Stocking Stuffers
Sweet 16 favorite stuffers (they're not all sweet)

A brief made up History.

Earliest written history has the first mention of stocking as a “wrapping” for gifts. It is unclear if the stocking came in pairs made of Wooly Mammoth hair or not, and some confusion was set in motion as the size of said stocking was much larger than man’s basic foot. Perhaps optimism was the reason.

This perfectly preserved stocking, with the name “Lucy”, was found with most of the contents easily identifiable, including fruitcake.

Today, after years of excessive gift giving, (too many Rolls Royces to name one) and giant trees required just to span the plethora of gifts, we have reverted back in time to filling a comfortable, albeit larger than life stocking, with useful, taste good, satisfying holiday “umami”.

The key to a successful stuffer is to keep the recipient in mind and how and what they enjoy eating. We use the term “agrodolce” sour-sweet, as an all-important determiner of treats that will bring a smile to your loved ones. Treat does not just mean sweet, but in fact means joyous consumption that is completely bio-degradable.

We have gathered with open arms some of our favorites this year, savory & sweet, taste tested in the shop (with customers just like you) and have included them here.


Taste Tested and Loved by us all. Just a few ideas to get you started for a culinary holiday!

 

"Home Made" Hot Chocolate This year in the shop our “drinking” chocolate sampler has been our own ChefShop cocoa powder, made with half & half, sugar and 2X vanilla. And it is fabulous! For a richer, thicker version make it with cream!

Flavored aged Shoyu Let’s face it, savory is hip and in, and umami is a word everyone wants to say and eat. These one-year-aged shoyus are filled with fabulous flavor. What's inside each of these bottles inspire ideas as soon as they are tasted!

Rabitos Chocolate Stuffed Figs. The anatomy of the ultimate fig. Hidden in the center is truffle (chocolate) and liquor surrounded by the dried fig encased in a chocolate “wrapping”. Even if you aren’t a figgy person, you’ll love these delicious treats!

Pistachio Cream White chocolate crema with Sicilian Pistachios is the most spoon ready new treat we have this year. It is so glorious, one spoonful at a time! Spread on toast, on pancakes, or a macaroon!

Sacred Sea Albacore Tuna (in its own juices) is perfect for my favorite tuna salad sandwich. We mix it up with relish, celery, sea salt, pepper, mayonnaise, and the special red Yuzu Kosho and extraordinary Etruria Bergamot Olive oil. Fit all 3 and it’s a recipe stuffer!

Chocolate Covered Cherries Cherries enrobed in chocolate and suspended in Kirsch for a one bite pleasure! One of the few treats that needs instructions for safe eating. Place the whole cherry in your mouth so you won’t get Kirsch everywhere. Be sure to keep the toothpick outside of your mouth and remove after it comes free. Then you are free to enjoy, savor, the breaking of the chocolate shell, the softness of the cherry and the rush of the Kirsch and then the mixing of the flavors as you chew! It’s so glorious!

Perfect Toe Stuffer Ortiz Tuna in the oval can is the perfect size for one person for lunch or dinner, or a snack in the afternoon or late evening. And as a stocking stuffer it’s the very best to slip into the toe of any sized stocking.

Mid-Calf Stuffer As do Mar is my sister's hands down favorite tuna. Maybe because it was the first we carried some 15 years ago, or the size is big enough to share… though I don’t ever remember her offering any to me. Too big to fit in the toe, it is perfect for mid-calf.

Pecou. Perfect, Perfect, pretty boxes of French confections. LiquiCroc Dragees, Chocolate covered Meringues, Chocolate covered Pralines and Rock candy. They look good and taste better!

Secret Treat Cocoa, caramelized, tiny little crunchy treats. A little handful, and get a taste full of bitter and sweet. Perfect topping or ingredient, it's a taste that can't be beat. A gift for any person's holiday treat.

Yuzu Marmalade Yuzu Marmalade is one robust flavor in a jar. With the sweetness of a marmalade, and the wonderful citrus of the Yuzu it’s a runaway hit once you taste!

12-yr Red Seal Nothing says fabulous like a Red Seal Balsamic Vinegar. Though you will have to take it out of the presentation box to fit in the stocking it is a treat that will make you smile!

Hazelnut Chocolate Cream Slitti Nocciolata Hazelnut Creme is in the house and it is one of those amazing treats that can’t be beat! Thick, chocolaty, rich of flavor it is the first item and the reason we “coined” it “Spoon Ready”. It makes all others seem like synthetics.

Award winning Chocolatier Slitti Gran Bouquet Caffe Nero and Slitti Gran Bouquet Caffe Latte Bar are two of our most favorite bars of chocolate. For a chocolate lover and the aficionado these chocolates will not disappoint.

Cake with Fruit Just like what was found so many years ago in "Lucy's" stocking. Caution, this energy packed fruitcake has preservatives.

Bomba! Fabulous tomato paste in a tube. Not just tomato that makes it umami, it is all the veggies, must, spices that make it the eyes wide open flavor! And don’t forget original with anchovy Umami.

Stocking Stuffers - join the food revolution.

Olio Nuovo is here - Quick & Easy Ideas

Taste of the new Olive Oil Harvest is coming soon! Mark your calendars for December 12-13 to drop by and taste the new oil! This year is looking to be wildly different than any year in the past! Though we can't be in the orchards when the olives are harvested or pressed, we think this is the next best thing. Brought in from Italy and Napa. Store Open: 7 Days a Week Monday thru Saturday 10 to 6 Sunday 12 to 5'ish Lots of Free Parking and easier to get in and out. Click here to see the map. Mother Sperry's Plum Pudding This festive red box is packed with raisins, currents, candied fruit, brandy apples and more. Warmed with steam it's a holiday dream. Once you taste you will be converted for life! Stollen just delivered! A baked-to-order bread for us this time of year. We ship it all over the country. This marzipan core with golden raisins and candied orange is absolutely positively wonderful. Toast and slather in butter! Order yours now! When The Sorrento Lemon Panettone Our all time favorite

ChefShop.com Toll-free: 1-800-596-0885 You've received this email because you have purchased from us or subscribed. We respect your privacy online, and will never share your email address. Help | Contact | About | Terms | Privacy Policy | Search | My Account