igourmet.com carries dozens of butters from all across the world, including; New Zealand, France, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States. Useful for cooking, melting, or as a spread, butter is one of our favorite all-around food products. Without butter, dining would be a lot less interesting.

See more of my Father’s Day Gifts list at ThisNext.

Dads love food. And as the old saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. In one simple click, you can impress Dad with a truly grand gesture of your appreciation and respect. Our extensive list of Father’s Day gifts will coax a smile out of even the most serious man. Treat your Dad to one of our award-winning gift baskets, assortments of specialty cheeses and meats or one of our ever popular Of-the-Month Clubs, for the gift that keeps on giving.

This miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa. The berry contains a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids. This protien makes tart lemons and hot peppers sweet tasting. The berry can also make cheap tequila taste as good as Patron! Read more about it here. To experience the fruit you may attend a “Flavor Tripping Party” hosted by Franz Aliquo in NYC. The fruit is also availabe by mail order through various specialty suppliers in New York, including Baldor Specialty Foods and S. Katzman Produce or via the web at  www.miraclefruitman.com. (A freezer pack of 30 berries costs about $90 with overnight shipping.)

Baked Polenta with Grilled Italian Vegetable Medley

1 17.8 oz bag of Instant Polenta

1 28 oz can Menu Mixed Grill Vegetables

2 Quarts water

¼ C Extra Virgin Olive Oil (plus more for oiling pan)

Olive oil

Black Pepper

Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly oil a 9”x13” baking pan with olive oil

In a heavy bottomed pot, bring water and 2 tsp salt to a boil.  Add polenta and quickly stir to avoid any lumps.  Reduce heat to low, and continue to stir occasionally for 5 minutes until cooked though and has a thick consistence.  Stir in olive oil.  To make a black polenta, omit the salt and add ½ C black olive tapenade after cooking polenta.  For a fuller flavor, stir in grated Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, or Pecorino Romano. Other nice additions at this stage are 2 tsps of fennel seeds, 1 tsp of oregano, or 1 tbsp of fresh, mined rosemary and a minced garlic clove.

Here are some ideas for you Memorial Day Party. Food, Beer, & Decorations. Enjoy the three day weekend!

Pickled Asparagus - As delicious as it sounds, this southern treat comes to us from deep in the heart of Georgia. With a terrific crunch and a decidedly piquant flavor, it’ll liven up any antipasto, and make a bold addition to a gourmet Bloody Mary.

Pickled Hungarian Goathorn Peppers - When these incredible peppers were tasted at the Reno Wine Show, we were amazed at how well they paired with some of our cheeses. Surprisingly good with softer cheeses such as Camembert, these peppers also add a high degree of flavor to everything from lamb and smoked salmon to salads and sandwiches. Marinated in extra virgin olive oil and spices, Mama Lil’s Peppers are simply divine.

 Pickled Okra - The often neglected Okra is somewhat of a staple in the South, where it is available fresh 12 months of the year. For the rest of us, Pickled Okra is a real treat, particularly when it tastes this good. The fruit of a large vegetable plant of African origin, Okra, or Nkruma as it was known, found its way to the Americas with the slave ships. While its subtle flavor is sometimes compared to that of Eggplant, Okra has a taste all of its own, especially when pickled. Ours hail from Vidalia, Georgia, and is produced by Prissy’s, famed for their high quality Southern specialities, and served in Hyatt Hotels nationwide. Spicy and crisp, these will add delightful flavor to any meal, especially salads. Varieties sold separately.

German Baby Beets - A delicious accompaniment to other foods, baby beets are a traditional element of the German Buffet. Our imported German baby beets are nice and sweet with a distinctive earthy flavor. They are peeled, pickled in vinegar, and ready to eat. Excellent as a side dish with meat, lamb or grilled chicken, these beets are also an essential part of a German farmer’s breakfast when served with eggs. Sliced into little disks, they also make a beautiful garnish.

Tomolives (Green pickled tomatoes) - A pungent and spicy hybrid, grown from exclusive seeds, Tomolives are wickedly tasty mini-tomatoes. They are extremely versatile; great on salads, sandwiches and pizzas as well as rice or pasta dishes. Tomolives are a delightful addition to Martinis or a Bloody Mary.

Cornichons - Cornichons are crisp, tart, pickled baby cucumbers. Drenched in a brine of white wine vinegar, salt, pearl onions and select spices, these tangy little pickles are zesty and delicious. They are the traditional accompaniment to patés, smoked fish and meats, as well as a necessary ingredient when serving Raclette. From the heart of Provence, these authentic French Cornichons will surely find a welcome home in your gourmet pantry.

Barrell Pickles - These German pickles are crisp, crunchy, and delicious. Marinated in a lightly sweetened brine, they are kissed with a touch of sugar. Not overly sweet like some gherkins, these barrel pickles are packaged in a cute barrel-shaped glass jar. Superb as part of an hors d’oeuvres sampler, served alongside bratwurst, or as a cold addictive snack.

Banderillas - Maestranza’s Banderillas in Vinegar are an instant tapas straight from the jar, making them the perfect addition to your next cocktail hour. A banderilla is a decorative wooden spear used in bullfighting. However, in this jar, the banderilla is a small, wooden skewer containing crunchy cocktail onions, peppers, olives and pickles. Enjoy these skewers on their own or with a bloody mary or martini. Imported from Spain.

Sweet Pickled Ginger - Amasu Shoga is fresh, tender ginger, cut into paper thin slices. It is pickled in a sweet vinegar marinade. Also known as gari, this sweet pickled ginger is used to freshen the palate between courses in Japan, particularly with sushi. It is also great with sashimi, but you can even add it to salads, sauces, or seafood for some extra “kick”.

Cipolline Onions - These delicious Italian cipolline onions make a flavorful addition to your favorite salad or antipasto plate. They are pickled in balsamic vinegar and make a fine bite sized snack on their own. When compared to other cipolline onions we have tasted, these onions are a terrific complement to cheese, salami or prosciutto as they don’t overpower the other foods. Each onion is perfectly round and contributes to a beautiful hors d’oeuvre presentation. They are also excellent served heated up or grilled with beef or chicken, too.

Organic Cheese Standards
The USDA sets very high standards for dairy farmers to be able to label their products Organic. The process begins with the requirement of farming the land organically for three years prior to certification. All animal feed must be certified organic, meaning that it must be all-natural, cannot be genetically modified, cannot be grown with chemical fertilizers, and must come from a certified organic farm. Of course, although it creates significant limitations, pasture grazing on land that is not sprayed with insecticide is acceptable. Milk producing animals may not be given antibiotics either. Inside the plant, all ingredients in addition to the milk must be certified organic, including rennet, cultures, and any flavorings and preservatives that may be added. Once a farm achieves all of these standards, it can apply for certification through a licensed third-party agency. igourmet.com sells many great Organic Cheeses. Serving suggestions and wine pairings as well as history and maufacturing details are available on igourmet.com Our selection includes: