We're only doing one Fish Fry this year, and this is it... time to get the oil on!
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
March 7 (Friday) - 🐟 Fish Fry 🐟 4-7p or while supplies last
March 8 (Saturday) - Second Saturday special: Cajun Poutine
March 14 (Friday) - Lenten Special: Crab-Stuffed Salmon Dinner
March 15 (Saturday) - St. Patrick's Day at the Wine Merchant 🍀
March 21 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA
March 28 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA
April 4 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA
April 11 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA
April 18 (Good Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA
March 29 (Saturday) - In like a lion and out like a lamb... it's Lamb-O-Rama!
News 🗞
I don't know if you are participating in Lent this year, but if you are... don't give up drinking. Dry January was enough of that. Either way, we've got some good food planned for you. We will have a variety of seafood specials throughout the season, starting with the Fish Fry tomorrow (Friday), one night only. I know, I know, last year we did several, but we simply can't do that again this year. We smelled like grease for weeks. So tomorrow it is, because what better way to kick things off? You will get a basket with 8oz of fried walleye, a side of fries, cole slaw, and of course tartar sauce. Classic all the way, $16. We will also have available some Hot Crab Dip ($10) and slices of Pecan Pie ($6) since they went over so well earlier this week. I anticipate things will move quickly, so get here early if you want to partake. First come, first serve. Then the next day is apparently Second Saturday already... I swear the last one was only two weeks ago... Regardless, we'll be having a fun and different dish, Cajun Poutine. A bed of seasoned fries topped with a healthy scoop of gumbo and the option of cheese curds, $12. If you missed out on celebrating Mardi Gras the other day, then this will give you a chance to make up for it. Two days, two specials this weekend.
Wine Feature ⭐️
Believe it or not, yet another bargain deal this week: François Villard 2019 Le Gallet Blanc. Contrary to what you might think based on the name, this is not a white wine. It's actually 100% Syrah from France's Rhône Valley -- more specifically, the prestigious Côte Rôtie region in the most northern reaches of the Rhône. Some of the world's most expensive and highly regarded wines are Syrahs from this region. We like François Villard because he is a self-made man, which is somewhat of a rarity in the wine world these days, going from a young chef with an interest in wine to now having over 30 years of experience in the industry and a respected name to go with it. Le Gallet Blanc, named two honor two grape growers Villard used to work with, is a tenacious wine, exotic, lively, and fresh. "Aromas of mixed berries & currant with savory roasted meats, candied violets and smoky incense. Mouthfeel is racy & impressively persistent." Chewy tannins from 90% whole cluster fermentation "add grip to an impressively long, expansive and smoke-tinged finish that echoes the blue fruit and licorice notes." And I can't word this any better... "Pair with roasted meat, roasted meat, and roasted meat." This bottle is normally $80-90, and we have it in for you at $39.99. Grab one while you can... there are only a few available.
Wine Pick 🥂
We started working with a new distributor recently, and this wine was the #1 reason: Gergenti 2022 La Vera Siciliana. This is a tasty red blend from Sicily off Italy's southern coast... you know, the part the boot is kicking. It seems like many people have been discovering and enjoying Sicilian wines over the past year or so, so we wanted to bring this in. It's comprised of Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, and Frappato, all native varietals to the island and grown on the slopes of Mount Etna, so you'll be trying a true taste of Sicily with this bottle. It's medium-bodied, soft and round on the palate, with notes of raspberry, redcurrant, and a hint of dried plum and chocolate, following by a dry finish from those mineral-rich Etna soils. Join us on the Sicily bandwagon with this $16.99 bottle.
Food Feature 🍝
We have a relatively new pasta in for you, Fresh/Frozen Italian Grantortellone with Porcini Mushrooms for $15.99/lb. This pasta is similar to a tortellone, but it's a little larger and has a larger variety of fillings. It's a semolina and egg pasta with a filling of ricotta, mushrooms, parsley, bread crumbs, and garlic. All you have to is boil for a few minutes and top with a simple tomato or cream sauce. If you're a fan of our ravioli, you won't be disappointed for this. Then for the carnivores out there, we got a delivery from our Midwest favorite, Smoking Goose in Indianapolis. We mostly ordered some items for the kitchen, but we have a handful of Jowl Bacon and Tasso (which is spicy, smoked, and cured pork used in Cajun cuisine) available for purchase in the store.
Oyster Selection 🦪
Two different options for you this week, Shipwrecks from PEI and Shooting Points from Virginia. Shipwrecks are from East Point, PEI, known for colliding tides at the east end of the island, which will wreck a ship but form a fantastic oyster. Medium brine with sweet grass and cool minerals, pairing perfectly with a glass of Chablis. Shooting Points are grown off the pristine Hog Island in Virginia's barrier chain and have "plump, slightly sweet meats and an incredible pure brine finish can only be equated to kissing the sea herself." What does that mean? Try one and see for yourself.
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh North Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Bavette Steaks, 10oz - $14.99
*Fresh Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $13.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
*Fresh White Anchovies - $8.99
*Fresh Smoking Goose Jowl Bacon - $15.99
*Fresh Smoking Goose Tasso - $14.99
Canned Lump Crab, 1lb - $26.99
Frozen 12oz Dry-Aged Strip Steaks - $17.99ea
Frozen 6oz Filet Mignon, 2pk - $18.99
Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99
Frozen Chuck Prime Burgers, 5pk - $14.99 Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99
Frozen Skin-Off Pork Belly - $3.99/lb
Frozen Berkshire Pork Tenderloins, ~1lb - $12.99
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99 Frozen Cooked Osso Bucco, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Weisswurst Veal Sausage - $8.99/lb
Frozen Rinaldi Italian Sausage, 5pk - $8.99
Frozen U-13/15 Raw Jumbo Shrimp Deveined (2lb package) - $39.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails (4oz), 2pk - $25.99
Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, or Roasted Vegetable) - $14.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes, 2pk - $5.99
Fresh/Frozen Cheese Ravioli, 1lb - $9.99
Fresh/Frozen Spinach & Cheese Ravioli, 1lb - $10.99
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Butternut Squash or Veal) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Italian Grantortellone with Porcini Mushrooms - $15.99/lb (serving for 2)
Tribeca Oven Bread (Rosemary) - $5.99
Bake House Artisan Multi-Grain Bread - $4.99
Brioche Hot Dog Buns - $3.99
French Macarons, 12pk - $9.99
Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
Wholesome Farms Salted Butter, 1lb - $4.99
New Wine🍷
Morgan 2020 Cote du Crow's Nest Red Blend, California - $19.99
Arnaud Combier 2023 Fleurie, Beaujolais - $29.99
Morgan 2023 Highland Chardonnay, California - $23.99
Cantina del Garda Valpolicella, Italy - $12.99
Cantina del Garda Ripasso, Italy - $16.99
Cantina del Garda Amarone, Italy - $29.99
New Beer & More 🍺
Goose Island Sofie Belgian Style Ale, 6pk cans - $10.99
New Holland Dragon's Milk Coffee Chocolate BBA Stout, 4pk bottles - $21.99
Jackie O's See Foam Hazy IPA, 6pk cans - $12.99
Jackie O's Overcoil BA Imperial Stout, 12.7oz bottle - $15.99
Urban Artifact Mt Giona Dessert Fruit Ale, 4pk cans - $19.99
Uncle Arnie's THC-Infused Strawberry Lemonade, 4pk cans - $17.99
Brothers Drake Battle Axe Cranberry Mead, 750mL - $24.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA - $126.99
Half Acre Sunrise Vallejo IPA - $118.99
Brooklyn Brewing Amber Lager - $141.99
Jackie O's Sing to the Sun Hazy IPA - $141.99
Final Thoughts 💬
We're glad so many of you could join us for Fat Tuesday this week. It was a slow start, but when the ball got rolling, man oh man did it rouler. Not many people partake in Mardi Gras in this area anymore, so we're happy to do our part each year to keep it going. The same goes for fish fries around these parts. If you ask me, we need to take every reason we can these days to set aside our worries and celebrate something. See you tomorrow... or not, if I'm stuck on fryer duty...
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391