Zozo Beans & Mashuga Nuts at Gourmet Fusion

The fall season is almost here, and the summer items are starting to disappear from the Gourmet Fusion Store to make way for our fall collection. This week we introduced some exciting new chocolate and nut items from Torn Ranch into the Solana Beach store.

First are our Zozo Beans. These are rich Colombian coffee beans that have been dark roasted, then coated with premium dark, milk or white chocolate. Great to eat by themselves, or while sipping your cappuccino or espresso.

Then try a bag of Torn Ranch's famous Mashuga Nuts, named after the Yiddish word mashuga, meaning "crazy". These all natural sweet and savory pecans come in a fun, whimsical bag that really is crazy!

The history of these nuts is also unusual. Torn Ranch originated as a retail store located in Marin County that was renowned for its Jumbo Cashews. As a warm welcome, the owner would place a jumbo cashew in each of its customer's hands. So, if you are in our store in the Leaping Lotus, why not pick up a bag and share them with a friend or two and keep the tradition alive.

Torn Ranch's delicious gourmet foods are all natural Kosher dairy.

Torrefacto Coffee & Smoked Paprika Return

The Gourmet Fusion Store is happy to have two of its very popular Spanish products back in the store.

The first is our Spanish Torrefacto coffee. If you have not tried this coffee, and you enjoy espresso, it is certainly worth sampling. It is made by coating the coffee beans with sugar prior to roasting, however, the result is not a sweet coffee. The ultra-fine powder coating of sugar merely adds body to this bold, dark coffee without adding bitterness. It is an extremely smooth coffee, ideal for a perfect cup of espresso, with just a hint of sweetness, and a very mild to medium bitterness. Once you try it, you will be hooked!

Our second item is our Smoked Paprika (Pimento Ahumido). This wonderful paprika is rich and complex with smokey overtones, and is the foundation for many Spanish dishes. This paprika can be used to develop rich flavors in meat and seafood dishes. I have also used it in sauces and on grilled food, and food network chefs such as Jamie Oliver, and Emeril Lagasse often use it to bring out the flavors of their recipes.

This paprika uses fresh pods from the mild Nora Pepper which are smoked over oak logs to develop its complex flavors, and is much more powerful and pronounced than sun-dried varieties.

Smoked paprika is great for use in Paella, Fabada, beef, lamb, or for use on the grill.

Both of these products are available at the Gourmet Fusion Store online, and at our Solana Beach, California store.

Talk About Coffee

As a big caffeine-loaded coffee drinker, I am always happy to read good news about why I should continue drinking the stuff! There were two articles that caught my attention about coffee today, one on the BBC website, which is headed "Daily Caffeine Protects Brain" that goes on to say that just one cup of coffee per day may prevent dementia, and also have a very positive effect on reducing the harm caused by a high cholesterol diet, so I can continue my daily pilgrimage to Starbucks several times a day with a guilt-free conscience.

The second article was about my favorite coffee shop, Starbucks. Now I know there are many critics of Starbucks, but I am addicted. Ever since arriving in the US, I have always loved Starbucks. It doesn't matter what city I travel to (even when I went back to England I sought out a Starbucks), I am guaranteed a great cup of coffee, some kind of interesting pastry or sandwich, and a funky, coffee shop atmosphere with whatever music they think is "in" at the moment - and the staff are always friendly, and able to give tips and advice about coffee (despite the current lawsuit between Starbucks baristas and management). Now for me this is ideal, so I am always interested to learn of protests and annoyance at the opening of yet another Starbucks.

Today's article was in the New York Times blog and talked about Starbucks opening in Little Colombia in Queens. The concern seems to be that it will take away business from the traditional coffee houses serving strong, dark coffee, and milky, sweet cafe con leche, that is drunk by the serious coffee drinkers of Little Colombia for about half the price of a Starbucks coffee. It then went on to say that the new Starbucks will probably attract a different crowd to those who currently frequent the Colombian coffee houses. As a small business owner myself, I am certainly aware of the negative impact large chain stores and retail outlets can have on small businesses, and how daunting this "invasion" must feel. However, in this case I think that the local coffee houses do offer something unique, and hopefully they will find that the number of their customers increases due to more people in the area looking for coffee, and finding something special in their stores.

So with coffee on the brain, I went on to look for a simple, delicious and decadent recipe to make using coffee, and where else better to find one than in the Deen Brothers Cookbook, 'Recipes from the Road'? This recipe was found by Bobby and Jamie Deen in New York's East Village at Veniero's Italian bakery. It is a dessert called Affogato, which means "drowned". In this recipe you pour hot espresso (Gourmet Fusion's Spanish Torrefacto is ideal) over ice cream that's been drizzled with caramelized sugar, and it's super easy, too.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 pint (2 cups) vanilla ice cream
• 1 1/2 cups hot, strong-brewed coffee

Recipe (makes 4 servings)

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and the cinnamon stick. Simmer over medium-high heat about 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Let syrup cool. Discard the cinnamon stick.
2. Scoop ice cream into 4 large coffee cups. Drizzle cinnamon syrup over ice cream. Serve immediately.
   

Typhoon Gifts at Gourmet Fusion

Typhoon, one of our favorite suppliers, has produced some great gift ideas this year. All are made with the same superb quality and style that we have come to expect from Typhoon, but they are surprisingly affordable (and with 10% off this week, even better!).

Regular prices ranging from $9.99 for the Latte Mug and Frother or Chocolate Mug and Frother sets (great stocking stuffers), to $19.99 for all other gift sets.

For anyone who loves tea, coffee or chocolate, we have Tea for One Teapots in a striped gift box, mug and canister sets, Mad About Chocolate Sets and Complete Cappuccino sets.

If tea and coffee drinking is not your thing, why not check out the chocolate fondue gift sets?

This week the Gourmet Fusion store is offering all Typhoon gifts with 10% off, and there is still plenty of time for orders to be shipped and received in time Christmas.


If you simply love the range of Typhoon products and want to indulge yourself with something cool for the kitchen, how about something from the Italian Job Collection?

This Italian inspired range offers Italian styling with modern, practical lines, ideal for the modern kitchen.

Happy shopping!

Cattitude at Gourmet Fusion

Cattitude by HuesNBrews is one of the fun lines we have in the Gourmet Fusion store this holiday season.

HuesNBrews produce a really great range of coordinated items for tea and coffee, and this Cattitude travel tumbler is proving to be one of our most popular items in our Solana Beach store.

It is now also available online and comes in pink, black and white. The Cattitude products all have two mischievous cats on the front and cat paw prints on the back.

As well as the Travel Tumbler, we have Cattitude mugs, mug and coaster sets, cute little espresso cups, and tea for two sets.

The lead-free ceramics are available in pink, blue, ivory and green and are microwave and dishwasher safe.

Great as a gift for any cat lover, you are sure to delight everyone this holiday season with these cute little guys - and while you are shopping, why not treat yourself to one, too!

All About Coffee

It is possible that we owe coffee to Abyssinian or Arabian goats, which to the great astonishment of the goatherds, became unusually lively as soon as they nibbled the leaves and berries of a shrub known as kif or koffe. It was suspected that the animals' energy derived from the fruit of this plant. The shrub spread from the high plains of Ethiopia as far as Sudan and the Yemen, where experiments with the red capsules began. The Arabs finally developed a process to harness the stimulant effect in a form that was palatable. They released the seeds from the seed pod, roasted them - in the same way that nuts were treated - ground them in a mill, and finally poured boiling water on the powder. The very first cup of coffee was ready!

Types of Beans
The two main types of coffee beans grown for consumption are called Arabica and Robusta. The general differences between the two are taste and the conditions under which they grow. Arabica beans are delicate and require cool subtropical climates, they are vulnerable to cold and must be grown at a higher elevation of 1,900 to 6,500 feet. Robusta beans grow from hardier plants that can withstand tougher climate conditions, and are capable of growing well at low altitudes of 650 - 2,600 feet. The taste of Arabica beans ranges from sweet-soft to sharp-tangy, with a roasted scent of fruity notes and sugary tones. The Robusta taste range is neutral-to-harsh and is often described as tasting grain-like, with a roasted scent similar to that of raw peanuts.

Different Coffee Bean Roasts
Coffee beans in their raw state (green) are subjected to heat for varying periods of time to achieve the different types of roasts, this is known as the roasting process. There are many different roasts of beans available on the market but the following guide lists the main categories and their common names.

Dark Roasts (14 minutes)
The darkest roasts such as Italian Roast are also known as "Heavy Roast". Beans are roasted to almost jet black giving a smoky well roasted taste. This masks the natural flavors of the coffee bean.

Medium Dark Roasts (12 to 13 minutes)
Medium dark roast is when the beans are roasted at a high enough temperature to bring the natural oil of the coffee to the surface. Examples of this are Espresso Roast and Kenyan.

Medium Roasts (9 to 11 minutes)
Medium roasts balance body with flavor. Some examples of medium roast coffee are American Roast (not as dark as any of the European roasts, but with good flavor), Columbian Narino, Guatemala Antigua and Serena Organic Blend (these last three being Starbucks offerings).

Light Roasts (7 minutes)
A light roast gives a very subtle flavor. The surface of the bean is usually dry with no oils present and flavor is light-bodied. Many Breakfast Blends are lightly roasted beans.

How to Store Coffee:
Roasted Beans
Roasted coffee beans gradually deteriorate after they have been roasted and are best used within six months, but they must be properly stored. Some people suggest storing beans in an airtight container in a freezer for up to 12 months and using them in small quantities as and when required. However, there is a debate about the effect this has on the beans when they defrost, and when I checked on my Starbucks bag of coffee beans, they simply suggest storing in an airtight container and using within one week of opening, and this would be my choice. If you roast your own beans, it is suggested that you only roast one week's worth at a time.

Ground Coffee
Ground coffee deteriorates very quickly. Ideally, you should grind the coffee immediately before use, but if you choose to buy it ready-ground, then it is best to buy it in very small quantities and use it as quickly as possible.

Tea and Coffee Month at the Gourmet Fusion Store

May is tea and coffee month at my Gourmet Fusion store and we have just added these white ceramic stackable espresso cups. I really like these because they have a modern look, and if you are short of cupboard space, they are attractive enough to leave on display. They don't take up a lot of room on your counter top because they stack in the chrome stand - the cups fit in the middle chute, and the saucers fit neatly into the bottom part of the stand.

May is also the month for receiving a free $5.00 Starbucks Gift Card when you buy anything valued at $5.00 or more from the Tea and Coffee Products range. The espresso cups shown here can be purchased online for $15.99 and shipped to anywhere in the US.