Fresh News

Stop by our produce department to stalk up on fresh California asparagus and celebrate National Asparagus Day with us this Wednesday, May 24th. Often considered a luxury vegetable due to its short harvesting period, and now is the perfect time to enjoy this perennial vegetable. Asparagus has a long history of culinary use, with images from 3000 B.C. showing offerings o an Egyptian frieze. One of the earliest written recipes for asparagus dates back to 1 A.D. from Apicius’s De re coquinaria, Book III. And the arrival of asparagus in North America is due to European settlers that arrived as early as 1655. The best aspect of asparagus is that it’s suitable for a wide variety of recipes and cooking styles. It’s great when roasted, steamed, stir-fried, grilled, baked or pan seared. Try asparagus mixed into a salad, blended into a soup, whipped into a frittata, tossed into pasta or wrapped in bacon and cooked crispy to perfection. Browse our asparagus recipe collection to find some truly tasty dishes.

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Our celebration of American Artisan Cheese Month continues with Cowgirl Creamery Wagon Wheel Cheese. An artisan cheese that was created by chefs for chefs, Wagon Wheel is as versatile as it is delicious. Great as a snack on its own or try it melted and poured over your favorite meal. Created in the rolling golden hills of California, Wagon Wheel gained the nick name of Liquid Gold when melted due to its luscious flavor and smooth, creamy texture. Crafted from organic cow milk and formed into 15 lb. wheels, the cheese is stored and aged for a minimum of 75 days. At room temperature, the taste is described as nutty and delicate. But when melted, it has notes of roasted garlic, salted brown butter, roasted leeks and heavy cream. Visit our cheese department to find Cowgirl Creamery Wagon Wheel and many other fine artisan cheeses.

Celebrate National Hamburger Day this Sunday, May 28th. Hamburgers are a great choice for cookouts, mainly because they’re easy to cook and customizable to suit everyone’s tastes. Do you enjoy your hamburger with a swirl of ketchup and mustard, and topped with fresh cut tomatoes and onions? Or do you prefer your burger with a slice of cheese, crispy bacon and BBQ sauce? With so much variety it’s no surprise that over 50 billion hamburgers are enjoyed every year by Americans. Roll out the grill, light the fire and start cooking up some burgers for the long weekend! Enjoy a burger or two on National Hamburger Day with all your favorite toppings and garnishes. And be sure to check out our hamburger recipe collection for some extra delicious burger goodness.

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May is National BBQ Month, so you know what that means, it’s time to bring out the folding chairs, roll out the cooler and fire up the grill! From burgers and steaks, to hot dogs and chicken, there are so many flame kissed foods to enjoy. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try grilling fresh cut pineapple or watermelon wedges for a sweet and smoky treat. And if you’re in the market for something new at the BBQ, try our Maple Barbecue Sauce. It’s very easy to prepare and tastes great on just about everything!

Maple Barbecue Sauce

A little sweet, a little tangy and a hint of heat.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• Dash cayenne or chili pepper

Directions

Combine the maple syrup, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard, sea salt and cayenne/chili pepper in a saucepan.

Bring to low heat. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently until thickened.

Our celebration of American Artisan Cheese Month continues with Uplands Creamery Pleasant Rigale Reserve Cheese. Hailing from Southern Wisconsin; Uplands is owned and operated by two families, Andy and Caitlin Hatch, and Scott and Liana Mericka. After apprenticing with the farm’s former owners, Scott bought the dairy farm in 2014. Wanting to expand their line of cheeses, Uplands Creamery looked towards the Alpine regions of France and Switzerland for inspiration. Drawing upon into their deep reservoir of cheese making knowledge, Uplands decided to create their own version of an alpage cheese in the form of their Pleasant Ridge Reserve. The cheese is produced during the months of May through October, the late summer grazing period. Shortly after the milk is collected the cheese is created then stored in the on-site ripening room, where it is monitored closely. The flavor profile of Pleasant Ridge Reserve is a blend of sweet and savory, rich and salty, with a long, fruity finish. Pleasant Ridge Reserve is one of the most celebrated cheeses in the country. It’s won Best of Show at the American Cheese Society in 2001, 2005 and 2010. Stop by our cheese department this week to find Uplands Creamery Pleasant Reserve Cheese and many more premium, artisan cheeses to enjoy during American Artisan Cheese Month.

This week we are celebrating San Carlos’ very own Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company. Founded in 2001 and relocating their operation to San Carlos in 2013, Devil’s Canyon is a family-owned and operated brewery that crafts sustainably handcrafted beers using only the finest ingredients available. Operating out of a former Tesla R&D facility, Devil’s Canyon refurbished and expanded the building to accommodate for on-site brewing. Sustainability is such a fundamental value of Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. that 80% of their facility’s infrastructure to be made with repurposed, rebuilt or recycled materials. Their commitment to sustainability and giving back extends to the San Carlos community. Devil’s Canyon regularly sponsors the San Carlos Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps provide a well-rounded public education to all San Carlos School District students. Please join us at our San Carlos location on May 19th from 3pm-6pm, to sample the fine handcrafted beers of Devil’s Canyon Brewing. We can’t wait to see you!

Want to give mom something as sweet as her for Mother’s Day? Look no further than See’s Candies! See’s is well known for their premier chocolates and high-quality candies. Every candy and chocolate are made from scratch following Mary See’s original recipes and use only the finest ingredients available. Each box of See’s is delightfully wrapped and packaged with care. Show mom how much you care by giving her a mouthwatering collection of the best-selling chocolates and candies.

Let Bianchini’s help create a positively delicious brunch for mom this Sunday, May 14th, with our Mother’s Day recipe collection. Follow the link below to find a scrumptious mini quiche, cheesy sausage casserole, roasted potatoes, Grand Marnier French toast, blueberry-lemon muffins, cinnamon coffee cake, chocolatey cupcakes and more. And don’t forget to pick up Bianchini’s Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice and her favorite bottle of bubbly for mimosas. Click on the link to browse our Mother’s Day recipe collection.

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Join us in celebrating exceptional cheeses during American Artisan Cheese Month. Our second featured cheese is Black Label Select Cabot Clothbound Cheddar from The Cellars at Jasper Hills. Located in Northern Vermont near the Canadian border, Jasper Hill Farm is a family-owned creamery that produces high-quality European-style cheeses. Looking to stand out from other local creameries, Jasper Hill constructed an underground aging cellar to achieve a natural rind on their cheeses. This specific feature drew the attention of their neighbor Cabot Creamery who were looking to expand their repertoire. Cabot collaborated with Jasper Hill to create Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, which won the 2006 American Cheese Society’s Best in Show. Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is aged between 9-14 months. imbuing the cheese with notes of sweet caramel and toasted nuts. It has a slight tang, medium acidity and a crumbly texture. Stop by Bianchini’s cheese department to find Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and many other exquisite cheeses.

Star Wars Day AKA May the 4th Be With You, is almost here! Both a fun play on words of the franchise’s iconic catchphrase and a day of intergalactic revelry commemorating Star Wars as a whole. The first usage of May the 4th Be With You started just one year after the first film’s release, Star Wars: A New Hope. Beginning as a grassroots campaign by the fans, the day quickly gained traction worldwide and is now a holiday for everyone to enjoy. Commemorate this special day with a batch of delectable Gingerbread Wookiee Cookies to enjoy during your Star Wars movie marathon!

Gingerbread Wookiee Cookies

A great balance of sweetness with bold spice notes.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour, more for working surface
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Directions

Combine the flour, sugar, butter, egg, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, molasses and water in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand blender to mix until dough forms.

Sprinkle working surface with flour. Place the dough onto the working surface and separate into three portions. Place each dough portion into a separate bowl. Cover the bowls with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Dust your working surface with flour. Roll out each dough portion to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer the cookie cutouts on the baking sheet. Use a fork to lightly scrape the cookies to make them look like they have fur. Place baking sheet in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Place semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips in two separate bowls. Melt both bowls of chocolate. Pour melted semi-sweet chocolate into a piping bag.

Draw a bandolier, belt and nose with the semi-sweet chocolate. Use a toothpick to draw eyes and a mouth with the melted white chocolate.

Let the cookies sit for a few minutes to allow chocolate decorations firm up before serving.

Serves 20