Zabar's Blog

Today is the LAST DAY to get a free Tea Caddy

Today is the LAST DAY to get a free Tea Caddy when you purchase a Tea Pot by Price Kensington at Zabars.com:

These classic teapots have been reintroduced by the legendary Price Kensington company. Excellent for hot and cold items but mainly meant for a delicious cup of tea for two. They come in a variety of vibrant colors. The perfect companion to the Price Kensington tea bag and spoon holder.

Back by Popular Demand!

There are some things you can always get. You'll always be able to get a Sesame Seed Bagel and you'll always be able to get Zabar's Blend coffee. 

But there are other things, which we know you covet, but are a bit more hard to come by. Now two of our customer's favorites are back at Zabars.com!

Zabar's NY Original Toasting Asiago Cheese Bagels & Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee!

Zabar's NY Original Toasting Asiago Cheese Bagels
Made with Malt Barley Flour and a special recipe formulated for toasting, there is nothing like Zabar's original toasted New York bagel. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside - just like most New Yorkers. 

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee
Although it's a light roast, it's lively and full-bodied, with delicious "winey" notes. Discover why Zabar's loves African coffee, without ever having to leave your kitchen.  

New at Zabar's Cheese Counter

The next time you're headed to Zabar's Cheese Counter, be sure to stop by and ask for a taste of this wonderful new jam we're selling: Sully's Jams, Natural Date Jam.

This jam pairs beautifully with any soft white, double or triple cream cheeses, such as Cream Cheese, Goat Cheese, Mascarpone, Brie, Gouda, Stilton, and Blue Cheese. It is very versatile and can be used as a gourmet jam or an everyday jam. And it goes great with peanut butter, cashew butter or almond butter. Yum!

Use it as a base for a delicious gourmet sandwich - try it with turkey and cheese or you can make gourmet cheeseburgers using Brie, Gouda, Stilton or Blue Cheese. This jam can be paired with sweet or savory! Spices that go well with it are Cinnamon, Chocolate, Basil or Tyme. Perfect year round for entertaining and makes a desirable gift. 

It's 100% All Natural using Certified Organic Dates. The main ingredients include: cane sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid. Zero fat. Zero salt. Zero cholesterol. High in daily fiber. Kosher and Vegan friendly.

Sully's Jams Natural Date Jam, a family recipe made by the same family since 1962, is now available at Zabar's. 

The Toas-Tite Grill is back and reviewed in The New York Times

The Toas-Tite Grill is back! This replica of the 1949 original is made of die cast aluminum, with steel rods and hard wood handles. Just like the Original, packaged in a retro box with reprints of the 1949 Instruction and Recipe booklets, this old time favorite can be used on gas and electric stoves, over a BBQ, fire pit, fire place or camp fire. The Toas-Tite Grill makes a luscious sealed-in drip proof Toas-Tite sandwich. Start a family tradition, the kids will love them!

How to use them:
Just fill it with two slices of bread and your desired filling and over the stove, fire, flame it goes! Toasty and delicious!!

   

Read Florence Fabricant's review in The New York Times

"Before we knew about panini machines, there was the Toas-Tite. This throwback is an efficient device for making pressed grilled sandwiches that some people may remember from decades ago, just as Janice Feigenbaum and her sister, Susan Caldwell, do. They grew up in the Chicago area eating sandwiches made with the gadget, whose brief life ran from 1945 to 1953. Recently, they learned that the company had gone out of business and that the patent had expired, but after buying a Toas-Tite on eBay, they “reverse engineered” it to figure out how to make it again. They now have the contraption made in China, and have trademarked it and reproduced the original packaging. Lightly grease the domelike cast-aluminum forms, place a slice of bread in each, add a filling, close the device and place it on a burner or grill for a minute or so. Turn it over, and in another minute you have a toasted sandwich. It demands cheese. Vintage Toas-Tites cost as much as $95 on eBay, so the replica is a relative bargain."

"The Return of the Toas-Tite"
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Published: February 14, 2012  

Join us for a tasting of Trentasette Balsamico Condiment

Join us for a tasting of
Trentasette Condimento all’Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP
This Thursday, January 26th from 1-4  2-5 PM (new time!)

Luscious and sweet, Compagnia del Montale’s balsamic condimento is made with no additional sugar or thickeners. We love its beautifully balanced sweet-tart flavor drizzled on roasted meats, grilled vegetables and hearty grain salads.

•    The “Trentasette” condiment has a particular harmony attributed to its high percentage of concentrated cooked grape must, which gives it a thick body and a lower acidity than a regular balsamic vinegar.

•    Unlike others in its class, the “Trentasette” Condiment has no high fructose corn syrup, sugar, caramel or corn starch. It maintains the density of a traditional balsamic vinegar and is rich with the aroma of fragrant grapes.

Serving Suggestions: Just a drop of our “Trentasette” Condiment will compliment and enhance a wide variety of dishes, making even the simplest foods sophisticated.  Its natural viscosity makes it perfect for garnishing any plate!

Zabar's Pantry Essentials - What's new from around the world...

Zabar's has chosen their top 12 Pantry Essentials for 2012, click here to check them all out at Zabars.com.

Here are my favorite four:

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
Enough good can not be said about this sauce. If you've ever had it you know just what I mean. If you haven't tried it -- you must! It's like nothing else (and I've tried a lot of hot sauces). It's delicious on eggs, burgers, and veggies. I can polish off a bottle in short order when I get my hands on one.

Trentasette Farro Grains
Farro is a hot grain. Literally, served warm like rice but also on a lot of interesting restaurant menus these days. I love it for its ease of cooking (cook it like you would pasta or risotto), versatility (I mix it with just about anything for a quick meal), and it's good nutrition (high in protein and fiber). Anything this warm and delicious will always be on my winter menu.

Tishbi Preserves
OK, I'll admit it, working in the photo studio at Zabar's inspired me to try this product. Just look at the image - the elegant packaging, awards, and names (Fig Cabernet, Cherry Shiraz - YUM) were just too much to resist. They are absolutely delicious and a great departure from the regular fig preserves and quince paste I usually enjoy with cheese.

Les Moulins Mahjoub M'hamsa Couscous
Admittedly an item I haven't tried yet, but I love this description "these large grains are hand-rolled and preserved with olive oil and sun, which give them a nutty, earthy flavor unlike any other couscous". I greatly prefer large couscous over the smaller variety and can't wait to try this one in the next soup I make, I love the idea of couscous adding flavor - not just texture to my dish.

Let me know if you've tried it or any of these products.

New @ Zabars and in the US! Playmarket Shopping Trolleys!

Do you shop locally?  Do you carry all that you buy for blocks, haul it up and down stairs, or shop where the space is a bit tight?  Do you wish there was a better way to do it all?  For most of us living in cities, especially New York, the answer to these questions is “heck yeah!”  Schlepping your shopping is simply a fact of city life.  

There are plenty of simple, inexpensive shopping carts on the market to help carry the load when we anticipate buying heavy things or a big volume, and they work, but their design has barely changed in decades and they are really very basic.  Isn’t the urban shopper in America eager for a great leap forward in the design and functionality of the carts in which we haul our stuff around?  We think so, and Zabar's is leading the way! 

With great pleasure, we introduce Playmarket Shopping Trolleys!

Playmarket has been designing shopping trolleys for the European market for nearly half a century and are only just beginning to make their wares available to US retailers. Zabar’s is excited to be one of the very first retailers in the entire country to carry these terrific trolleys.  We really think that New Yorkers (and people in other "walking cities") are going to fall in love with these, because a Playmarket trolley is to your basic wire shopping cart as a fully loaded Cadillac is to a Model-T.  We are carrying two models; the Go Up and the Go 2. 

There sure were lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" when we showed the Go Up around to everybody in our offices.  The first things that people noticed were the overall sturdy construction, and the wheels.  The front double wheels swivel, very like those on a stroller, so maneuvering is super easy.  The rear wheels are large and will roll even when the trolley is fully loaded, and its assembly folds for storage and for rolling up stairs.  The non-slip handlebar adjusts to be comfortable for the short, the tall, and people in between. 

We admire the heavy-yet-soft fabric and the machine-washable liner, as well as the large capacity of the bag; this baby holds lots of groceries (or a new set of cookware, or many pairs of fabulous new shoes, or whatever you need carried around)! My personal favorite feature is the big zippered insulated thermal pocket on the front of the bag for cold items.  It also folds down to a teeny 19” w x 25” h x 12” d.  Fantastic, right? 

There are yet more bells and whistles but suffice it to say that we’ve not seen any shopping trolleys in the US that equal those from Playmarket.  I’ll tell you about the sleeker, not-quite-as-tricked-out Playmarket Go Two next time, but if you’ve already decided you have to have the Go Up, it’s available (in Black, Red, and Lilac) online at Zabars.com and in the store. $149.98.  Remember, ground shipping (schlepping?) your order of $49 or more to any address in Zabar’s Home Zone is free.     

Entertain this Summer with Zabars.com

We're hitting some high temps today in NYC. Summer is so very very here. Here are some really great ideas for cooling off from Zabar's Housewares Department as well as some really nice picnic ideas: rugelagh, cheese plates and Zabar's Picnics - you can't go wrong with these!

 

KitchenAid Professional Immersion Blender
Stick blenders, a fixture in commercial kitchens for decades, are the perfect design for the home kitchen. It's wonderful to be able to whip up a smoothie, blend a frozen beverage, or puree a pot of soup right there in the cooking pot all without dragging out your full sized blender. Plus they are compact and easy to store in a drawer which is a definite plus!

Prepara Volcano Ice Pop Molds
These well-designed ice pop molds produce a pop with a fillable hole. Fill with whipped cream, pudding, frosting or even a bit of something stronger for an adult treat. The base of the handle is a drip tray, and the handle itself is hollow, so any melting ice pop goes down into the handle, not on the floor. These are a great size for smaller hands. 4-pack. BPA Free.

Prepara Ice Ball Molds
These Ice Ball molds are fun to use and allow you to be creative with your drinks. Place mint leaves, whole or sliced berries, slices of citrus, or even edible flowers into the Ice Ball mold, fill with water and freeze. Freeze juices, nectars, or purees in the molds to keep a pitcher or bowl full of cold liquid chilled without diluting it. Get really creative: how about a whole fresh chile frozen into an Ice Ball for a "fire and ice" Bloody Mary? 4-pack. BPA Free.

Zoku Quick Pop Maker
Making frozen treats-on-a-stick is a hallowed rite of summer. With the Quick Pop Maker, not only are you using your own fresh chilled ingredients, it's so fast you can watch them freeze before your eyes in 7-9 minutes! The most basic pops can be made with your favorite naturally-sweetened juices, fruit purees, yogurts, and soft drinks. Or have a blast making them multi-layered and with thin slices of fruit! Definitely not just for kids - mimosas or watermelon margaritas on-a-stick, anyone?

Zabar's Fresh Baked Rugelach
When you catch the warm aroma of our rugelach, you'll immediately know why New Yorkers think ours is the best. Zabar's rugelach would make Grandma proud: made by hand, flaky, rich, sweet, fragrant, and stuffed with raisins or chocolate. Each order contains a full pound of our famous rugelach, in your choice of chocolate or raisin.

Jonathan's Cheese Plate
Ready to picnic? Start with this winning collection at a great price. The Chatelain Brie is soft and creamy yet full of flavor that cries out for a crusty piece of bread. Pont l'Eveque has a balance of flavors and creamy texture that make this cheese a must for any cheese plate. The Istara is a great example of an aged sheep's milk cheese that is wonderfully nutty; a customer favorite for a reason! Piave is a newer cheese from Italy that holds up to the hype. Its pineapple sweetness is the perfect balance for the salty, dry texture that dissolves on the tongue. We love these cheeses and think that you will too!

Zabar's Picnic for Two
Just imagine a picnic for two... from Zabar's. It's not a fantasy, it's a delicious reality! Each picnic includes: Two sandwiches (choose from four varieties), two bottles of water, raisin nut mix, two apples and two brownies all packed in our reusable Zabar's insulated lunch bag. We'll ship this anywhere throughout the country, but if you are shipping within Manhattan receive Free Local Messenger Delivery.

Last Days for Butter Bell Promo Code! Plus, a Teaser.

July 7^th, which is tomorrow, is the LAST DAY to take $5 off your order when you buy a Butter Bell butter crock at zabars.com. Just use code ZBTB5 at checkout. There’s lots to love about Butter Bells, and if you haven’t yet, you can read how my Butter Bell changed my life. Remember, all of you Zabar’s Home Zoners; your order of $49 or more ships fast and FREE! 

There are a few more interesting details about Butter Bells left to talk about, including the company that made them famous in the US; L. Tremain. 

The company was founded in Los Angeles in 1996 by a father and daughter team, Lisa and Kenneth Tremain, and their focus was to “provide unique and time-honored cooking items, housewares, and kitchen tools to consumers worldwide.” 

That really does perfectly describe the Butter Bell butter crock, which has centuries of history behind it, and was their very first product. It’s a modern and improved version of the French “beurrier”, designed for optimal effectiveness and simple beauty, and we’re so glad to be one of the few NYC retailers to carry them! 

What is so cool is the full circle that foods and food tools so often seem to travel through history. First, butter was discovered, but it spoiled quickly. Somebody eventually figured out that a two part crock and cool water kept the butter fresh for a long time. Then, refrigeration was invented and nearly everybody totally forgot about those butter crocks for a long time as we fell in love with all things scientific, electronic and “space age”, including food. Eventually (and thankfully) our modern eye began to look back and we rediscovered the old foods and those who never gave up the best parts of the old ways of making and keeping it, while incorporating modern improvements where they make sense.  

…and viola! The Butter Bell butter crock is introduced to America in the late 1990’s! Ironically, this old technology is more popular in the US than France! Go figure. And don't forget, if you are local, Zabar's carries an amazing array of excellent domestic and imported butters, each with their own character.       

Changing gears totally…I just wanted to let you all know to stay tuned to this blog because we will soon be introducing a couple of new fantastic Housewares products that we are absolutely over the moon about, and that have not been available in the US until, literally, this month. We can’t wait to tell (and show) you all about them!

Only 6 days left for $5 off, plus more Butter Bell info

Wow, Butter Bell butter crocks seem to have gotten a lot of our customers really excited!  I’m so happy that many of you will soon be enjoying creamy, sweet butter at the perfect spreadable consistency.  It seems like such a small thing but sometimes it is the simple, daily pleasures in life that feel the most luxurious.     

We’ve gotten a few questions about how Butter Bell butter crocks actually work, so I thought it would be good to go into a little more explanation for those of you who are interested in the techie stuff.  You can also go to my previous blog post and see my video in which I both demonstrate and profess my deep love and admiration for the Butter Bell.

Keeping butter at the perfect spreading consistency without spoilage requires protecting it from both heat and oxygen.  The particular design of the butter bell reflects outside heat, which keeps it cool enough to not melt but warm enough to spread.  The water creates an airtight seal over the surface of the butter inside the bell, which prevents exposure to oxygen.  That exposure can result in off flavors and even rancidity (blech!) in your butter. 

Really, the best tool for explaining how the Butter Bell works is this diagram:                         

                                        
So simple, yet effective that it will keep your butter fresh and spreadable on your counter for up to 30 days.  Amazing, I know.  Just remember to not overtax the technology; change the water at least every three days, and set your Butter Bell away from heat sources like sunny windows and stoves, and you’re golden.

Remember, if you haven’t yet bought your Butter Bell from Zabars.com, we’ve got a great deal running to celebrate their arrival, but there's only 6 days left.  Also remember that any order of $49 or more delivered to our Home Zone gets fast and FREE ground shipping.  By "fast", we mean 1-3 days!  

From June 29^th – July 7^th, when you purchase any Butter Bell butter crock for $19.98 online at zabars.com, you can take $5 off your entire order.  Just enter coupon code ZBTB5 at checkout.  If you’re local, please check out our awesome selection of wonderful specialty butters in the cheese department the next time you’re in the store.