December 9, 2014 - Radio Kitchen - Local Gifts
As we head into the year's biggest shopping season, a lot of us would like to continue our "buy local" habits. Fortunately for us, Liz Nuttle of EN Olivier fine oils and vinegars ( 1407 Clarkview Road, 410-823-6457) has become something of a local food scout. And we're pleased to say that Liz won a Best of Baltimore award for having the best place to do some quality gourmet shopping.
One thing that EN Olivier excels at is putting together custom gift baskets. Liz will toss in bottles of premium imported varietal extra virgin olive oil, a mouthwatering infused balsamic vinegar, jars of gourmet mustards and exotic salts and peppers. Be sure to ask to see her new re-usable gift bags that have little compartments for wine bottles. This is one bag you won't throw out with the ribbons.
Liz makes it her business to sniff out intriguing local sources for a wide variety of food and cooking related items. Here are a few things she has brought to our attention, and many are available at EN Olivier.
Many local farms offer specially packaged gift items featuring their produce. Our good friends at OneStraw Farm have a lovely 24 ounce jar of their beautiful summer tomatoes all ready for sauce making. Buy a few and keep them on hand for pasta night. Reach them at 410-343-1828, or go to onestrawfarm.com.
Roseda Beef has numerous packages of fresh, flavorful beef products. Check out their very reasonably priced specialty steak packages.
Carriage House Farm in the Greenspring Valley offers homegrown chicken eggs as well as fresh poultry and farm produced honey. Visit them at 1704 Hillside Road in Stevenson, just minutes from the Baltimore Beltway.
Springfield Farms in Sparks has developed near cult status for their superb eggs. But they don't stop there. They offer four different breeds of pasture raised turkeys, as well as butchered chicken, beef and chucruterie. Visit them at 16701 Yeoho Road in Sparks, or order direct at [email protected].
Salted caramels have become a very hot sweet these days. Inspired by the tasty treats from Normandy in France, local candy producer Mouth Party has a delicious assortment of premium quality caramels. They are available at retail outlets around town, and at the Mouth Party retail outlet at 3600 Clipper Mill Road.
Or order from their website: www.mouthpartycaramel.com.
Honey is one of mankind's oldest foods, and it continues to delight us today. Local artist Kara Brook, who paints with bee's wax, branched into selling local honey. She has a number of Maryland sources, including premier producers on the Eastern Shore. One glance at her collection of honeys, marketed under the name of Waxing Kara, will convince you that different flowers make different honeys. The range of colors is amazing, from pale gold to deep dark molasses. Her honey is available at EN Olivier, or you can order online at waxingkara.com.
One intriguing discovery that Liz made this year is "shrub,"a fruit infused vinegar that lends zingy fresh flavors into drinks, sauces and salad dressings. Tait Farms Shrub comes in a variety of flavors including our favorites raspberry and strawberry. Al's favorite trick is to pour a little into a glass of iced soda water. Visit them online at Tait Farms Foods.
