Monday, May 21, 2012

Splurge Worthy: Truffle Salt

Generally speaking, I'm pretty cheap when it comes to food. But there comes a time when you have something so fabulous that you're willing to buy it, regardless of price. That's what truffle salt has become to me.

On a recent vacation to Sonoma County, California, my husband and I wandered into Williamson Wines for a wine tasting. The unique part about this place is that they pair small bites of food with their tastings. Paired with a pinot noir was a piece of cheese with a small pinch of truffle salt on top. Whoa, it was AMAZING. It's sea salt that's been flavored with black truffle oil, with some small pieces of dehydrated truffles mixed in. I couldn't even tell you what type of cheese was served, but I can remember the explosion of flavor from the truffle salt. My small bite wasn't enough and I craved more. I think I ended up talking to the lady in the tasting room more about her truffle salt than the wines.

After finally realizing that I wasn't that interested in her wines, the irritated woman finally mentioned to me that I could buy the truffle salt there just to shut me up. I practically ran over to the shelf to grab one. What I saw next stopped me in my tracks, with a tight fist clenched around my jar of salt.... $30... for 3.5 ounces!!! GULP. Seriously?!? Salt is always so cheap. I knew there'd be markup on it because I was at a boutique wine tasting room, but I thought that meant it'd be around $5 at most for a small container. Ouch. I was not ready for this.

I mulled it over for awhile, but finally convinced myself that I should splurge and buy it. I was on vacation, and was allowed to treat myself. There may have been some gentle peer pressure from my hubby as well, who also loves to splurge on gourmet food. The stuff was SO GOOD, so I just went ahead and bought it without thinking about the cost too much more.



Now that I have it at home, I have to say that I don't regret the purchase one bit. I now put a pinch of the truffle salt in a pot of boiling pasta for an awesome flavor that my pasta never had before. I've tried to replicate my wine tasting experience by putting just a small sprinkle of it on cheese, but I haven't quite found the right cheese to pair it with. (If anyone knows what Williamson Wines uses, please let me know!) Now that the weather's getting nice, I'd like to try it on top of a grilled steak. It's just so good, I could eat it on about anything.

I've tried to find a less expensive version so that the purchase will be less painful when my current supply is gone, but the cheapest I've found so far is $14.62 on Amazon. Please let me know if you know of a less expensive version that's still high quality.

So if you're ready for a life changing splurge, try truffle salt. It's great on pastas, cheeses, meats, and anywhere else that goes well with mushroom flavors. The cost is painful, but it is oh so worth it.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce


I'm a sucker for Mexican food. I could eat it every day. It's usually pretty easy to make, inexpensive to get the ingredients, and the simple flavors are amazing. The last time I was at the grocery store to get the fixings for my Mexican feast, I came across Frontera's Taco Skillet Sauce. It's a pre-made taco meat seasoning sauce. Since I already think of Frontera's founder, Chef Rick Bayless, as a culinary god, I figured I had to give it a try. There were several different flavors available, like chicken enchilada, key lime cilantro, and chipotle garlic. I opted for the classic Texas original flavor.


In a word, yum! While tacos are very easy to make in the first place, this cut the time down even more. First brown your mean, drain the fat, then pour in the sauce and let it simmer for about 5 minutes until warm. That's it! Build your taco from there. The taco sauce gives your restaurant quality taco flavor without much effort.

     

The taco sauce packets were reasonably priced, at about $3.50 each. This is a little more than the traditional dry taco seasoning mix, but it tastes waaaay better. I found it in the Mexican section of my local grocery store. Thank you Rick Bayless!

Now, if you're looking to save a few bucks and go the homemade route, I have a killer taco seasoning mix recipe for you that you can easily make out the the spices you already have in your cabinet. This is my normal go-to recipe for Mexican fiesta nights:

1 tbsp. chili powder
1.5 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder or minced onions
1 tsp. paprika
.5 tsp. red pepper flakes
.5 tsp. cayenne pepper
.5 tsp. oregano
pinch of salt to taste
pinch of pepper to taste 

To really kick it up a notch, add a handful of diced fresh cilantro to the skillet. Enjoy your fiesta!


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Detention

The name alone sold me! It's a sweet red wine produced by Peninsula Cellars in Traverse City, MI. If you're ever in Traverse City, you'll have to visit the winery. The tasting room is in an old white school house, hence the name Detention. I've visited it a couple of times and always walk away with several bottles of goodness.



The wine itself has a bright berry flavor with a tangy aftertaste. It's a blend of Baco Noir, Lemberger, and Cab Franc grapes. This easy-drinking wine is the perfect thing to bring for a dinner out with friends at a BYOB restaurant because it pairs nicely with most foods. It's delicious when slightly chilled, so pop it in the fridge for a little while before you enjoy it.

Detention can be purchased online at the Peninsula Cellars website, at the Peninsula Cellars tasting room in Traverse City, or at specialty stores around Michigan. I found my bottle at Horrock's Farm Market in Lansing, MI for $12.99. What a steal!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Donkey Chips

Yes, the donkey face on the bag is a little scary looking, but the tortilla chips inside the bag are pure bliss.
Donkey Chips

Donkey Chips are thinner and lighter than many other tortilla chips, so you feel less guilty eating a ton of them. They come in two flavors: salted and unsalted. I personally think salted is the way to go because they have just the right amount of saltiness and are not overpowering. I view tortilla chips as simply the vessel for carrying my salsa, guacamole, or other dip, so these chips achieve that perfect balance of crunch and strength for the job. They're also made with all natural ingredients, so you know what you're getting.

Right now, Donkey Chips are only distributed in the Midwest. They can be found at specialty grocery stores, including Whole Foods. Check here for a complete list of store locations. You can also buy them online. They sell for under $3.50 per bag, and I've gotten them on sale several times. Try them for yourself and let me know what you think!

Welcome!

I'm a wannabe foodie... I admit it. I appreciate fancy gourmet food, but I'm not always willing to pay the hefty price tag that goes along with it. I'm the annoying girl that you'll find in the wine aisle, asking to speak to the wine expert so I can find the best wine in the store... under $15. There are tons of yummy foods out there with big flavor and a low price, but they're difficult to find. That's why I created Cheapo Gourmet.

My tastes are a little eclectic, so you'll see everything here from classic budget basics to splurge-worthy gourmet treats. Great foods come in all shapes and sizes. So read on, and I hope to help you live the champagne life on a beer budget.

Cheapo Gourmet