Posted in About Us, Cakes & Cookies, Candy & Confections, Cheese, Coffee, Herbs, Spices, Salts & Peppers, Jams & Preserves, Olive Oil & Specialty Oils, Pasta, Staff Events, Tea, Vinegar, tagged Cheese, favorite foods, favorites, food, staff picks, staff survey, top 10 of 2012 on December 1, 2012 | 6 Comments »
At the end of each year, staff members at all three of our shops – in Cambridge, the South End and in New York – fill out a staff survey. We reflect on our year in food, pick our favorites and share memorable moments. Some items are tried-and-true favorites, regularly appearing on the survey. Others are new and exciting products that helped to define and distinguish our year in food. Here are our top ten picks culled from this year’s survey results! (more…)
Posted in Buyer's Guides, Education, Italy, Vinegar, tagged aceto balsamico di modena, agro di mosto, balsamic vinegar, balsamico tradizionale, condimento, DOP, food, grape must, IGP, Modena, saba on September 7, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Vinegars from La Vecchia Dispensa
As I mentioned in my prior post, Balsamico Tradizionale offers the best chance to taste some of the purest expression of true balsamic vinegar. One of the reasons for this is the thoughtful regulations governing the production of Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena and Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia, which dictate a range of protections – from the grapes varieties that must be used, to the style of bottle.
Once you move beyond the world of Balsamico Tradizionale into the less controlled world of non-tradizionale balsamics, things get more complicated. Historically, the category of balsamic, balsamico or balsamic vinegar consisted of products with levels of quality all over the map. Some careful producers, employing traditional methods, produced balsamics with beautiful balance and depth of flavor. At the same time, large, industrial producers sold balsamics using inexpensive ingredients and time-saving technologies to maximize profits, capitalizing on the balsamic name. (more…)
Posted in Buyer's Guides, Education, Italy, Vinegar, tagged balsamic, balsamic vinegar, balsamico, balsamico tradizionale, food, tradizionale, vinegar on August 30, 2012 | 3 Comments »
There are many forms of balsamic vinegar on supermarket shelves these days. The most industrial forms can be made anywhere with a variety of ingredients that may or may not contain concentrated grape must, wine vinegar, sugar and caramel coloring. For this reason, it is often difficult to grasp the differences between a $10 bottle of balsamic vinegar and a $40 bottle of balsamic or even a $150 bottle. (more…)
Posted in France, Producer Profile, Travelogues, Vinegar, Wine, tagged Arbois, Gonet, Jura, Jurabalsam, Louis Pasteur, Pasteur, Philippe Gonet, Poulsard, Vin Jaune, vinaigre, vinegar, Wine on November 22, 2010 | 1 Comment »
David, Mary and I arrived in Geneva early on a crisp October morning and, after collecting our rental car, set off for the town of Arbois, crossing the border from Switzerland into France. It was a beautiful ride along steep, sinuous mountain roads. (more…)
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