Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Why Store Shoppers Appreciate a Little Taste Test...

When you buy clothes, you try them on for size right? Even in ice cream stalls, those little spoons for taste testing are always so helpful when you're choosing between a coffee crumble and a choco hazelnut.

The Australian Sale at Wine Depot was a hodge podge of all things wine and gourmet last week, where people can walk in and sample everything from cheeses, wines, chips and dips, and even wagyu steaks in bite-sized portions just waiting to be devoured.

Red tags on all Australian Wines

Apparently, 'true blue' in Australia means "authentic" or "genuine"

first stop...
Cheese glutton's paradise
The cheeses were lined up from the mildest flavored to the strongest.
 
Brie. my favorite so far. A little creamier than the Camembert.
 
strong, sharp taste but equally delicious. This goat cheese was wrapped in bay leaves for a distinct flavor.


Another goat cheese. Not for the faint-hearted. Robust, rich taste, it's a must try.

I personally liked the chilled white wine paired with the cheeses, over the reds:)

Next stop, gourmet station


spring onion, spinach, cheese and chives... creamy dips galore. Makes me want to open a bag of chips, camp out in a couch for a DVD marathon.


meanwhile, by the meat station
tomahawk, grass fed tenderloin, grain fed striploin, lamb rack, wagyu-name it.
I was informed that chilled meat is different from frozen meat. Chilled meats are really fresh and can go straight to the grill or pan. Frozen ones last longer in the fridge.

Gourmet depot keeps their meats individually packed and vacuum sealed.
Little cutlets of perfectly cooked samples were by the display, so shoppers can tell the difference.

Australian fish were on sale too...

At the corner, the chef was demonstrating how to prepare easy fish recipes.

For dessert, shoppers can head to the homemade bakes section and try one of their yummy cookies and biscotti

Across the sweets station, the baristas of Vittoria coffee will teach you how to make your choice of coffee.

 


It takes a lot of skill to actually perfect the "rosetta" (the swirl you see on the froth)

At the end of the day, i even learned how to sip coffee through an Australian tim tam bar. I'll tell you how in my next blog;P