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If you missed us on Channel 3 early this morning, here were (and are) our top 3 shops for last minute gourmet gifts, along with some tasty snaps (above) of Jim, Chemaine and Erica (with a “c”) Jensen hard at work at Village Meat & Wine — our oldest gourmet butcher shop.
ELV has been shopping at Village M &W ever since the early 80s — when it was run by Glenn and Emily Hare — and has never been less than impressed with the all-organic, natural, hormone-free meat (and game) that has been available here since 1977. (The house-made sausages are something else as well, as are the shelves stocked with all sorts of gourmet goods.)
Jim provided the roast crown of pork shown on the program (and yours truly cooked it at 3:00 am this morning!), and we can’t think of a more dramatic presentation for your Christmas table. He trims it and gives easy cooking directions (along with a choice of three stuffings). We opted for the sage and cranberry, and it was as lip-smacking as those chops.
Also on the program were a “mogambo extravaganza” basket from Bob Howald and Kristin Sande at Valley Cheese and Wine, and some of Jeff and Rhonda Wyatt’s best Burgundies on display from Marche Bacchus.
The display showed but a hint of the goodies available at each of these stores, and the great thing about all three of them is each of the couples are always right there on premises, ready to help you find the right gourmet gift for the holiday season or table.
Village Meat & Wine
Village East Plaza at Tropicana and Eastern
5025 South Eastern Ave. Suite 23
702.736.7575
Valley Cheese and Wine
1770 West Horizon Ridge Parkway
Henderson, NV 89012
702.341.8191
Marche Bacchus
2620 Regatta Drive.
Las Vegas, NV89128
702.804.8008
I would like to add my own personal kudos for Valley Cheese and Wine (which I first learned about from reading ELV). Bob and Kristin have created a marvelous wine, cheese, and gourmet food shop in a nondescript shopping mall on West Horizon Ridge. Bob’s wine recommendations are never wrong, while Kristin really knows her cheese (actually, they can swap their expertise at the drop of a hat and never miss a beat). The shop’s wine classes are low-key, informal affairs that can really add to one’s knowledge–I strongly recommend the class about Champagne. And, it’s a fun place to visit and shop.
…never sure why Artisanal Fpods does not get the love these others do…as is the Christmas season no reason to rip on others…oh heck why not….VCW is really, really, really over priced…even for Vegas…but hey it’s your money….
….that would be…Artisanal Foods…