But it's especially meaningful when a long-time friend (one who has wanted to be in the food industry for many years), opens up a first-class gourmet shop that's not only near home, but has good parking.
Recently my husband and I were delighted to attend a pre-opening of the Feast-O-Rama in downtown Fredericksburg. We sampled some of the many specialty products that owners Gina Willis and Lynda McDaniel have hand-picked to help cooks stock their pantries with the items they need to showcase their culinary talents. Housed in an interesting old building with architectural charm, Feast-O-Rama is a gourmet's delight.
Here you can purchase a variety of outstanding products from regional culinary artisans, such as Monterey Jack cheese from Marshall Farms of Unionville, VA; hand-crafted bread by Personal Chef Jess Dowdell of King George, VA; or the carefully blended, unique teas of Martha G. Crimmins, a certified tea and etiquette consultant. Here you'll also find free-range chickens, creamy Chevre, along with smooth pates and tangy sausages.
Taste-treats from around the world are here as well, including impressive selections of wines and other beverages, jams and jellies, innovative pastas, sauces, condiments, snacks and, in general, a terrific selection of gourmet treats to buy for yourself-or give as gifts.
We were lucky to pick up the Neera's Pear Cardamom Chutney, a spicy blend of fresh pears, along with other ingredients such as malt vinegar, brown sugar, orange peel, cashews, and green cardamom. Later, at home we enjoyed this tangy chutney with freshly sliced apples and pears and smoked turkey and ham, but it would be ideal to serve with curry and/or Jasmine rice as well. I have to admit, this chutney is better than my recently homemade version, and delivers decidedly more flavor than the standard store-bought chutneys.
But although this store is definitely sophisticated and upscale, it's not pretentious. Rather, it's a warm and friendly place where you'll be greeted with a smile and feel as if you are shopping at your own friend's store. And, in addition to the taste treat temptations you find here, there are plenty of solid, everyday items like flour, olive oil, and napkins that we all need.
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