PARIS BROTHERS UNVEILS NEW CAVED-AGED CHEESES

Below is an official press release regarding the new Paris Brother's Caved Aged Cheeses.

Artisan cheese makers select Paris Brother’s cave-aging because of its natural

environment, flavor characteristics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The artisan food culture of Kansas City can add one more trend-setting culinary capability to its list of unique assets: cave-aged artisan cheese. Long-standing hometown specialty foods company Paris Brothers Specialty Foods is using nature and tradition to help some of the best cheese makers in the United States to age new flavors into their world-class cheeses.

 

The family-owned company, which is focuses on specialty foods such as artisan cheese, specialty grocery products and coffee, has expanded the use of its nearly 650,000 square feet of naturally climate-controlled underground storage to age specialty cheeses. This process of aging, inside an actual cave, helps to revive flavors that cheese makers can lose using a more modern refrigerated aging process.

"Having a natural aging environment is a wonderful opportunity for cheese makers to truly craft the flavor, intensity and richness they desire in their products," said Joe Paris, owner of Paris Brothers.

Of course, cave aging was the way ripening (affinage) was done for centuries. Paris Brothers’ unique underground space, known as SubTropolis and owned by Hunt Midwest, Kansas City’s largest underground storage facility, allows the company to maintain not only an overall environmental standard, but most importantly, Paris Brothers is able to create smaller custom environments conducive to the needs of the individual artisan cheeses.

"Our professionally trained cheese specialists play a part in perfecting the right conditions," said Paris. "It's labor-intensive, but our facility has a natural ability to produce some fantastic flavors and textures.”

In addition to understanding the artisan aspects of the cheese maker, the aging process involves first creating the ideal environment. Then the rotating (scheduling how often and in which manner to move it) and monitoring begins. Some varieties are rubbed or brushed to encourage the mold development. The length of time a cheese ages depends on the variety of the individual cheese and the desired end result; some as little as eight months and others are stored for up to four years.

Paris Brothers is currently working with world award-winning cheese makers from California and Wisconsin. Additionally, the company is in talks with several other companies, including local cheese makers.

The result of at least one of the cave-aging processes is currently under review by an international panel. They are considering the Bandage Wrapped Cheddar produced by Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese Company of Modesto, Calif. and cave-aged by Paris Brothers which has been submitted to compete in the 2013 World Cheese Awards in London this July. Nearly 600 cheese makers from small artisan producers to large brands will be displaying and sampling at this 115-year-old event.

Paris Brothers cave-aged cheeses will soon be available for consumers in local grocery stores that offer high-quality cheeses and will be used by local chefs in some top area restaurants.

About Paris Brothers Specialty Foods

In 1983, the Paris Brothers: Salvatore Paris and Joseph Paris started a popcorn manufacturing and distribution company called Sally Jo’s Old Fashioned Popcorn. What started with two brothers using one truck servicing Kansas City area restaurants and foodservice outlets has grown to become a national specialty foods company providing warehousing, logistics, manufacturing and distribution services.  The company’s products consist of more than 4,500 food items, including 600 cheese and charcuterie products. Throughout the years, Paris Brothers has diversified its company’s services and today employs nearly 100 associates with expanded divisions in food product manufacturing, specialty coffee roasting, food product marketing and supply chain services. Named National Small Business Contractor of the Year in 2011 by the United States Department of Agriculture, Paris Brothers continues to build a strong business with various cheese makers, coffee companies and others to store and distribute food products from its underground facility in Kansas City, Mo.

The Roasterie Will Celebrate National Iced Tea Day On June 10 By Donating 25 Percent of Total Iced Tea Sales to Heart Health

In a year celebrating its 20^th anniversary, The Roasterie Air-Roasted Coffee, will donate 25 percent of all iced tea sales on June 10, National Iced Tea Day, to the Kansas City chapter of the American Heart Association. Many studies have led to the conclusion that drinking tea may benefit your health in various ways, including cardiovascular health benefits such as reduced rise of heart attack, stroke and other forms of heart disease. Donations will accumulate from iced tea sales at all three of The Roasterie Cafés in the Kansas City metro area, online sales and wholesale sales.

For a full details please visit: http://pitch.pe/123BIs4

 

Giveaway ~ Barbecue Grilling Set from ACE Hardware

You may only think of ACE Hardware when you need some light bulbs or nails, but when you are craving barbecue you can think of ACE as well.

With grilling season among us ACE has an amazing array of BBQ tools and products that rivals most BBQ specialty stores. The amazing people over at ACE Hardware have graciously provided me with some awesome grilling products to giveaway to one lucky winner!

With Father's Day just around the corner these tools would make a great gift.

The following prize pack includes a Quesadilla Basket, Taco Rack, Raft Skewers, Grill Clips and Spice Rubs.

To enter please comment below on what your favorite thing is to grill.
Also be sure and check out ACE for all of you hardware and household needs. They really do carry just about anything you need including light bulbs and nails!

Contest Ends Midnight Saturday, June 8th. Winner will be drawn using random.org. Winner will be notified via email so be sure the link to your user name includes an email or leave and email address with your comment.

Good Luck!!

Kansas City Firefighters Turn Up the Heat to Determine who Grills the Best Steak in Town

Below is information from a press release concerning local firefighters competing in steak cooking competitions.

Firefighters Chief Greg Vincent and Ed Maurin Set To Duel in the Walmart Steak-Over Challenge

WHAT:                         

                                    Local retired firefighters Chief Greg Vincent and Ed Maurin  from Kansas City will compete in the Walmart Steak-Over Challenge presented by Kingsford^® Charcoal, Dr. Pepper^® and A.1.^® steak sauce to determine who has the best steak-grilling chops in town. Walmart shoppers in Kansas City will get a front row seat to the event, which will take place in the parking lot at the North Town Walmart off Boardwalk. Shoppers who attend will have the chance to join in the festivities, taste test Walmart USDA Choice Premium steaks, sample Dr. Pepper and A.1. steak sauce for free, and cast their vote for best steak.

                                    The Walmart Steak-Over Challenge will visit seven other cities, including Jacksonville, Fla., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa, Fla. Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, Ga., Houston, Texas, and Indianapolis, Ind. The firefighter finalist from each city will compete on behalf of their station for a $20,000 grand prize in Los Angeles, the week of May 20

WHY:                            Just in time for early grilling season and Memorial Day, Walmart is helping shoppers take their grilling up a notch with its top-quality selection of delicious, juicy and tender USDA Choice Premium Beef available in a variety of cuts. Only one in five steaks is good enough to call Walmart Choice Premium Beef, which has been approved by the USDA for quality.

VISUALS &                   Stop by the Walmart parking lot the day of the competition to:

INTERVIEW OPPS:       *Interview firefighters competing in the Steak-Over Challenge

*Try the Walmart USDA Choice Premium steaks and cast your vote

*Talk to shoppers judging the competition

*Speak to Walmart store manager

WHEN/WHERE:            Saturday, April 27, 2013

                                    North Town Walmart

8551 N Boardwalk Ave 

Kansas City, Mo. 64154

Firefighters start grilling at noon, winner announced at 2 p.m.

                                   

Other 2013 competitions include:

·         Jacksonville, Fla.: March 23

·         San Antonio, Texas: March 30

·         Tampa, Fla.: April 6

·         Charlotte, N.C.:  April 13

·         Atlanta, Ga.: April 20

·         Houston, Texas: May 4

·         Indianapolis, Ind.: May 11

·         Los Angeles, Calif.: Week of May 20

MORE INFO:                 Visit www.walmart.com/steak for steak-grilling tips and recipes from all participating firehouses.

Newhouse Shelter Chef Cook-Off with Food Network Chef Aarón Sánchez and Local KC Chefs

Newhouse Shelter Chef Cook-off at the Overland Park Sheraton Hotel

Chef Aarón Sánchez, Chef Richard McPeake, Chef Mark, Mollentine and Chef Tatsu Arai will compete ag in a Chopped inspired event that will be judged by Chef Debbie Gold and others. Hosted by Chef Jasper Mirabile.

Sunday, April 28, 3-5 p.m.

Tickets are $50/person, $20/students and are tax deductible as a donation to the Newhouse Shelter

www.inspiredcelebrationskc.com

Global Culinary Escapades trip to Bordeaux, France

Fall in the Wine Country of Bordeaux, France 

Join GCE on an adventure to Southwest France for a journey along the culinary roads of Bordeaux and the Dordogne Valley. This 7 full-day / 8 night culinary and cultural tour will enlighten your senses with an in-depth experience of the French culinary landscape. Discover the riches of French gastronomy in a small group setting (20 people). 

Price: $2,600.00 per person, based on two people sharing a room, and twenty participants. Single Supplement: $450.00.
All reservations require a deposit: $350 per person Deposit Deadline: Friday, April 26, 2013

Event takes place September, 2013. Visit www.globalculinaryescapades.com for more information. 

Solage Calistoga Resort and Spa

A visit to Nappa Valley has been on my bucket list for quite some time and much to my surprise a friend of mine had been invited to a girlfriend’s weekend getaway and needed a roommate. She asked if I wanted to go. I always imagined it would be with my husband, as I cannot think of anything more romantic than sipping wine in the beautiful mustard covered grapevines. However, with hubbies blessing and him saying…..Merry Christmas, Happy Anniversary, Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday, I packed my bags and kissed him goodbye!

The weather was a wee bit chilly but nothing compared to the February winter we were having in Missouri. I even left a day early to beat the Snowmageddon that was due to hit the day my flight was scheduled.

Solage Calistoga Resort and Spa will literally astound you.  The beautiful grounds host about 80 studios and suites all of which are within walking distance to the main facilities and quite contemporary. Room layouts vary but all are equipped with the latest technology, full sized locally made bath amenity products, luxurious bedding and linens, complementary coffee and tea at the mini bar and each room is complete with bathrobes and slippers. This clip gives you a nice tour of the room we had.

Outdoors you will find a comfortable patio with a grapevine-thatched roof and two cruiser bicycles that can be ridden in to town and wineries close by. The grounds are pristinely manicured and landscaped with fragrant rosemary and lavender.

Nightly turn-down service includes a glass water bottle adorned with mint leaves left at the bedside. The water is delightfully tasty and a perfect way to re-hydrate after indulging in wine tours all day.

The Spa is phenomenal and our package included Solage’s signature Mudslide treatment experience. This treatment begins with a visit to the Mud-Bar where you have Mudtenders mix a customized scent using Solage Mud, essential oils and geothermal water. You are then whisked off to the treatment room that can be booked as a group or individual and coat yourself in the mud concoction. After a serene 20 minutes of laying on the warm tiles with cucumbers over your eyes and then a quick rinse, you then make your way to the to the mineral baths in footed tubs. There are curtains separating the tubs if you prefer a little privacy. Following a rinse off from the baths, you will then cocoon yourself in the NASA-inspired Sound Chair that vibrates to music and reclines you to "zero-gravity".

All though you may feel like melted butter afterwards and I mean that in a good way, if you so desire you can then relax in the separate private soaking areas for men and women. These areas include a mineral cool plunge, a warm mineral Jacuzzi, eucalyptus steam room and outdoor shower. These areas are a clothing optional zone, so just beware you may see your share of unique trim jobs and other things you may or may not want to see! 

With all the amenities, the spa has to offer it is easy to spend all day there.  You can work out, get a plethora of spa treatments, take a dip in the pool and if hunger strikes, enjoy lunch in one of the poolside cabanas. The video below shows the beauty of the resort and many of the amenities. Warning: It will make you want a vacation!

The restaurant on sight is Solbar and has excellent service and food. Our package included breakfast every morning and the Lemon-Ricotta pancakes are amazing.

The dinner menu at Solbar is upscale but accessible and will please the pickiest palate. The Steak Frites dish has even been featured on The Food Network Show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

The dining room during the day is bright and cheery while in the evening you will feel like you are in a very different restaurant with the soft lighting and fireplace.  The restaurant is open to the public so it is a good idea to make dinner reservations, as Solbar is popular with the locals.

Solage is partnered with Mercedes-Benz to offer complimentary use of their newest vehicle models to resort guests upon availability. We reserved the convertible one evening to use as transportation to nearby St. Helena where we dined at the Farmstead restaurant. The service and staff are delightful and accommodating and were amazing at helping us with transportation back to San Francisco to catch our flight after our previous arrangements fell through.

This trip was truly a serene getaway. Everything was phenomenal and I will be returning. I would have no hesitation to recommend Solage and will stay there again.

Our Travel agent Sue Griffin at Century Travel put our girlfriend’s getaway package together but you could use whomever you like or make your own.  She did set us up with Jack Swanson of Swanson Wine Tours who was amazing.  He drove us all through Napa Valley, took us to three wineries, and planned a stop for lunch. If you are looking for a wine tour contact Jack. I would do this same trip over and over again!!!