Spanish Table Seattle Newsletter November 6, 2009

A Visit to Blandy’s Wine Lodge, Madeira

Madeira lies in the Atlantic Ocean 378 miles west of Morocco. A volcanic island, its sub tropical climate and abundant rainfall seem an unlikely place for wine production. But its shelves of terraced land rise up the flanks of 6105 foot Mt. Pico, which on the sunny side of the island provides a climate ideally suited to viticulture.

The urban port city of Funchal is the heart of wine production and retains its 18th century Portuguese charm despite a modern profusion of traffic encouraged by European Union road projects. But when we drove a few minutes away from Funchal on our visit last month, we found peaceful country lanes bordered by New Guinea Impatiens, Hydrangeas, Trumpet Flower and Eucalyptus forests, much the same as it was 200 years ago. Madeira is a verdant garden, nourished by its volcanic soils and ample precipitation.

Uninhabited until 1427, Madeira was discovered and settled by the Portuguese who soon began making wine. By the mid 16th Century it was a refueling stop for ships crossing the Atlantic and its wines were brought on board to prevent scurvy. The U.S. quickly became one of Madeira wine’s principal markets along with England and Brazil. It was a favorite drink of Thomas Jefferson who toasted the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a glass of Malmsey.

Originally a table wine, it was fortified with brandy to stabilize it for long ocean journeys. On one fateful hot voyage to Brazil, a cask of Madeira (called a “pipe”) was accidentally left on board and eventually traveled back across the tropics to Funchal. When the wine merchants tasted it, all agreed that it was much better than when it left! Since then, Madeiras have been aged with the use of heat, and for a time pipes were actually shipped to the colonies and back to replicate that famous voyage. Eventually winemakers realized that they could recreate the tropical conditions of a ship voyage by storing the pipes in the eaves of Funchal’s wine lodges, where temperatures would climb to 45 degrees Celsius.

Madeira has an elegance and finesse not found in other fortified wines. Warm temperatures and evaporation concentrate flavors, and ongoing oxygen contact produce wines that are long lived and extremely stable. Open a bottle today and ten months from now it will taste as fresh as the day it was opened! Volcanic soils give the grapes high acidity which produce wines with a light mouth feel, intensity and a persistent finish.

The canteiro system: slow aging of varietal Madeiras at Blandy’s wine lodge

A glass of Madeira warms and satisfies on a cold, wet night. It’s also stellar served with creamy foods and holiday desserts such as pumpkin pie. Madeira adds richness to sauces and is excellent used in place of wine for deglazing sauté pans.

Here’s an easy and delicious recipe using Madeira:

Chanterelle Mushrooms in Madeira Sauce (Two servings)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

1 cup fresh chanterelles, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup creme fraiche or whipping cream

1/4 cup Feist Full Rich Madeira

1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

Heat olive oil over low heat and when warm, saute garlic and onion until translucent. Add mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper and cook for five minutes, then add Madeira and simmer for another two minutes. Add creme fraiche and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately. This is excellent as a sauce for grilled pork chops or chicken, and would be a great side dish for the Thanksgiving dinner table.

MADEIRA WINES

We have the largest selection of Madeiras in the country. Here are some of our favorites:

Feist Full Rich ($17.99) Aged 3 years, it is smooth, viscous and full bodied. Feist Full Rich is a great introduction to a sweet Madeira as a tasty dessert drink or for use in cooking.

“Full Rich” Madeiras are made from the Tinta Negra grape which is the most widely grown grape on the island. “Full Rich” Madeiras are produced by the “estufagem” process which warms the wine by means of a pipe in the tank filled with warm water.

The most complex Madeiras are made from four traditional varietals (Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, Malmsey) whose production is declining in favor of the easier to grow Tinta Negra grape. Varietal Madeiras are produced in the “canteiro” method, in which pipes are aged slowly in the warm eaves of Funchal’s wine lodges.

Blandy’s 5 Year Bual ($22.99) Medium sweet, with light caramel flavors and spice. A hint of countryside herbs provides an intriguing background to this smooth Bual. Great acidity and concentration.

Leacock’s 10-year Bual ($41.00) “Very distinctive burnt treacle aroma, followed by concentrated flavors of caramel, walnut, iodine and green tea. There’s grip and length, with power on the back end.” 90 points Wine Spectator

Blandy’s 10 year Sercial ($37.00) Sercial is the driest Madeira and Blandy’s Sercial is a richer style than other brands. With butterscotch aromas, it is a bit sweeter than bone dry. Round and smooth on the palate, it’s flavors of roasted nuts with high acidity give Blandy’s Sercial a light and elegant mouth feel. The finish is lengthy and clean.

FLAMENCO PERFORMANCES Hot on the heels of last night’s passionate flamenco show at Benaroya Hall, Isabel Lopez from Casa Patas Flamenco Company in Madrid is performing at Taberna del Alabardero in Belltown. The Sunday show is sold out, but Taberna has added another show on Monday November 9th at 8:00 p.m. For information, call 206.448.8884.

FLAMENCO DE RAIZ presents RAFAEL DE UTRERA with Eric and Encarnación from Children of the Revolution with special guest percussionist Juanma Lucas

2 shows Saturday, November 7th, 2009 7PM & 9:30PM, Kirkland Performance Center (425) 893-9900

Rafael and Juanma are top level flamencos coming directly from Sevilla, Spain. Rafael is one of the most respected flamenco singers in the world today and will be coming off his current tour with Vicente Amigo. This will be a “flamenco puro” performance with dance numbers and cante jondo(deep or profound song).

PARIS GROCERY NEWS

Our new shop features French cheeses and wine, and other foods with a French mood. It’s located 1/4 of a block south of Spanish Table at 1418 Western Avenue.

New cheeses just in!

Tomme du Segala is produced in small amounts in the city of Carmaux in southern France, this raw goat’s milk cheese has an elastic texture that crumbles slightly. The flavor has hints of olives and grass.

Tomme Crayeuse is a semi-soft raw cow’s milk cheese from the Savoie that undergoes two stages of cave-aging. The final, intensely rich flavor is earthy, with mushroom and citrus notes. Created by one of France’s top affineurs, Max Schmidhauser.

Crémeux de Bourgogne is a cow’s milk triple-crème cheese from a small family of producers in Burgundy. This pasteurized, bloomy-rind cheese has a dense texture and a rich flavor with hints of fresh butter.

Tomme de Savoie is a pleasant table cheese form the Savoie with a distinct raw milk flavor – beefy, hazel nutty and pleasantly milky. With approximately 30% fat content, this is the most creamy ‘low fat’ cheese available. Enjoy with liver-stoked pâtés and light red wines like Beaujolais.

Pavé de Jadis So named because of its shape: pavé is a small paving stone. This fresh goat’s milk cheese from the Loire Valley is dusted with vegetable ash and has a fudge-like texture. The taste is very clean, mild and lemony.

NEW SPANISH TABLE CHEESES

Evora: This small Portuguese cheese (each wheel is only 6 ounces) is made from raw sheep’s milk which is filtered through a mesh lining after being immersed in a salt brine solution. Aged over 60 days, it is made with raw sheep milk and cardoon thistle near the historic city of Evora. Spicy and slightly acidic, it is fruity with a light-yellow color. Because of its slightly higher level of salt, it is well-suited for salads.

We now have Israeli feta!

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Sharon Baden and Steve Winston, Owners

The Spanish Table, 1426 Western Avenue, Seattle WA 98101 phone# 206.682.2827

Paris Grocery, 1418 Western Avenue, Seattle WA 98101 phone# 206.682.0679

Christmas With the Dogs

Spanish Table Seattle & Paris Grocery Newsletter
December 10, 2009

We all have our favorite holiday memories, and mine is celebrating Christmas at my Aunt Lillian’s with her Cocker Spaniels. Blonde Duchess was my favorite, but she was an older dog without much patience for adolescents. After a few minutes of play, the she would signal with a low growl that it was time for us to find other entertainment. We’d head up the creaky stairs to the attic and tell ourselves it wasn’t really haunted. Downstairs, as the adults poured libations, the evenings turned raucous and then we’d all settle down for a savory holiday meal.
Our Christmas dinners always included a salad of oranges, nuts and greens. We’ve taken that classic recipe up a notch and here’s our favorite Clementine Orange Salad recipe from The Spanish Table cookbook:
Boxes of little Clementine oranges from Spain are now in our markets. They are easy to peel and after the segments are dressed with a drizzle of saffron syrup and topped with toasted almond slices, they can be served as a festive salad or as a dessert, the sweetness adjusted accordingly. Serves 6

8 Spanish Clementine Oranges
1 tablespoon PX Sherry Vinegar
1 teaspoon Saffron syrup or orange blossom honey
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Sliced almonds, toasted
Gently toss the segments in the dressing then top with almond slices.
If you haven’t already shopped on our new websites, take a look today! On The Spanish Table wines website we’ve got amazing wine values which are arranged by staff pick, by score, by price, by country. This virtual wine store has everything you’re looking for from Spain, Portugal, Madeira, or South America. Click The Spanish Table wines to visit the site.

For all food and cookware products, click on The Spanish Table to search our original and now revamped, website. It’s much easier to navigate and has a plethora of additional items. Now you can shop at home for Spanish food and wine!
We’ve extended our hours during the holiday season at The Spanish Table beginning Friday December 11th and continuing through December 23rd!
Holiday hours at The Spanish Table: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Sunday hours at The Spanish Table and Paris Grocery: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

GREAT GIFT IDEAS
The Cuisines of Spain by Teresa Barrenechea ($27.99) Explores the regional home cooking of Spain, with pictures and loads of background information about ingredients.
Cook España, Drink España ($24.99) by Mario Sandoval and John Radford A gastronomic tour celebrating the diversity of Spanish food and wine with recipes from Spain’s hottest chef matched with wines from Spanish wine expert
Tapas by Joyce Goldstein ($22.95) Traditional recipes accompanied by an overview of how history has influenced Spanish food.
Jose Andres’ Made in Spain DVD ($31.49) From the PBS series, follow Jose around Spain and then back to his Washington, DC kitchen to recreate authentic Spanish meals.
One Pot Spanish by Penelope Casas ($19.95) Over 80 easy, authentic recipes for soups, stews and braises. Great winter foods!
Sangria pitchers, glass or ceramic
Wine books: We’ve dedicated an entire shelf to the Wines of Spain and Portugal.
Mexican Hand Painted Ceramic Angel candle holders ($38.00)
Kid’s Corner: Plastic Luchadora figures!

NEW SPANISH TABLE WINES 2008 Lícia Albariño, Rias Baixas ($16.99) Racy & zesty citrus flavors have notes of ripe melon laced with minerality. Finishing with impressive length, Lícia strikes the right balance between ripe fruit and acidity.
2004 Rioja Bordón Reserva ($14.99) Established in 1890, Bodegas Franco-Españolas stays true to tradition while coaxing expression and elegance from the grapes. A burst of smoked bing cherry meats earth, balsamic notes and a hint of clove. Silky and supple, it’s fine acidity provides balance and the length finish ends on a high note. A fantastic value for Rioja lovers!
2007 Alto Moncayo ($45.00) This compelling and polished wine is a knock-out! “Complex bouquet offers scents of blueberry, boysenberry, cola, dark chocolate and mace. Broad, sweet dark berry flavors display liqueur-like depth and power and are nicely framed by velvety tannins. A tangy mineral note gains strength with air and adds vivacity to the long, sweet, spicy finish. I’d drink this alluring wine on the young side for its exuberant fruit character.” 93 points Stephen Tanzer
2007 Alto Moncayo Veraton ($27.99) ” Sexy aromas of red and dark berries, sandalwood, spicecake and fresh rose. Spicy, concentrated raspberry and blackberry flavors are given spine by zesty minerals and pick up a smoky quality with air. Impressively lively for such a rich wine, with strong finishing spiciness and lingering notes of licorice and red berries.” 92 points Stephen Tanzer
Vinhos Justino Henriques Full Rich Madeira gift packs ($19.99). Packed in a wooden gift box, the set includes a 750 ml bottle of Full Rich Madeira and two Madeira glasses. Great value!
IT’S PORT SEASON!
The 2007 vintage ports are arriving, and we have the following four brands in stock:
2007 Porto Rocha Vintage Port ($58.00) Loaded with ripe fruit, Rocha has citrus notes, is medium sweet and balanced. Value priced, it has the structure for long ageing. 94-96 points, For the Love of Port
2007 Grahams Vintage Port ($88.00) Sweet, with a delicious nuttiness and smooth tannins.
Wine Spectator score 96-99
2007 Dow’s Vintage Port ($75.00) Incredibly structured with a seemingly never-ending finish.

Wine Spectator score 94-97
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port ($75.00) 100% foot trodden and very drinkable already with notes of dense roasted nuts, fine grained tannins. Excellent!

Wine Spectator score 93-96

Other brands are available by special order:
2007 Gould Campbell Vintage Port ($55.00; 92-95 points Spectator) 2007 Warres Vintage Port ($78.00; Spectator score 95-98)
2007 Quinta Do Noval Vintage Port($90.00; Spectator score 94-97) 2007 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port($99.00; Spectator score 94-97).
Please let us know if you’d like to order any brands that we don’t have in stock.

PARIS GROCERY NEWS
Our new shop features French cheeses and wine, and other foods with a French mood. It’s located 1/4 of a block south of Spanish Table at 1418 Western Avenue.
NEW AND DELICIOUS CHEESES
Tome Jacquin: a creamy chevre from the Loire Valley.
Mothais Sur Feuille: a “wrinkly-rind” goat cheese, refined on a chestnut leaf. Sold individually.
Les Truffiardises: Hor d’oeurves-shaped fresh goat cheeses garnished with truffles and berries.
Fougerus: a cousin to Coulommiers, it’s a brie-style cow milk cheese and decorated with a fern leaf.
Bleuet de Savoie: a blue cow milk cheese with very Alpine characteristics- those who don’t usually like blue cheese will love this!

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, A NEW SHIPMENT OF D’ARTAGNAN CHARCUTERIE ARRIVED THIS WEEK! Back in stock are Duck Bacon, Wild Boar Bacon, Confit Duck Legs.
Among new items we now have
Pheasant Terrine with herbs, Chicken/Apple Sausage. and Jambon de Bayonne. Jambon de Bayonne is thinly sliced French ham, made in USA with only salt, no nitrates. $8.99 (4 oz).
FRENCH GIFT IDEAS
Dinner napkins with literary quotes ($35.00, set of four)
Culinaria France ($24.95) A virtual encyclopedia of French foodstuffs and wines, explanatory text and recipes with great photos on every page.
The Cooking of Southwest France by Paula Wolfert ($37.50) We’re big fans of Paula Wolfert’s cookbooks which meld detailed information about ingredients with authentic recipes.
The Paris Cookbook by Patricia Wells ($30.00) We used Patricia Well’s guide to Paris wine bars when we visited that city for the first time. An American who has lived in Paris since 1980, this cookbook and gastronomic guide to the City of Light is the next best thing for those who can’t afford a trip to France.

“Cooking French” 2 set DVD ($11.99) Disc One covers the cuisine of Northern France; Disc Two covers Burgandy and Southern France.

Compagnie de Provence organic skin care products. Choose from hand cream, soap, or body lotions made from natural and vegetable products.
Tunisian ceramics with multi colored flower design. We’ve got a whole mix of bowls and serving platters which make beautiful gifts.
NEW FRENCH WINES
TAKE 10% DISCOUNT ON SIX BOTTLES OR MORE AT PARIS GROCERY!
2005 Chateau Bonnet Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux ($9.99) André Lurton’s family has presided over the vineyards of Chateau Bonnet for over one hundred years. Ripe and juicy wild black fruit flavors have structured but accessible tannins. Serve it with a French cheese plate and charcuterie.
2007 Chateau Virgile Costières de Nîmes ($10.99) Concentrated berry flavors with focused aromatics, it is aged exclusively in tank with minimal fining and filtering. 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, it is concentrated and lush, an ideal match for the hearty cuisine of Southwestern France. “A juicy, polished palate of fruit pit, cocoa powder, salt, and herb-tinged cherries leads to a long, subtle finish, made more memorable by stony underlying notes and hints of floral perfume.” 91 points Wine Advocate
Dolin Vermouth Blanc and Rouge ($13.99) Dolin is the last independent producer of Vermouth de Chambéry and they continue to make the authentic product according to the principles which earned Chambéry France’s only A.O. for Vermouth back in 1932. This means production in Chambéry itself, maceration of real plants grown in the region rather than pre-prepared infusions, and the unique addition of sugar as opposed to other sweetening products. Dolin Vermouths are notably lighter, drier and less pungent than their larger commercial counterparts.

We look forward to helping you in the shop as you stock up for the holidays!

Sincerely,
Sharon Baden and Steve Winston, Owners

The Spanish Table, 1426 Western Avenue, Seattle WA 98101 phone# 206.682.2827
Paris Grocery, 1418 Western Avenue, Seattle WA 98101 phone# 206.682.0679

Gifts For Gourmands

  
  
Even in my dead-broke college days, I always managed to scrape together a tasty meal. I discovered early on that having a larder full of staples guaranteed a home cooked meal that didn’t bust my budget. And in today’s great recession, a return to frugal eating just makes sense. But dining cheaply can be delicious as well! Here at The Spanish Table our stock of extraordinary and inexpensive grocery items includes dried beans and lentils, polenta, tuna and tomate frito (Spanish fried tomato sauce), cured sausages, pepper sauces, olives, North African spices and Valencian rice. These products also make great gifts for gourmands. Here are three loose recipes that can be thrown together with inexpensive ingredients: 
Polenta: Prepare polenta with grated cheese, top with grilled sausages, tomate frito and serve. 
Curried lentils: Boil lentils in chicken stock or water. Add cooked spinach, salt, pepper, tumeric, ground cumin and coriander to taste. Add a dollop of Harissa hot pepper sauce to make it spicy! 
White bean salad: Toss together cooked white beans and tuna, oil (use the oil that the tuna is packed in), vinegar, salt and pepper. Season with fresh chopped parsley and a small amount of fresh rosemary to taste. 
Spanish Table launches two new and improved websites! 
The Spanish Table wine website is now launched! We’ve got amazing wine values such as 2000 Valduero Reserva, originally $39.99, is now $23.99. 94 points Wine Advocate. Arranged by staff pick, by score, by price, by country, this virtual wine store has everything you’re looking for from Spain, Portugal, Madeira, or South America. Click The Spanish Table wine to visit the site. 
  
For all food and cookware products, click on The Spanish Table to check out our original and now revamped, website. It’s much easier to navigate and has a plethora of additional items. Now you can shop at home for Spanish food and wine! 

  

 

 

Whether you’re taking tapas to a party, giving food gifts or stocking your own larder, these are our favorite staples and a must for the serious cook.
Blanched Marcona Almonds:  Use in cakes and sweet breads.  Or fry in olive oil, salt and eat!
Organic Polenta from Argentina:  Intensely flavored; cooks in one minute.
Olive oil:   We have an extensive selection of Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) in all prices, including Mas Portell White Truffle EVOO, Miguel & Valentino Smoked EVOO, Mustapha’s Moroccan EVOO, and Clos Mogador EVOO.   Clos Mogador’s olive oil is one of the most buttery, intensely flavored oils we’ve ever tasted.
Vinegars:   Sherry vinegar is essential for making gazpacho and is just plain delicious in salads.  Not limited to just Spanish recipes, many cuisines call for sherry vinegar, especially modern French dishes.
Flavored honeys:  We’ve got Portuguese, Greek and Spanish honeys including plain honey in an earthenware crock, lavender and rosemary flavored honeys. Delicious served over yogurt with walnuts!
Handmade Fig Paste:  This is fantastic with a soft goat cheese such as Caña de Cabra.
Turròn:  In addition to traditional almond and honey flavor, try chocolate turròn with peach & rose.
Los Chileros brand Specialty Popcorn from New Mexico!  Comes in red, white or blue corn. 
Whole, mini wheels of cheese.  These make excellent gifts for lovers of queso, and for serving at a party!    Mini drunken goat wheels, about one pound, approximately $15.00; mini El Trigal Manchego cheese, around 2 pounds, approximately $30.00.    Actual weight and cost varies depending on the size of the wheel.
Assortment of cured meats:  For the pork obsessed, what could be better than a selection of Jamon Serrano, Chorizo, Catalan Butifarra sausage, Linguica, or Morcilla?

 

SPANISH TABLE GIFT WINES   2007 Bodega Colome Malbec ($24.99) “This Argentine red is quite ripe, with nearly exotic plum sauce, braised fig and crushed blueberry notes rolled together, while spice, mocha and incense hints help stretch out the juicy, dense finish…” No 32 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, 92 points 
2006 Concha y Toro Carmenere Peumo Terrunyo, Chile ($26.99)  “Dark in profile, with plum and currant fruit, but very pure, with silky tannins and a long, stylish finish that lets incense, spice and mineral notes play out.”  No. 63 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100, 92 points   
2005 Montecastro, Ribera del Duero ($47.00) “.. it has an alluring bouquet of wood smoke, toast, crushed stone, violets, black raspberry, and blackberry. This is followed by an opulent, full-flavored wine with gobs of spicy fruit, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and 4-6 years of aging potential. It will be at its best between 2013 and 2025.”   93 points Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator
2006 Mas D’En Compte, Priorat ($40.00)” Vibrant raspberry and cherry aromas are energized by blood orange and baking spices. Fresh red fruit flavors are complicated by an exotic lavender pastille quality and given lift by juicy acidity. An elegant, precise wine that finishes with excellent tangy cut and persistence.”  91 points Stephen Tanzer
2005 El Castro de Valtuille, Bierzo ($34.00) ” Peppery, mineral-dominated bouquet of fresh strawberry, raspberry and blood orange, with cracked pepper and graphite notes gaining strength with aeration. Racy, sharply focused red fruit flavors offer intensity without weight, picking up chewy tannins on the back end…”  90 points Stephen Tanzer, 92 points Wine Advocate

Kopke Rosé Porto ($21.99)  Arrived today, just in time for the holidays!  Not as extracted as a red port, it is fresh and round with notes of  forest fruits and roasted nuts.  Serve alone as a dessert wine, or make a festive Portuguese kir by adding some bubbly.  
2001 was an excellent vintage all over Spain, and one of the best in Rioja since 1994.   The 2001 vintage Gran Reservas started arriving this fall, and they are phenomenal.   Showing more ripe fruit than other vintages, and with characteristic silky tannins, they are the ultimate special occasion food wine.    Subsequent vintages have not matched up to the 2001, so this is a great time to stow some away in the cellar before they sell out!
2001 Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva Rioja ($57.00) From a top-notch Rioja producer with impeccable standards, the ‘01 Prado Enea, is fantastic.  ” A complex, heady bouquet of dried red berries, sandalwood, rose oil, black tea and licorice pastille. Smooth, focused and gently sweet cherry and raspberry flavors coat the palate, with gentle but integrated tannins providing shape. This silky, seamless wine finishes with a strong echo of candied flowers, spices and minerals.”   93 points Stephen Tanzer  
2001 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Rioja ($60.00) The ‘01 Ygay is so incredible that we stashed a case of this away in our own cellar.  ” Impressively complex bouquet of dried red fruits, tobacco, cedar and potpourri. A spicy, subtly sweet midweight, offering lively redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and very soft tannins. The smoky finish features a strong echo of cedary spice.”  92 points Stephen Tanzer  

 

PARIS GROCERY NEWS

Our new shop features French cheeses and wine, and other foods with a French mood.   It’s located 1/4 of a block south of Spanish Table at 1418 Western Avenue.  

These products will make any Francophile very, very, happy.

Fleur Verte: This fresh, creamy goat cheese is festively adorned with thyme, tarragon, and pink peppercorns and has clean, lemony, and boldly herbaceous flavor.
Époisses: Brillat-Savarin dubbed this “The King of All Cheeses.” And the man knew his cheeses! This famously pungent, washed-rind cheese from Burgundy has a distinctly earthy flavor and an irresistibly gooey texture. It will convert you into a stinky cheese lover!
Monin Pumpkin Spice and Maple Spice syrups: Made with pure cane sugar, these versatile syrups add a splash of holiday flavor to coffee, hot cocoa,  or a warm-you-up cocktail.  Try them in whipped cream for topping seasonal desserts!
Le Pére Pelletier Sel du Boucher (Butcher’s Salt): Fleur de sel with rosemary, thyme, sage, and marjoram.  Packaged in a handsome wooden box, it makes a terrific gift!
Christmas Lima Beans: These gorgeous, red- and white-marbled beans from Cassoulets USA make a stunning and healthful, addition to your holiday spread. These beans hold their intricate coloring even after cooking. Make Christmas Lima Bean Soup with D’Artagnan duck bacon, wild mushrooms, and chopped chestnuts.
Charcuterie:  For the Francophile pork obsessed, these cured products are wonderful on a party table and also make great gifts: Rabbit sausage with prunes, Toulouse Sausage, Pork and Wild Boar, Chicken and Truffle.   We also have Duck Salami, Smoked Duck Breast and Cured Pork Bellies.

 

 

PARIS GROCERY WINES    10% discount on six bottles or more at Paris Grocery! 2007 Domaine des Domaine des Ouleb Thaleb Syrocco, (Morocco )$17.99  Alain Graillot, a highly regarded Crozes-Hermitage producer, met the owners of Thalvin while cycling through Morocco.  The family has made wine for decades on the black tirss soils near the high elevation town of Rommani. Graillot decided to team up with them to produce this rich syrah.  Lush, and with juicy ripe fruit, it has balance and verve.  This was terrific served  with braised rabbit in mustard sauce! A great gift for bicyclists who like full-bodied red wines.    “Packed, in a brawny, muscular style atypical for this lush vintage, with a gravelly undertow to the currant paste, braised fig and dark licorice notes. Picks up even more steam on the finish, with grilled mesquite, mineral and garrigue notes and a long, hot stone-filled finish”  No 3 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2009, 95 points   2005 Vieux Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($31.99)  The second wine from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe is awesome and drinking beautifully now! “Ripe, with nice kirsch and raspberry fruit backed by darker hints of applewood-smoked bacon, plum sauce and dark licorice. Juicy and long on the finish, this stretches out nicely.”   91 points Wine Spectator     2007 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe “La Crau”, Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($85.00) 3 bottles available

FLAMENCO PERFORMANCES December 5th  8pm   One night only!! Al Cante Vicente Griego Al Toque Ricardo Diaz Al Baile Savannah Fuentes                Veronica Barrera Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater 2322 2nd Ave. $25 in advance,$30 at the door Tickets are limited to 60 available at www.brownpapertickets.com http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/91558     Have a great week and we’ll see you soon!   Sincerely,   Sharon Baden and Steve Winston, Owners The Spanish Table, 1426 Western Avenue, Seattle WA  98101  phone# 206.682.2827        Hours:  Monday- Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM  Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM   Paris Grocery, 1418 Western Avenue, Seattle WA  98101 phone# 206.682.0679  Hours:  Tuesday- Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM  Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM, except Paris Grocery is closed on Mondays

Stocking Stuffers

The cold weather has been keeping people close to home but now Christmas is less than a week away with New Years hard on its heels.  While snow storms have us dreaming of a day on the slopes, the staff made it through the weather to open the store.   We will be open December 24, Christmas Eve from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed Christmas Day.  If the ice and snow keep you away this week, ¡Feliz Navidad! From all of us at The Spanish Table.
 
PARTY HELP If you still have a party to plan, tapas are easily assembled from our ready to serve, authentic Spanish foods.  For a delicious and fast tapa, serve green or black olive spread on Aegean Gourmet Golden Toasts. Piquillo Pepper Strips are delicious on top of bread covered with alioli.   A plate of mixed Iberian charcuterie with jamon iberico is always a crowd pleaser.   And a selection of artisanal cheeses is always a hit at the party table, especially when served with fried Marcona almonds and luscious dried mission figs.
 
GIFT IDEAS For cooking and presenting unusual entrees, we have red clay tagines from Morocco, copper Cataplanas from Portugal as well as our stand-by favorite: paella pans.  For dessert (or just to accompany a glass of port), chocolate truffled dried figs are back in stock as well as our belated shipment of La Casa Pralinés which has finally arrived from Spain.  For decorating, we have ¡Feliz Navidad! Papel picado banners from Mexico.   Back in stock are Urban Accents Spanish Smoked Seasoned Salt and Chipotle Popcorn salt.  Just arrived from Tunisia, olive wood cooking spoons and spatulas as well as sets of nesting bowls and preserved lemons with harissa pepper. And don’t forget our selection of imported beers from Argentina, Portugal, Morocco and Spain (Estrella Damm beer is back in stock).
 
NEW WINES THIS WEEK Complimentary red gift bags for wine are available in one or two bottle sizes.
2006 Arido Malbec, Mendoza $9.99 Called “Arido” due to the arid growing conditions in the vineyard at 3500 feet elevation.  Made of 90% Malbec and 10% Merlot, Arido has enticing aromas of vanilla and ripe berries.  Plush and intense flavors of fully ripened cherry end with a long licorice finish.   Another great value from Argentina!
2007 Cueva de Las Manos Old Vine Bonarda, Mendoza $14.99 Named for a prehistoric site in Patagonia featuring a very early form of human art and made in limited quantities, Cueva is a full bodied Bonarda.  Concentrated flavors of deep fig and black fruit with nuances of oak and black pepper are balanced by structured tannins.   The winery donates $.60 per bottle of each sale to the Cuevas de Las Manos World Heritage Site.
2006 Bodega Matarromera Melior, Ribera del Duero $11.99 I drank this wine the other night at Taberna del Alabardero and loved it!   Graceful, with well integrated tannins, it is smooth with rich, ripe black fruit.   Medium bodied with nuances of oak, it paired wonderfully with our delicious croquetas and perfectly fried calamari. 
2005 Matarromera Crianza, Ribera del Duero $26.99   “Purple colored, it has a fragrant nose of cedar, pencil lead, tobacco, spice box and blackberry. This leads to a dense, medium to full-bodied wine with significant structure.  With more than enough fruit for balance, this packed wine will evolve for 3 to 5 years and drink well through 2025.”   90 points Wine Advocate
2001 Viña Amezola Crianza Rioja $16.99 OK, this isn’t a new wine but it’s been a customer favorite and we just picked up the last 3 cases of this vintage from the distributor.   It was terrific the other night with our lamb moussaka.   2001 was a powerful vintage and Amezola is drinking beautifully right now.  With a traditional Rioja bouquet of cedar and leather, it finishes with clean black cherry notes and plenty of vibrancy on the palate.
           
Ask about our bottles of very old Riojas! 
 
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR WINE DRINKERS
Kopke 10 year Tawny Port 375 ml $14.99   This would qualify as a 15 year Tawny if that category existed.  With macaroon and almond flavors, it has earthy tones and a creamy finish.  Deep, ambrosial flavors and mouth-filling richness result from masterful blending. 
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva cava 187 ml $2.99
Segura Viudas Brut Rose cava 187 ml $2.99
Codorniu Brut Cava 187 ml $3.59
2005 Michael Florentino Vintage $24.99 This port-style wine is a blend of Touriga, Tinta Cao, Soyzao, and Tinta Madeira.  Rich and full bodied, this hand crafted artisanal wine is made in Columbia Valley, WA.
Wines of Spain by Jan Read ($14.95) Compact enough to take on a trip to Spain, it covers the classic wines of Spain plus many emerging regions.  Details on the top bodegas, and includes notes on gastronomy, recommended hotels and restaurants.
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR COOKS AND FOOD LOVERS
Mini Chinata olive oil soaps  $.89   Rich and creamy soap made from olive oil.
Blanxart Cacao $4.99   I think about hot chocolate when it snows!
Serpis Manzanilla pitted olives $1.79/6 oz plastic bag
Tapas Deck by Jose Andres $14.95 The award-winning Spanish chef shares 50 classic tapas recipes.
Piment d’Esplette A.O.C.  We’ve got this hard to find pepper! $14.49/45 gram
Valor Chocolate “Little Secrets” chocolate truffles   $5.39/63 gram
European Travel Journal Planning a trip in 2009?  This slender journal is lightweight but big enough to hold a ton of travel experiences.      $4.99  
Mini tins (50 gram) of Ybarra anchovy olives $3.99/set of 3
The Tagine Deck, a box of 25 recipe cards for slow-cooked meals ($14.95)
Olive wood mortars with pestles (various sizes)
 
CHEESE CORNER    This is the year of Catalan Cheeses here at the Seattle Spanish Table and we’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of two new artisinal cheeses this week:
GARROTXA BLANCAFORT: We brought this one back by popular demand. Many of you are already familiar with this young luscious goat’s milk cheese.  Garrotxa is a certified D.O. cheese and has nuances of flowers, hints of thyme and rosemary which reflect the goats’ Mediterranean diet. Nutty flavors are encased in a smooth and velvety texture that has a long buttery finish.
CANTELL: From the makers of Nevat comes another new exciting cheese from Catalonia. This aged goat cheese is made from pasteurized milk and tastes of dry fruit with no bitterness, leaving clean perfumes on the palate. The hard rind of this cheese is both smoky and sweet-a flavor that permeates throughout the whole wheel.
 
Eating out during the holidays?  Craving Spanish food?  We recommend these restaurants: Olivar, Taberna del Alabardero, Txori, the Harvest Vine, Bilbao, and Gaudi.

Christmas in London

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON:  Two of The Spanish Table alumni have relocated to merry olde England. Libby managed the Seattle store, then opened our Berkeley store in 2001, and is now attending graduate school in London.  Megan Keister has relocated to Expedia’s London office. They both are looking forward to a Dickens of a Christmas!
GREAT GIFTS; SUPER STOCKING STUFFERS:  Here at The Spanish Table, we’re loaded with gifts and stocking stuffers that are practical and useful.  A dozen new cookbooks with recipes from places as diverse as Spain’s El Bulli to the villages of Turkey.  Black cazuelas and bean pots.  Olive wood bowls and spatulas. 2009 Calendars.  Plus a full range of tagines both for cooking and serving the exotic dish we fell in love with during our visit to Morocco last May as well as the flavorful, aromatic spices that bring the Kasbah home.
FOOD PRODUCTS: For the holiday host and hostess, we have cured meats and gourmet cheese and an unmatched selection of Spanish, Portuguese and Argentine wines as well as ports Sherries and Madeiras in a full range of prices to fill any entertainment or gift needs.
CHOCOLATE COVERED ALFAJORES!  Argentina’s Dulce de Leche filled treats!
PECES BRAND FIGURITAS DE MAZAPÁN: Direct from Consuegra (Toledo) Spain.
CATALAN OLIVES:  Bold and spicy Catalan green olives. These large green olives have semi-soft flesh and are marinated in celery, garlic, curry and hot pepper. Those of you that like it picante will enjoy these olives for sure!
LOMO FROM SPAIN: We now stock Palacios brand Lomo Embuchado!  Made in La Rioja, the cured pork tenderloin is seasoned with garlic, smoky pimentón, and sea salt. Slice and serve, or make a simple sandwich with an olive oil-brushed baguette and slices of young Manchego.
O DE OLIVA: Varietal olive oils from three of Spain’s great olives.  Choose from sweet Cuquillo, fruity Hojiblanca or bold, bitter Picual.  Experience the difference!
NUTELLA, COCOKREM OR NOCILLA?  My niece and I discovered Nutella last year when we were riding horses in Ireland.  Each afternoon we’d treat ourselves to biscuits topped with the delightful hazelnut-chocolate spread and now it’s my daily habit!  Cokokrem from Turkey is thicker with more chocolate flavor.  My favorite is still the Nocilla from Spain.  Rich and creamy, its dense chocolate will satisfy any chocoholic.
Our CHEESE CASE is burgeoning with many, many delectable cheeses!  Here are a few selections and recommendations for combining them into a cheese platter.
TORTA DEL CASAR from Extremadura is one of Spain’s most famous cheeses.  Rich and buttery, this raw sheep’s milk, washed-rind cheese takes 20 sheep milked twice daily to create just one wheel of cheese. Serve by cutting off the top and spooning out the delightfully oozy center.   Due to its delicate nature, it is sold only as a full wheel.
MAHON ARTISANAL: The famous cheesemonger, Stephen Jenkins, is quoted as saying, “Mahon: what Gouda wished it could be.” Mahon Artisanal is the raw milk version of this cheese–rarely brought to the U.S.! This cow’s milk cheese from Menorca has a golden orange rind with a sharp, salty, buttery, interior. Mahon can hold its own with many of Spain’s sheep and goat milk cheeses, and is my #1 recommendation for pairing on a cheese platter. 
SUGGESTED CHEESE AND PATE PLATTERS:
Catalan Platter:  Drap, Ros, Montcabrer, Nevat
Portuguese Platter:  Dom Villas, Queijo Amarelo, Queijo Cabra Quinta
Basque Platter:  Montcayol, Kaikou, Le Bleu de Basque, Idiazabal                       
Artisanal Platter:  Mahon Artisanal, Roncal, Monte Enebro, Peña Corado
Pate Platter: Truffle Mousse, Coarse Campangne with cornichons and dry cured black.olives.
NEW WINES THIS WEEK:
We have too many wonderful wines under $15 (even under $10) to enumerate them here but if you are having a party, we can put a great wine in your guest’s hands with busting your budget.
2007 Tres Picos Garnacha, Campo de Borja $15.99 New vintage!   Just off the boat and already drinking better than the 2006, this is a rich and balanced garnacha.   Produced from low yielding vineyards, Tres Picos has concentrated flavors of blackberries and strawberries with notes of black pepper, vanilla and plums.   90 points Stephen Tanzer
2005 Pago Florentino, La Mancha $19.99 100% Cencibel (called Tempranillo in other parts of Spain), this is a staff favorite.   Lavishly oaked and teeming with ripe black fruit, this is an unctuous and modern wine.   Full bodied with notes of smoke and balanced with fine acidity and a long spicy finish, this is all around a delicious wine.  
2006 Alto Moncayo Veraton Campo De Borja $23.99 Veraton arrived a week ago and we scooped up 18 bottles before the distributor sold out.  “Very spicy on the nose, which displays blackberry, blueberry, white pepper and cinnamon qualities.  Sappy dark berry flavors combine intensity with depth, picking up candied licorice with air.   … This went through several changes in the glass and is utterly delicious now.”   91 points Stephen Tanzer                 
2006 Alto Moncayo Campo De Borja $42.00 12 bottles available “Impressively complex, seductive bouquet of dark berry preserves, tobacco, graphite, and smoky Indian spices.  Pliant black raspberry and candied cherry flavors are enlivened by zesty minerals and firmed by fine-grained tannins.  An exotic floral pastille quality emerges with air and carries into the finish, which is strikingly sweet, lively and persistent.”  93 points Stephen Tanzer
2005 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Priorat ($38.00) “A more affordable introduction to his intense, elegant style.”   90 points Wine Spectator
COLLECTOR’S CORNER
2000 Marques de Murrieta Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Rioja $57.00 “Offers up an enticing perfume of cedar, pencil lead, earth notes and black fruits… a supple textured, layered wine with ample black cherry.” 93 points Wine & Spirits, 90 points Robert Parker2005 Bodegas y Vinas Dos Victorias Gran Elias Mora Toro $83.00 “Has an iron grip now, but there’s impressive concentration.  Shows rich cassis, coffee, anise and tar notes.”   2 bottles available   95 points Wine Spectator
2005 Bodegas y Vinas Dos Victorias Elias Mora Crianza Toro  $40.00 “Best value which shows a core of cassis, currant and espresso flavors.”  93 points Wine Spectator
2004 Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos San Roman Toro ($57.00) “Alluring plum, blackberry, cola and spice cake flavors are rich and balanced in this expressive red…”  94 points Wine Spectator  One of Wine Spectator’s Top 15 Spanish Wines of 2008
WARRES VINTAGE PORTS:   We’ve just received a limited number of these ports:
1980 Vintage $109.00 “A solid port from an unsung vintage.”
1985 Vintage $112.00 “… Grape, chocolate and plum.  Full and chewy.”  91 points Wine Spectator
1991 Vintage $90.00 “Raisiny and very sweet, with plum and prune flavors.”  90 points Wine Spectator
1994 Vintage $103.00 …”fabulous concentration and complex character.  Full bodied, with velvety tannins… Beautiful wine.  Best after 2008.”   95 points Wine Spectator
RESTAURANT NEWS:  We were thrilled when highly regarded Spanish restaurant Taberna del Alabardero opened yesterday in the former Cascadia location on First Avenue in Belltown.  We noshed on a fantastic array of tapas at their Sevilla location a few years ago and will be checking out their Seattle location very, very soon!  Their Washington D.C. location was named the “best Spanish restaurant outside of Spain.”  Purple Wine Bar’s newest venture, Barrio is now open on 12th, near Pike.  Modern Mexican in a space saturated in ambience, terrific food at wallet-friendly prices and a great wine list.

Sherry Season

November 14th, 2008

SHERRY AND PORT SEASON   A touch of sherry or port on a chilly night can restore the body, if not the soul. Whether sipping a dry amontillado as an aperitif, enjoying a rich Oloroso with cheese, or tipping back a glass of port with a good Valor chocolate, these wines bring a warm and cozy feel to dark nights.  They are also excellent for cooking, adding an exceptional accent to mushroom or pork recipes.  Here are my top choices this season:
Valdespino Inocente Fino $19.99 (375 ml) Aged for 7 years under flor, bone dry Inocente has delicate floral aromas and clean, nutty flavors.   Wonderful with steamed clams!
Alvear Carlos VII Amontillado $19.99 (500 ml) A dry amontillado from Montilla, made from 100% Pedro Ximenez.  Dried fig and hazelnut flavors with a silky finish.  Fantastic in seafood bisque.
Lustau Los Arcos Dry Amontillado $8.99 (375 ml) $15.99 (750 ml) One of my favorite value amontillados.  Butterscotch aromas with flavors of toffee, spice and walnuts, this is super in mushroom recipes and also delicious just for sipping.
Hidalgo Faraon Oloroso $18.99 (500 ml) A rich, dry Oloroso.  “Aromatic with aromas of hazelnuts, walnuts and raisins and a broad, dry flavor profile.”  91 points Jay Miller
Lustau East India Solera $12.99 (375 ml) $25.99 (750 ml) An elegant blend of dry Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez.  Weighty and sweet with flavors of vanilla, raisins, walnuts, coffee, and chocolate.    Excellent with cheese or pecan pie.   94 points Robert Parker
Quinta do Infantado Ruby Port $10.99 (375 ml) $15.99 (750 ml) Roasted redcurrant, mocha and a hint of raisin on the mellow nose.   Sweet and silky.   A great introduction to ruby port!
2003 Delaforce Vintage Port $26.99 (375 ml) $43.00 (750 ml) Special price!  Affordable enough to drink one now and put another in the cellar.   “A fabulous nose of cassis and berries with hints of licorice.  Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with super sexy tannins and a long, long, finish.   Very classy.”   95 points Wine Spectator
Graham’s 10 year Tawny $32.00 “Complex orange peel, cedar and plum aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this tawny.  It has medium body and sweetness with a crisp, clean finish.  Absolutely delicious to drink.   Pure honey.”   91 points Wine Spectator
Porto Rocha Glorious 50th Tawny Port $104.00 (375 ml) $181.00 (750 ml) A rare blend of 1937, 1957 colheitas with 10 and 30 year old tawnies.  Orange zest and walnuts, burnt sugar, mocha, caramel and honey with a hazelnut and marmalade finish.  Savor it after dinner.      
NEW FOODS
Veigadarte goat cheese: Think Humboldt Fog on steroids!   This gooey, tangy, soft-ripened goat cheese is produced in a small village in the province of Leon. Made from a blend of three different goat milks, it’s covered with oak ash and a thick bloomy white rind.  With a lively zestiness and citrus twang, it will impress your friends at parties.
Green Cerignola Olives They’re big, bold, beautiful, and green. Cerignola are the largest olives in the world. These fleshy green wonders have a fruity, mild, clean taste, but their most impressive feature is their size and resulting meatiness.  Biting into a Cerignola is almost like biting into a savory plum. Deep jade green in color, plop one in your martini!
BACK IN STOCK: Mustapha’s Moroccan Harissa after a summer-long absence
 
Thinking about what to serve on Thanksgiving?   Here’s our sherry basted turkey recipe which is what we have cooked for the last several years: 
 
TURKEY WITH CATALAN STUFFING (from The Spanish Table Cookbook)
 
Basting mixture:                                                      
2 Tablespoons            Course sea salt                     
½ Teaspoon                Saffron threads                      
8 cloves                       Garlic, minced            
½ cup                          Olive oil                                              
1                                  Large orange, quartered        
1                                  Lemon, quartered
½ cup                          Amontillado sherry
 
Stuffing:
2 cups                         Chopped onions
1 cup                           Spanish pine nuts
1 cup                           Raisins, re-hydrated
1 bunch                       Spinach, chopped
4 cups                         Stale bread, cubed                 
 
Pre heat the oven to 450 degrees.
 
Put the salt and saffron in a mortar and use pestle to grind them together.   Add garlic, mash to a paste and slowly add olive oil.    Using a pasty brush, paint the turkey with this mixture.  Quarter the orange and lemon and slip them into the bird’s cavity.   Put the turkey in a very large cazuela and pour the sherry over it.    Roast in a hot oven (450 degrees), basting every twenty to thirty minutes with the juices which collect in the bottom of the cazuela.
 
When done, remove the turkey from the pan and set it aside to rest.   While the turkey is resting, pour off the drippings and separate the fat from the juices.   Reserve some fat if you intend to make gravy.   De-glaze the pan with ½ cup water, and then add it to the de-fatted juices.
 
Stuffing:  
Put the raisins in a bowl and cover with some of the turkey juice to re-hydrate them.  Cook the onions in olive oil until translucent, and then toss with the other stuffing ingredients in a large mixing bowl.   Add enough of the juices from the roasting pan to dampen the stuffing.  Any extra juice can be used if you make gravy.   Put the stuffing in a cazuela and bake at 450 degrees, until heated through and surface is crisp, about 25 minutes.    After the turkey has rested, carve and serve with stuffing.