News & Events
Spring News 2011
The sunshine has certainly brought everyone out and it is lovely to see Montpellier buzzing. The caffe and shop are busy and it’s great to see customers eating and drinking outside or by the windows overlooking Montpellier Gardens.
We have lots of news to share with you:-
Our Italian Artisan ice cream and sorbets are back! Customers are already enjoying some of the familiar flavours as well as some delicious new ones. If you wish to order some for your freezer at home just give us a call. Currently in store we have: rum & raisin; Sicilian pistachio, clotted cream, blood orange sorbet, morello cherry, strawberry frozen yoghurt, and chocolate ice cream.
Illy Coffee machines and accessories
We are delighted to now stock a small range of extremely stylish Illy coffee machines and to be one of only a few stockists outside Italy of the great new Illy coffee for traditional stove top coffee pots. The machines are small enough to fit in any size kitchen and you can choose a machine which uses pods for convenience and easy cleaning or we have a model which uses more traditional ground coffee. Whilst we don’t want to discourage coffee sales in the shop – they are a must-have at home!
Good Produce Guide
We are delighted to be the only deli in Gloucestershire (for the second year running) listed in The Good Produce Guide written by Rose Prince.
“This book makes my heart beat with joy. It is about food from small brilliant retailers. What more do you need” – Mary Portas
The book is a great directory of farm shops, butchers, bakers and delis all over the country. Available to purchase in the deli.
Fresh Truffle at the deli
We are thrilled to now offer our customers the opportunity to order fresh seasonal truffle as and when needed in whatever quantity. We are taking orders for truffle by the gram so you can order just enough for your recipe. The truffle needs to be ordered by end of play on Wednesday and would be delivered to the deli ready to pick up on a Friday – just in time for the weekend. They come vacuum packed and once opened taste as fresh as they were when they were found.
In season at the moment are Bianchetto white truffles at £1.79/gm. They are a versatile truffle suitable for everything from pasta and risotto, to salads or scrambled eggs.
Just ask for more information in the deli and we will be delighted to take your order.
Other new products
We have reintroduced a small range of cook books in our gift section of the store. The rugs we use outside are now available to purchase in Pomegranate or Slate Colour. These make a great gift or addition to the home!
For Summer we have started to stock some great Iced Teas made in Cornwall and delicious semi dried tomatoes from the Isle of White.
Outside Catering
This side of our business really has taken off and we are delighted to have catered for some very prestigious events recently as well as some intimate parties at home.
We are thrilled to now be one of the main caterers for www.templeguitingmanor.co.uk or www.sophieconrantg.com – a superb place to host a weekend party to escape town or to celebrate a party or anniversary. Take a look at the websites it is a stunning venue.
Hampers
As we are heading into hamper season, please feel free to discuss ideas to fill your hamper for any event or just simply a family picnic. We are also able to hire a hamper out to you and rent you one of our lovely rugs.
We will be supplying hampers as well as providing the catering at the Bacon theatre open air season from 17-30 July – see www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
And finally…
A Seasonal Recipe for you at home:
Risotto Primavera
4 medium shallots
1 small garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
85g butter
350g Carnoroli rice
1.3 litres good quality chicken or vegetable stock
100ml dry white wine
200g shelled broad beans
3 spring onions
250g bunch asparagus, chopped into bite size pieces, discarding tough stalks
140g frozen peas
100g Parmesan, finely grated
Chop the shallot and garlic finely and soften in the butter and olive oil. Add the rice and coat the rice in the fat, on a gentle heat. Meanwhile heat the stock until very hot. In a separate saucepan, heat some the white wine and when bubbling add the vegetables for a few minutes then drain, reserving the wine, and rinse the vegetables under cold water to retain their colour. When the stock is at temperature, add to the rice a ladelful at a time, stirring continuously. Also add the wine. Finally add the vegetables and stir through the parmesan gently, before serving. Delicious on its own or with some griddled chicken or fish. Serves 4.