As in Soft Shell Crab Sandwiches... did you think I meant something else? I'm a delight.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
March 21 (Friday) - Lenten Special: Soft Shell Crab Sandwich 🦀
March 28 (Friday) - Lenten Special: Ahi Tuna Tacos
March 29 (Saturday) - In like a lion and out like a lamb... it's Lamb-O-Rama!
April 4 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA.
April 5 (Saturday) - 11am to 3pm Gianni will be in the store for those going to Italy this year and for those interested in next year.
April 11 (Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA.
April 18 (Good Friday) - Lenten Special, details TBA.
News 🗞
If you came into the store, you may have noticed that our fresh meat fridge was dark. We came in yesterday to find it running at 85 degrees. Unfortunately some of the steaks and such went to the big refrigerator in the sky, but we do still have Fresh Salmon and Short Rib Burgers; we're just keeping them in the kitchen for now, so don't panic when you walk in and see an empty refrigerator (all recorded in vain, it's fixed)! Now onto this weekend... you heard it already, Soft Shell Crab Sandwiches this Friday. I'm excited about this one. You'll get a Brioche Bun with not one but TWO battered and fried Maryland Soft Shell Crabs topped with Arugula, Remoulade, and Pickled Onions with a side of creamy Cole Slaw. This is a Friday Lenten dinner special, serving 4-7pm or while supplies last. If there's anything left, we'll of course serve it on Saturday, but otherwise we're taking Saturday off. After two weekends of two events in a row and another one coming next week, we need a little breather. Speaking of, make sure your calendars are marked for next weekend because besides another Lenten Special, it's our annual Lamb-O-Rama!!!!! A full lamb dinner served all day long, plus dessert and a wine pairing, no reservations required. We'll share more details next week, but you won't want to miss it.
Wine Feature ⭐️
I know we have several fans out there of the Quilt Threadcount Red Blend, which we had on our wine list last summer. Well, they just released their newest wine, the Quilt 2023 Threadcount Cabernet Sauvignon. Quilt is of course of Caymus lineage, with Joe Wagner at the helm. It's fully Napa Valley fruit, big and smooth and juicy. "Dark ruby red swirls in the glass with lush aromas of mesquite, muddled cherry, sweet tobacco and hints of salty caramel. The palate is rich and satisfying with flavors of sweet cranberry, malty chocolate, subtle thyme and notes of vanilla. Beautifully rounded with an elegantly smooth finish accompanied by velvety tannins." That sounds like a clear winner for many of you. The Quilt name brand Cab, which we've had in the store for quite a while, sells for $50 a bottle, but their Threadcount line is created to be their more everday wine, and the price reflects that at $29.99. Not even Quilt Wine Club members are able to get this bottle yet, but don't worry... we've got you covered.
Wine Pick 🥂
Villota 2020 Selvanevada Rioja is this pick of the week. This is a nice, easy drinking Spanish Tempranillo for $23.99. Riojas are known for being big and intense Spanish reds that pair incredibly well with roasted meats. That's because the Tempranillo grape has a high level of tannins, which requires a long period of aging to tame and smooth out. That leads to wines that have a savoriness to them... leather, meat, tobacco, herbs, etc. This bottle with 90 points from James Suckling has "baked black cherries, olives, baking spices and herbs, following through to a tactile, medium-to full-bodied palate with juicy black cherries and dusty tannins." And Villota is a nice winery too, located right on the river dividing La Rioja from Basque Country, growing traditional Spanish varietals with no pesticides and "a tenacious plough." If you're breaking that grill out anytime soon, this would be the perfect accompaniment. Better grab one before those 200% tariffs take hold...
Food Feature 🍝
If you've ever tried the Maurizio dried artisanal pasta that we carry, you know it's good stuff. Made in Italy, 100% Semolina wheat, and slow-dried, which you can tell by the light color (never buy pasta that looks yellow... it means an unnatural high heat drying process that reduces both flavor and nutritional value). Nothing but goodness. We got in a new variety recently, the Bucatini. Bucatini is one of those things you'll find all over Rome and Lazio. It is like a thick spaghetti but with a hollow center that makes it the perfect vehicle for holding sauce.
Oyster(s) of the Week 🦪
Tuxedo oysters from PEI this week, Cascumpec Bay to be exact. They are called Tuxedos because the shells can have alternating black and white stripes. "These tide-tumbled, northern PEI oysters are constantly jostled by the sea, which create beautiful, strong shells perfect for shucking." They're around 2-2.5 inches in size, and flavor-wise, they have a full brine with a sweet notes and a clean finish. We'll see how many of those make it to the weekend... just in case, we also got in Summer Loves from Rustico, PEI. They are around the same size, a little less salty than the Tuxedos, with "buttery, creamy meat that finishes with a perfect balance of salt and mineral notes."
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh North Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $13.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
Frozen CAB Bone-In Ribeyes - $24.99/lb
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 Rack of Lamb - $23.99/lb
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
Tribeca Oven Rye Sliced Large Loaf - $14.99 (1 remaining)
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🍷
DuMOL 2022 Chloe Chardonnay, Russian River Valley - $85.99
Quilt 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $29.99 Victor Hugo 2014 Petit Verdot, Paso Robles - $18.99
Statti 2022 Gaglioppo, Italy - $22.99
Château Bellevue Peycharneau 2021 Bordeaux, France - $19.99
Bargemone 2024 Organic Rosé, Provence - $19.99
Huia 2022 Tangle White Blend, New Zealand - $19.99
Jules Taylor 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - $18.99 (back in stock with a new vintage)
Bezel 2023 SanLuis Obispo Chardonnay, California - $25.99 (arriving Friday)
Groth 2021 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $69.99 (arriving Friday)
New Beer & More 🍺
Dale's American Pale Ale, 6pk cans - $9.99
Fat Head's Jungle Juice Head Hunter 6pk cans - $12.99
Prairie Karate Chimp 4pk cans - $13.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Half Acre Sunrise Vallejo IPA - $118.99
Jackie O's Sing to the Sun Hazy IPA - $141.99
Tröegs Little Nator Spring Lager - $127.99
North High Stick Amber - $119.99
Final Thoughts 💬
This weather is giving me whiplash. When oh when will I finally be able to break out my sandals??? Because once they are on, there's no going back. I still say that give it ten years and Ohio will be the new Florida, but until then, this is what we have to deal with. Could be worse... I could actually be in Florida.
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391