Receta Get Ready For A Feast Of Greens — And A Food Gal Giveaway
The makings for a tasty vinaigrette from Gift A Feast.
Perk up summer salads with a zesty vinaigrette of California olive oil, late harvest Viognier-honey vinegar and mustard made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
It’s easy to do so with Gift A Feast, a San Francisco company that sources local gourmet products, wraps them up in a pretty package, then ships nationwide with a hand-written note attached.
I had a chance to test out a sample of its “For A Feast of Greens” gift set ($54.95).
The lovely wrapped box holds a trio of goodies: a bottle of Rio Bravo Ranch Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil, made by a fifth-generation farming family near Bakerfield, using Ascolano, Picual and Coratina estate olives, which has a buttery finish and tomato leaf-aroma; Katz Late Harvest Viognier-Honey Vinegar that is sweet, fruity, tangy and has a hit of vanilla from being aged in wood barrels; and KL Keller Violet Mustard, which is the color of tapenade, has a coarse texture from mustard seeds, and possesses a deep red wine flavor from grape must (concentrated, unfermented juice).
Also enclosed with the gift box is a recipe card for a simple vinaigrette using those three ingredients. You just need to add sea salt to taste to have a fruity, piquant and tangy dressing perfect for any combination of crisp greens. Add a few slivers of fresh plums and some toasted or candied walnuts, and you have a winning salad as easy as that.
The wrapped box.
And what it holds inside.
CONTEST: One lucky Food Gal reader will win a free “For A Feast of Greens” gift box. Entries, limited to those in the continental United States, will be accepted through midnight PST Aug. 29. Winner will be announced Aug. 31.
How to win?
Just tell me your favorite part about summer. Best answer wins.
Here’s my own answer:
“Maybe it’s a holdover from when I was a kid, but summer always seems like it goes on forever. It’s those long days of sunshine that lull you into thinking there’s time for anything and everything, day after day after day. I enjoy the boundlessness of it. Plus, you have to love any time of year that affords you the pleasure of sinking your teeth into juicy peaches, plums and melons without a care in the world.”
A limited-edition barbecue sauce available on Amazon.com
WINNERS OF LAST WEEK’S CONTEST: In the previous Food Gal Contest, I asked you to tell me what you most would like to safely seal in a jar. Winners will each receive a jar of the limited-edition Daddy Sam’s & Woodbridge Wine ‘Cue Sauce, courtesy of Woodbridge Wines by Robert Mondavi.
Congrats to:
Laura in Texas, who wrote, “This is a hard question to answer! I’d have to say the fragrance and flavor of orange blossoms. No matter what kind of day I’m having, when I smell the orange trees blooming I feel happy.”
Jennai, who wrote, “Well, technically I don’t think these things would keep too well in a jar, but just for the fun of it, I will say I would like to keep some of the things bottled up that we had in Hawaii to eat when we were on our honeymoon. It would bring back so many great memories. There would be Poi (which is sticky and actually kind of gross, but you’ve gotta try it if you go to Hawaii), Haupia (a yummy coconut pudding), lomi salmon (raw salmon mixed with diced tomatoes, onions and peppers), and of course SPAM. It would bring back memories of the walks on the beach, the hikes in the rainforest, and of course the luau we went to where I had all these delicacies! And, of course, it would bring back memories of those first magical days and night as husband and wife.”
Jeffrey, who wrote, “I really like your answer, mine is unrelated to food. When my son was just little he would give me the best hugs, always made me feel warm inside. He turns 12 tomorrow and I’m lucky to get a wave goodbye. That’s an exaggeration but his hugs and kisses seemed a bit forced and I do understand, it’s no longer COOL! I still love him the same and I know he loves me too, just sometimes miss those times when he was so innocent.”
Shaunie, who wrote, ” I would love to have peppers sealed in a jar (so they become pickeled).”
Danielle, who wrote, “I would most like to bottle up the scent of the ocean. I just returned from the most wonderful week spent on the rocky shores of Maine, and at this moment I would love nothing more to inhale that crisp, salty air again. With some delicious bbq on the side.”
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