I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
This may be the “dog days of summer,” but, we have a lot going on at Harmoni Market right now. (By the way, if you want to know the origin of “dog days of summer” click here).
Private Dining Room - We will put the final touches on our new Private Dining Room this week. For events
from eight to twenty guests, this intimate dining area is ideal for wine events, cheese events, corporate dining events or for that special event with friends and family. Check it out.
Catering – Take our wholesome food to your next gathering (or we’ll delivery it). Call the market at 407-206-0033 or contact Jaime Niemann at 407-647-4300 ext. 236 for customized catering services.
New Web Site – the new web site will be launched at the end of July. Stay tuned!
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In this Harmoni e-zine, you will find the following:
Mollydooker Wine Tasting
New Specialty Products to Inspire
A Better Body Pilates Summer Special
DJ Torrence’s Sensual Grooves for Sensual Food - This Saturday!
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Before I get into the delicious new products that we just brought into the market, let me tell you about the next Wine Tasting in our new Private Dining Room and a great opportunity to get into shape at A Better Body.
Mollydooker Wine Tasting
On Tuesday, July 31st, Wine Director, Shawn Wehrle, will be hosting a wine tasting with a great new wine line-up from Sparky Marquis called Mollydooker. You will enjoy Harmoni cheese and appetizers and learn about and enjoy six luscious wines from the Mollydooker portfolio. Price is $25. Please email Shawn Wehrle at SWehrle@HarmoniMarket.com to reserve your seat at the table (only 16 available). Click here to get all of the details.
Claudia Camacho’s A Better Body Studio
Harmoni Market was founded on the more sensible Mediterranean approach to life – slowing down a bit and
enjoying wholesome, fresh food with family and friends and leading a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise. That is what our slogan “Viva Bene!” is all about. But, we all know how difficult it is to get motivated to do what is best for our bodies – that is why we have professionals to help us to reach our personal exercise goals. From time to time, we will feature some College Park businesses that can help you take the first step toward a more healthy and happy lifestyle. Click Here to get all of the details.
DJ Torrence, As Sensual as Ever . . . This Saturday at 8PM!
You know him as a Server, you love him as a DJ. Every third Saturday of the month, DJ Torrence spins Euro
Lounge tunes at Harmoni starting at 8PM. The ever affable Torrence recommends pairing his groovy tunes with a sparkling shiraz and Chocolate Harmoni or a zesty chenin blanc and the fig, ricotta, fig cake.
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New Specialty Products Guaranteed to Inspire
I love my job. I get to sample great specialty foods and wines and call it “work.” Here are some great new products that we just introduced to Harmoni Market. The shelves are packed high and we are sampling every day. We love to share!
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Starr Ridge Cookies, Crackers and Bread Sticks
The Starr Ridge line was just awarded the “Outstanding Product Line” at this year’s Fancy Food Show in New
York. On each box of Starr Ridge crackers, cookies, and grahams a tag line reads: “Simple. Classic.
Extraordinary.” The Starr Ridge line of products is made using only the finest all-natural ingredients such as
unbleached flour, premium butter and extra virgin olive oil. We brought in almost their entire line of products.
You can’t miss their distinctive packaging on the shelf.
My Favorites: Lemon Pistachio Cookie, Cinnamon Graham Crackers, and the Garlic Bread Sticks
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Illy Coffee & San Marzano Tomatoes
OK – call me an idiot. How did we open a gourmet market and not offer Illy Coffee or San Marzano Tomatoes – the two signature mainstays from Italy? Well, we do now. All you have to do is try them and you will realize why these products deserve the acclamation they receive.
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Stonewall Kitchen
We brought in a few products from Stonewall Kitchens a couple of months ago and the products flew off the
shelf. I think it is because each of their sauces, jams or chutneys turns a regular appetizer or entrée into a simple and delicious culinary experience. The company’s web site provides delicious recipes for each of its products (www.StonewallKitchens.com) Stonewall Kitchens’ Roasted Garlic and Onion Jam was awarded “Outstanding Classic” at the fancy Food show. This sweet, savory and distinctive jam can be melted on sautéed or steamed veggies, whipped into mashed potatoes or simply served with cream cheese on crackers. Our top selling item is the Maple Chipotle Sauce – a fusion of smoked chilies and Maine maple syrup. It enhances the flavor of grilled meats, fish or vegetables.
My favorite: Vidalia Onion & Fig Sauce. Drizzle this over grilled steaks with a small slice of your favorite bleu cheese and you will be the hero of the guaranteed to please your Saturday Barbeque guests!
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Tulocay’s Made in Napa Valley
Back in 2001, Tulocay’s sauces, dressings and rubs were awarded the Outstanding New Product Line at the
Fancy Food Show. They have continued to add delicious new products to their product line. Applauded by Oprah Winfrey for their wholesome, delicious line of specialty products, we are proud to add them to the Harmoni Market family. We just brought in their complete line of Simmer Sauces, Tapenades and Rubs because they make gourmet cooking amazingly easy and convenient.
My Favorite: Fig and Roasted Shallot with Sherry Tapenade. So different yet so good! Truly a Mediterranean delight. Great as an accompaniment to grilled chicken or pork. This fig shallot tapenade will jazz up a boring turkey sandwich in a heartbeat. Do the same thing as above with the baguette for a fast and quite gourmet appetizer. For a dynamite pizza, make the crust according to directions and then instead of a traditional tomato sauce, spread the fig shallot tapenade all over the crust. In a separate saute pan, caramelize red onions. Place all over pizza and then add fresh arugula or spinach over the top. Finish with feta, goat or a white cheddar cheese. Bake per instructions and cheese melts. Yummy!
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Mollydooker New Vintage Release Tasting - $25 July 31st
Mollydooker Wine Tasting
On Tuesday, July 31st, Wine Director, Shawn Wehrle, will be hosting a wine tasting with a great new wine line-up from Sparky Marquis called Mollydooker(see info below). You will enjoy Harmoni cheese and appetizers and learn about and enjoy six luscious wines from the Mollydooker portfolio. Price is $25. Please email Shawn Wehrle at SWehrle@HarmoniMarket.com to reserve your seat at the table (only 16 available).
Mollydooker Background Story
Sarah and Sparky Marquis are two of Australia’s elite winemakers; both left handed and so both Mollydookers. A “mollydooker” is a “left-hander”, in Aussie speak. Sarah and Sparky met in college pursuing a degree in oenology; aka winemaking. Soon after graduation they married and started on a path creating a stellar career making award winning wines for Fox Creek, Shirvington, Parson’s Flat and Integrity. This husband and wife team has created some of the highest scored red wines from Australia as per noted wine critic Robert Parker Jr. Who would have guessed that their partnership in 2000 with The Grateful Palate and the creation of the critically acclaimed “Marquis-Philips” brand would bring such heartache and near financial ruin? Producing over 100,000 cases a year the Marquis Philips brand exceeded everyone expectations in the US market offering quality wines with prices around $15 a bottle. Their wines were named a “best value” by the wine press and flew off the retail shelves. All seemed to be going gangbusters when the train “ran off the tracks” due to differences of vision.
The Phoenix - Mollydooker Rises
Spring is a time of rebirth. The Mollydooker story, like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, is an example of two passionate people who did not give up on their dream and their talents. When their partnership with the Grateful Palate ended, Sarah and Sparky were left with grower contracts, their reputations, and not much else..Marshalling their closest friends for counsel, Sarah and Sparky developed a strategy to produce wines under their own brand. Their painful lesson of a partnership failure forged their commitment to work as an independent winery. Mortgaging their home, leveraging their assets , supported both financially and emotionally by their loyal growers and staff, and with business guidance from Philadelphia based Jeremy Allen they created the Mollydooker brand in 2005. What Sarah and Sparky did not know was that their risk taking was soon to be rewarded.
The First Mollydooker Vintage
The 2005 Australian vintage, their first release under the Mollydooker brand, landed in the US in May 2006. One month later, Robert Parker scored their “Boxer Shiraz” 95/100 points; an amazing score for a wine priced at $20 a bottle. The other Mollydooker wines received 92+ point scores; a great confirmation that their desire to run their own winery and brand was not a pipe dream.
The “Parker Effect” came at the perfect time, coinciding with the launch of the Mollydooker brand . The article and the consumer demand created by Sarah and Sparky’s past wine projects resulted in the entire US allocation of their 2005 vintage being sold in just 8 weeks. With additional blessings from the “wine gods”, their two premium wines received 96 and 99 points from Robert Parker in the fall of 2006. These $60 premium wines became immediate cult collector wines and the buzz about this new project filled wine blogs and chat around the Internet. Adding fuel to the fire was the coverage Mollydooker received from Harvey Steiman and the Wine Spectator. Their 2005 Boxer Shiraz was placed in the Top 100 wines of the world; ranked #68 out of 100. To have their first vintage considered as one of the top 100 wines of the world was more than Sarah and Sparky could have ever expected.
2006 ‘The Scooter’ Merlot $29.99
Well, firstly we must explain where the name came from. The very first day Sarah met Sparky, he was scootering around the University Campus. Sparky used to race scooters (yes, we mean the one you had as a kid) back in his home town and was known as ‘The Man with the Scooter’, as it was very rare in those days.
Why make a Merlot? Well fashions come and go, but classic wine styles endure for ever. It’s a wine we personally enjoy. Our Merlot grapes come from Gemtree’s vineyard in McLaren Vale, an area which has lovely fruit intensity, and Scott & Cheryl Longbottom’s vineyard in Padthaway which is renowned for highlighting the beauty and elegance of the variety. The combination is a delightful, delicious, charming wine to relax with at the end of a busy day.
2006 ‘Two Left Feet’ Blend $29.99
The dancing couple on the label represent the influence of both a male and female palate in our winemaking.
Sarah, February 2007
Excerpts of Reviews of 2005 Two Left Feet
The 2005 Two left feet is blend put together by Sarah Marquis. It boasts an inky purple color, superb intensity, a big, sweet, full bodied nose of crème de cassis, graphite, white choclate, black olives, blackberry liqueur, anmd spice, and a spectacular, voluptuous, even unctuous texture. This is a big, powerful, classic southern Sustrlian red made with no compromises. Drink it over the next 3 years, though I suspect it will last a decade or longer. 94 Points. Robert Parker Jr Wine Advocate #165
2006 ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz $29.99
This Shiraz is a knock out! The 2005 was an enormous hit, after receiving 95 points from Robert Parker and being selected by him as the “Best Value Wine in the World”. The 2006 will knock you out again with exuberant fruit, incredible flavors and color, and great length. The fruit is sourced from our Shiraz vineyards in McLaren Vale, Padthaway & Langhorne Creek.
Excerpts from Reviews of the 2005 Boxer
The Boxer Shiraz exhibits a black/blue purple color, an incredible density of fruit, along with that tell tale purity, blackberries, white flowers, melted chocolate, sweet licorice and subtle wood. Full bodied, beautifully textured and layered, with an awesome finish it should drink well for 4-6+ years. 95 points. Robert Parker Jr Wine Advocate # 165
The 2005 Boxer was #68 in the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2006
2006 Goosebumps Sparkling Shiraz $49.99
We are thrilled to bits to be bringing you this new wine. To tell you the truth, we love drinking Sparkling Shiraz ourselves so we thought we would make some and share it with you. Our aim is for you to experience a taste sensation similar to the qualities of our Shiraz, enhanced with creamy bubbles – a perfect wine for special occasions, or simply sharing with friends for the fun of it. There could be no better name for it than “Goosebumps” – you get them both from the bubbles and from the amazing intensity of flavour! The Shiraz has been selected from Scott & Cheryl Longbottoms’ vineyard in Padthaway and Darren & Belinda Joppichs’ vineyard in Langhorne Creek, both of which are producing grapes which exude incredible flavour and
complexity.
2006 Gigglepot Cabernet $49.99
This gorgeous Cabernet was named after the Mollydooker Gigglepot, Sarah and Sparky’s daughter, Holly.
Last year if a Cabernet had a Marquis Fruit Weight™ (MFW) score of 80% it was included in the Enchanted Path. This year it is in our new wine, Gigglepot. We are so proud of it. It is full of flavor, rich, supple and elegant – the very essence of Cabernet. When you taste it you will see what S+S mean when they say that we try to market our wines at 2 price points below their intrinsic value. This wine is stunning! Unfortunately there is very little of it.
2006 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz $49.99
This joyous wine was named after the Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy, Sarah and Sparky’s son, Luke.
Just wait till you taste this wine! Sarah and Sparky blended it last week. They let me have a taste after they had decided on the blend. I couldn’t believe it. There were 3 major components, but the blend was exponentially better than any of them. I don’t understand how that happens. It had the best features of all three of the components – depth and complexity from one, velvety unctuousness from another, intensity and color from the third, and then a something extra - a life force of its own. Magic!
We are so happy to be able to bring you this new wine, which we believe is a great wine at an affordable price, perfect for celebrating, sharing with friends, or relishing on your own. The grapes for this wine come from Scott and Cheryl Longbottom’s and Darren and Belinda Joppich’s vineyards.
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Claudia Camacho’s A Better Body Studio
In addition to being an avid “foodie” and Harmoni Market regular, Claudia Camacho owns “A Better Body”
Pilates Studio in College Park. www.abetterbodypilates.com For those of you who don’t know, Pilates is an
exercise method designed to condition and connect mind and body, correct muscle imbalances, improve posture and tone the body. After years of high-impact, “make ‘em sweat / feel the burn” work-outs, there is great appeal in Pilates’ slower, safer, more sensible approach to health and wellness. The exercises mix yoga-like movements with strengthening techniques to develop strong, lean, flexible muscles.
Claudia’s Summer Specials
Claudia and Harmoni Market are offering two phenomenal deals to kick off your Summer exercise routine.
1) Trail Session
A one-on-one introductory trial session with Claudia costs only $25. If you sign up for a trial session before
August 31st, you will also receive a $25 gift certificate to Harmoni Market – that means that your Pilates trial
session is FREE!
2) Buy Six Sessions and get a Free $100 gift Certificate to Harmoni Market
Purchase six Pilates workout sessions for $340 and receive a $100 Harmoni Market Gift Certificate FREE!
For more information, contact Claudia at 407-399-8416. A Better Body is located at 3461 Edgewater Drive in Orlando (claudia@abetterbodypilates.com)
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The Dog Days of Summer – Where did it come from?
In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.
They saw images of bears, (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins, (Gemini), a bull, (Taurus), and others, including dogs, (Canis Major and Canis Minor). The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it. Look for it in the southern sky (viewed from northern latitudes) during January. In the summer, however, Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star. The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the “precession of the equinoxes” (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a faraway star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth’s tilt.