Rollingstone Chevre is back. The goats have kidded, so the milk is fatty and rich. Banons are in, too. These little goat discs are wrapped in macerated leaves. Just warm them in a frying pan, and they are perfect for salads. Pond Hopper just in from Tumalo Farms has a new complexity since we last had it - quite savory and 100% goat. Only a few Valentine cheeses left: Coeur du Berry heart shaped goat cheese covered in dried cranberries, Atout Couer is a double crème heart shaped brie, and Couer Fleuri is a goat disc with a dried cranberry heart and trimmed with rose petals. Irresistible! Grilled Rosemary Tuscan ham is back in after a 6-month vacation to Italy. Winter Salami from Salumi returns. This is Armandino's seasonal selection with three types of peppercorn: red, white and green.

You may remember our Amadei Chocolate courting story. Well, it appears as though they're smitten with us! As proof, they've allowed us to sell their prized Porcelana Bar. The Porcelana Bar is made from the rarest cocoa bean in the world. Find out why next time you're in the shop. New for us is the November harvest olive oil from Hillstone in Yolo, CA. Grassy and a bit nutty, this oil reminds me of home (the Sacramento Valley) in the summer. So does Seattle really need another coffee roaster? Well, yes!

Herkimer Coffee owner Mike is a throw-back to the long lost days of passionate coffee roasters. He LOVEs his beans and is 'mad scientist'-devoted to them and their blending. He knows that supreme blending comes from exquisite varietals and he's mastered the art. You can't find this coffee just anywhere so we're pumped to have an opportunity to sell it.

Sapori di Napoli has two new additions to their line of pasta: Pappardelle and Tagliatelle. . Close your eyes and imagaine dried pappardelle that's not crushed and tastes like fresh. Open your eyes and you'll see Sapori di Napoli Pasta.

Upcoming Tastings

12 February
Autumn, Theo Chocolate's Master Chocolatier, will be tasting their "Aphrodisiac Collection" of chocolate truffles from 2-4pm

13 February
Sue from Confectionately Yours shows-off her English Toffee from 12-2pm
Then Ivy from Cocoa Chai will dazzle us with samples of her specialty truffles from 2-4pm

14 February
Theo Chocolate again from 2-5pm

Europe had its run at the top of the monetary food chain the last few years but that reign has come to an end: That means prices are dropping for some of our favorite wines and values are to be had by wine lovers who frequent out of the way, passionate and devoted wine shops. I can think of one shop in particular that prides itself on searching for the smaller producer and the out-of-the-ordinary wines from Europe (and the rest of the world, for that matter). Its bearded acquirente di vino is pleased to help and always with a smile. The address is 1435 1st Avenue in Seattle. Check it out.

Upcoming Wine Tastings
As always, wine tastings happen upstairs in our wine department from 2-4 on Saturdays and are accompanied by expertly choreographed cheese tastings.

• 14 February - This is a shameful play on your emotions but we're going to do it anyway. How's this for a heartfelt line-up? Sophia Rose, Canella Blood Orange Mimosas, d'Arenberg's Love Grass Shiraz and Presidential Ruby Porto.
• 21 - February - Values from Europe including numbers from the Cotes du Ventoux, Montalcino and maybe Bordeaux.

Since we have wonderful fresh buckwheat pasta in the shop now, you have to try this recipe.