Certain memories of Spain linger in our minds years after the details of the trip has faded. One of these enduring images is of mothers in black, the mamacitas, inhabiting the white washed villages we visited during the 1980’s. They were the last of a generation and part of an agrarian culture that stretched back across eons of time. They were mothers who gave birth to their children at home under the watchful eye of a midwife. Mothers who prepared their childrens’ meals from whatever ingredients were available, what we call Cocina Pobre, in The Spanish Table cookbook. Mothers who kept the home fire burning and whose love was rich beyond measure. ¡Feliz Dia de Madre!

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

Mothers Day is Sunday May 10

EXCEPTIONAL CHEESES

For Moms that are cheese aficionados, these quesos make a sensational addition to any brunch or gift basket!

Peña Corado: This new blue cheese is picking up serious momentum among cheese connoisseurs. Voluptuous & buttery, Peña Corado is high in moisture with a compact supple texture. Rich, creamy, sweet and salty, it has a long blue finish and is a perfect partner for crisp fruit.

Sharon’s favorite cheese, Monte Enebro is back in stock. Made by one man, this phenomenal soft goat cheese is coated with ash. It is spreadable, creamy and tangy. It melts on your tongue and is a full-flavored cheese.

NEW MEATS

Rillettes de Périgord-Duck Meat Pate, all natural A traditional French dish, Rillettes du Perigord are made of the finest duck meat and seasoned duck fat. The meat is simmered in spices, juices, and fat, and left to soak up as much flavor as possible. The saturated meat is then pounded into a spread. Delicious with Arrope, (Grape Must With Pumpkin).

Truffle Mousse Paté Made from velvety chicken livers, scrumptious truffles,earthy porcini mushrooms and marinated in sherry. Artisanally produced with all natural ingredients, it pairs perfectly with Cava. – Jorge

Mother’s Day special through Sunday May 10th:

Cheese

Recieve a complimentary $15.00 gift certificate with purchase of the new edition Spanish Table cookbook by Steve Winston($30.00).

La Cocina de Mama by Penelope Casas ($29.95) 175 recipes gathered from great chefs and traditional home cooks from every region in Spain, representing the best of Spanish recipes handed down through generations of Spanish “mamas”.

Clos Mogador Olive Oil ($37.00)From Rene Barbier’s legendary estate in Priorat, this is one of the most complex oils we’ve tasted. Drizzle over grilled fish or vegetables for a savory finish.

Valor Chocolate Little Secrets ($5.39/2.2 oz) These chocolate truffles from Spain’s premier chocolatier are guaranteed to please Mothers who love chocolate!

Teas ($4.99/25 bags): Choose from Lemon tea, Camomille with Anise, Tea with Saffron or Peppermint.

Sunny Tunisian yellow and red ceramics (pictured above), including tea pots and mugs. Cheerful on any table!

Made in Spain DVDs with Jose Andres ($31.49). Let Mom follow chef Andres around Spain without buying an airplane ticket.

GREAT WINES FOR SPECIAL MEALS

2005 Vistalba Corte B, Mendoza ($22.99) 70% Malbec & 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, Vistalba’s high altitude vineyard has an amazing diurnal swing of 60° F, allowing excellent color and tannin development. Aged 12 months in French oak, Vistalba has dark red fruit aromas with hints of tobacco, chocolate, vanilla, cassis and clove. “Lush and round, with velvety-textured tannins carrying ample layers of plum sauce, crushed currant and fig fruit and dark licorice notes. Stays admirably fresh on the hefty finish, with a nice buried black tea hint.” 92 points Wine Spectator Smart Buy

2005 Matarromera Crianza, Ribera del Duero ($26.99) Hefty, complex and rich with notes of vanilla, graphite, and cassis liqueur. Fig, smoke, black cherry and mineral elements give lift and balance to the structured tannins. 90 points Jay Miller

2003 Remelluri Rioja ($34.99) Elegant and accessible, the 2003 Remelluri provies how a great winemaker can produce a spectacular wine even in a difficult vintage. “Gamey cherry and plum on the nose, with a complex array of herbal and floral qualities adding complexity. Shockingly fresh and poised, with bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors, chewy texture and fine-grained tannins. Finishes juicy, clean and precise, with a peppery kick. This is drinking very nicely right now.” 90 points Stephen Tanzer

2004 LAN Culmen Reserva ($75.00) “This beautiful modern red offers a velvety texture supported by ripe, well-integrated tannins and plenty of sweet toasty oak. Plum and boysenberry fruit is ripe and fresh. Very expressive, yet with great concentration. Mineral and tobacco notes add complexity. Powerful and complete. Drink now through 2025.” 96 points Wine Spectator

2006 Mas D’En Compte Tinto, 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. Nothing overdone here.” 91 points Stephen Tanzer

NEW WINES

FROM LATIN AMERICA:

2007 Árido Malbec, Mendoza ($9.99) We discovered how great Arido Malbec was six months ago and now The Wine Spectator will be featuring it in a future issue. Get it while you can – once reviewed, wines quickly sell out. “Ripe and focused, with a solid beam of raspberry fruit laced with sweet spice, toast and fruitcake notes, followed by a juicy finish. Drink now.” 88 points Wine Spectator Best Values

2006 Vistalba Corte C, Mendoza ($10.99) Winemaker Carlos Pulenta has crafted a rich and balanced red wine in his blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot. Flavors of ripe boysenberry with black tea notes and structured tannins go down all too easily. “Juicy, with a nice compact core of plum sauce and fig that should unwind nicely, supported by licorice, fruitcake and black tea notes.” 88 points Wine Spectator Great value!

2006 Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley Chile, ($13.99) “Red berries and spiced plum on the nose, with a light mineral quality adding energy. Silky in texture, with midweight raspberry and bitter chocolate flavors and good finishing grip. Attractively fresh wine.” 88 points Stephen Tanzer

FESTIVE SPARKLING WINES:

NV Cavas Hill Brut de Brut Reserva Artesania ($9.99) Cavas Hill Brut de Brut is made in the traditional cava method with fermentation in the bottle and aging on lees for 20 months. Clean and crisp, it has very small, fine and delicate bubbles with fruit aromas. Green apple flavors provide great freshness and it has a creamy, elegant and pleasantly long finish.

Agusti Torello Mata Rosat Reserva Brut 2006, Penedes ($24.99) A glass of this crisp sparkling rose turns any day into a special occasion. “The 2006 Rosat-Repat was sourced from Trepat vines over 65 years of age. Deep pink in color, it has a lovely bouquet of rose petals, strawberry and raspberry. It reveals a steady stream of small, persistent bubbles, a crisp, refreshing mid-palate and outstanding depth of flavor.” 92 points Robert Parker Top 5 Wine Values

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Spanish Table cook book appearance at Metropolitan Market

Join Spanish Table owner Steve Winston for a cookbook signing and recipe tasting:

Thursday May 7th, 4-6 pm Proctor store

Friday May 8th, 4-6 Admiral store

Saturday May 9th, 4-6 Sand Point store

For more information: http://metropolitan-market.com/happenings/index.phph?page=3

Pike Place Market Flower Festival Saturday & Sunday May 9-10

40 + farmers are expected to take part in this first annual festival. Farmers will set up tents on the cobblestone parking area and will offer cut flowers, seeds, bulbs and flower starts for sale.

Saturday, May 9, “Flamenco de Noche” one night only, 8:00 p.m. at the historic Rendezvous Jewelbox theatre in Belltown. Dancer Savannah Fuentes is bringing singer/dancer Stephanie Pedraza from Vancouver and guitarist Mark Ferguson from Portland to join singer/dancer Esther Marion and guitarist Rafael Vargas in a very traditional flamenco show. Tickets:

www.brownpapertickets.com

Saturday June 12 “Arte Profundo Flamenco” one night only, 8 pm at Columbia City Theater. Featuring special guest from Sevilla, singer Jesus Montoya with dancers Esther Marion and Savannah Fuentes, guitarists Rafael Vargas and Mark Ferguson. For more information: 206-937-4994 http://arteprofundoflamenco.blogspot.com Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com

SPANISH COOKING SEMINARS

Taberna del Alabardero operates restaurants, hotels and cooking schools in Spain and recently opened a restaurant in Seattle’s Belltown. Always eager to learn the secrets of professionals, I took the first of their outstanding cooking series this week. A group of us learned what to do when a tortilla espanola falls apart and how to coax every bit of flavor into a savory seafood paella, among other things. Not only do students watch Chef Larrosa explain and prepare each dish, it’s all served for lunch afterwards. Every Tuesday in May at 11:30 A.M. For more information:

http://www.alabardero.com/seattle/May%20Seminars.pdf

We hope to see you soon in the shop, and in the meantime have a great week!

Sincerely,

Sharon Baden & Steve Winston
Owners, The Spanish Table

News from the Spanish Table

I keep thinking about that summer afternoon in Ciutadella, Menorca.  We ate a fantastic seafood paella and paired it with a delicious crisp rose.  On the island of Menorca, paella is served with mayonnaise which was invented in Mahon, Menorca.  Here’s to good times and delicious memories!!

If you love paella, treat yourself to Taberna del Alabardero’s paella fest from March 16-22. Master paella chef David Montero is flying in from Marbella to prepare 12 different paellas. For details, contact Taberna del Alabardero Phone: 206.448.8884 www.alabardero.com/seattle

We met Steve Metzler and Almudena de Llaguno of Classical Wines in 1995 when we opened The Spanish Table. One of the first importers to recognize the enormous potential of Spanish wine, Steve and Almudena have been pivotal in introducing quality Spanish wines to American palates. Classical seeks out and nurtures family producers whose wines are made from local grape varieties and are pure expressions of the terroir. I was delighted to have lunch at Taberna del Alabardero recently to meet winemaker Isidro Fernandez Bello of Casar de Burbia, Classical Wine’s newest producer from the Bierzo region.

2006 Casar de Burbia Mencia, Bierzo ($26.99) In 1989, the Fernandez Bello family began acquiring and rehabilitating dozens of small parcels in Bierzo. They have created a contiguous property, traversed by the Camino de Santiago at altitudes up to 2300 feet. The vineyards’ perfect exposure and excellent drainage are enhanced by the region’s most mineral soils. Casar de Burbia is an outstanding expression of Mencia’s thick dark fruit. Aged in oak for 6 months, it is balanced, structured and elegant with a fresh minerality. 90 points International Wine Cellar

2006 Casar de Burbia Tebaida, Bierzo ($55.00) Grapes for Tebaida are selected bunches from old stock between 60 and 102 years old, grown at higher elevations of the estate. Concentrated, with beautiful clean aromas and flavors of black fruit, Tebaida is a pure expression of the terroir. Structured and clean, balanced with acidity and with notes of black pepper and mineral, the persistent finish is rich with sweet tannins. 92 points International Wine Cellar

To learn more about wines from Bierzo, here’s a link to a recent San Francisco Chronicle article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/03/01/FDAF161O7H.DTL

The February 25, 2009 edition of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate features “Spain’s Top 100 Wine Values.” What could be more timely than a list of great wines for less than $25.00?

2006 Alto Moncayo Veraton, Campo de Borja ($23.99) is the top pick at 93 points. Made of 100% garnacha, Veraton is very spicy on the nose with “earth notes, wild black cherry and black raspberry. Dense, layered and full flavored on the palate, this hedonistic effort is balanced enough to evolve for several years…”

Parker’s second choice is 2007 Casal Novo Godello, Valdeorras ($24.99) Elegant and intense, it is full bodied and savory. Casal Novo is unoaked, fresh and clean with notes of dried pear, chalk and crushed rock. Spectacular with grilled shellfish, “it is loaded with succulent white fruits, has vibrant acidity and a lengthy, pure finish.” 92 points

More favorite Robert Parker Top 100 Spanish Wine Values in stock:

2006 Agusti Torello Mata Rosat Cava Brut Reserva, Penedes ($24.99) 92 points

2007 Lagar do Castelo Albarino, Rias Baixas ($14.99) 91 points

2004 Casa de Illana 3De5 (Ribera del Jucar) $14.99 90 points

OTHER VALUE WINES

2004 Vega Ibor, Tierra de Castilla ($8.99) With intense aromas of black currants and notes of licorice on the nose, Vega Ibor has an earthy mineral character. Aged 6 months in oak, and made of 100% Tempranillo, it has rich black cherry and boysenberry flavors. Well balanced with acidity, the presence of young wood combines seamlessly with the ripe fruit. Vega Ibor has a round, full body, sweet tannins, and a persistent aftertaste. Now on sale!

Our highly recommended 2006 Andeluna Malbec Winemaker’s Selection, Mendoza ($9.99) was the hands-down favorite at a wine tasting last weekend. Its balance of ripe fruit and acidity paired wonderfully with cassoulet.

Young Mahon: “What a Gouda wished it could be” (Steven Jenkins). Creamy and buttery with a lingering tangy finish. This semi-soft cow’s milk cheese from Menorca is perfect for melting–think grilled cheese bocadillos. A phenomenal cheese for a fabulous price. $15.99/lb. $3.99/quarter lb.

MitiBlue: A new blue made with sheep’s milk and Roquefort Penicillium. This soft velvety textured cheese reminds me of a cross between Buttermilk blue and French Roquefort. Definitely a new staff favorite! $23.99/lb. $5.99/quarter lb.

Cured Duck Salami: Rich and delicious, with perfectly balanced flavors and a juicy texture. Blended with fresh garlic, sea salt, and spices, the duck meat is then cured and hand tied. Slice some up and introduce a new flavor into your tapas!!

Duck Breast Cured & Dried: This duck breast is buttery, sweet, salty, and delicate. Thinly sliced and ready to eat, it is seasoned with sea salt, mixed peppercorns, brown sugar, and fresh garlic. Enjoy it the same way as Jamón Serrano. Try it in salads, sandwiches or on pizza.

Jose Andres made in Spain DVD, seasons 1 and 2: Spanish chef Jose Andres’ cooking show was originally shown on PBS as a series. Each season has 14 individual shows, focused on a region of Spain and its specialty foods. Travel with Jose to meet producers and then back to his demonstration kitchen to prepare recipes. $31.49 each season, 2 DVDs

Pintxos by Gerald Hirigoyen ($24.95), is the Basque chef’s long awaited tapas cookbook. Author of The Basque Kitchen, and owner of Piperade Restaurant in San Francisco, Hirigoyen introduced Piment d’Esplette to American cooks. In Pintxos, he adapts 75 authentic recipes for the home kitchen.

Blanched marcona almonds are back in stock!

Valentine

VALENTINE’S DAY IS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14!   One of our favorite celebrations, Valentine’s Day, is right around the corner.   Our February Gold daffodils are poking their heads up and cheerful sunny weather is signaling the end of winter doldrums.  What a great occasion to invite friends over!   February is prime season for crab and oysters and, aphrodisiac qualities aside, pairing shellfish with cava is a stellar combination for Valentine’s Day.   Not a seafood fan?  Substitute marinated pork tenderloin and serve with a rosé cava for a meat-centric celebratory meal.
Here are some other ideas for your sweet:
Valor Chocolate bars with assorted flavors (We’re fans of Dark Chocolate with Orange) $3.69
Vaverite wafer cake with crumbled hazelnuts (an endearing squirrel is on the front of the box!) $3.99
Corazones Dulces Candy Valentines Hearts with love messages in Spanish. ($1.19)
Bubbly: We have a broad array of Spanish Cavas to meet every taste and budget and a couple of Argentinean sparklers as well.   From reliable Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ($7.99) to the complex and yeasty Agusti Torello Mata’s Reserva Bayanus Cava ($24.99/375 ml), stop in and check out our selection.
Gift certificates: When in doubt, give a Spanish Table gift certificate.  Available in any denomination.
HEAT, BILL BUFORD: In 2002 Bill Buford, an editor at New Yorker magazine, met Mario Batali and decided he needed to work in the kitchen at Babbo.  He not only slaved in that New York restaurant but went off on crazy sojourns apprenticing with even more eccentric individuals in Tuscany making pasta and butchering four legged animals.  Bill is extremely erudite and captures both “Molto Batali” and culinary Italy in this book.  If you watched Batali in the recent PBS series, On the Road in Spain, you will have your worst suspicions delightfully confirmed by the descriptions of Mario in this book.  We have grabbed a pile of the paperback version of the book which is on sale for only $7.99.
NEW WINES THIS WEEK
2007 Eximus Branco (Estremadura) $6.99 Not only graceful and refreshing, Portuguese Eximus has a myriad of other appealing characteristics.  For starters, when have you tasted a blend of Fernâo Pires, Vital (reputedly a cousin of Sauvignon Blanc) and Moscatel grapes?  Secondly, Eximus is an all-around, well balanced white wine that pairs well with cheese or fish dishes.  With enticing pear aromas, it has ripe lychee, honey and melon flavors.  Lively and crisp, it has vibrant acidity with notes of citrus and plenty of length.   And finally, all of this goodness can be had for just $6.99 per bottle.    What’s not to like?
2007 Terrai Garnacha, Cariñena $6.99 The Cariñena region is one of the oldest D.O.s in Spain and is known for producing tasty quaffers that are a great value.  Terrai is made from 100% Garnacha.  Light on its feet, it has notes of dust, rich black fruit flavors and a dry finish.  Well balanced, all in all this is a great every day wine that pairs well with grilled pork or flavorful roasted vegetables.
2007 Hacienda Plata Zagal Malbec Mendoza ($9.99) We snapped up a case of Zagal after just one sip. Loaded with cherry aromas, it has rich blackberry, vanilla, and licorice flavors.   Balanced with minerals and ample acidity, it begs to be paired with red meat.
2005 Miranda (Rioja) $14.99 Wow!  Fresh aromas of pie cherry with a hint of earth and oak on the front palate segues into a mouth full of zingy, ripe bing cherry and intense plum flavors.  Miranda is 100% Tempranillo with eight months aging in America and French oak casks.   Herbal undertones compliment tar and licorice on the persistent finish.   Miranda is a great all-around Rioja that will appeal to both traditionalists and modernists.
2005 Vega Escal Priorat ($19.99) This powerfully concentrated blend of 60% carinena, 30% garnacha and 10% syrah is pure poetry.  “Ripe cherry and blackberry aromas are complicated by smoky minerals and anise. Expressive dark berry flavors show light weight but impressive purity, with brisk minerality gaining strength on the back end. Graceful and edge-free, with very good finishing clarity and cut. This is extremely easy to drink.”  90 points Stephen Tanzer
2001 LUIS CAÑAS, Reserva de la Familia (Rioja) $33.00: We routinely pay over $30 for a wine in a restaurant yet we often balk at paying that much for wines to drink at home.  “Why?” we asked ourselves after popping the cork on Reserva de la Familia last Friday night.  This is an heirloom Rioja, traditionally styled with select fruit from a great vintage.  Rich and silky, it was an elegant companion to grilled lamb chops rubbed with Miguel & Valentino garlic, sprinkled with coarse Spanish sea salt, covered with pebrella and finished with a few rosemary needles from the plant braving its way through this winter in our backyard.   93 points Wine Advocate 91 points Stephen Tanzer
2006 Colomé Malbec Estate, Salta Argentina, $26.99: We were in Salta for Thanksgiving 2006 but had to cut out a side trip to the wine region due to flight mis-connections.   (However, the colonial city of Salta is well worth the visit, if even for 2 days).  Since then, we’ve been seeking out these hard to find wines and  Colomé is one of the best we’ve found. At La Boca restaurant in Santa Fe, it’s hearty elegance paired wonderfully with rich duck breast and braised leeks with a dab of harissa pepper sauce.  A very elegant and balanced Malbec, it is now in stock at The Spanish Table for the first time.   92 points Wine Spectator   Top 100 Wines of 2008
LA CONCHA WHITE TRUFFLE SEA SALT FLAKES, $9.99: Along with lamb chops and Luis Cañas Rioja, we tossed asparagus with fideo #2 pasta, Hojiblanca extra virgin olive oil and dusted it with a new arrival: white truffle salt.  When we unpacked the ocean container from Spain last week, it was filled with the aroma of this salt which is a full 8% truffles.  The low price reflects the current exchange rate and that we direct-imported it with no middle men.  In fact, a few years ago, I drove down the coast near Alicante to visit the salt drying ponds with Rosa Bevía, the owner of this Spanish salt company.
14 PALLETS OF NEW STOCK JUST ARRIVED: We have them again: All sizes of paella pans, propane burners and cazuelas.
AGAVE NECTAR or MEXICAN VANILLA, $6.99: We tracked down a few dozen bottles of the beautiful flasks of these products.  Use the agave nectar to make the best margarita ever.
TEQUILA FLAVORED LOLLIPOP: Clear, nonalcoholic candy complete with a worm.  Can you lick this? Need we say more?
GRAINS OF PARADISE:  We have been crushing some of these round seeds in our mortar and sprinkling them over savory dishes.  Grown in Ghana, Mustapha’s grains of paradise are a wonderfully aromatic and pungent substitute for black pepper, adding exotic hints of ginger, coriander and cardamom. In Morocco they are ground and are an important ingredient in the spice blend Ras El Hanout.
RECIPE
UPSCALE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH: March’s issue of Bon Appétit takes comfort food up a notch.  Use Manchego cheese and Jamón Serrano to make a grilled sandwich and toss in a layer of chopped Mejool dates (page 68).
 
GREAT BUYS ON SPANISH CHEESE
Our cheese monger George has negotiated fantastic savings on our most popular cheeses.
Tetilla………………………………………..was $14.99/lb now $11.99/lb
San Simon…………………………………was $21.99/lb now $15.99/lb
Mahon……………………………………….was $22.99/lb now $18.99/lb
3 Month Manchego…………………….was $20.99/lb now $16.99/lb
Aged 12 Month Manchego………….was $21.99/lb now $17.99/lb
Caña de Cabra…………………………..was $17.99/lb now $14.99/lb

New Years Snow Sale

New Years 2009: Well at least now the snow is gone, but we still find ourselves welcoming in the first weekend of 2009 in a store filled with unsold inventory.  Hoping to reduce that, we are kicking of the new year by holding our first ever store wide sale on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 2, 3 & 4th.  Come in and shop on those days and we will take 10% off your total bill when you check out.  So this is a good time to stock up on food and wine.
Holiday Hours: Open today, New Year’s Eve, 10 am to 6 pm.  Closed New Years Day.
NEW FOODS FROM TUNISIA: Les Moulins Majoub the highly respected purveyor of gourmet foods from Tunisia have introduced several new products now on our shelves.  The include Artichoke Leaves packed in olive oil and herbs, Artichoke and Seville Orange Chutney, Candied Lemon and Fig Chutney, Sweet Pepper Harissa,  and five new jams ranging from Wild Mulberry to Grapefruit marmalade.  We also have 2 ounce packages of traditionally sliced paleta serrano or paleta ibérico ready to open and serve as a New Year’s tapa (paleta is the front leg, jamon the back leg).
NEW VINTAGES OF SPANISH TABLE FAVORITE WINES HAVE ARRIVED!
2006 Bodegas El Nido Clio (Jumilla) $45.00 Made of 30% Cabernet and 70% old vine Monastrell, Clio was aged 26 months in barrique.   Exuberant aromas of earth, mushroom and leather are followed by vibrant flavors of black pepper, blueberry and black fruits.   Supple-textured and absolutely hedonistic.  With exceptional length and balance, it is full bodied and hugely delicious.  Limited quantities.
2007 Bodegas Atteca Old Vines (Calatayud) $15.99 “100% garnacha, from vines reportedly 80 to 120 years of age.  Inky purple. Ripe boysenberry and blueberry on the nose, with licorice and graphite adding complexity. Juicy dark berry preserve flavors show palate-saturating depth and impressive clarity, picking up smoky minerals with air. Energetic finishing notes of blackberry skin and candied licorice linger with impressive tenacity. According to the importer, the yield for this wine was less than one ton per hectare.” 91 points Stephen Tanzer
WELCOME 2009 WITH A SPANISH CAVA!   SOME OF OUR FAVORITES:
2003 Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Exclusive Reserva (Penedes) $12.99 A blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada and Chardonnay, aged 3 years minimum in the bottled.   Clean, crisp and very fruity, with pleasant hints of stone fruit and citrus.  Excellent sweet-acidic balance with a delicate and lengthy mineral finish. 
NV Torre Oria Brut Nature Cava (Utiel-Requena) $16.99  Torre Oria is made from 90% Macabeo and 10% Parellada.  Aged 36 months, it is straw yellow with pale golden reflections, bright, with very fine and abundant bubbles.  Magnificent presence on the palate, very dry, powerful and leaving a lingering aftertaste. Ideal for accompanying all types of dishes.
2005 Mont Marcal Brut Cava Reserva (Penedes) $11.99 “Bright yellow. Seductively perfumed aromas of Anjou pear, yellow apple and smoky minerals. Pliant orchard and pit fruit flavors boast very good concentration and are energized by dusty minerals, which add good back-end snap. The smoky note repeats on the long, sappy finish. This delivers serious bang for the buck. 90 points Josh Raynolds, IWC.
2005 Agusti Torello Mata Reserva Brut, (Penedes) $22.99 Torello Mata’s Kripta cava became a cult phenomenon when an influential French wine critic declared it comparable to the best French champagne.  Mata Reserva shows very fine, small bubbles that evolve slowly.   In the nose there are creamy notes of fresh butter against a background of ripe fruit.  This cava sparkles with ample development in the mouth, ripe dry fruit and toasted notes.
NV Francoli Cava Brut Reserva   $11.99 Fresh flavors of yellow apples and dried pear with exquisite bubbles on this value-priced cava.  Made from 50% Macabeo and 50% Parellada, it has been aged for 18 months and has a long satisfying finish.
NV Avinyo Cava Brut (Penedes) $17.99 “An excellent value in sparkling wine from Spain, the non-vintage Cava Brut (made from 80% free run juice and aged 18 months) is a tasty, light to medium-bodied, dry sparkler. Notes of bread dough, grapefruit, and other citrus as well as tiny pinpoint bubbles are offered in a refreshing, vigorous style.”  89 points Robert Parker

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

October 23rd, 2008

Next Tuesday night, we are flying off to Oaxaca for a week of tasting moles and steeping ourselves in the atmosphere of Los Dias de Muertos.   Rooted in pre-Columbian rituals, the annual, decorative ceremony pays respect to the departed.  The markets and park stalls will be filled with sugar skulls, paper-mache skeletons and marigolds. While we are gone, Isaac Rivera from our Santa Fe store will be helping out here in Seattle again.  If you met him when he was here last May, drop in and say hello.
Some new stuff now in the store:
COPPER CATAPLANAS: These Portuguese clam cookers are back in time for Christmas but at much higher prices ($80.00 to $160 each).  4 sizes, 23cm, 26cm, 29cm & 33cm.  New flat bottoms and shrink wrapped without being lacquered making them easier to use (Available Friday, October 24th).
BLACK GLAZED CAZUELAS: What we expect to be a one-time import, we have brought in some open cazuelas and some bean pots with lids glazed in black.  Our supplier gave us a price break on these so if we do import them again, it will be at a higher price.
EUROPEAN STYLE MUSTARDS Since 1996, our supplier Kitty Keller has wanted to import coarse mustard made with Banyuls vinegar, but couldn’t do it because U.S. Customs collects a 100% duty on all European mustards as a retaliatory tariff.  Eventually, she found a U.S. firm she liked and trusted to do her private recipes.  Here is her line‑up:
BANYULS MUSTARD:This is coarse mustard with French-Catalan Vinegar of Banyuls, a touch of water, mustard seeds, Spanish sea salt containing no anti‑caking or flowing agents and a dash of turmeric to keep the color.
DIJON MUSTARD: This is what Dijon style mustard should be: mustard seed, water, vinegar, sea salt.
DIJON TRUFFLE MUSTARD: The addition of a substantial ration of truffle bits and truffle essence to this silky mustard will take your jamon y queso on baguette up more than a notch.  What you will have is a heavenly bocadillo.
RUSSIAN MUSTARD: Not from Kitty Keller – a Gorbachev Babushka doll adorns the label of this post-cold war, imported hot mustard.
QUESOS
MONTCABRER:  Spanish Table Exclusive!  This beautiful charcoal and grey rind wheel of cheese is made by the famous cheese maker, Josep of Nevat. A Catalonian original, this semi-firm goat cheese is bathed in vegetable oil and charcoal and aged for 90 days. The texture is creamy and slightly chalky. The flavors are sweetly herbaceous with mushroom overtones, and a subdued tangy finish.
DOM VILLAS QUEIJO DE VACA CURADO:  Dom Villas is a cow’s milk curado aged 6 months.  This Farmstead cheese is made on a small cooperative of four people near the costal area north of Porto Friesia, Portugal. The texture is creamy and springy. Dom Villas is washed in brine to enhance its herbaceous mildly piquant buttery flavors.
KITTY KELLER’S SALTS
BLACK TRUFFLE SALT: Kitty also combines black winter truffle powder and truffle essence for flavor and truffle scent.  Election night, what could be better than a bottle of chilled Cava and popcorn dusted with Black Truffle Salt?
SAFFRON SALT: Simply stellar Spanish sea salt with bits of saffron threads and a tasty custom ground saffron powder.  This is terrific dusted over shrimp to be grilled or rubbed on chicken which turns a beautiful color when roasted and has great flavor!
PIQUILLO BLOW-OUT: This week, Napoleon Piquillo Peppers from Peru are a beat-the-Euro, low, low price of just $2.99 a jar. Stock up while our floor-stack lasts!
POEMA BRUT CAVA $8.99: Crisp night air and cool coastal waters translate into bright and juicy tasting citrus and sea shell which compliment this sparkler with its aromas of pears, toast and orange zest.  Price just reduced from $10.99!
NV ALANDRA RED ALENTEJO $6.99:  We mentioned this Portuguese wine in our email last week.  Saturday night, we took it to a wine tasting where it showed itself off in a blind tasting of 14 wines scoring in the top tier.  Bursting with flavor, it is the best value in the store right now.  Look for it on top of the wine barrel marked “Great Value.”
TERRAI BLANCO MACABEO CARIÑENA, $6.99: Floral, fruity, tropical flavors with a bit of a tart citrus finish makes this white wine perfect for sipping while you catch the latest election shenanigans.  Or turn off the TV and pair it with cheese and one of our fig jams.
NUNTIUS CARIÑENA ‘07, $12.99: After tasting 25 variations, Bellingham importer Basilio Grueso of Casa Ventura Imports came up with this power packed wine blended from garnacha, syrah and tempranillo.  Earthy and smokey with hints of rose petal, you won’t find a better bottle of wine under $15.00.  Look for the red label with a branch and a bird.
As we mentioned last week, Basilio and Andaluca Restaurant are putting on a Spanish Wine Dinner, this Friday October 24th.   A six course meal pairs a different wine with each plate that’s guaranteed to knock your socks off!  The cost is $99 per person.   For details or reservations, contact Andaluca Restaurant 206-382-6999 or email kkhoshdel@andaluca.com
PLAVAC CROATIAN RED DRY WINE: This Dalmatian red from the Dingnac winery is reminiscent of the village wines made in Spain 20 years ago and sold to people who brought their own 5 liter jug to the winery along with a handful of pesetas.  The donkey loaded with wicker saddle bags filled with grapes telegraphs its pre-Parkerian character, unspoiled by flattery or adulation.  At $15.99, it is neither a value nor a discovery but it is a trip down memory lane.  Drink it with eggplant baked in Ajvar.
BOOK:  SPAIN A Culinary Road Trip, Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow: Companion to the PBS television series, this book is filed with fun photos of both food and celebrities; travel tips and great recipes.  Now in stock!
By the way, if you want to participate in Day of the Dead, here at The Spanish Table we have folding paper altars, greeting cards, books, papel picado banners, paper mache skulls and plastic molds for making sugar skulls so that you can have your own Day of the Dead celebration. We also have a range of Moles so you can prepare your own Day of the Dead feast.