!

A NEW DAY

It was announced yesterday that Mr. O has selected an Hispanic woman for the Supreme Court.

She appears to be a reasonable choice having come from a "working family" background which could infuse a "real people" element along with a fresh attitude to the Court. We will see how this plays out.

Take care,

Pam

A TASTE OF THE BEST

I love toffee. There's no getting around it, toffee is a special part of my life. Sometimes I waver between milk chocolate and dark chocolate but in the end as long as my treat is toffee I'm a happy camper. As luck would have it I have found the most delectable toffee on the market. CARY'S OF OREGON. Have you seen it around? We can easily find it here in New England so I imagine it can be found all over the country.

These people are always thinking of new ingredients to go with their toffees and have come up with winners including Chai tea, mango tea and an all time favorite: espresso. However, it is the quality of each of the ingredients as well as the old family recipe handed down that makes their products outstanding. This is a must try; you'll be hooked like I am. www.carysoforegon.com.

ADVENTURES

This coming Sunday we embark on a well deserved (my opinion, of course) vacation. While we are out and about I will be blogging on the various places, restaurants and sights we will be savoring. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Ciao,
Pam