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Artisan Profile – Farmhouse Pottery

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Monica and I love that our store is an extension of our personal lives. Everything in our store reflects our philosophy and our state of mind.  Our cheeses are all hand selected and constantly cared for by our staff of cheesemongers and mongers in training.  109 Gourmet products are always evolving. We find something we love and that leads to more research and more goodies to be found.  We both have a sweet and a savory tooth so chocolate and other goodies are always on our radar.  
Recently, we expanded our gift and home product lines to include some wonderful artisan products highlighting handmade items that we believe help support the core small business profile that we love.  When we find something we love, we buy it, try it, live with it for a while and then it makes its way onto our shelves. 
Our artisan profile for this week is Farmhouse Pottery of Woodstock Vermont.
We love it when we find another couple that has found a way to support their family by doing what they love and believe in.
Meet Zoe & James from Farmhouse Pottery
Taken from “About us” on their website
“At Farmhouse Pottery, we are old-world potters with simple tools and strong beliefs in process and authenticity. We believe the farmers, craftsmen, and makers are the core of our communities, and that farm-to-table isn’t a foodie trend, but rather the rediscovery of a more sustainable lifestyle and value system. Through our craft and in our daily lives, we’re reconnecting others to this lifestyle and defining its place in the modern day.
We are America’s studio pottery and this is our American dream.
Zoe and James
Parents, Artisans, Co-Founders”

 

Come on in on Saturday a taste a little Torre Maggiore – Wine & Beer Notes 10-27-17

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Come on in on Saturday a taste a little Torre Maggiore with Brett at 109 Wine.

We will have a sampling of cheese too!

Wine

 

Torre Maggiore 2010 (Umbria) A classic Italian red.

Generations ago, Giorgio Lanzetta brought down Montepulciano plantings from his native Abruzzo to the hills surrounding the mountain of Torre Maggiore. The result is a unique expression of both terroir and Montepulciano grapes.

Notes of rich red and black berries, plum, leather, and earth, with a subtle note of iron and mint. Balanced, with a great finish and distinct earth flavors on the mid palate.

Great with grilled or roasted meats.

Cheese pairing, Pleasant Ridge Reserve

 

Beer

 

New Holland Dragon’s Breath

A serious beer, not for the faint of heart! An Imperial Stout that sees some time in bourbon barrels, for added toastiness and a creamy texture. The oak smell abounds from the glass, with plenty of bitter chocolate, figs, vanilla, and wood. For such a burly style, this brew has balance and still keeps the crispness high to cut out the rich flavors from the malts. Wonderful with heartier foods like streaks, and stinky cheeses like Oma or Gubbeen from our cheese shop.

 

Ommegang Witte

A craft witte from Cooperstown, NY. A straightforward and delicious Belgian-style ale with wheat, sweet orange peel, and coriander brewed in. A lighter beer, this one is floral and grassy with the usual citrus notes. It has just a hint of spice which makes this beer excellent with BBQ or curry dishes.

Testun

 

Breckenridge Brewery Nitrobrew Vanilla Porter

A new take on a classic brew. A dark beer with a bear black liquid and a dense foam head. The use of nitrogen brewing has rendered this porter extra smooth and silky. Notes of milk chocolate, malt, a hint of roast, and above all, vanilla are present in this beer. Right now, drinking at the perfect spot between sweet and bitter. Try this with some Delice de Bourgogne for an added treat.

 

Sixpoint Resin Double IPA

An insanely bitter and hoppy beer, also for the bold! Featuring Centennial and Chinook hops up front which deliver loads of pine and resin aromas, this beer is serious and will slap you around with its complex hop bouquet. Put this ultra-sharp beer with a sharp cheddar, like Avonlea or Montgomery to match the aromas of the hops.

 

Von Trapp Brewery Dunkel Lager

Von Trapp’s darkest year round beer however, looks can be deceiving. Dunkel features notes of chocolate, pumpernickel bread, and a certain nuttiness with a full malt back bone. Contrary to its dark color, this beer finishes crisp and clean with a round hop flavor. It has a lovely texture that coats the tongue but the effervescence washes the palate clean for a refreshing drink that pulls you back. Pair this with Gruyere or Emmenthaler.

Wine Tasting Saturday 10/14 at 109 Wine with Alessandro Peirano of Vinifera Imports

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Alessandro Peirano of Vinifera Imports will be pouring some of his favorite and Spectacular Italian Wines.

Join us this Saturday, October 14th from 12-3 in our newly renovated wine store in Ridgefield. Alessandro, a true gentleman and wine lover, will share some of his favorite wines and stories.  We will also have a wonderful sampling of cheeses to compliment the selected wines.  Hope to see you Saturday.

Saturday, October 7th 12-3pm Jim Morrison – Artisan Wines

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Saturday, October 7th 12-3pm
Jim Morrison – Artisan Wines
Taste some of the more amazing wines with Jim Morrison. What could possible be better?

Come and enjoy some great conversation and wines with Jim Morrison.  A true renaissance man, Jim lives wine and wine related travel. His love for Nebbiolo and champagne is second to none!

See you Saturday in our expanded Ridgefield wine store 12-3

Three days of great driving, cheese, wine and friends

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Three days of great driving, cheese, wine and friends

As many of you know, Monica and I love a great drive especially if it also involves food and wine too. For the past few days we traveled to Woodstock Vermont with a group of automotive foodie enthusiasts on a DeGarmo Rally. Our host and coordinator, Matt DeGarmo provided over 500 amazing miles of New England back roads that did not disappoint. Our starting point for excursion was Salisbury Connecticut and we left promptly at 8:30 am, (Matt is a stickler for on-time departures). After a few hours of great driving, our first pit stop was at The Five Corners Market in Williamstown Mass., a great little place for coffee and pastries. Now back into the cars and we are off to the Equinox Resort in Manchester Village, VT, for a lite lunch and a little walk around the town. One of the great things about an organized drive is the lack of thought you have to put into the days drive. The roads in Vermont are truly spectacular and not having to worry about the route adds to the experience. Our final destination for the day and for the next couple of evenings was the Woodstock Inn. If you have never been to this historic Inn, please try and make the journey. Originally established by Laurance and Mary Rockefeller, The Woodstock Inn is classic Vermont that has been beautifully renovated and has a wonderful Spa too!

Our first evening at the Inn, we found ourselves dining at the Kelly Way Gardens. Kelly Way Gardens is a farm-to-table program started from scratch, providing the Woodstock Inn & Resort with an on-site holistic food supply straight from the ground. Our group of ten enjoyed a beautiful evening that started with a Vermont inspired fondue, wonderful dinner all under the Vermont stars in a field. Oh, and did I mention the awesome fire pit too! For wine friends, we poured Sancerre Crochet and Drouhin Bourgogne Rouge.

Day two;

After a great walk around town to find a pair of replacement sunglasses, (Otis managed to have his way with mine just before we left Connecticut), we were off to Farmhouse Pottery. Many of you know that when we expanded our cheese shop in Ridgefield we decided to add more home and kitchen products to our inventory. Farmhouse, a small and artisanal company is run and owned by James & Zoe, also a husband and wife team was just what we were looking for. Zoe & James opened there shop to us and our group was able to hang out with some 109 Cheese and Wine.

Dinner was next on the agenda and this took us to Simon Pearce Restaurant. Simon Pearce is known for their glass blowing and more. You may want to make your reservations early as they do book up quickly.

Day three, our final drive home was a peaceful and quiet return home after a quiet breakfast in town and a walk around the town. Monica & I like to continue the unwind process with a slow paced and easy drive home. For the others in the group, they were on the road by 8:30 and enjoyed a spirited drive home. I think we pulled into our driveway around 7pm.

As a footnote, we did stop at our Kent Connecticut store and grab a few sandwiches for the road as well as a small cooler of cheese and some wine, maybe a lot of wine 😎 from our Ridgefield store. 

All good, can’t wait until next year!

Todd & Monica 

109 Wine – A little Circumstance, Gunpowder & Basque

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Saint of Circumstance Citrus Blonde Ale

$11/4pk (Four 1-pint cans)

A remarkably balanced and refreshing blonde ale. Easy drinking and perfect for the end of summer, this beer hails from Collective Arts Brewing in Ontario, Canada. A base of wheat provides the lemon flavor foundation, with 3 seasonal hops added in for extra taste. A zest of seasonal oranges is added to round out this relaxed ale. Try it with a natural rind cheese like Stilton or Lancashire.

 

Drumshambo Gunpowder Irish Gin

$40/750ml

A truly unique and memorable gin. Brewed in a small Irish village yet instilled with exotic Asian botanicals including gunpowder tea, this gin makes a big mark. It drinks very fresh, bold, and bright, with a nice spiciness. To this day, it is distilled by hand in a medieval pot still. A perfect spirit for a Negroni, along with some of our artisanal vermouths.

 

Aizpurua Txakolina 2016

$19/750ml

A great expression of Spanish Basque terroir. This wine features 100% indigenous grapes and is typical: light, fresh, bright, and very aromatic. It has notes of asparagus, peas, and a pleasant herbaceous quality. Cold-fermented at a controlled temperature, this Txakoli also has a slight effervescence which brings you back to the glass time after time. Pair this with crab cakes with a bit of dill, cayenne, and lemon juice for a real treat.

Bastille Day Wine Tasting Dinner at Bernard’s with 109 Cheese & Wine on Sunday, July 16 beginning at 6:00 pm

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Bastille Day Wine Tasting Dinner at Bernard’s with 109 Cheese & Wine on Sunday, July 16 beginning at 6:00 pm

Wine Tasting & French Style Barbeque featuring the Wines of France & Country French Buffet in the Garden.

There will be live music too!

Bring your friends & family to one of Bernard’s favorite events of the year (and, it’s Bernard & Sarah’s 27th wedding anniversary!)

Prix Fix Adults – $90 (additional beverages, 6.35 % tax & 20% service charge additional).

Make your reservation now, this event sells out quickly! Call: 203-438-8282

Le Menu

Hors d’œuvres

Duck Prosciutto & Melon

Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Quiche

Smoked Salmon Mousse on Pomme Gaufrette

Ratatouille tart

Tuna Tatar on Lotus Root Chip

Crudités

Assorted Homemade Charcuterie and Pates

Rosemary Pancetta / Saucisson & Prosciutto /Duck Rillettes / Duck, Pistachio & Truffle Terrine

Pheasant & Chanterelle Terrine /Chicken Liver & Truffle Pate / Venison, Cranberry & Walnut

Bernard’s Famous Cassoulet

Bernard’s Mom’s Rice Salad

Beet Salad, Walnuts & Roquefort Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette

French Green Lentil Salad

Tomato & Goat Cheese Salad

Frisée au Lardon

Grilled Vegetables with Basil Aïoli

Haricot Verts & Sautéed Porcini

Potatoes Quercynoise

Tomatoes Provençale

Mesclun Salad

From the Grill – Pork, Beef, lamb, Swordfish, Salmon, Shrimp & Scallops

Assorted Homemade Sausage:

Merguez – Spicy Lamb

Pork, Pistachio & Truffle

Chicken with Garlic & Parsley

Pork, Orange & Rosemary

Pork, Mushroom, Parmesan & Sage

Pork, Sundried Tomato & Pignoli Nuts

Les Fromages & Les Desserts & Fresh Fruit

Pastis / Flan au Caramel / Pot de Crème / Dark chocolate mousse/Cherry Clafouti / Choux a la Crème / crème brulée / polenta cake / Prune Ice cream / Fresh Fruit

To make your reservation, call: 203-438-8282

Bernard’s is located at 20 West Lane in Ridgefield.

 

Wine Tasting with Alessandro Peirano of Vinifera Wine 12-3pm Saturday, June 17th Ridgefield

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Alessandro Peirano
of Vinifera Wine

Saturday, June 17th
12-3pm

The Wines

Barberani Orvieto Catagnolo 2014

Prá Soave Classico 2015

Dante Rivetti Barbera D’Alba 2014

Canalicchio Rosso di Montalcino 2013

 

&

A 5 year Parmigiano Reggiano DOP

“Grand Reserva”

Neal Rosenthal of Rosenthal Wines will be sharing his knowledge and passion for food, wine and the world! Saturday, 3-6 June 3rd – Ridgefield

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We are so excited to share the new cheese and wines stores with you! We are planning a little celebration Saturday June 3rd from 3-6pm at the stores. We are so excited to have Neal Rosenthal from Rosenthal Wine in our wine store from 3-6pm on Saturday to share his knowledge of wine, food and the world with us. We will be tasting some amazing wines and cheeses so please try and join us. Also, in our new and expanded cheese shop, Stephanie and John from Artisanal Pantry will be sampling some amazing gourmet products from Italy.

Wander through the new stores and enjoy tasty treats and amazing wines.

We hope to see you there!

Todd & Monica

109 Cheese and Wine is excited to announce the expansion of the Ridgefield store

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109 Cheese and Wine is excited to announce the expansion of the Ridgefield store.  We will be growing closer to our neighbors, Swoon and Sucre Sale, by taking over the space previously occupied by Ink Fine Stationers.  Our focus will continue to be on wonderful cheese, wine, and gourmet foods. With the additional space we will expand our kitchen, entertaining and gift areas in the cheese shop. Our wine store will continue to curate the best small producers’ wines and will expand our spirit’s selection keeping with the small artisan theme. If you like beer, we also plan to grow our craft beer selection. We hope to have the new wine store open this week and the cheese store expansion will follow soon after. During the renovations, both the cheese and wine stores will remain open.
We believe that the meal is not only about the food, but also the experience and the people.  109 will continue to help make every meal the best experience it can be. 

Come say hi and check out our new space!

Todd, Monica, Otis and the entire 109 staff