Most everyone who reads this will already know that December is the “big season” for Mail Order sales. What most folks don’t realize, though, is that this time of year—when the heat in southeastern Michigan is at its highest and Christmas is only seen on the odd card you find lying in your drawer—is also extremely busy! We have created an annual tradition that, when it comes to buying large quantities of fully flavored traditional food (often by the case), is giving December a run for its holiday money.
Instead of hanging stockings, the Summer Sale is all about stocking up! And now until July 31 is the time to do it at either the Deli or Mail Order. The main point of this message is that there are dozens of really great, remarkably priced items in the Summer Sale at Mail Order and the Deli. You can check the whole list here, but … in the moment, here a handful that I’m especially enamored of:
Piemontese Anchovy Stuffed Peppers – One of my all-time “flavorite” things that we sell! Small, round cherry peppers from the Piedmont region of Italy, stuffed with really great anchovies and packed in Umbrian extra virgin olive oil. Seriously, for me, life changing. I could consume a whole jar in a heartbeat!
IASA Peperoncino – I’ve been writing about these regularly. Chopped chile peppers from the southern Italian town of Cetera. It’s just one particular chile that grows in that area, packed in extra virgin olive oil. Super tasty. We buy the big, quart-sized jars for our house!
Gingras Organic Apple Cider Vinegar from Quebec – The juice of whole, organic handpicked apples naturally converted to vinegar the old-fashioned way, slowly over a period of many months, then aged for another year and a half in oak barrels!
M’Hamsa Sun Dried Couscous from Tunisia – Organic wheat from the Mahjoub family’s fields, milled and then made into couscous by hand rolling, then sun dried as it would have been done centuries ago. This stuff changed my understanding of how good couscous could be! Incredible is an understatement.
Artisan Malt Vinegar from Cornwall – Industrially made malt vinegar is easily found in every fish-and-chip shop in the world, as well as in every part of the British Commonwealth that sells what most Americans know as french fries. It’s ubiquitous, but it’s not especially good. This artisan variety is, by contrast, what malt vinegar is supposed to taste like! A whole new world of flavor hardly anyone even knew they were missing!
Noccioliva Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread – I’ve written about this so many times that many of you will likely recognize it. If anyone you know likes Nutella, help them out by ordering them some of this beyond-amazing Noccioliva. Lots of Italian hazelnuts, plenty of dark chocolate, and a little extra virgin oil. It really is remarkable. We have it in small jars, but better still is the “family size.” Even those usually don’t last long in chocolate- and nut-loving families!
