For past issues of the Market Report,
visit our Market Report Archive!

January 2003 Market Report

A PDF version is now available!

• Take the Time to Eat Well
• Department Features
• Recipes - This month's new featured recipes
• Monthly Prizes

Take the Time to Eat Well

Have you ever been waiting in traffic, and you look over and see someone waiting on a light, stealing bites of some fast-food sandwich? Or you catch yourself doing the same? I admit to having fallen into that trap. No wonder food often gets a bad rap in our culture. For contrast, let’s shift gears to the scene one evening recently at my parents’ home. The little ones are running around playing hide and go seek; the adults are cooking, laughing, chopping, and tasting. On this particular evening, the men took over, so while I’m searing the duck breasts and sipping a little Beaujolais, my brother-in-law, Matt, is whisking the vinaigrette of Dijon mustard, sea salt, and Tuscan white vinegar and olive oil. Another brother-in-law, David, is cutting up thick slices of Paris Grande bread and choosing cheeses out of Mom’s fridge: Garcia Baquero, Camembert, and Equis L’Or. My brother Mike recruits his new girlfriend to help remove the skin from the duck breasts after I cook them, and they decorate the serving platter with edible flowers. Dad is fulfilling his standing assignment: choosing the wine and putting on the music. He chooses a nice Côtes du Rhône to go with the duck, and once again, Dean Martin and Jimmy Durante provide ambience. The women in the family set the table, and we sit down to enjoy the meal and the time together. My niece Macy giggles as she tastes the edible flowers, and my little nephew and twin nieces dig right into the duck and cherries without hesitation. We finish with the cheese, and finally, a sampling of chocolates and torrone candy from Italy. The wine is good, the food is excellent, and the company is grand. Even though my siblings (four sisters and one younger brother) and I are now adults living in different cities, some with children of our own, we still love getting together at the slightest provocation.

An Interesting Question

James Mellgren and I recently had a conversation about eating like this. Jim is an associate editor of The Gourmet Retailer who visited DLM last summer and is featuring us in an upcoming issue. He was involved with the famous New York food store Dean & DeLuca for years before going into journalism. In the course of the interview, we were talking about how we choose ingredients, cook, eat, etc. We agreed that one of the great pleasures of life is to enjoy occasions like the one just described. And it’s relatively easy to do. But as Jim said, we get in too much of a hurry wanting to save time. Then he raised a question that I thought bordered on the profound: “Save time for what…so you can watch more TV?”

I’ve thought a lot about Jim’s simple question since, and I’ve been cooking more than ever, sharing meals with friends and family. I’m chewing more slowly, savoring the sips, turning off the TV. Get my drift? This is the way of life we talk about often at Dorothy Lane. Just last week, for example, Bakery Director Scott Fox was telling me about the simple meal of Pici pasta tossed in Tuscan olive oil with Parmigiano-Reggiano, that he enjoyed with his family. Another day last week, the wine staff, cheesemonger David Richardson, and I gathered in the Springboro Wine Shop to taste foie gras and Cabernet together with Edouard Moueix of the famous Bordeaux wine-making family. Great food is a daily occurrence around here.

The Pleasure of a Good Diet

Perhaps you think it strange to talk about enjoying food right now when so many of us are on some kind of diet. Instead of choking down protein powder drinks, why not look to people who are in love with real, fresh, well-prepared food for inspiration. I think of Shanghai-born Richard Wong of chinablue®, or my friends Beatrice from Milan and Dominique from Paris, or to visiting food celebs such as Sara Moulton. To these folks, eating is one of the great pleasures of life; good food is not an enemy. I’m not a dietician, but I do know that I feel my best when I build my diet with wholesome, good things to eat. Foods such as the sweet, fresh papaya I had for breakfast this morning, or that irresistible Shetland wild salmon that Chris grilled for me at Jack’s Grill (located in the Meat & Seafood Department at Springboro) today at lunchtime. Tomorrow it may be an abundant salad made with tomatoes-on-the-vine and organic mesclun. Or crusty Artisan breads from the hearth, the clean true taste of Coleman Natural Beef™, and a thousand other flavors. That’s our playground at Dorothy Lane Market, and we invite you to come and share in the fun. Come in and talk to us, taste with us, try new recipes, experiment. Indeed, you and yours deserve to buy good food from DLM. Then prepare it at home, share it with loved ones, chew slowly, turn off the tube, have conversation. And finally, if you see your neighbor doing the burger-in-the-car thing, remind him that food is meant to be enjoyed. Better yet…invite him over for dinner.

• Paris Grande Bread (available Friday, Saturday, Sunday) $2.29/lb save 60¢/lb
• Organic Mesclun Salad $5.99/lb save $1.00/lb
• Delice de France Camembert $9.99/lb save 80¢/lb
• Fresh Culver Duck Breasts $9.99/lb
• Coleman Natural Beef™ Whole or Half New York Strip $7.99/lb save $3.00
• Barbi Pici Pasta from Tuscany 500g $8.99 save $1.00

Department Features

Every month, we feature select items in our stores and provide you with detailed descriptions. Many are new items and/or on sale!

• Grocery
• Meat
• Specialty Cheese
• Beer & Wine
• Healthy Living

GROCERY

New! Veleta Products from Spain

Veleta is the name of the company that brings us some of the most loved traditional foods of Spain. The company was founded by Dayton’s own Dr. Juan Palomar, a native of Spain, who has practiced medicine in both countries for many years. And for years, Dr. Palomar would always return from trips to Spain with his suitcase bursting full of great traditional foods. Now, he is scaling back his medical practice to devote more time to his passion for food. Hence, he created Veleta. Juan named the line for a mountain near his home in the south of Spain. These exquisite foods are great examples of the flavorful cuisine of Spain.

Besides the standbys such as his beautiful Veleta Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Juan is now treating us to tasty Manzanilla Olives, preserves made from the luscious fruits of the south of Spain including white plums, the prized White Tuna from the Galicia region, and my favorite: succulent baby sardines from the Cantabric Sea, packed in olive oil. Enjoy Veleta preserves on your morning toast or with shortbread cookies. The other goodies are marvelous when served as tapas (appetizers), or as part of sandwiches or snacks. (One night this week, I plan to make a sandwich with the sardines on a baguette with a little smear of Zingerman’s Cream Cheese and onion.) Give the whole line a try this month and experience the vibrancy of real Spanish food. And you will find the prices very reasonable as well.

• All Veleta Products 10% off

New! Back Chat Fair Trade Organic Coffee

Roasted locally by Dave Kohstall, these coffees are an education and exploration of some of the world’s great coffee-producing regions. Dave carefully chooses the finest mountain-grown shade beans available and then roasts them to order in his quaint facility in Yellow Springs. The freshness of the beans directly translates to better taste. Try all six for an adventure in good coffee flavor.

• 1-lb bag $8.99 save $1.00

Experience the Flavors of chinablue®

Don’t miss the special visit this month of Richard Wong, creator of chinablue®. Richard is known around the country to foodies as one of the few experts of Shanghai-style cooking. Richard will be visiting our stores from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates: Oakwood — January 24, Washington Square — January 25, Springboro — January 26.

MEAT

Hill Family Farms — Bucking the Trend of Mega Farms

Fifteen years ago, Ed Hill made the transition to sustainable agriculture in one giant step. He sold the log lodge on South Bass Island in the middle of Lake Erie where he and his wife Joyce and three children had operated a Viking museum and custom jewelry shop. Their longing to be stewards of the land led them to the Xenia farm where Joyce grew up. Ed wanted to raise chickens, but not just any kind of chicken. He wanted a larger size bird that would be prized for the moist, large breast and that would have the flavor that chicken had before the mega-farming days. His research and education taught him how these great tasting birds were raised in the past. Through hard work, the end result was the “Hill’s Barnyard Chicken.” These chickens, raised on a diet free from antibiotics and animal by-products, were first marketed at the local farmer’s market and Dorothy Lane Market. The consumers, through their purchases, were sending a strong message. Raising a product locally with great nutritional quality and flavor, while at the same time respecting sustainable agricultural practices, was building a mutual trust and a different long-term view of food production. A practice that makes both farmer and consumer responsible stewards of the land.

• Hill’s Farm Chicken $2.19/lb save 40¢/lb

SPECIALTY CHEESE

Proper Handling Of Cheese

Properly cared for, cheese can stay fresh for surprisingly long periods of time. Here are a few tips on how to keep your favorite cheese fresh longer, and how to handle it for your eating enjoyment.

Cheese is best served at room temperature, set out about an hour before serving. Soft cheeses should be eaten soon after purchasing. The harder the cheese, the longer it will remain fresh.

Cheese should be refrigerated at temperatures of 35-40º F in the original wrapping until ready to use.

Once opened, discard the plastic wrapper and rewrap in wax or parchment paper, which allows the cheese to “breathe,” and then wrap in foil.

Mold may develop on the surface of cheese. Although most molds are harmless, to be safe, cut away a half inch of cheese on all sides of the visible mold.

BEER & WINE

Wines to Start the New Year Off Right

2000 Veleta Cabernet Sauvignon
This Spanish beauty is from the Spanish vineyards of Dayton’s own Dr. Juan Palomar! Full-bodied, this wine comes from the valley of Ugijar on the south slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range; indeed the name Veleta comes from the name of the tallest peak. $19.99

1998 Veleta Tempranillo Gran Cuvée
This Spanish wine is awesome! Rich and deeply layered with black cherry, plum, and cassis fruit with nuances of leather, cedar, licorice, tinderbox, and sweet vanilla oak. The much anticipated arrival of Dr. Palomar’s wine lives up to our expectations. $14.99

2000 Michael Sullberg Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
If you are looking for that perfect, everyday dinner wine, look no further than this great wine value from California! Lots of deep black cherry/currant fruit, sweet toasted oak, and moderate tannins. Only $9.99 or $107.89 per case

2000 Michael Sullberg Reserve Chardonnay
Michael is a small producer in northern California who makes really, really good, juicy, ripe wines for a super price…you are hard pressed to find such values from California. $9.99 or $107.89 per case

HEALTHY LIVING

A Healthy Resolution

Although the holidays are behind us, memories of great food, family gatherings, and gift exchanges linger on. And for many of us, so does the stress. The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be stressful enough, but add on the holiday parties, holiday bills, and holiday weight gain, and look to plummeting temperatures and the cold and flu season — whew! What’s a body to do!

We may not be able to control all the factors that cause us stress, but we can decide what to do about it. Make a resolution this year to maintain a healthy balance with a wholesome diet and the help of nutritional supplements. We know nothing can replace the value of a healthful diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats, but since stress may gobble up nutrient reserves and result in deficiencies, a multivitamin with a solid B complex can support our bodies during stressful times. Herbs and homeopathics can be safely and effectively used for the symptoms of stress such as sleeplessness, digestive upsets, colds, flu, hormonal imbalance - you name it. (Please consult your physician if you are taking medication.) One of our favorite herb lines, Nature’s Answer, offers a variety of combination and single remedies. Check these out at 20% off throughout the month.

In the Healthy Living Department, knowledgeable staff can help direct you to an appropriate supplement, provide literature, and clarify label information. And speaking of labels, many of you have expressed confusion over label reading: What’s the difference between natural and synthetic? What are mg’s vs. mcg’s? What does RDA mean? Are these regulated by the FDA? With all the information given on supplement labels, it’s no wonder you’re confused. Because educating our customers is one of our primary goals, the Healthy Living Department is offering an informative seminar on vitamins and minerals. We will specifically discuss what they do, how much we really need, and teach you how to read and compare supplement labels. This information will help support your healthy resolutions.

Join us at Washington Square on Saturday, January 25, or at Springboro on Saturday, February 1. Both seminars will be from 1-3 p.m. Or, join us at Oakwood on Tuesday, January 28 from 7-9 p.m. As seating is limited, please call the Healthy Living Dept. to reserve your space. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Club DLM card is required for all sale prices. Prices herein are valid through January 31, 2003. In the event of a typographical error, in-store prices will prevail. All sale items are limit five with Club DLM card.

Recipes

Elizabeth’s cake is a rich combination of butterscotch and deep chocolate flavors. I know because I sampled it yesterday, and twice again today! I couldn’t resist. My feelings jive with Elizabeth’s husband, Ronan, who commented that when the cake was baking “it filled my home with rich aromatic warmth.”

Elizabeth shops at Dorothy Lane Market, and she credits part of the good flavor to using Président butter.* But more than good ingredients or winning a contest, her cake was “all about sharing love and providing for others.” In that spirit, she is donating a portion of the prize money to the charity Heifer International, which provides food and income-producing animals to families in need. Click here for recipe

For a printable version of the recipes listed below, click here.

Minestra di Pasta e Fagioli alla Veneta
(Pasta and Bean Soup—Veneto Style)
Our valued friend and charismatic vendor Andrea Tosolini shared this recipe with us. This traditional Italian soup is prepared “Veneto Style” with borlotti beans that are from the city of Lamon in the Veneto region of Italy. The soffrito is prepared to add additional flavor to the soup.

• For Soffrito:
  • 1/2 medium onion, cut into slices
  • 3 fresh sage leaves
  • 3 whole garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup Vera Jane’s Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 branch fresh rosemary

In a small skillet, sauté first four ingredients in the olive oil over medium-low heat until onion begins to brown a bit, about 20 minutes. Drain the oil and reserve. Discard remaining ingredients.

• For soup:
  • (2) 12.6-oz jars Lamon Borlotti Beans, drained
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1 Tbsp Vera Jane’s Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 large potato, peeled and chopped
  • 1 branch fresh rosemary
  • 5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2.5 oz la Campofilone Pappardelle Egg Pasta, broken into small pieces
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • Additional Vera Jane’s Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • Stalk celery, diced
  • Crushed chiles

Mash 3/4 of the beans with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl. Place in a stock pot along with whole beans, rosemary, garlic, jalapeño, carrots, onion, celery, tomatoes, potato, broth, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasoning. Remove rosemary branch. Stir in oil from soffrito.

While soup is simmering, cook pasta in salted water and drain. When potatoes are tender, add pasta to soup. Ladle into bowls; drizzle with a thin line of olive oil, and season with crushed chiles, if desired. Serve with crusty artisan bread. Makes 6 servings

Spinach Balls with Mustard Sauce
Be ready for the Bowl Games with this great make-ahead recipe. The spicy mustard sauce is always a hit with a party crowd. Have a basket of pretzel sticks nearby to spear the balls for dipping.

• Spinach Balls:
• (4) 10-oz pkgs frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 8 oz (1 cup) melted butter
• 8 green onions, finely chopped
• 4 cups crushed herb stuffing mix
• 6 eggs (save 2 egg yolks for the sauce)
• 2 cups firmly packed grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Dash nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Cover and refrigerate, or freeze until ready to bake.

Preheat oven to 350º F. Set balls on ungreased cookie sheet, and bake until golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with mustard sauce for dipping. Makes approximately 120

• Mustard Sauce:
• 1 cup dry mustard
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup white wine vinegar
• 2 egg yolks

Combine mustard and vinegar in a small bowl, and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours. Mix sugar and yolks in a small saucepan, add mustard and vinegar mixture, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Cover and chill. When ready to serve, bring to room temperature. This sauce is also great on sandwiches. Makes 2 cups

These balls can be made ahead of time and frozen raw. Place frozen balls on a cookie sheet and bake as needed. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time for frozen ones. For a shortcut, substitute the Rothschild Raspberry Wasabi Dipping Mustard.

Remember to visit our online Recipe Archive for a wide variety of recipes sorted into many categories.

Monthly Prizes

Throughout the month of January, each time you use your Club DLM card you will be given a chance to win...

• One Dozen Red Roses from our Floral Dept. (value $50.00)
• Ghyslain Large Chocolate Heart Filled with 16 Hand-Painted Hearts (value $34.95)
• Valentine’s Day Gift Basket from our Healthy Living Dept. (value $50.00)

One set of prizes will be awarded at each store location unless otherwise specified. No purchase necessary to enter.