News from Les Amis du Fromage

Port Soaked Stilton 

Alice Spurrell’s famous port-soaked stilton will be available for purchase starting Saturday December 11th 

For those in the know, this is a special once a year only treat that Alice starts every November by soaking carefully chosen whole wheels of English Stilton in Taylor’s Port until it is marinated to perfection.

There is a limited supply available and prices vary according to the type of stilton.

Colston Bassett
Long Clawson
Stichelton’s
Thomas Hoe
Cropwell Bishop
Tarragon Vinegar

Our own tarragon vinegar has now been bottled.  Never being 100% happy with the tarragon vinegar available to us, we took several pounds of fresh tarragon and soaked it in champagne vinegar for 5 months.  This is how tarragon vinegar should taste. 

$10.00 / 375 ml

House Made Preserves
We have seasonal house made preserves made using local fruit  where available
Red pepper jelly
Plum butter
Apricot butter
Blueberry citrus preserves
Red currant jelly
Seville orange marmalade
Blood orange marmalade
Meyer lemon marmalade
Cherry chutney
Blueberry jam
and more

Raspberry Syrup

We have now bottled our homemade raspberry vinegar from this year’s bumper crop of BC raspberries. We kept back some of the vinegar to make raspberry syrup.  Use our syrup in cocktails or to give your festive punch that little something extra.  It also tastes great when you mix a splash with 7-up or sprite. 

Raspberry Vinegar or Syrup 
$10.00 / 375 ml 
Vacherin Mont d’Or

Now In Stock 

Vacherin Mont d’Or is produced in the autumn when the cows are not giving as much milk as is needed for the larger mountain cheeses.  The Vacherin that we receive here are made in a round weighing approximately 500 grams or just over one pound. This is brine washed cheese that has a thick orangey-brown velvety crust.  It is wrapped on the outer edge in spruce bark.  The bark imparts a wonderful flavour to the cheese.  The taste is unctuous and it has a “never to be forgotten” flavour.  We tasted it in the Jura as a very young cheese, and it was already so delicious.  The cheese becomes almost liquid as it matures.  We were fortunate to have it paired with Chateau Chalon, a wine produced in the Jura.  It is also an excellent pairing with Champagne or German riesling.  You may also have it at the end of the meal with a glass of sweet wine such as a late harvest riesling.

$34.95 / 500 gr wheel
You can find a recipe for Vacherin Mont d’Or  fondue on our website

Christmas Cookies

Another of Alices recipes, this one is made with real butter, almonds, brazil nuts, dates candied cherries & pineapple.  We make them ahead so that they can age and soften.  Kind of like the way fruit cake gets better with time. This years batch personally made by Alice & Allison.

Don’t wait.

$4.50 / Pack of 3 
Cheese Platters
Raclette
Fondue

Let a cheese platter from les amis du FROMAGE take some of the work out of your busy holiday entertaining schedule.

Having fondue or raclette this holiday season?  Call in your order in advance and we’ll grate your fondue and slice your raclette for you.  We’ll have it all ready for you when you arrive.  Don’t wait until the last minute, as sometimes some raclette types do run out.

Gift Ideas

Our Hastings store has plenty of gift ideas for the people on your list this year. 

Hot this season is the recipe journal from Moleskine.  Keep all of your cooking ideas in one place.

We’ve got plenty of fondue pots, raclette machines, cheese knives, cheese boards, and lots of accessories to make your cheese entertaining a hit.  Come and visit us soon.

We have lots of specialty cheeses in stock.  In fact, there are too many to list here. If there is someting you’re looking for, visit us or give us a call.  We’re more than happy to help you.
Finally, from December 18th – 24th, Au Petit Chavignol will be open for lunch starting at 11:00 am each day.  Take a break from your busy holiday shopping and stop by for a glass of wine and a bite to eat.

If you haven’t already booked a holiday party, Au Petit Chavignol is available for sit down groups of up to 36, and stand up events of up to 48.  Contact Joe Chaput for more information.
Joe Chaput
les amis du FROMAGE
604-253-4218