Posts Tagged ‘Organic’

Natural and Organic Gift Baskets

We have always loved the idea of organics. Who wouldn’t? Organic products are better for the environment and the people on the planet. Unfortunately, we found that better for the environment didn’t always translate into better taste. Wines we tried lacked balance; baked goods were heavy and bland.

Then, on a trip to Italy, we were visiting a Parmesan cheese factory near Bologna and learned that even though it wasn’t mentioned on their packaging, all their cheese was from local cows fed on organic hay and grains, without the use of antibiotics. They didn’t think to advertise it. It was the way they had always done it. This discovery led us to ask more questions as to how the products we carried were made. I was in for a surprise!

I began reading labels on our product shelves and found that some of our favorite cookies-such as Aunt Gussie’s Pecan Cookies (buttery and not too sweet)-contained mainly organic products. Then, purely by chance, we discovered that a wine that we love – a rich, balanced, complex Merlot from Robert Sinskey – is made from organic grapes (see our note below about organic wines). As I write this, my husband and I have just returned from France where we visited one of our favorite wine makers, Sylvain Fadat, and learned that he, too, farms completely organically.

Checking further on our shelves, I found that few of the products we carry have any additives. I guess looking for things that taste good naturally has led us to natural products. You’ll find a good example of this when you try some of the “cheese products” other companies use. They use very little real cheese and you can taste the synthetics. We have always insisted on real cheese for our gift baskets and we always will.

We also have organic tomato spread, olive oil, honey, coffee, all natural bruschetta, preservative free whole grain chips, additive free chocolates, organic bath products, organic cotton baby clothes and other products that fall into the natural/organic category.

We have come to realize that if we just keep with our purpose of searching for the best products the world has to offer, we will naturally be lead to all natural products. The flavors speak for themselves, and that’s great!

Gift Baskets, A Smart Gift – Part 3

Artisan Products

Sending a gift basket with artisan products is a great way to show you care. Most artisan products are produced in a sustainable and often organic way which also shows your care for this planet we live on. Plus they often taste so much better than your commerically made items. I know this from the many tastings we hold at our shop. People take a bite of our Sicillain Village Olives for example, and we hear the exlamations. They stand out and people notice. Yeah, Godiva has a pretty gold box, but one bite of Norman Love Chocolates will be unforgettable, as will your Chocolate Gift Basket. Have us put your name on the box in some way and it will stand out even more.

USA all the way.

I am the first to admit a love of the wines and foods of France and Italy, but I am increasingly impressed by the craftsmen we have in America that are making excellent cheese, chocolate and wine daily. The Norman Love chocolates and the Beehive cheese gift basket pictured here are excellent examples.

We are also carrying more and more artisan cheese from the U.S. It is lovely to eat and we enjoy supporting our American farmers, many whom we have met. Wines, salamis, cookies and the like all follow suit. There is so much being created in America we want to celebrate it, although we don’t want to totally exclude the charms of Europe, either.

Another offering you might like to check out is our California Harvest, a wine gift basket featuring the wines of California winemaker Bill Arbios.