Today I started my day at my usual time (early) but instead of the gym, I beautified myself and headed off to work.  Armed with my daily homemade latte, I welcomed Fox17 Live in the store along with the two guys who started a vanilla company locally ~ Beanilla.  Worlds different from Godzilla, Beanilla is run by two GVSU grads and they are, as Tim Doty from Fox 17 said, “Not Old!”  It’s true.  They’re 22 and 26 years old respectively and running a seemingly cool business!

They have located and sucessfully brought forth a line of vanilla beans & other vanilla based goods that are stunning.  Besides four origins of beans, there is sea salt blended with vanilla, vanilla sugar, extract as well as vanilla paste.  They’re plump and smell great – and besides they’re relatively inexpensive beans!

They’re in stock now, check it out…

and watch the webcast of the three live segments from Art of the Table here!

So we all know that the holiday that just passed (or passed some of us by) was that one where you either embrace it greatly and celebrate the one you love with all your heart and soul – or you just don’t make a big, hairy deal out of it.  I just try to love my Valentine, Steve, on a daily basis and we forego all the hearts and flowers on the holiday.

This Valentine’s day was a brisk one at the store and I thought I’d muse about a good friend and vendor of ours, Patty because I’m consistently flabbergasted by the deliciousness of her chocolates.  And I’m amazed at the following she – and we – have established in two short years.

Today I’ll call her queen of  local chocolate, because she seems to be!  We sell a smattering of Patricia’s Chocolate every day of the year, yet when it comes to holiday weeks, especially Valentines Day, we sell loads.  And I’m talking about days like this past Saturday when we sold over 500 pieces of her chocolate!

Here’s part of the reason why we had so many people again this week – many “new” Patricia’s Chocolates converts were won over by articles and local press about town all last week!  Just look at who picked her up – it’s serious!

Food for Thought magazine (her article is not yet online, only in print – FREE copies around town including here!),

I wrote a Rapid Growth article about her,

Fox 17 went to her chocolate kitchen LIVE Thursday morning,

and Jaye Beeler of the Grand Rapids Press managed to squeeze in an online article too!

As if this kind of local press isn’t enough, Patty was also featured on an website called The Nibble that did a feature article on artisan chocolatiers across the nation!  We keep telling Patty that pretty soon she won’t even remember us she’ll be so famous!

Congrats to Patty and her growing business.  We’re proud to be partners with her!  And if you haven’t tried Patricia’s Chocolates yet, you just might want to do that!  I’m heading out for a bite of my new favorite, the Lemon Cardamom right now!

exotic spice

What does a 12-person all male choir and Corez wine bar have to do with anything?  Last night, my hubby, Steve and I along with 8 other family members went to hear Chanticleer at Calvin College.  And I won’t digress too much on the Chanticleer subject but if you’ve never heard them before and you’re fascinated with music, you should hear them. They are quite amazing.  Men singing as low and high as I have ever heard.  Crazy.

So the 10 family crew headed to Corez Wine Bar for a nightcap after the concert.  Being it was Corez’s third night open I wasn’t sure what to expect – giant crowds? or would we be doing them a huge favor by bringing 10 whole people?  Turns out there had been about 150 people in over the dinner hour and there were still quite a few lingering when we arrived after 10pm. (There were still people there at 1:30 when we finally left!)

We started ordering -

First a carafe of the “house red” to share around the table.  For $15 we had a great little wine – they will always have a red and white “house wine” at $15 a bottle.  that’s pretty cool.  one doesn’t need to drop a ton but can try something new. Last night’s was a Sangiovese blend that did just fine thank you.

then we all went our separate ways tasting things.  they offer 2oz pours or 6oz pours of 20+ wines; whites, reds, cava, pank! (which in Mike Dombrowski language means pink/dry rose).  I can’t tell you how many wines they offer by the bottle…it has its own list and with all the activity around me there was no time for deep perusing.

They offer nice cocktails with unique labels of spirits (similar to many of ours at AOTT – different, not necessarily top-shelf expensive but really good) made by bartenders that really know what they’re doing.  My dad, a martini purist tried the Saffron Martini – not up his alley but my mom loved her Manhattan made with Bulleit Bourbon.

We weren’t really hungry but decided on ordering a smattering of small plates for the table, the most popular items were those off the charcuterie list; from cheeses (from their supply partner Art of the Table) to house made pate, they were all impressive.  The favorite small plate was the escargot with chunks of roasted butternut squash, garlic and thyme cream.  Delightful little snails they were!

The place is coming together nicely.  The night was relaxed, our waitress, Heather, was great.  They all seemed to be putting their best foot forward.  Sitting anywhere near the door proves drafty and it’s a little on the loud side, but really for their third night, they have me excited to return and try some really cool wines at a decent price.

Why was it significant I recalled where we had been prior?  Because at the end of the concert, we handed my business card to one of the members of Chanticleer.  On the back of the card I wrote “Your Chanticleer fan club will be at Grand Rapids’ newest wine bar, Corez.  919 Cherry SE, open til 2am”.  Some of them showed up.  That was pretty cool too.

It’s really a pleasure for me to work with ‘people’.  It thrills me to find people who make products that are beautiful or delicious and I can say “I’ve met the person who makes that ___ product”

I love that Patricia’s Chocolate is one of our absolute bestselling items of all time.  And I love that Patricia will drop anything and drive in a dreadful snowstorm to meet me with more chocolate because we were out.  No delivery fee, no whining, no waiting.

Then there’s Barbara of the Dancing Goat Creamery and the Koeze people and the Grassfields people and the Glass Formations lady and Pearl the Potholder girl…

One of the newest creations I’ve discovered is from Miami.  Her name is Jennifer and her homemade line of flatbread, a thick but flaky cracker with real rosemary inside and with ample sea salt on the top.  And Jennifer was overjoyed when one of my customers emailed her directly to say, ” I’m sitting here savoring your rosemary flatbread! It is just the BEST!  So this is a thank YOU and a Happy Holidays!  I purchased your delicious product at the best store in Grand Rapids – Art of the Table!  We all love this store and having your flabread there is frosting on the cake!”  And Jennifer emailed her right back and said “You made my day!”

I love stories like that. They make me very happy.

New to the store today is this New Years’ ultimate easy appetizer – In the NEW refrigerated case we have brought in another lovely food from Healdsburg, California. All natural and made in small batches at the Jimtown Store – we think it makes a tasty for sandwiches or fabulous dolloped atop a cream cheese and ‘party toast’ for a hors d’oeuvres, and can be subbed in anywhere olives are requested – though they suggest NOT in a martini. Too messy. Fresh and $6.50, it will take you a long way…enjoy!

We’re in the countdown to Christmas and frankly for most this means a frenzy of preparing for family, holiday meals, checking the list twice – and that’s when you realize that monumental task of stuffing stockings for your adult children or significant other is still looming.

That’s why we’re really excited for you that there is time left to shop for real stocking stuffers.
I say real because I truly believe we have some stocking stuffers that will be used in the upcoming year. I mean, who can’t use a mini shopping bag, a mini cranberry chutney for the next cocktail party and who’s not excited to try out those chocolates we’ve got everywhere?

Your last chance to stuff those stockings:
Tuesday 9am – 8pm
and Wednesday 9am – 5pm

Happy holidays!![/caption]

Still searching for the perfect gift for someone?

A gift basket? The perfect tray with some goodies and wine atop?

Let us know how we can help guide your holiday gift giving to some serious recipient happiness – and givers’ too!

snowman shortbread

i’ve had a love-love relationship with shortbread for a long time now. that explains a lot about me having to go to the gym early in the morning, doesn’t it? the first time i had shortbread cookies there must not have been enough salt…or sugar…or butter….

Sometime after that, though, shortbread became my friend.

We have some amazing chocolate ganache choices to melt over the top of shortbread cookies for the easiest hostess treat ever, or that dessert you forgot to make for book club…or knitting club, or…

the holidays bring us ample time to reflect on…wait, what?

the holidays seemingly bring us parties and company dinners and family things that may or may not be all that fun…

so we want to tell you that whether you need boss’ gifts, client gifts, gifts for the impossible-to-buy-for friend or your in-laws, please…let us help.

we’re really good at making custom baskets or gift bags filled with goodness that…

A. you can’t find elsewhere

B. someone just might be impressed with because they already didn’t get 12 of those this year…

C. they might actually enjoy because you, yes you, thought of giving it to them and we helped you pick it out!

Gift ideas that won’t quit. Join us in the festivities daily.

And if you didn’t read it before, there’s 40% off one ‘mystery’ item every day during the 12 days of Christmas. Tomorrow you’ll find peanuts from Williamsburg, Virginia. They’re giant and with just the right amount of salt. Perfect in your gift pack.

Well now that this sun is shining I’m really feeling “decked out”! I tried giving the brightest and the best of patio dining in the Grand Rapids area and I at least highlighted my favorites or my newest hopes of where to go next! I admit I haven’t been to all of these places so I’d love feedback if you’ve been to a deck and it actually overlooks the dump or a bog or something – I’d like to know! If it’s the best deck you’ve ever been to I think I should know that too! So after you read my latest Rapid Growth article, let me know what you think about the deck dining in our fine city!