December 2013 Cheese Club Newsletter

Did You Know?

‘Tis the season for hustling and bustling, the season for greeting and meeting, the season for eating and eating (cheese anyone?)…and oh yes, the season for giving. Throughout time, food has been considered one of the most precious gifts a person can give (and receive). Great food is a special gift… and Carlino’s has great food. We also have the food knowledge necessary to make your entertaining and gift giving a piece of cake…and the cake as well! Included in this offering is also a world of cheeses capable of pleasing both the palate and the eye.

The Italian love of cheese dates back to the Ancient times and Italians today are just as passionate about cheese as they were during the Roman Empire. The Carlino Family supports this passion by offering an incredible variety of the best cheese of the world with an emphasis on all that is Italian… especially in this month of feasting and festivity.

Nick Carlino, during his many food tours of Italy, has unearthed a treasure-cave filled with cheeses… rich and rare. Nick’s just arrived imports are rich in flavor and rare in availability… the perfect gift for your favorite gourmand. Stop in and take a taste tour of Italy that includes cheeses from the high Italian Alps to the tip of the boot.

These “just off the boat” cheeses include our world famous Gran Pecorino Carlino, a sheep’s milk cheese that is aged in Abruzzo, Italy for the Carlino Family. Gran Pecorino Carlino will surprise you with its complex aroma and taste since both resound with lively notes of fresh milk… rare in a two year old cheese. Other great cheeses found by Nick include:

• Bra Duro: A cow’s milk cheese made with full cream milk and has been a longtime staple of the Italian diet.
• Carpenedo Blu: The aromatic and intense notes typical of the Italian cow’s milk blue cheese are wrapped by the scents of marasca cherry and fruit of the Passito di Raboso wine.
• Podda Classico: A blend of pasteurized cow’s and sheep’s milk cheese, with a sweet and somewhat nutty flavored inner paste.
• Pecorino Ginepro: A semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese bathed in balsamic vinegar and juniper berries.
• Oro Italiano: A cow’s milk cheese, creamy and smooth, the saffron and truffle crescendo in symphony in your mouth.

Our mantra for the New Year… Eat Cheese for Life!

-Patty Church
Carlinos’s Executive Cheese Specialist

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

For many world cultures, the holidays are filled with food traditions and Italy is no exception. For Italians, one of the most followed food traditions is the Feast of the Seven Fishes. As to the origin of this traditional Feast, one must go back to Medieval Catholic tradition which taught abstinence of meat and butter on Christmas Eve. The “Seven Fishes” are usually picked from a combination of delicious and popular seafood dishes, including these offered by Carlino’s:

Stuffed Calamari Stew: Fresh seafood and herbs, simmered in our classic tomato sauce.
• Baccala Stew: Flour dusted cod fish simmered in our classic chunky tomato sauce.
• Shrimp Scampi: Traditional dish served over our homemade linguine.
• Jumbo Crab Cakes: A combination of fresh crabmeat, onions, peppers, herbs and spices.
• Baccala Salad: Cornmeal encrusted fried cod fish tossed in a vegetable medley.
• Fried Calamari: Fried to golden brown served with our classic homemade marinara sauce.
• Fried Smelts: A miniature fish, part of the sardine family, is flour dusted, fried and served with a delicious anchovy aioli.
• Scallops Wrapped in Bacon: Whole calamari stuffed with medley of fresh seafood and herbs, simmered in a classic tomato basil sauce.
• Frutti Di Mare: Traditional medley of fresh unshelled mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp slowly simmered in classic tomato basil sauce.
• Shrimp Scampi Risotto: Shrimp, lemon, fish stock, Italian parsley, and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Just Arrived

In the month of hustle and bustle, Carlino’s has come up with the perfect way to give a “Cheese-y” gift to the gourmand in your life. Now available for purchase online, a wide variety of domestic, international and specialty cheeses to make anyone’s holiday cheese-tastic!

No one can resist the “Italian Cheese Crate” with our own Gran Pecorino Carlino, Parmigiano Reggiano, fig balsamic and olives to name just few items in this outstanding gift. For the traveling cheese lover we have the perfect combination with cheeses from Spain, Ireland, Holland and Italy in our “International Gift Crate”. For those who like to stay close to home, our “Domestic Cheese Crate” offers the delightful Bellavitano, Montamore with Merlot and Carlino’s Espresso Encrusted Cheddar. Yum!
All of these are perfect for a cheese lover of any kind.

Carlino’s E-Commerce goes with stress-free holidays

Throughout time, the gift of food has been considered one of the most precious gifts. Take-away the worry that goes along with giving the perfect gift by shopping Carlino’s E-Commerce. Find everything from the perfect hostess gift to the perfect gift for the chef in your house. Carlino’s E-Commerce offers award winning gift baskets to fill all of your gift giving needs, along with our Exclusive Collection coffees, Mama Carlino’s cookbook and of course, Carlino’s finest Cheeses! Everyone is happy when they receive the gift of Carlino’s, and you will be happy when you give the perfect stress-free gift.

Visit us HERE to start your online shopping today!

The most logical solution to a stress-free gift is one of our award winning gift baskets, made by Jill the Basket Lady herself!

Antipasto Classico Gift Basket: Hot and trendy with a vintage flair, a hand-selection of old-world flavors.
Carlino’s Deluxe Gift Basket: Feature’s all of the best that Carlino’s has to offer!
Mama Carlino’s Gift Basket: A tribute to Mama Carlino, including a collection of her favorites.
Italian Festa Gift Basket: Everything for the perfect Italian dinner! It’s a stroll through our market; a hand-selection of our most popular gourmet items.

Featured Item: Holiday Entertaining Menu

Give yourself the ultimate hostess gift…the gift of relaxation. Enjoy your guests while Carlino’s cooks your holiday feast. Let us prepare your appetizers, desserts or the whole meal! Our holiday menu offers anything you could think of to keep you and your party guests happy.

View Carlino’s 2013 Holiday Entertaining Menu HERE

Recipe

A quick and simple side dish that the whole family will enjoy this holiday season.

Herb Roasted Cauliflower
1 large head of cauliflower (cut to 1” slices)
2 tbsp Carlino’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp salt
Freshly ground pepper
3 tbsp Carlino’s Primo Tradizionale Balsamic Vinegar
½ c grated Parmigiano Reggiano
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Toss cauliflower with oil and spices, bake on a baking sheet for 15 minutes.
Toss cauliflower with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with cheese. Put back in the oven for 5-10 more minutes.

All of the ingredients in the above recipe are available at Carlino’s Specialty Markets.