Incredible feta...

Guest Blogger: Hans Rueffert

For much of my life, Feta cheese was just that dry, crumbly stuff that was methodically lumped atop salads at Greek restaurants. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't noteworthy either. A few years ago, however, my friend Kasra introduced me to REAL feta in the form of a brined variety from Bulgaria. He served me a plate of feta cubes surrounded by fresh basil leaves and slices of radish. Amazing. My sense of geography gets a little fuzzy when it comes to Bulgaria, but damn it's some good cheese. It was, I believed at the time, the Holy Grail of feta; dry yet creamy, salty with sweet after notes. Could it get any better?

YES!!! Leave it to Out of the Blue to find and procure an amazing feta from Mountain View Cheesery. The Bulgarians have been trumped by the Alabamians! The coriander and lavender from my Out of the Blue salt really makes the cheese sing and you may find you've eaten the entire jar before you even realize what's going on. The stuff sells out faster than oxygen on Mars, so you may have to put in a special request to make sure Sarah sets some aside for you. Believe me, it'll be worth the wait.

Gesundheit! See you at Out of the Blue

Hans Rueffert

New Products from Old Friends

When we started Out of the Blue almost five years ago, one of the first products Linda and I chose was a line of table linens from France. We continue to carry Couleur Nature because of the quality, ease of use, and consistently beautiful patterns and colors they create. Twice a year they deliver new designs which have just arrived! Stop by and check them out. See why we loved them then, and we love them even more now.

Deborah Chapman, friend and inspirational owner of Tin Woodsman Pewter has expanded her beautiful and functional line to include handmade ceramic canister sets and coffee canisters embossed with their signature hammered lead free pewter designs. Soon you will see them on Paula Deen's show- just remember you saw them here first! Like all the measuring spoons and cups gracing her counter tops on TV. All products handmade in America, all functional, all beautiful, all in stock.

Our book signing with Chef Hans Rueffert earlier in the month was a HUGE success and a great afternoon of reconnecting with old friends and visiting with new ones. We sold over 100 books in under 4 hours! If you were unable to make it to the signing, just give a call, email, or order online your own copy. Make sure you tell Hans how to personalize your beautiful cookbook so you can start enjoying these delicious, healthy recipes right away.

Not only do we know all about the products we offer at Out of the Blue, we also know the people that share our passions-the owners of the small companies we partner with. It is so easy to sell these products, because they are items you will use everyday. In this day and time it is nice to feel good about the small things we share with family and friends. 

Off and running in 2009...

Burr, when the weather gets cold we always remember to layer our clothing to make the best of the season. Well, I just returned from the International Food Show in San Francisco where I was layering flavors for two full days! The show this year was over run with chocolates and cheeses, so I guess that is this years "trend". Last year's trend was (get this) green and organic. Well, you all know me well enough to know I was ahead of THAT trend by only 20 years,

so let me give you a little preview (insight) of our coming year at Out of the Blue.


February 7 th will offer a personalized book signing and the introduction of Eat Like There Is No Tomorrow. Brand new cookbook from our best pal, and incomparable Chef, Hans Rueffert. The book is beautifully photographed by Amy Rueffert (and Hans) loaded with great, healthy recipes and wonderful text. It almost reads like an autobiography...it IS an autobiography. I am so proud of it, I don't know how to convey how much fun this event will be.
Almost immediately you will find new microbrews in the store and an expanded complimentary cheese assortment. I am very excited about both of those additions. The new beers are outstanding and get this, from South Carolina. The four guys that brew these beers are all under 40 and take it from me, they have the mojo to please. There are six great beers in all and the common denominator is the quality, taste and name. All three are there. Check them out.

Expanded cheese lines will continue to come from award winning Georgia cheese makers as well as a new edition from the West Coast... oh my Goodness. There will also be expanded tastings coming from Bella Cucina, The French Farm, Flat Creek Lodge, and Logan Turnpike Mill just to name a few.

Along with these amazing additions we will also be bringing in some hard salamis. A duck sausage with figs and brandy...shush don't say brandy in Blue Ridge! But, look out taste buds !
This is all going to be incredible, affordable and healthy! We are all going to be eating at home more in the new year, but we will continue to invite and share with our friends over great recipes, great meals and great company. Again, the "layering" effect we started with. Remember, to sacrifice what goes on your plate is a false economy.

Eat well, Eat clean, and Eat often.

Did I mention even more biodynamic and organic wines? Oh yes.

salut !

xs

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Kathryn Kolb - December 20th

K. Kolb and I have been pals since we met in 1988. Kathryn had been moving toward her passion for photography since graduating from Emory and I had just started working at Showcase. Even though we were on opposite sides of the counter (yes, I have always been a salesperson!) we still shared a very powerful force-passion. 

Kathryn started her career doing rock photography, at least that is how I remember it. Going to Indigo Girls concerts when they just released their first record, and going backstage with Kathryn. I was COOL! Kathryn was workin'. She always was on the crest of all music waves in Atlanta and I was one of the beneficiaries. Then Kathryn felt another current that needed her passion way more than anything she had yet put her energy behind. Trees and politics in her own town...Atlanta.  Thinking about in now, I realize it was K. Kolb who taught me that political awareness and energy starts grassroots in your own backyard. Kathryn and a handful of passionate and committed citizens crafted the Trees Atlanta Ordinance that is currently on the books. Linda and I went to a lot of those meetings and it was amazing and inspiring to see that wisp of a person (K.Kolb is tiny) in front of hundreds laying out the consequences of choices people were making. 

I was proud of her then and I am proud of her now. With the release of her new book of photographs Kathryn is ready to share her vision. Join us at Out of the Blue Saturday, December 20th from noon until four to visit with Kathryn, get your autographed copy of her new art book and be inspired by the passion.

Sustainability and OOTB

In this fast-paced world it helps to stay close to what works, to what is real and sustainable. One has to maintain, support and nourish in order to have sustenance. It is like having your feet firmly planted on the ground while keeping your knees bent-you can always shift your position and still have a center of gravity...a heart.

This is a picture of our winter garden. Linda has worked very hard making this garden come to life, but there was no way we could have done this alone, or even with books. It took the help of our dear friend and organic farmer, Cheryl Cahill to provide the insight, knowledge of the land and plants,and the laughter while double-digging the garden, to make it all come to life...even in 20 degree weather! Cheryl can grow food from concrete and provides produce for many in Fannin County from the Noontoola Valley Farm she shares with fellow farmer Richard Starke.

I love this picture of Cheryl. It just shines with her goodness and honor. A real farmer...a real friend.

Salut!

Nothing like a good knife...

(guest Blogger - Hans Rueffert - www.hanscooks.com)

 Every kitchen needs a good sharp knife.  I must admit, I'm some what of a cutlery nerd and when Sarah asked me what knife to bring into Out of the Blue, I got a little excited.  Being a good German boy, I initially felt obligated to recommend Wurstoff or Henkel, but the truth is, I haven't used those knives in years.  A friend gave me the much-hyped Ken Onion knife from Shun right after I returned from my extended hospital stay back in 2005, and as soon as I picked the knife up, I was in love.  A good knife becomes an extension of your hand, a delicate balance of weight, curve, and, of course, sharpness.  The Ken Onion knives are beautiful to look at and are a joy to work with, effortlessly slicing through anything you put them up against.  If you're looking for a good knife, look no further.  And if you happen to catch me in the store (which isn't hard to do), I'll give you a quick little class on how best to use your new kitchen tool.  It's an investment, but one that'll last a lifetime.

My new kitten Moxie took a liking to the Tin Woodsman hammered pewter measuring cups I was photographing for the OOTB website.  I'll have some Tin Woodsman items up for sale on the site soon.  

If you've ever seen my cooking show, you know I'm a sucker for herbs.  Sarah just got in a new line of organic herb kits from Eccosource.  These would make great stocking stuffers or house-warming gifts, and once they are growing and healthy, you can plant them outdoors and enjoy them again and again.  There are also some nice bulb kits in beautiful packaging: amaryllis and paperwhites.  The shopping section of the website is up and growing.  It's still a work in progress, but check it out and see what's new.

Lastly, Ken Galli will be in the shop November 14th and 15th with his new cookbook and his collection of olives, appetizers, and balsamics.  Check out the EVENTS section of the website for more details.

Much to do.  I'll see you at Out of the Blue!

Hans

Table Art

(Guest Blogger: Hans Rueffert - www.hanscooks.com)

Each time I visit Out of the Blue, I get the same anxious feeling I used to get when I'd ride my bicycle up to the Jasper Drug Store to look for new comic books.  I'd peddle there almost everyday, and somehow there'd always be a new issue on the racks waiting for me, fueling my excitement to return again and again.  I don't get up to Blue Ridge as often as I'd like, but when I do, I find that Sarah's loaded the store with more impossibly beautiful pieces, most of which are not only fun to look at, but functional as well.  She has an amazing collection of Table Art pieces by Michael Michaud that are just stunning.  You have to  hold these pieces in your hand to truly appreciate the level of detail and realism in each design.

I'm a sucker for anything fig-related, and the detail on this fig and fig leaf are just incredible.  Michaud is a jeweler by trade and you can instantly recognize that level of craftsmanship in each piece.  The little fig is extremely heavy for its size and look like it just fell from the tree.

I've never really used napkin rings, but these bay leaf rings make me want to start!  These would make a perfect gift for someone who's impossible to shop for.  There are a dozens of designs in the shop right now, and each one is amazing in its own right.  

The Out of the Blue website is growing to include a shopping feature.  It won't be as fun as walking into the shop, but it'll be perfect for those times when you need a unique gift but just can't make it up to Blue Ridge.

There are new treasures popping up the shop every day, and I can't wait to get up there to find out what Sarah's discovered.

Until the next...be well,

Hans