Art Bars Back at Gourmet Fusion!

Gourmet Fusion is happy to report that delicious Art Bars are once again gracing our shelves in Solana Beach just in time for Valentine's Day.

Ithaca Fine Chocolates, the makers of Art Bars, are the first US chocolate company to offer Fair Trade Certified chocolates. Art Bars are creamy Swiss chocolate that are certified organic, Fair Trade Certified, and feature an art reproduction on a collectible card inside the wrapper. 10% of profits on each bar go support art education.

They come in five different chocolate bars, and all ingredients are certified organic, soy-free and vegan!

Dark Chocolate: cocoa liquor, unrefined whole cane sugar, cocoa butter. Cocoa 58% min.

Extra Dark 70% Chocolate: cocoa liquor, unrefined whole cane sugar, cocoa butter. Cocoa 70% min.

Dark Chocolate with Coconut: cocoa liquor, unrefined whole cane sugar, coconut flakes, cocoa butter. Cocoa 58% min.

Dark Chocolate with Quinoa Crisp: cocoa liquor, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, quinoa rice crisps. Cocoa 61% min.

Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs (bits of roasted cocoa beans): cocoa liquor, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa nibs, raw cane sugar. Cocoa 70% min.

With their new, elegant and contemporary packaging, they make a great gift, or why not treat yourself to one while you shop?

Art Bars can be found at Gourmet Fusion, inside Leaping Lotus, 240 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, California.

I-Pot Sale at Gourmet Fusion

It's tea time again at Gourmet Fusion, and all our 17oz and 24oz I-Pots are on sale through January 31.

A great way to start the new year and brighten up your kitchen ready for spring - our new stock of spring colors has just arrived, including Pink Blossom, Sky Blue and Sugar Coral. I-Pots are not only modern, but practical, as well. The lead free ceramic contemporary teapot is dishwasher and microwave safe, and comes with a detachable flip-up stainless steel lid and double mesh infuser, also dishwasher safe.


They make a great gift, so why not stock up now for Easter and Mother's Day?

Both sizes are available online or in our Gourmet Fusion Store at the Leaping Lotus, Solana Beach.

Moroccan Entertaining Made Easy

According to celebrity cookbook author Paula Wolfert, the fascination with Moroccan cuisine has taken off in Europe, and America. Paula who is author of the 1973 cookbook, Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco, which last year won the James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame Award, believes that Moroccan cuisine is now very hot in America.

That being said, it is often difficult to find the time or ingredients to put together an authentic Moroccan dining experience. If that's the case, but you still want to create something elegant and exotic, Gourmet Fusion's white porcelain tagines can help.

They come in two sizes - the larger one measuring 6.25 inches diameter is ideal for single servings, and the smaller one (4.75") is great for desserts. Serve your favorite recipe in these restaurant quality tagines by Front of the House, or simply use them to serve nuts, olives, cheese and cold meats, buffet style. Add some exotic table linens and candles and you have a simple, Mediterranean atmosphere. They can be bought online, or at Gourmet Fusion in the Leaping Lotus, Solana Beach, CA.

Shrimp Provencale

If you are looking for a light, simple, yet elegant meal after the holidays, this Provencale recipe can be used with shrimp, mussels, clams or even, as in the original that this was adapted from - snails. It does have a lot of ingredients, so you would need to plan ahead, and the creme fraiche on top is optional.

The thing that made this recipe extra special was the use of a teaspoon of herbs from Provence with added lavender. These dried herbs are readily available in most supermarkets - I used Morton & Bassett's of San Francisco's blend. The blend of all the herbs and finely chopped vegetables makes for a very subtle, and interesting flavor, but it is not so strong that it overpowers the flavor of the seafood.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3/4 lb medium sized shrimp with shell, deveined
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/1/oz shallots, diced
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 2 oz red pepper, finely chopped
• 2 oz mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 oz boiled ham, finely diced
• 6 tablespoons dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons sweet (cream) sherry
• 8 fl ounce of fish or chicken stock
  
• 1-2 teaspoons herbs of Provence
• 1 small mild red chili, finely chopped
  
• salt
• pepper
• paprika
• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
• 4 tablespoons creme fraiche
• handful snipped chives for garnish
• Boiled or steamed rice.
  

Method

1. Rinse and pat dry the shrimp, devein if necessary.
2. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the shallots and garlic.
3. Add and fry the red pepper, mushrooms, ham and chili.
4. Add the shrimp and saute for 2 minutes.
   
5. Add the white wine, sherry and stock.
6. Add the drained tomatoes.
7. Season with herbs, salt, pepper and paprika.
8. Simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.
9. Serve over boiled or steamed rice, with a spoonful of creme fraiche for each person.
10. Garnish with snipped chives.
    

Prosciutto & Blue Cheese Crostini

This is a quick appetizer that is ideal for the holiday season. It is an adaptation of a Spanish recipe which uses Serrano Ham and not Prosciutto, however, the two can be substituted with equally good results. Prosciutto is generally easier to find in supermarkets and specialty food stores, so I have used that. Also, the blue cheese used in the original recipe is Spanish Cabrales, however, any robust blue cheese can be used such as Gorgonzola, or Roquefort.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) blue cheese, such as Cabrales, Gorgonzola, or Roquefort, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/4 cup hard apple cider, plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 sweet baguette
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 15 thin slices (about 6 ounces) Prosciutto
• Sprig of rosemary for garnish
  

Method

1. Preheat the broiler.
2. In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese, cream cheese, 1/4 cup apple cider, and lemon juice.
3. Using a fork, mix and mash until a spreadable paste forms, adding more cider if necessary.
4. Cut the bread into 1/4-inch thick diagonal slices and arrange on a baking sheet.
5. Place under the broiler and toast until golden.
6. Lightly brush the toast on one side with olive oil.
7. Spread the cheese mixture on the olive oil-side of the toasts.
8. Cut each slice of ham in half lengthwise.
9. Roll the slices into spirals and place 1 on each of the toasts.
10. Garnish with tiny piece of rosemary.

This, and other great holiday recipe ideas, can be found the in the book Everyday Celebrations by Donata Maggipinto.

Frangelico Cream Martini

More and more people are dining and entertaining at home, and this cocktail makes a great alternative to a traditional Irish coffee drink that you would serve after dinner, and is ideal for the holiday season.

Essentially, it is a mix of Frangelico liqueur and Kahlua, topped with double cream, then served in a martini glass for a touch of elegance. If you have not tried Frangelico before, it is an Italian hazelnut liqueur which pairs really well with coffee, or coffee flavors.

This drink is one of the signature cocktails that can be found at the Cosmos Bar/Restaurant located on the ground floor of the Deste Foundation Centre for Contemporary Art in Athens, and is featured in the book Signature Cocktails by Bill Tikos.

Ingredients:

• 1 fl ounce Frangelico Liqueur
• 1/2 fl ounce Kahlua
• 1 fl ounce Double Cream
  

Method:

1. Mix the Frangelico and Kahlua in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake well.
2. Pour into a martini glass.
3. Top with double cream.
   

Fondue Sale at Gourmet Fusion Store

If you are looking for some retro fun this holiday season, a fondue party is a great way to get together with friends, and family.

The Gourmet Fusion store offers several types of fondue pots, that come complete with fondue forks and accessories in their own boxed set, and all are on sale with 20% off right now.

For the serious fondue enthusiast we have the Chantal Meat and Cheese Fondue set which consists of two pots - one ceramic, and one stainless steel. The steel pot is ideal for cooking meats and vegetables, while the ceramic pot is great for cheese or chocolate. On sale for $63.99.

If you love chocolate, or know someone who does, then our Typhoon Chocoholics and Chocolate Lovers fondue sets are a great idea - just the right size for dipping - and on sale for $15.99.

Or, if you are looking for a stylish vintage looking addition to your kitchen, the Typhoon Vintage Cream Chocolate fondue set is also great value on sale at $15.99.