bayleaf news and upcoming events

Spring Tasting 2026

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:21:30 GMT

Such a fun time.

We poured some beautiful wines at our Spring Tasting—and had a lot of fun doing it.
Missed it? You can still explore everything we opened below. Email us for pricing, ranged between $18 -$45
If something catches your eye, tell us what you’d like and we’ll set them aside.

Table Elliott of Elliott Bay

2024 Idilico Albariño – Yakima Valley, Washington
Albariño grown inland but styled after coastal Spain; warm days, cool nights preserve acidity. Early harvest, whole cluster press, cool fermentation in stainless, no malolactic or oak.
Lime zest, green apple, saline snap, and clean, zippy acidity with a lightly textured, mineral finish.
Beach wine… without the beach.

2022 Tranche “Pape Blanc” – Washington State
Rhône-inspired blend (Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne) from Columbia Valley vineyards; whole cluster pressed, native yeast fermentation, aged in neutral oak with lees stirring for texture. Tranche focuses on small-lot wines with balance over weight.
Stone fruit, honeysuckle, soft spice, and a rounded, layered finish with fresh acidity.
Rich, but knows when to stop talking.

2024 Cavalchina Chiaretto – Veneto, Italy
Corvina-led blend from the Bardolino zone near Lake Garda; morainic (glacial) soils. Direct press, short skin contact, stainless fermentation to preserve delicacy. Cavalchina helped define the modern, pale Chiaretto style.
Pale, crisp, citrus and wild strawberry with a mineral edge and bright, refreshing acidity.
Hold my beer.

2022 El Coto Crianza – Rioja, Spain
100% Tempranillo from Rioja Alta vineyards; fermented in stainless, aged 12 months in American oak with additional bottle aging. A benchmark house style—clean, consistent, and classically framed.
Red cherry, vanilla, toasted coconut, and soft, polished tannins with an easy, integrated finish.
The Rioja everyone agrees on.

2022 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon – Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Cabernet Sauvignon from estate and select valley sites; long hang time builds concentration while retaining structure. Fermented in stainless with extended maceration, aged in French oak (partial new) for depth and integration.
Blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and firm, fine tannins with a long, structured finish.
Serious—but still shows up to the party.

Table Eric of Vinea Imports

2024 Carlo Chiesa Roero Arneis DOCG – Piedmont, Italy
Arneis from the sandy hills of Roero, fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness and aromatics.
Pear skin, white flowers, citrus oil, and a subtle almond finish—bright but with a little grip.
Like Pinot Grigio that went to finishing school.

2023 Hato y Garabato “Ecléctico – Puesta en Cruz” – Arribes, Spain

From Spain’s smallest DO along the Duero (Douro) border; 100% Puesta en Cruz from high-altitude granite sites. Whole cluster, native yeast, fermented and aged 10 months in stainless.
White peach, citrus peel, stony minerality, and a faint saline edge with crisp, driving acidity.
You can taste the river here.

2023 Hato y Garabato NatCool Juan García 1L – Arribes, Spain
From the rare Juan García grape; part of the NatCool project—light extraction, chillable, low alcohol. Sourced from tiny parcels of 80–120-year-old vines on granite; foot-crushed, whole cluster, native ferment. A young team, betting it all—hato y garabato, all in.
Juicy cranberry, rosehip, soft spice, and easygoing acidity.
The liter you open “just for a glass.”

2022 Prunelle de Navacelles Beaujolais Lantignié – Beaujolais, France
Gamay from Lantignié (a cru-in-waiting), grown on granite; biodynamic practices, whole cluster, semi-carbonic fermentation. Fermented and aged in concrete with additional time in foudre. A cuvée named for the youngest daughter’s project within a long-established family estate.
Black cherry, violet, and a stony snap with fine tannin—elegant and quietly structured.
Beaujolais with a backbone.

2022 Stirm Wirz Vineyard Zinfandel – Central Coast, California
Old-vine Zinfandel from Wirz Vineyard (planted 1900), dry-farmed on limestone. Whole cluster, fermented in 90-year-old redwood tanks and aged 22 months in neutral oak—restrained, lower alcohol style. Blackberry, sage, pepper, and a mineral lift—more structure than jam.
Zin, but make it thoughtful..

Table Jesse: PSI

2024 Kosovec Pet Nat – Croatia
Pinot Noir / Chardonnay; ancestral method, bottled before primary fermentation completes, unfined/unfiltered with no dosage.
Wild strawberry, citrus peel, soft mousse, and a lightly hazy, fresh finish.
Sparkling with a little mischief.

NV Martha Stoumen “Post Flirtation” Rosé – Sonoma, California
Nero d’Avola / Vermentino; early-picked fruit, direct press, native yeast fermentation in stainless, no oak.
Watermelon, blood orange, herbs, and zippy acidity.
More than a fling.

2023 Gebbia “Nìvuru” Terre Siciliane IGT 1L – Sicily, Italy
Nero d’Avola / Frappato; organically farmed, spontaneous fermentation, short maceration, aged in stainless.
Red plum, cherry, dried herbs, and a soft, easy texture.
The red you don’t overthink.

2024 Les Hautes Terres “Panorama” VdF Rouge – Languedoc, France
Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot; high-elevation vineyards, partial whole cluster, native ferment, minimal sulfur.
Blackcurrant, violet, a touch of spice, and a clean, lifted finish.
Cab, but turned down a notch.

2021 Luddite “Saboteur” Red Blend – Bot River, South Africa
Cabernet Sauvignon / Grenache / Mourvèdre; dry-farmed fruit, native fermentation, aged in older oak for structure without heaviness.
Dark berries, graphite, savory herbs, and firm, grippy tannins.
Breaks the rules—on purpose.

💛 25 years of all things delicious

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 01:34:07 GMT

Can you believe it?

Twenty-five years ago, bayleaf opened in a 200-square-foot shop tucked under the Oystercatcher , thanks to the encouragement (and good taste) of then-owner Susan Vanderbeek . You should have seen those first shelves—so bare they practically echoed. But Coupeville showed up in full force: front-page news in the Examiner , an open house packed with curious food lovers, and more community support than we ever imagined.

And here we are, 25 delicious years later.

We’re celebrating the best way we know how—with good food, good stories, and a little fun. Grab a bayleaf bingo card next time you’re in (or complete online)—it’s filled with the memories, moments, and bites that make this place what it is. Check off your squares, post your card or bring it back, and you’ll get 25% off any one item —a tasty thank-you for being part of the story.

Every completed card turned in by November 30 goes into our 25th Anniversary Drawing for a selection of very bayleaf-y prizes—$250 gift certificate, a pound of house brie a month for a year, a holiday box and more!

So come play, reminisce, and help us toast to 25 years of all things delicious.

Patio Pour Line up Thursdays 5-7

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:36:33 GMT

Which Pour Are You Coming For?

Wine Club Members 2 for 1

Discounts offered on purchases

seated as a group, food available for purchase Thursdays 5-7

tickets here

June 26 – Wines of Rioja Opici Imports

Rioja is one of Spain’s great wine regions—and for good reason.
We’ll be pouring a lineup from El Coto, known for expressive reds that are both classic and approachable.
Tempranillo in all its glory, with complimentary bites to match.
A no-pressure, all-pleasure evening of Rioja in Coupeville. Expect complimentary bites (from our gracious hosts), rich conversation, and maybe a new favorite bottle.

July 3 – The Rhône

From peppery Syrahs of the north to the lush Grenache blends of the south, the Rhône Valley offers some of the most soulful wines in the world. This tasting captures its range—earthy, floral, spicy, fresh. Red, white, and possibly rosé.
Come for the layers, stay for the warmth.

July 10 – Natural State

Natural wine doesn’t mean murky and weird—it means made with intention. We’ll pour a selection of low-intervention wines that are clean, vibrant, and full of energy. Some will be wild. Some will be beautifully restrained. All are alive in the glass—and worth exploring.

July 17 – Piedmont

Hosted by Sam from Vehrs
Nebbiolo. Barbera. Dolcetto. Arneis.
This corner of Italy delivers wines with structure, soul, and story.
Sam from Vehrs will walk us through a lineup that celebrates both the powerhouses (Barolo) and the everyday table wines that locals love.
An evening for Italophiles, adventurers, and curious palates alike.

July 24 – Boxes & Bags

Hosted by Jesse of PSI
This one’s for the skeptics and the curious: yes, great wine comes in boxes and pouches.
Jesse will guide us through a flight of well-made, sustainable, no-glass-needed options.
Great for parties, picnics, and midweek pours that don’t compromise quality.
You just might leave a convert.

July 31 – Pop. Fizz. Sip.

Ben Hosts

Join us on the patio for a celebration of all things sparkling—crisp, bubbly, and full of joy. From elegant Cremants to playful pét-nats and everything in between, this week’s Patio Pour is an ode to effervescence. Whether you're a longtime lover of bubbles or just curious, come taste what makes sparkling wine so irresistible. Sunshine, friends, and fizz—what more could you want?

August 7 – House Faves

These are the wines we reach for again and again—the staff crushes, customer favorites, and low-key stunners.
Expect variety, value, and a little bit of surprise.
If you trust our taste (and we think you should), this is the week to show up.

August 14 – Obscure Around the World

Inspired by Forgotten Grapes, this tasting is all about the underdogs.
We’re talking grapes like Furmint, Mencía, Bobal, Godello, Cinsault, and País—often overlooked, but full of character.
If you’ve never heard of it, we probably poured it.
A night for the curious and open-minded.

August 21 – Spain & Portugal

Hosted by Eric from Vinea Imports
From bright, coastal Albariño to bold reds from Ribera del Duero and the Dão—Eric will guide us through the Iberian Peninsula’s rich and diverse wine culture.
Expect balance, energy, and value in every glass.
And yes, maybe a little sherry or port to finish.

August 28 – Endless Summer

We’re closing the season with wines we don’t want to stop drinking: fresh whites, chillable reds, rosés that still hit.
Think sunset sippers, patio heroes, and porch-friendly pours.
No rules. Just easy summer drinking—until next year!

Trusted, tried and true pantry staple

Fri, 30 May 2025 15:41:45 GMT

Olive oil has been part of Mediterranean life for thousands of years. It's more than a cooking fat—it's culture, health, and history in a bottle. As Americans we've been a bit slow to catch on...

Why Olive Oil?
Unlike butter or seed oils, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats—especially oleic acid, which is stable, heat-tolerant, and linked to lower inflammation. EVOO also offers small but mighty doses of omega-3s, vitamin E, and polyphenols—plant compounds that fight oxidation (a fancy way of saying aging and disease).

The Secret’s in the Harvest
The health benefits and flavor of olive oil depend on how and when the olives are picked. Early harvest, same-day pressing, and minimal oxygen exposure protect the oil’s delicate antioxidants and prevent rancidity. That’s why oils from our producers—like Trampetti, Mannucci-Droandi, and San Basilio—are pressed within hours and stored in stainless steel tanks. You can taste the difference: green, bright, peppery, and alive.

Polyphenols: Olive Oil’s Superpower
Polyphenols do double duty—protecting your body and the oil itself. They keep it fresher longer, resist heat degradation, and even reduce the formation of harmful compounds when cooking meat. Fun fact: tomatoes cooked in olive oil deliver more antioxidants than when cooked in sunflower oil.

About That “Extra Virgin” Label
Legally, EVOO must have less than 0.8% acidity. Our favorite producers aim much lower—think 0.2–0.3%. It’s a sign of freshness and careful handling. High acidity? It usually means the olives sat too long or were damaged before pressing.

Cooking vs. Finishing?
Most people save their best oils for salads—but it's actually the high-quality oils that hold up best under heat. Oleic acid is far more stable than the polyunsaturated fats in seed oils. So yes, you can (and should) cook with the good stuff.

How to Spot the Good Stuff

Dark bottles only : Light degrades oil.
Know your source : Look for a named farm or press (Frantoio), not vague phrases like “Bottled in Italy.”
Harvest date matters : Fresher is better.
Pay for quality : Hand-harvested oils cost more—and are worth it.

One Kitchen, Many Oils
Each oil has its place. Some are soft and buttery, others grassy and bold. The best way to discover is through taste! Join us June 22 for a delicious deep dive into the world of Italian olive oil with Ilyse Rathet — owner of Ritrovo and a Slow Food Master of Olive Oil.

Tickets Here .

Such a fan favorite.

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:16:26 GMT

We’ve just received word that prices will increase on May 1, so we’re putting together one last order at the current pricing. This is your chance to scoop up any legacy favorites you’ve been eyeing—or discover something new in their gorgeous 2025 catalog (you can browse it here ).

Why we are such fans...

Some things are worth holding onto—like the timeless quality of Emile Henry’s bakeware. Made in France since 1850, these ceramic pieces are crafted from Burgundy clay and fired at high temperatures to make them naturally non-stick, oven-safe, and built to last for generations.

I still remember buying my first piece in France in college, I still have it! A classic ruffled yellow pie dish. Whenever I bring it out and use it I am reminded of that trip. Not to mention whatever I'm cooking - either savory or sweet ends up being delicious as well as beautiful.

Every year they drop new pieces and, yep—I'm smitten all over again. The modern color sets? Think soft taupe, dreamy pale pink, and a bold vibrant emerald green. Ugh. I want every last one. My philosophy? Buy it once, buy it right. Fill your kitchen with pieces that are not only stunning but built to do the job. That’s what this legacy brand gets just right—beauty and purpose, all in one.

Order deadline is Monday, April 28.
Need help deciding or want pricing before you commit? Just email beth@bayleaf.us —we’re happy to help!

Tasting Opportunity

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:34:44 GMT

Join us for a special seated tasting on Thursday, May 15 from 5–7 PM with

Clarke Boehling of Rosenthal Wine Merchant

While visiting trade accounts in the area, Clarke has carved out time to lead this intimate tasting—and we’re thrilled to host him. This is a rare chance to explore the Rosenthal portfolio through the eyes (and palate) of someone who knows it inside and out. Tickets here .

Why Rosenthal Wine Merchant Matters

Rosenthal Wine Merchant is regarded as one of the most respected and influential wine portfolios in the U.S.—especially among professionals and collectors who value terroir-driven, traditionally made wines. Their selections are not only consistent in quality, but they represent a philosophy rooted in place, craftsmanship, and authenticity.

1. A Legacy of Terroir
Rosenthal has long championed the idea that wine should express where it's from—long before “terroir” became a common term in the wine world. Each wine in the portfolio is chosen because it tells a story of origin: the soil, the climate, the people behind it. This emphasis on place is what gives the portfolio its unmistakable character.

2. Deep Relationships with Growers
The portfolio focuses on small, often multigenerational, family-run estates. Rosenthal maintains direct and longstanding relationships with these producers—many of whom farm organically or sustainably, and work by hand. These are wines made with care, not just technique.

3. Classic, Old World Focus
Rosenthal’s strengths lie in France and Italy, with notable representation from regions like Burgundy, the Loire Valley, the Jura, Piedmont, and Tuscany. While these areas are well known, the producers within them are often under-the-radar, offering wines that surprise even seasoned palates. There are also a few carefully chosen selections from places like Switzerland and Spain.

4. A Commitment to Traditional Winemaking
This is not a portfolio of trends or market-driven styles. Instead, it features wines made with restraint and intention—often following methods that haven’t changed for generations. Minimal intervention, neutral oak, native yeasts, and thoughtful aging are the norm.

5. Consistency and Curation
Unlike larger portfolios, Rosenthal remains tightly curated. It’s not trying to be all things to all people. As a result, many sommeliers and retailers trust the Rosenthal back label implicitly—it’s a mark of quality and style.

In Short:
Rosenthal represents wines of soul and integrity. These are producers who care deeply about their land and heritage. The wines are expressive, age-worthy, and thoughtfully made—but still accessible. If you're drawn to wines that aren’t mass-produced but instead tell a story of place, this portfolio is worthy of your exploration.

Champagne Tasting 2024

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:32:35 GMT

Below are the wines poured at this year's Annual Champagne Tasting. Please reach out with interest.

NV Drémont-Marroy Noir de Méandre Extra Brut (Non Dosé)

Experience the craftsmanship of the brother-sister duo, Jean-Rémi and Mélanie Drémont, who burst onto the scene in 2016 and are making waves along the Marne River’s majestic “grand méandre.” Their story began with their grandmother planting a single hectare of vines in 1945, which has since flourished into a 7.5-hectare certified organic estate as of 2022. The "Noir de Méandre" cuvée pays homage to the sweeping bend of the Marne River near Charly-sur-Marne and is a stunning Blanc de Noir blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Meunier. Sourced from parcels with a mix of erosional, alluvial, and “tuffeau” limestone soils, this wine embodies the unique terroir and meticulous care of the Drémont family. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in this extraordinary, non-dosé Extra Brut.

NV Dekeyne & Fils Vogloniers Extra Brut

From their five-hectare organic and biodynamic estate in Bethon, the Dekeyne brothers, Gael and Baptiste, continue their family's legacy that began in 1919. Their Vogloniers cuvée showcases a harmonious blend: 50% old-vine Chardonnay, 40% young-vine Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir. Hand-harvested grapes are gently pressed in an old basket press, and the juice ferments with indigenous yeast in stainless steel tanks, undergoing malolactic fermentation before spring bottling. Aged for three years “sur lattes” before disgorgement, this Extra Brut delights with its refined complexity and a 4g dosage prepared with cane sugar.

NV Fresnes Ducret Arquemie No. 7 Premier Cru Brut

The Fresne Ducret domaine, boasting 6 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards in Villedommange, blends elegance and tradition. The Arquemie No. 7 is crafted from four Premier Cru parcels with clay-limestone soils: “Les Loges,” “Les Monts Teigneux,” “Les Glaisières,” and “Les Huchis.” This blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, and 35% Chardonnay uses only the finest “cuvée” juice. Resting “sur lattes” for a minimum of 60 months before disgorgement and dosed at 4.5g, this Champagne offers a luxurious tasting experience that embodies Premier Cru excellence.

NV José Michel Pinot Meunier Brut

A true testament to tradition, José Michel’s first vintage dates back to 1955, creating a cult following with his exceptional Pinot Meunier Champagnes. Now, his grandson Antonin continues the legacy. The “Chapitre” Pinot Meunier non-vintage brut blends 90% 2021 with 10% reserve wine from 2020, aged in oak barrels. The final blend rests in a mix of 57% stainless steel and 43% 600-liter oak barrels. With a dosage of 3-4g/l, this Champagne offers a perfect balance of vibrant character and subtle richness.

NV Bourdaire-Gallois Brut Rosé Non Dosé

David Bourdaire’s 8-hectare vineyard in Pouillon, nestled in the Massif Saint-Thierry, is home to some of the oldest vines, with Chardonnay planted as far back as 1923. The Rosé Extra-Brut NV is 100% Pinot Meunier from six parcels and is crafted by combining 21% red wine with 79% white wine. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with 20% reserve wine from the previous vintage, this Rosé delivers depth, complexity, and finesse in every sip.

NV R. Dumont & Fils Champagne Brut SOLERA Reserve

From the Aube region’s renowned village of Champignol-lez-Mondeville, the Dumont family presents their unique SOLERA Reserve. First initiated in 1991, this singular solera tank blend now holds over 20 vintages of exclusively Chardonnay, offering a distinct depth and maturity. After the initial fermentation and solera blending, the wine spends two years “sur lattes” to perfect its complexity. With a dosage of 6 grams, this Champagne is a rare find that promises an experience unlike any other, showcasing aged elegance with a modern twist.

Enjoy these exceptional Champagnes that speak to the artistry and dedication of their makers. Thanks for supporting bayleaf!

Fall Tasting 2024

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 19:29:02 GMT

Success!

You’ve been loving these seasonal tastings, and we couldn’t be happier! Great turnout, fantastic wines, and it’s always a win when the selections appeal to everyone (no clear winner, but lots of purchases on all the tables). Below is a list of what we poured—if you'd like to try any, just let us know and we’ll set some aside for you.

Thank you all for your hard work and for sharing the love—it means the world to us!

Table James

Compton Family “Garden Series” Chardonnay 2023
Willamette Valley, Oregon $20
A 100% Chardonnay offering bright citrus and apple flavors with a creamy finish. Aged in a mix of concrete eggs and French oak, this wine is rich with a silky, mouthwatering texture.

Patton Valley Vineyard “Fu-Mei” Pinot Noir Blanc 2022
Willamette Valley, Oregon $42
A floral, rich Pinot Noir Blanc with notes of honeysuckle, peach, and lemon. Creamy texture balanced by refreshing acidity, honoring one of the owner’s mothers with the name "Fu-Mei," meaning "rich and beautiful."

Isenhower I-Series Holiday Red Blend
Columbia Valley, WA $22
37% Syrah, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Mourvèdre, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot blend with aromas of dried leaves, marshmallow, cherries, and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied with a plush mouthfeel and balanced acidity.

Day Wines “Deep Blue” Pinot Noir 2022
Willamette Valley, Oregon $32
A biodynamic Pinot Noir blend from seven vineyards, featuring dark fruit, blueberry, cocoa, and a touch of baking spices. Balanced tannins and acidity, with a portion of profits supporting the Oregon Kelp Alliance.

Table Eric

Liebart Regnier Sur Les Grand Marais Brut Nature NV
Champagne, France $56
100% Pinot Meunier, grown organically in a single hectare organic parcel called Les Grand Marais, this grower champagne from a small family producer in the Marne Valley is aged three years on the lees with zero dosage. Bone dry, aromas of confit fruit, cinnamon and apple, lightly spicy with great acidity and a lift from citrus and fresh white fruits, fine bubbles, elegant and complex.

Bicicleta Voladora Tempranillo Blanco 2023
Rioja, Spain $20
Just in from our friend Germán Blanco's Rioja winery, 100% Tempranillo Blanco from 25 year old organic bush vines, fermented in concrete, amphora and flextanks and aged 10 months on the lees. Notes of stone fruit, peach, citrus and tropical fruit, smooth and silky, fresh acidity balanced with just the right richness and texture.

Familie Laurent Gauthier Morgon Côtes du Py 2022
Beaujolais, France $28
From one of the most prestigious terroirs in all of Beaujolais, the famed Côtes du Py hill in Morgon, 80 yr old organically grown Gamay Noir is fermented partial whole cluster and aged 9 months in old oak foudres. Complex aromas of blackberries, cherry, cedar, rich and elegant with fine structured tannins, finishing with dark berry and spice.

Castello di Perno Nizza DOCG 2018
Piedmont, Italy $38
From a newer project in Piedmont respecting old traditions, sourced from 80 yr old organic vines in and around Nizza Montferrato in Italy's newest DOCG, the source of the finest Barbera in Italy today. 25 days maceration, aged 14 months in 500 liter barrels, then rested in concrete, offering aromas of fresh flowers, crushed cherries, licorice and thyme, medium body and silky tannins, fresh acidity and minerality balance full bodied deep, red fruit.

Table Roland

Little Crow ‘Pet Sounds’ 2023
Willamette Valley, Oregon $35
Petillant-Naturel Rosé of Pinot Noir crafted by Jess Miller at Little Crow. This unique sparkling wine hails from a single vineyard, Hollow Oak Acres, nestled in the Willamette Valley. Employing no-till and non-certified organic farming methods, with elements of biodynamic practices, this wine is a testament to sustainable viticulture.

Basina Bjanko 2022
Croatia $22
Basina Bjanko is a distinctive expression of Dalmatian winemaking, crafted from a blend of 70% Rukatac, 20% Zlatarica, and 10% Pošip—three native varietals that embody the unique terroir of Croatia's Pelješac peninsula. Each grape contributes to the wine’s character, with Rukatac offering fresh acidity and fruit-forward notes, Zlatarica bringing structure and delicate herbal qualities, and Pošip adding richness and depth.

Broc Cellars ‘The Perfect Red’
California $29
This vintage is a 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc blend, striking a harmonious balance between rich dark fruits and smooth, soft tannins. Most of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were destemmed, while a portion remained whole cluster, enhancing complexity. Fermented using native yeast and pressed early to prevent excessive tannin extraction.

Teliani Vineyards ‘Kindzmarauli’ 2023
Kakheti, Georgia $22 “Kindzmarauli” is a naturally semi-sweet red wine made exclusively from the Saperavi grape variety, native to the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. This wine stands out for its dark ruby color and aromatic intensity, offering vibrant scents of red wild berries, complemented by notes of black cherry, violets, and subtle floral hints. The Saperavi grape, known for its deeply pigmented skin and ability to retain acidity even in warm climates, provides a rich mouthfeel with layers of ripe fruit.

Table Jesse

Domaine de l’Estang Coteaux du Giennois Blanc 2019
Loire, France $26

100% Sauvignon Blanc Domaine de l’Estang’s Coteaux du Giennois Blanc comes from three separate parcels planted between 2004 and 2012 on soils of clay-limestone and flint and has rich and inviting aromatics that speak to an emphasis on fully ripe fruit—this is no citrus-bomb laser beam.

Mas Jullien Languedoc Rosé 2023
Languedoc, France $33
A saignée rosé made from juice that is bled off the skins of red grapes from Jullien’s vineyards on the Terraces du Larzac. A blend of Cinsault, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, this rosé channels the essence of claret.

Château Gueyrosse St Émilion Grand Cru 2015
Bordeaux, France $36
Château Gueyrosse is in the southwestern corner of Saint Emilion and overlooks the meandering Dordogne river. The vineyard is 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. This elegant yet powerful Saint Émilion has aged beautifully and is raring to go!

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico 2019
Chianti, Italy $36

Castell'in Villa is a small estate in Castelnuovo Berardenga, at the south end of the Chianti Classico region. The owner of the estate, Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa, has never wavered in her commitment to traditional winemaking. The resulting wines are soulful, distinctive, long-lived, and delicious, proof that the Sangiovese grape can rise to greatness when grown in the right place.

Spring Tasting 2024

Wed, 15 May 2024 16:34:06 GMT

Amazing

Last weekend's wine event was truly fantastic! It was wonderful to witness such a turnout of wine enthusiasts eager to indulge in tastings. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative, setting the perfect tone for what felt like the inaugural day of summer. Amidst plentiful wine and engaging conversations, many of you discovered newfound favorites destined to grace tables in the coming months. The event received high praise for its exceptional selection of wines, tasty passed snacks and generous discounts. Some feedback we received was the suggestion for bar tables, noted. Thanks to our staff and the educators who came out and helped make this such a success.

Mark your calendars - our Fall Tasting will be October 19th!

Below are the selection of wines tasted with notes and pricing. If you are interested in purchasing, please be in touch.

Table Elliott

1 - 2020 Shaya Habis $35

Made of 100% organic, old vine (up to 95 years old) Verdejo in Rueda, Spain. The estate grown grapes are hand-harvested and pressed to neutral French oak barrels where it ferments and ages for seven months. The estate grown grapes are hand-harvested and pressed to neutral French oak barrels where it ferments and ages for seven months. Golden color with bold aromas of ripe pears, peaches and notes of lemon peel. Pronounced minerality from the old vines and toasted notes from the oak aging make this Verdejo truly spectacular.

2 - 2023 Domaine Fondreche Rose $20

This rose is a blend of organically grown Cinsault (50%), Syrah (20%), Grenache (20%) and Mourvedre (10%) in Ventoux, France. The grapes are pressed under nitrogen which eliminates the need for sulphites in the winemaking process. Beautifully intense notes of melon, tangerine and citrus with a roundness that is tied up nicely with a strong mineral finish.

3 - 2022 Domaine Michel Goubard et Fils Bourgogne Rouge Mont Avril $27

Made of sustainably grown Pinot Noir in Cote Chalonnaise region of Burgundy, France. Aged in cement tanks for 12 months this wine offers plenty of bright, cherry fruit on the nose, and soft, supple tannins on the palate.

4 - 2022 Jeff Carrel Les Darons Languedoc $17

Made of organically grown Grenache (70%), Syrah (25%), and Carignan (5%) in Languedoc, France. The Grenache and Syrah are vinified together and then blended with the Carignan where they all age in cement tanks before bottling. Packed with dark fruit aromas and delicious spices, the wine’s mineral streak maintains a tension and balance to the denser fruit. Silky mature tannins round out the palate.

Table Ben

1 - 2021 Tremat Vinell Frizzante $28

This is the kind of 'col fondo' Prosecco that the locals normally keep for themselves. Unfined, unfiltered, no added sulfites, clean dry and beautiful. We will talk about the names of the grapes in person. Pronunciation party! Organic.

2 - 2022 Kobal Roots Sauvignon Blanc $28

Slovenia may sound strange but it's a quick hike from Italy and has a longer wine heritage. Steely, balanced tropical notes, minerality and mouthwatering acidity. Organic.

3 - 2021 Tibaldi Barbera d'Alba $28

The sisters Monica & Daniella took over their family vines a few years ago and are making stunning, clean un-oaked Barbera that sings like a bird. Clean and bright. Organic.

4 - 2021 Domaine L'Astre Pelroge Rouge $28

From just outside of Bourdeaux proper in the Dordogne Valley. Classic Bordeaux made of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. It is juicy and friendly and really tells the tale of the land. Organic.

Table Jesse

1 - 2022 Bisson Frizzante Glera $24

Lugano collaborates with his friend Eli Spagnol from Torre Zecchei in Valdobbiadene. Hand-harvested from steep hillside vineyards, this wine is made with precise temperature control to maintain its delicacy and freshness. With only 2 grams per liter of residual sugar, it's a bone-dry alternative to typical Proseccos.

2 - 2022 Hermanos mesa Tenerife 'Marmajuelo' $36

Mount Teide, towering at 3700 meters, reigns supreme as the highest peak in the Atlantic Ocean's island chain, casting its shadow over Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Llocal Marmajuelo grape thrive in Tenerife's volcanic soils, particularly in the Güímar valley around 400 meters above sea level. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for six months, this wine shines with a leaner profile and a refreshing 12.5% alcohol content.

3 - 2020 Domaine Saint-Cyr Chénas "les blémonts" $30

Raphael Saint-Cyr, fourth-generation vigneron at Domaine Saint-Cyr, honors his family's winemaking legacy rooted in Anse, Beaujolais. Since 2008, he's expanded vineyards into prestigious crus like Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent, transitioning the 23-hectare estate to certified organic viticulture. Domaine Saint-Cyr now ranks among Beaujolais' largest organic domains. With a focus on overlooked appellations, Raphael aims to uplift Chénas, notably cultivating Les Blémonts vineyard with friend Paul-Henri Thillardon. Since 2019, all cru Beaujolais undergo cold carbonic fermentation, native yeast fermentation, and minimal sulfur usage.

4 - 2022 Broc Cellars 'koukou' Cabernet Franc $32

A renowned natural winery based in Berkeley. At Broc, they prioritize native fermentations and the use of organically grown grapes, emphasizing authenticity in their winemaking process. One standout from their collection is the KouKou. Organic, whole cluster fermentation. This method effectively captures the inherent brightness and freshness of the grape, resulting in a wine that's both distinctive and expressive.

Table Eric

1 - Domaine La Pascerette des Vignes 2021 Millet Lamartine Le Creux d'Arban Blanc $28

From the soul of the southern Bourgogne, this integrated small farm in the Mâconnaise established their Domaine Pascerette ("sheperdess") in 2013, farming 6.8 hectares west of the longest limestone range in the region. 100% organic old vines Chardonnay aged 11 months on the lees in neutral barrels.

2 - Clos de Maurice Coquette 2022 Saumur Rosé $22

Biodynamic Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, grown in clay and limestone soils, direct press and fermented in stainless. The Hardouin family has farmed vineyards here since the late 1700's, partnering with the great vigneron Nicholas Reau in 2017.

3 - Limited Addition Field Blend Cabernet Franc 2022 Willamette Valley $25

Bree & Chad Stock are two of the most exciting and influential young winemakers working in the Willamette Valley today. Rather than focusing on a single site or AVA, they work across terroirs and varietals, championing their diversity and potential. Old vine Cabernet Franc is blended with younger vines, all from the Eola Springs vineyard, fermented 70% whole cluster and aged 10 months in neutral barrels.

4 - Armour Wines Heliotrope Syrah 2022 Royal Slope AVA $40

Tyler and Sarah Armour started making wines in Wenatchee in 2020, sourcing fruit from select vineyards in Washington state to produce delicious, low intervention wines that reflect a new wave in WA. Fruit from Lawrence Vineyards Frenchman Hills ridge site is fermented whole cluster and aged 10 months in neutral French oak and sandstone jarres. Deeply concentrated and packed with true varietal character while still showing great fruit and acidity.

Refresh! Spring Linens.

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:25:25 GMT

Spring Cleaning?

Hope this finds you well and enjoying the blossoming spring season!

We are hosting an exciting event that's just around the corner - our exclusive Linen Trunk Show! After all that spring cleaning, it's time to treat yourself to something special, and what better way than with luxurious table linens?

Join us on Saturday April 27th in the Coupeville Rec Hall for a fantastic showcase of Garnier Thiebaut table cloths, runners, napkins, kitchen towels (a perfect gift!) and bed linens brought to you by our dedicated representative Richard. The spring release is packed with elegant designs and bold fun patterns, there will be plenty to see and inspire.

As always with this trunk show we're offering an irresistible incentive: enjoy 20% off on all orders placed during the trunk show! It's the perfect opportunity to elevate your dining experience and add a touch of fun to your home and outdoor dining.

Saturday 27 April 3-5

GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW
Superior quality French table, living and bed linens
ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

Discount offered on all orders placed by Monday the 29th
Won't be around? View their website and let us know your orders, take advantage of the discount!
email beth@bayleaf.us or ring 360-678-6603.

See more about the how these clean up so well here .

Ready for a new tablecloth? Bring dishes, paint swatches, and table measurements!
New to the line? Come touch and feel.
In love with the kitchen towels? (swoon) Those are 20% off too!

Everything you see on the GT website is available for ordering with bayleaf -
all with 20% off.

Why Champagne?

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:54:01 GMT

Grower Champagne

Alright, let's get real here. If you haven't experienced the sheer delight of true grower Champagne, you're missing out on a world of flavor and authenticity that mass-produced, commercial bubbly can't even touch. It's time to step up your Champagne game and savor the unique, handcrafted magic that is true grower Champagne.

What is Grower Champagne?

True grower Champagnes come from those dedicated vineyard owners who not only grow their grapes but also produce their wine. Sometimes referred to as farmer fizz, every aspect of the wine is carefully crafted - from the vine to the cellar to the amount of production. These wines (yes Champagne is wine) are all about Terroir. True grower Champagne is all about expressing the distinct characteristics of the vineyard and the region. They carry the unique taste of the land, each sip is like taking a journey through the vineyards. You can practically taste the sunshine, the soil, and the history in every glass. It is an artisan product. Not to be mixed with juice. But to be poured at the right temperature (between 46° - 50°F), in the right glass (flutes are best for your prosecco), and to be savored like you would any other favorite wine.

And let's not forget the stories behind every bottle. These growers are often family businesses that have been passed down through generations. When you enjoy true grower Champagne, you're sipping a bit of history, tradition, and a lot of love.

So many don't think they like Champagne, it's expensive, it's sweet, it's just for celebrations. You are missing out. That is why we've been offering this tasting for so many years, it's a passion we just HAVE to share. Join us for these amazing opportunities.

IRL (in real life) tasting with Jesse in the Rec Hall on November 18th. We'll taste 5 different Grower Champagnes, learn how they are crafted (from grape to bottle often a 5 year process), experience back to back differences (it's not all the same!) as well as enjoy classic Champagne pairings.

COYC (comfort of your couch) tasting with Owen, pick up ready by November 22 just in time for Thanksgiving or share as a fantastic gift at the holidays. Four half bottles of true Champagne, and a personal video you can watch at your leisure. These kits are limited.

Tickets for Jesse in person event here .

Take home video tasting with Owen here .

We hope you'll join us either in person or with our take home video kit - or BOTH! Hurrah for Champagne.

More reasons for more,

Bubbles and Joy: The effervescent bubbles in Champagne aren't just about taste; they lift your spirits. The sound of a Champagne cork popping and the bubbles dancing in your glass is an instant mood-lifter. It adds an air of celebration to any moment, no matter how ordinary.

Palate Cleanser: Champagne is the perfect palate cleanser. It's like hitting the reset button for your taste buds. Whether you're enjoying a multi-course meal or a simple plate of pizza, a sip of Champagne in between makes everything taste better.

Perfect Pairing: Champagne is the best friend of food. It pairs well with a wide range of dishes, from seafood to fried chicken, from spicy cuisine to dessert. There's a Champagne style to complement every meal, from Brut to Rosé.

Celebrate Life: Life is too short to save Champagne for special occasions. Don't wait for a big celebration. Embrace the little victories, the small moments, and the everyday joys. Whether it's to toast a successful workday or simply because the sun is shining, Champagne is a reminder that life is worth celebrating at any moment.

Fall Wine Tasting Extravaganza

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:44:30 GMT

Fall Wine Extravaganza

Join us for an afternoon of delicious wines! Unlike our tastings of the past, this will be more like what we call a "trade" tasting. Each rep will be stationed at a table with 4 of their wines - a mix of chilled whites/roses and reds. You are welcome to mingle, pose questions to the reps, bounce back and forth and taste at your own pace. We'll provide solo cups to encourage you to pace yourself and spit. We'll have staff passing bites of food to pair.

We'll be joined by Eric, Jesse and Ken in the Coupeville Rec Hall. This will give us all plenty of room to spread out. There will be discounts offered, lots of conversations had and as much education as you would like. This is a standing, social tasting. Wine club members enjoy discounted ticket pricing as well as deeper discounts on orders at the event. Join one of our wine clubs before the event to take advantage of these extra discounts.

You don't want to miss this one!

A great opportunity to taste before you buy, restock your wine rack and choose a few special bottles for the upcoming holiday season.

Saturday 29 October 3 - 5 Coupeville Rec Hall

tickets are required

Non-wine Club member

Wine Club member

Grande Fior di Latte

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 14:45:05 GMT

Grande Fior di Latte

Pasteurized Cow's milk fresh Mozzarella - Wisconsin - USA

It's summer and we want to encourage you to eat your weight in fresh mozzarella. Fresh, whole milk, well made mozzarella that is light and delicate. The touch of tang from cheese cultures, the stretch and melt point perfection are why we love this mozzarella over all others. It truly is the flower of the milk! Stop in the shop and mention this post, we'll give you a sweet discount...

From the dairy,

Our milk is collected daily from cows at dedicated Grande producer dairy farms that have committed to our Producers Assuring Consumers of Excellence (PACE) program to ensure quality, animal well-being and environmental best practices are in place as well as proper employee management and labor practices. After milking, it is quick cooled and taken directly to our nearby state-of-the-art facilities, where our cheese artisans craft it to bring out that great Grande taste.

The story,

Grande’s story began in 1891, in the small Sicilian village of Montelepre, Italy, where founder Filippo Candela was then born. It was in this warm, agriculturally rich region where he learned the art of making fine Italian cheese.

In 1925, shortly after marrying his wife Provvidenza, Filippo moved from the economic instability of post-war Italy to America in search of better opportunities. Initially purchasing a small dairy farm and orchard, he moved to Wisconsin to pursue his passion for cheese making. Speaking only a few words of English, he met an Italian cheese buyer from the Old World. This meeting sowed the seeds of a new cheese company formed by Filippo and a handful of family and friends. They named it Grande – a fitting name as the Italian word for ‘greatness’ – and its authentic cheeses soon became favorites with Italian immigrant families across the United States.

A few ways to enjoy your mozz,

Caprese Salad
PIZZA!
Top grilled vegetables
A simple appetizer of Mozz with fresh pesto, your favorite vinegar, your favorite EVOO, the list goes on!

Onetik Bleu des Basques

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 21:58:02 GMT

Onetik Bleu Des Basques

Pasteurized Sheep - Onetik - Midi-Pyrenees, France

It's true! Not all blue cheeses are the same, this couldn't be more true of this personal favorite. Most people who detest blue cheese have only experienced strong, often bitter (cheap) blue cheese. An artisanal blue such as this one is a game changer. It's a delicate, rich, toothsome blue expression. You are encouraged to come try it.

Located in a small village at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountans, Macaye Onetik has been making delicious cheese for over 30 years. The goal being to preserve and share the bounty of the Basque heritage. The quality of the milk is the most important process of this cheese. Transhumance - the traditional grazing methods of moving livestock in a seasonal cycle is practiced. Three ancient breeds of sheep traditionally kept by Basque farmers are used.

Black-Face Manech [manèche]
Red-Face Manech
Basco-Bearnaise

Made with great skill and care the cheeses are crafted and aged at Onetik. This blue has a natural rind (always the strongest in flavor, eating it is a personal choice) and is aged for 2.5 months. It's creamy paste is lined with fine blue veins that give way to a delicate nutty punch of blue. Not over salted this can sometimes present sweet. We love to enjoy this in place of dessert with a glass of Muscat Beaumes de Venise.

We carry other Onetik cheeses but this Blue is a treat. When you see it in the case, don't hesitate in bringing some home with you. It will change the way you feel about blue cheese!

"Today marks my 10th year as a cheese maker at Onetik and it's still a pleasure to work with this noble ingredient.

Milk collected at the beginning, the middle or the end of the animal's lactation period does not behave the same way. We must employ all our skills during the different steps of cheese making from the delivery of the milk until the cheese is sent to the cellars.

The high quality of the milk provided by our farmers is what allows us to prepare our cheese under the best conditions, so they develop aroma and taste, so they sing, you know?

Today, our cheese makers set themselves apart from the competition through the meticulous care taken by all of us at Onetik cheese dairy. We each contribute our experience towards one goal: to make our cheeses a showpiece of the Basque Country.

There is one important thing I learned at the start of my work: cheese is a living thing, and that's certainly true!

In my occupation it's important to remain humble and respect cheese: that's the key."

Kayet Gastellu
Cheesemaker at Onet

Cowgirl Creamery Pierce Point

Mon, 09 May 2022 18:14:20 GMT

American Legacy

In 1997, we started with a dream shared between two college friends and business partners, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith : To celebrate organic practices and spotlight the craftsmanship of local sustainable agriculture in Marin and Sonoma counties. Today, we’re carrying the torch of the food revolution that started in our backyard. Organic. Farm-to-Table. Delicious, award-winning cheese.

The cheese production business is rough. Expensive, time sensitive and licensing to name a few hurdles. Friends Sue and Peggy started in a renovated barn in Northern California, the first operation called Tomales Bay food, with the thought of featuring foods from West Marin. Cowgirl Creamery was launched in 1997. Smith and Conley created a legacy with these specialty cheeses, all made from organic milk and sourced from surrounding dairies committed to farming practices through regenerative agriculture in Northern California’s Sonoma County area. The awards are many over this time – the most recent - Mt Tam triple cream made with cow’s milk sourced from the Straus Family Dairy won a 2021 Good Food Award – we stock this cheese regularly. They produce eight artisanal cheeses plus fresh cottage cheese, fromage blanc and creme fraiche. In 2016 Cowgirl Creamery was sold to Emmi Group, read more here . The result being good thus far, expanded resources and no compromise made in the end product. We are so grateful that these two women pursued their dream and that we get to share these cheeses with you!

This month we feature a specialty spring cheese - Pierce Point. It seemed the perfect seasonal cheese to share from this beloved creamery. We hope you enjoy. Limited in the shop this month.

Our Pierce Point cheese transports you to the scents and sights of late spring in West Marin on the Northern California Coast. Named for a ranch on the Pt Reyes National Seashore, Pierce Point starts with single-source organic cow's milk from nearby Bivalve Dairy. Each piece is rich with the aromas of the surrounding pastures. The core and paste unite in their journey to deliver all the herbaceousness of our local milk source, accentuated with sprinklings of stunning field flowers, chamomile, calendula, and Thai basil, Pierce Point captures the essence of the season. Read more here .

Orange Wines

Mon, 09 May 2022 16:17:42 GMT

put it on your list to try...

Rosés are Reds and Oranges are…Whites?!

Anyone in the know knows bayleaf has a remarkable cache of fine red, white, and rosé wine, but few know much about the luscious orange wines sprinkled inconspicuously around the shop. Orange wines, made from white wine grapes, are an oft overlooked alternative to a savory red which makes them the perfect pairing for strong cheeses, red meat, roasted root veggies, and even curry.

Skin is in

Maceration is a fancy word for soaking the wine with the grape skins, stems, and seeds to extract color, aroma, and tannins. White wine is exempt from this process which ensures it is typically tannin free and best sipped chilled and fresh. For rosé wine, skin contact is brief, measured in hours, long enough for the red grape skins to impart a hint of tint and a touch of tannins. Orange wine, conversely, is left to soak with the white grape skins for anywhere from several days to many months, resulting in hues from golden straw to deep amber. (Red wine, too, macerates for a similar length of time.) In essence, orange wine is made from white wine grapes in the same manner that red wine is made from red wine grapes.

Orange is not the new pink

While the preparation process is practically parallel, rosés and oranges are two totally different wines. Rosés, because of their brief soak, are generally light and fresh, and like the aforementioned whites, best schlurped when the weather is hot and the wine is cold. Orange wines are better served cool-ish (think cellar temperature) and are far more thought-provoking than their quaffable cousin. Oranges are a savory sipper with astonishing depth, body, and texture courtesy of the tannins gathered during the lengthier maceration period.

Orange you curious?

Armed with your newfound knowledge, stop into bayleaf and grab a bottle (or two) of this unique but highly versatile style of wine. (And don’t forget the cheese!)

Alcohol-Free or Sober Curious

Thu, 05 May 2022 19:14:47 GMT

Several weeks ago we had a personal tasting with Tim Crowther Sales Team Manager / Supplier Relations & Development of Prime Wine & Spirits. The tasting featured all non-alcoholic beverages. When Tim first approached me I was skeptical to say the least. His personal passion convinced me to try these – we hope you will too.

Below Tim speaks to the why n/a is so exciting now.

There are multiple, intertwined answers, personal and pragmatic:

Building Prime’s non-alcoholic selection has become a passion project for me. I find myself (and many of my friends) looking for no and low-alcohol drinks that give us the same experience and sense of occasion as we’d get from alcoholic drinks, but without the negative effects that come from alcohol. The pleasure I take in alcoholic drinks, wine and beer especially, has not decreased, but my body’s capacity to process them as I grow older is not what it used to be.

I’m clearly not alone in this desire, as the level of interest in quality non-alcoholic products shows no sign of slowing. There are so many reasons for people to choose no and low, from a growing interest in health and wellness, to a reset from two pandemic years of high home consumption; from someone recovering from addiction to a pregnant woman wanting to be included in the party with something other than Martinelli’s. There’s a generational change, as drinking habits shift.

This category isn’t an afterthought for Prime. Even though the excitement is real, there’s a disconnect between brands and consumers. People don’t even know there are great new options for them, or they don’t know where to find them; out at a bar, they may not even think to ask if there’s something better than the default fruity, sweet non-alcoholic “mocktail” (a word we really must stop using). And where do you look for a non-alcoholic spirit in a grocery store, anyway? Should it be in the wine department or next to the margarita mix? This is one reason specialty and boutique retailers have been at the vanguard: close and trusting relationships with customers that allow for conversations, like the ones bayleaf is having with its customers as it showcases delicious non-alcoholic options this month. We hope you’ll join us.

Two Spanish Visitors

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 22:12:39 GMT

We are pleased to announce an upcoming event in the shop. Yes, we know its been a while. This is what we are offering - stand up tasting, doors open, perch in the shop, sit outside, stand in the wine room - be where ever you are the most comfortable. We just could not pass up this opportunity.

��

Eric Stone hosts ~ A visit from two of Spain's best natural winemakers!

Saturday April 9th at 5:30

Ramon Parera, his wife Monti and his partner Jordi Arnan farm 35 ha of vineyards in Alt Penedes, just south of Barcelona and inland about 40 miles from the Mediterranean. After studying to become an enologist, he convinced his father to sell the the family's vineyards in the lower elevations of Penedes and found properties in the lovely Bitlles River valley, with some older plots of indigenous Xarel-lo and Sumoll and a 17th century Catalan farmhouse, Can Comas, to serve as the foundation for Celler Pardas. With subsequent plantings in the mid '90s and the establishment of the winery, Pardas has always farmed organically and practiced low intervention, natural wine making with a skilled hand and
respect for the traditions of the lands. This is Ramon's third visit to the Pacific Northwest and second to bayleaf, and after a quick stop at a vintage record store or two, he's looking forward to returning to
Whidbey and sharing his passion with you.

German Blanco, when not climbing mountains in his native Austurias, has three projects, Casa Aurora in Bierzo Alto, Quinta Milu in Ribera del Duero and La Bicicleta Voladora in Rioja. Dedicated to traditional,
organic and sustainable viticulture, he works with single vineyard sites in the different areas with an aim to produce villages wines that reflect both his passion as a winemaker and respect for the history of
the lands. Working with a variety of vessels including open tanks, amphora and concrete, each wine is a reflection of a time and place, guided by his passion and skill. Our first import of these wines is
working its way through the challenge of international logistics and should be here in the next couple of weeks. We've rushed a few bottles to arrive for this weekend and the irrepressible German is looking
forward to previewing them at bayleaf during his very first visit to the Pacific Northwest.

Tasting includes wines & nosh & discounts on bottles/cases
$25 / $20 wine club members

Soft Ripened Highlight

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 17:34:43 GMT

Soft Ripened

Ripe, rich, lush and oozy most people love soft ripened cheese. But do you know what it took to get this miraculous cheese to your table? It involves mold. Penicillium Candidum or in the case of La Tur, Geotrichum Candidumto. The cheese is either inoculated in the milk/curd process or directly sprayed on the exterior - both methods work well. This active bacteria make themselves at home and start producing enzymes that eventually grow into the interior of the cheese. The science - By digesting lactate, they make the cheese more acidic at the surface than it is in the core, which prompts calcium phosphate ions, formerly well-ensconced in the cheese's structure, to migrate to the surface. The acidity change and the ion movement cause the cheese's innards to liquify.

Feel free to completely geek out and read this . But this article is more user friendly.

Each month we'll feature an amazing cheese experience here. This month we are highlighting staff favorite, La Tur. You may still be having a love affair with our house brie - we get it. Here's your opportunity to try another soft ripened cheese that is a definite game changer. We invite you pick up a round (or more, see below) of this delicious cheese for a discount the entire month of March. Let us know your favorite soft cheese pairing/use and we'll enter you into a chance to win $25 worth of free cheese.

La Tur

This cupcake looking lovely is equal parts cow, goat and sheep milk. Some thing for everyone! The cheese is hand processed from Alta Langa, Piedmont, Italy. The milk is pasteurized at the lowest possible temperature by law to ensure full flavored enzymes are not lost. Lots of complexity going on here. Full, rich fatty flavors of cow's milk, touch of bright notes from the goat and earthy, nuttiness from the sheep can all be found here. Remember this cheese is alive and will continue ripening from the outside in. The thin rind will eventually start slumping off and the center become more and more creamy. There is no bad stage to eat this cheese at - it's all personal preference. Want to really have fun this month? Buy 2 -3 and try them at different stages. Be sure to eat this at room temperature.

Neal's Yard Dairy

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:57:58 GMT

Neal's Yard Take Home Tasting Event

We are so excited to share these delicious cheeses with you. These cheeses arrive directly from London just for us, ordered specifically with this take home tasting in mind. We've carried cheeses from Neal's Yard for many years. Their dedication to hand selection ensures we at bayleaf only are showing you the very best English cheeses. You may not think of it this way, but artisanal cheese is like fine wine, with each wheel being made and thought of as a "vintage". We rely on outfits like Neal's Yard to provide us with a true expression of the type of cheese, captured at just the right moment - or as we've learned to call them, happy wheels. We are honored to be a part of the stewardship that begins with the farmer.

Selection

At Neal’s Yard Dairy, our ambition is to sell the British and Irish cheeses we like best. That means identifying interesting, characterful or authentic varieties, but it also means selecting the individual cheeses that we want to sell. Some of our cheesemakers are making the same cheese almost every day, so in any given years, as many as 350 'vintages' may emerge from the dairy, each of which will differ slightly in character. Some will meet our exacting standards, others won’t. Only very rarely would we take more than half of a cheesemaker’s annual output. This means that our standards are never compromised – we want only the cheeses we like the best.

Read more here . If you see cheeses on their website you would like us to bring in - let us know, we are curious and we want you to be too!

APPLEBYS CHESHIRE
KIRKHAMS LANCASHIRE
SPARKENHOE RED LEICESTER
COLSTON BASSET SHROPSHIRE

Tasting includes over 1 lb. total weight of cheese, notes & a guided video link (not live/zoom) as well as discounts on these cheeses. This is a take home tasting event, not at bayleaf.

Pick up is March 18th*
$43 ~ Limited Event

*Now the caveat; it is important to pick up and delve into the kit as soon as you can. We want you to have the freshest experience, pick up is Friday 18th of March

February Feta

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 17:06:30 GMT

Essex Feta from Lesbos

Each month we'll feature an amazing cheese experience here. We know not all cheese is created equal - this holds true for cheeses we often take for granted. Adulterated, made easy for shipping, cost effectiveness and over all easy consumption, Feta is a cheese that has seen better days. This month we bring you a different experience of this classic. Rich, creamy so diverse in its multi uses to explore and elevate! We invite you to read more on this ancient cheese and pick up a block or two at the shop. We'll even teach you how to care for your feta to make sure you can enjoy it over time.

From Essex Cheese Company,

Feta is an ancient cheese. In Homer's Odyssey, Ulysses found feta in the cave of Polyphemos the Cyclops. Feta is also a much maligned cheese, copied everywhere, made with more care for the bottom line than for flavor. Until recently anyone could call their cheese feta and the country that made the most feta in the world was Germany. Now there are only a few locations that can make the real thing and the island of Lesbos is one of them. Essex feta is made exclusively from the milk of Lesbian breed sheep, whose shepherds retain a millenia old practice of grazing them on the sun-and-sea splashed hills on the hiss around the village of Agra, on the western side of the island.

Panagiotis Tastanis, is the second of three generations behind Essex Feta. His daughter works alongside him in the creamery every day. They make traditional brine-bathed feta, using just sheep's milk from the hills nearby and sea salt from the four hundred year old salt pans at Kalloni.

Feta's texture can be hard, soft and everywhere in between. How it's made and how long it's aged changes its texture. In the U.S. we're used to harder, crumblier feta. Essex feta will be much softer by comparison. This is gentle, pillowy feta, more like what the Greeks eat every day.

The village of Agra, where Essex feta is made and where the sheep graze, sits on the rim of a volcanic caldera that's been home to sheep for ages. There's never been any industry here, it's idyllic. The lush hills are covered in herbs and flowers. The flocks of sheep are small, usually not more than four dozen. You can hear their bells tinkling on the hills.

The town of Agra, near the western edge of Lesbos, has a population of about one thousand. People that is. When it comes to sheep there are several times that many.

The shepherds work collectively, grazing their flocks in the cool mornings and evenings on the sea-sprayed hills. The shepherds deliver milk to Tastanis twice per day, after the morning and evening milking's.

We would love to hear your favorite uses for Feta, let us know!

Seasonal Subscription Box

Wed, 26 May 2021 01:18:37 GMT

This shipped box is a quarterly offering of a sweet and a savory, a tasty beverage, something new as well as a bayleaf tried and true, a collaboration with a local friend and a special gift. Along with the hand-picked seasonal items will be a menu/recipe card, a cookmark and a detailed description of each item and what makes it special. The idea behind this box was to share the excitement of the seasons, bayleaf style.

We would love to have you join us.

Curious about our Subscription box? Here is what was included in the most recent drop of Spring.

Lucedio Arborio Rice

Smoking Goose Dodge City Salami

Parmesan Reggiano 24 months aged

RV Pottery Ingredient Dish

Boylan Shirley Temple

Italian Marasca Cherry

Fran’s Bar

Michael Dickers bird studies post-it

Cherry Rose Nasturtium Seeds

Penn Cove Sticker

Pet - Nat Explained

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:53:28 GMT

put it on your list to try...

Pét-nats – Fizzy, Funky, Fun

Perhaps you are weary of the same ol’ same ol’ wine and want to try something audacious…something that won’t blow your bank account but might just blow your mind.

Pét-nat, short for pétillant naturel, is the extraordinary effervescent choice you might not know about. Naturally fermented, rarely filtered, and frequently made with uncommon grape varietals, pét-nats are the wild and wonderful – sometimes slightly eccentric – OG* cousin of méthode champenoise or “traditional method” wines like Cava, Prosecco, and Champagne. Those three typical types of bubbles stick to a short list of proper grapes which are picked, pressed, and fermented. The resultant still wine is then dosed with a dab of yeast and sugar and capped…thus beginning what those in the bubble bizz call “secondary fermentation” in which the yeast feasts on the sugar, gets a little gassy, and voila…fizz.

Conversely, Pét-nats are made using “ancestral method” or méthode ancestrale – the original, straight up, no additives added, method of making wine. Pét-nat is capped before the first stage of fermentation is complete, and the bubbles are produced au naturel using only the grape’s own sugars. Pét-nats pair nicely with a wide range of foods, from curry to crêpes, and are normally lower in alcohol and have a more subdued carbonation (which makes them perfect for day drinking as well).

The bottom bubble shelf at bayleaf is fully stocked with a vibrant assortment of crown capped, modestly priced pét-nats in red, white, and rose; domestic and imported; regular sized bottles and magnums.

P.S. If you find these bubbles are your bag, the bubbles wine club regularly includes pét-nats along with true Champagnes and other worthy sparkling selections.

*Original Gangster

Jasper Hill Cheeses ~ take home tasting

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 01:36:10 GMT

new cheeses!

Jasper Hill Farm – A Taste of Place , virtual tasting

Pick up March 26th or 27th

Piece size is between 2-3 oz per cheese, with the exception to the whole Harbison Mini.

We have been busy putting together this special tasting opportunity just for you! Jasper Hill Farms is a unique facility that encompasses a dairy, 2 creameries, and a complex affinage (cheese aging) system. The Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm hosts a 22,000 square foot undergrown aging facility in Greensboro Vermont. The Cellars holds cheeses produced at the two Jasper Hill Creameries as well as several other notable artisan cheese makers in Vermont. We will be tasting five cheeses from this world class program, including three NEWLY released cheeses. A guided tasting will be shared via emailed video link. Your tasting guide, Kim Iannotti, is an expert in cheese! Kim has been in specialty cheese industry for over 15 years. Initially starting behind a cut-to-order cheese counter in Chicago, moving on to distribution and importing in Seattle finally landing at Jasper Hill Farms a year ago. We’ll hope you join us! This event is limited, cheeses have been ordered and shipped specifically for this event. Watch more here .

Harbison Mini

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar

Eligo

Bridgman Blue

Highlander

Reserve yours here .

Take Home Port Tasting

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:00:32 GMT

Est. 1638 Kopke Port

The country of Portugal has been growing grapes and making wine for thousands of years.

A trade partnership with England is responsible for the famed “style” we have all come to enjoy and call PORT. As the English’s taste for fine wines grew, so did their search to find such wines. Part of this search lead them further up the Duoro River valley, here they found full bodied wines sculpted by the hot climate of interior Portugal. The only hiccup with the partnership was the occasional spoilage of wine while on the ship voyage from Portugal to England. A simple solution to this problem was to fortify the wine with brandy protecting it from potential perils of the harsh journey. The method of fortifying the wine evolved into adding the adding the spirit during fermentation as opposed to after the wine has already aged. This fortified style of wine eventually came to be known as Port and while other regions are legally allowed to call their fortified wine by the same name, true Port only comes from the Douro Valley of Portugal.

Few Port houses have the pedigree and respect that Kopke, the oldest continually running Port house in all of Portugal does. Nicolau Kopke arrived in Portugal 30 years before the word “Port” was used to describe Portuguese wine and what he started grew from a small wine purchasing company to a major producer. Producing a wide variety of ports Kopke is known for specializing in a unique type of vintage port called “colheita” which is made from Tawny style port. For this tasting we will be joined by Serge Lozach, the Managing Direct of Wine in Motion, to walk us through a few different styles of ports. Serge first got involved with the wine industry at a family restaurant in New York City and had a few different stops, including being the head of sales at both Paul Hobbs Imports and Wilson Daniels, before becoming the Managing Director of Wine in Motion.

Usually known as a perfect after dinner night cap we will show that it can be enjoyed anytime, on its own or mixed in cocktails and when searching for Port look no further than Kopke.

Join us! Purchase tickets here . Includes 5 tastes and a bite - this is for one taster.

Wine club members receive a special bonus taste, be sure to mention your membership when purchasing.

Not in the wine club? Join us!

Day 12 | 12 Days of Christmas | Best Last Gift

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:56:51 GMT

Day 12, this last day of our best gift list, is the best gift of all - a bayleaf gift certificate.

These most valuable of documents are the number one hassle-free, people-pleaser of the season and can be written for any amount or for any particular item (One of the other 11 Best Gift ideas? Our world-famous pizza kits ? A fine bottle of true Champagne? A selection of mouthwatering cheese ?) They are limited only by your imagination, so dream away and give your recipients the gift that lets them choose their own adventure (even from the safety of their own couch). (And, as if it couldn’t get any better, we will mail them for free!)

Travel around the globe with wine from Italy or France or Yakima, chocolate from Missouri or the United Arab Emirates, cheese from Holland or the Swiss Alps, or special items from right here on Whidbey Island. A bayleaf gift certificate is also an investment in the future of this small business, insuring we will continue to be able to search the world ‘round for the latest and greatest pantry items and pasta, chocolates and snacks, wines and ciders, lovely gifts and more for you to enjoy throughout the next 20 years. (Yes, bayleaf turned 20 this year!) Cheers!

Day 11 | 12 Days of Christmas | Best Ever Subscription Box

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:37:53 GMT

In this strange year of uncertainty, one thing that we missed most was the joy of anticipation – looking forward to special events, planned trips and outings, visits with family and friends, and so much more. However, we soon found that it was the little things that kept us all going, day after day after day – an unexpected card or letter, a surprise treat, pleasant comforts, new cuisines, perhaps even a gratuitous indulgence or two.

Who knew that all of these could already be found in the bayleaf Seasonal Subscription box too. Now moving into its highly anticipated second year, the subscription box is packed with a staggering amount lovingly selected items. (The level of our excitement as we pick and choose each is palpable and grows exponentially with each new installment!)

In the bayleaf quarterly subscription best ever box of goodies, you (or your recipient…or both) will find a sweet and a savory, a tasty beverage, a new as well as a tried and true, a collaboration with a local friend, and a distinctive gift. Tasting notes, menu and recipe suggestions for all items, and super-secret bayleaf perks and benefits are stashed inside each box too.

Give yourself or someone else the gift of anticipation with a bayleaf Seasonal Box yearly subscription or even just one – winter, spring, summer, or fall. Half the fun is the surprise. (They do sell out quickly, so order now. Joy awaits!)

Day 10 | 12 Days of Chirstmas | Join the Club

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:11:04 GMT

Country clubs, fitness clubs, nightclubs, and even book clubs have restrictions nowadays – if they are open at all. Fortunately for you, the bayleaf wine clubs have always been open and have never required a mask or any sort of social distancing. There is a modest membership fee ($29-50 a month, depending on the club) but there is zero hazing, rushing, or exclusive criteria standards to meet (as long as you are 21+). There’s not even a dress code! Best of all, there are four clubs to choose from and you can even club hop (many people do!) – Rose in the summer, New World or Bubbles around the holidays, or whatever makes sense to you.

The Rosé Club is for those who love a dry rosé all day (or year) long. Two bottles per month - from pale salmon to deep fuchsia - are carefully procured from first-rate vintners around the world and are perfect parings for lighter fare or simple schlurping.

The signature bayleaf Club was developed to feature new and exciting wines. This club includes one red and one white wine per month and focuses on mind (and palate) expanding varieties that are typically seasonal, handcrafted, organic, biodynamic, or natural.

The New World Club highlights primarily local wines from light bodied Pinot noirs to cozy campfire cabs and everything in between. Choose this club for two bottles of red wine per month from Washington, Oregon, and California, or select others made in the New World style.

Bubbles Club makes even ordinary days a celebration. Pop a cork on two bottles per month of true Champagne, Pet Nat, or sparkling wine because you remembered to pay the gas bill, got a raise at work, or even because it is Wednesday!

Club memberships make great gifts and can be offered in 3, 6, or 12-month installments – or really any length you desire. Personal memberships are automatically billed on a month-by-month basis eternally, or until you aren’t thirsty anymore. Yes, we can ship – and do so, on a quarterly basis!

Day 9 | 12 Days of Chirstmas | Uncommon Condiments

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:24:31 GMT

Yes, we can’t travel right now, but you can still expand your food horizons (or those of someone you love) by exploring new and exciting preparations of recipe standards by enhancing them with a variety of unique condiments. Condiments are meant to accentuate, compliment, and enrich everyday foods with distinct flavors and flavor combinations. And we, at bayleaf, have gathered some true gems, far beyond the usual suspects! (And fitted them all in a handy bayleaf wine bag.)

We found Turtle Rock Farm Garlic Scape Relish at the 2020 Good Food Awards in San Francisco (back in the olden days when travel was safe). Turtle Rock Farms, in Brunswick, Maine, grows all of the certified organic vegetables they use to make their wholesome pickled goods (which makes them just that much better, in our opinion). Mix 1.5T of Garlic Scape Relish with 1c of mayo to make an absolutely amazing tartar sauce for fish tacos or baked salmon, or use a scoop to add pizazz to homemade baby red russet potato salad.

One Day One, you read about two terrific Terrapin Ridge Farms mustards, so we couldn’t resist sharing their wonderful Horseradish Sauce with you as well. You simply must have a jar for your holiday prime rib roast – no other horseradish sauce comes close to matching the velvety smooth texture and pungent punch of this creamy condiment/dipping sauce.

The best, we saved for last…Quince & Apple brand Shallot Confit with Red Wine. Trust us when we tell you this isn’t your average onion jam. Imagine caramelized shallots simmered low and slow in a full-bodied red wine until they simply melt into a tantalizingly smooth spread. Now, imagine a schmear of that on an ordinary grilled cheese (made with extraordinary bayleaf cheese, of course). That, my friend, is some sandwich!

Day 8 | 12 Days of Christmas | Holiday Sweets

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 17:28:01 GMT

bayleaf may not have sugarplums this year, but we do have so many lovely sweets that it was almost too hard to choose only three. Yet, we selected a few of the most dreamy ones and nestled them snug inside a bayleaf wine bag.

First, we have Flower & White Rainbow Fruit Meringue Drops, a melt in your mouth confection straight from the country kitchens of Shropshire, England. Perfect for a snack or teatime or even as charming little cake toppers, these merry meringues are made with natural colors and free-range eggs and come in an assortment of (natural) enchanting flavors including strawberry, lemon, black cherry, and award-winning passion fruit.

Next is a traditional Nougat Tendre from Montelimar, France made with a few fine ingredients – egg whites, caramelized honey, toasted pistachios and almonds, and a touch of nostalgia. This soft and chewy nougat, sometimes known as torrone, from the Latin torrere (to toast), is an ancient Christmas candy nearly older than Santa Clause himself.

Last but surely not least is an exquisite treat from Pump Street chocolatiers, famed bakers and chocolate makers of Suffolk England lore. All of their chocolates are sustainable and fair trade and made in small, single-origin, bean to bar batches to create nothing short of superior quality products. For this sweet treat collection, we picked the Limited Edition 70% St Vincent Cocoa Cooperative Panettone bar. Inspired by the seasonal pastry, Panettone, it is chock full of candied fruit, rich vanilla, and Armagnac brandy and topped with almonds and sugar crystals.

Day 7 | 12 Days of Christmas | BBQ Bunch

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:02:33 GMT

We picked a peck of tangy, zesty, savory, spicy, smokey, sweet sauces with BBQ…bar-b-q…bar-b-que…barbeque…uh, grilling in mind. All are small-batch made in the good old USA with all-natural, pure ingredients – no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in any. (All four are vegan too!)

Jones Bar-B-Q Sauce has been made by hand by the Jones sisters in the same, from scratch, tried and true way for over thirty years. The secret sauce, once only available on the tabletops of their Kansas City Bar-B-Q restaurant, has only recently been packaged for home cooking as well. Pour some on a pile of pulled pork or glaze a rack of rib-sticking, smoked ribs with this tangy-sweet sauce.

Marshall’s Haute Sauce Smoked Habenero Barbeque won first place in the 2013 Scovie Awards (the Oscars of the sauce world) and just keeps getting better with age. Get funky with farm fresh veggies with this farm-to-table, hip haute sauce, but don’t let the word “habanero” scare you. The “spice” in this Portland, Oregon-made sauce comes from cinnamon and clove – the hint of habanero only packs a hint of heat.

Lopez Island is the home of Chicaoji hot sauce. The name is derived from three of a short list of ingredients: CHIpotle, caCAO, and goJI. Apple cider vinegar, a pinch of salt, and maple syrup rounds out the recipe. This simple sauce is anything but simple, though. The few but flavorful ingredients play well together to create a unique taste sensation that is good on practically anything from savory oats to salmon.

Last but not least is Bachan’s “BS (bad stuff) free” Japanese Barbeque Sauce, family-made from a generations-old Japanese recipe. Crafted from authentic ingredients like mirin and shoyu, this umami-filled sauce is oishii on authentic Japanese foods like donburi – of course – and pretty much anything else. This tantalizing teriyaki-style sauce is cold-packed in a handy BPA-free squeeze bottle bedecked with a charming cephalopod.

Day 6 | 12 Days of Christmas | Olive Set

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 18:51:48 GMT

For our next Christmas present parcel, we stuffed three of our best ever olive indulgences from Spain, France, and Italy into a bright yellow bayleaf wine bag. Olives – high in vitamin E and heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory nutrients – are the one-size-fits-all, guilt free gift that truly says, “Olive you!”

Cheer up your cheese board – or leave a dirty martini for Santa on Christmas Eve – with seasonally hued La Explanada Pepper Stuffed Olives from Alicante, Spain. These dainty pimento packed manzanilla olives are enjoyable whether eaten straight out of the can or incorporated into regional dishes such as Spanish paella, Cuban picadillo, or Moroccan chicken tagine with green olives and preserved lemons (we have those too!)

Pop the lid on a jar of Arnaud black Provencal olive tapenade – small batch crafted in France – for a ready cracker and bread spread. Toss a scoop with cooked pasta (have you seen our direct-shipped from Italy pasta selection lately?!) as an easy side dish. Grace omelets, fish, or grilled meats with our preferred piquant puree of olives, capers, olive oil, anchovies, and herbs de Provence.

Casona Rossa Squashed Green Olives with Lemon, a best seller and regular part of our Snack Pack gift basket, are bite-sized green olives from Abruzzo, Italy. Jarred with whole pieces of lemon and fine Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, these emerald beauties have a toothsome firmness and a bright burst of flavor making them a pleasing, well, snack.

Day 5 | 12 Days of Christmas | Olive Oil and Ritrovo Selections Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 17:17:57 GMT

bayleaf Signature Olive Oil and Ritrovo Selections Aged Balsamic Vinegar is a perfect pair of pantry provisions. Purchase a set for your favorite home chef or treat yourself. (Note that they are tucked into two slots of a six-slot bayleaf wine bag which leaves four slots for some fine Italian wine. Maybe a Nebbiolo? A Barbera? Some Prosecco, perhaps?)

bayleaf Signature Olive Oil, with its grassy-fruity aroma and balanced fruit-herb flavor, is a prized powerhouse no kitchen should be without. This single source olive oil is produced and packaged by the Trampetti farm in Umbria, one of Italy's most prestigious olive oil regions. It is flavorsome and versatile enough for dipping, drizzling, baking, and blending which is why we proudly profess it worthy of carrying the bayleaf name. In addition to being delicious, olive oil is rich in antioxidants (fight the free radicals!) and contains loads of healthy monounsaturated fats (here’s to your heart!).

Ritrovo Selections Aged Balsamic Vinegar is the other half of this dynamic duo. Dense and delightful, it is aged in French Allier oak barrels for six years and then expertly reduced. The finished product has the flavor profile of a traditional 25-year aged balsamic (without the wait). Lambrusco and Trebbiano grapes give this vinegar a deep, rich flavor with a clean, delicate finish that is pure perfection on a caprese salad, fresh buratta, grilled chicken breasts, roasted veggies, strawberries, and so much more.

Day 4 | 12 Days of Christmas | Super Lux Chololates

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 18:01:34 GMT

Everyone knows that bayleaf is the place to go for a diverse wine collection and a well-appointed cheese case. But did you know that we also have one of the most opulent collections of fancy pants chocolates around? Priced from modest to posh, these cocoa bean beauties hail from distant lands such as Dubai, Ecuador, Brooklyn, Iceland (yes…Iceland), Hungary, North Carolina, France, Italy, and the Emerald City (Seattle). From the darkest dark to a sweet-tooth satisfying milk, we have chocolate for any taste bud. We carry vegan chocolate, drinking chocolate, sustainable and fair-trade chocolate, bean to bar chocolate, raw chocolate, baking chocolate, bite sized chocolate, award-winning chocolate, healthy chocolate, and even ruby and white chocolate.

Try an exotic 73%, 3-year Islay Whisky Cask aged To’ak Signature Harvest bar, a box of divine Mirzam Dark Chocolate Khalas Dates, the ever-popular Organic Fran’s Gray and Smoked Sea Salt Caramels, a bunch of munchy Kika’s Treats Salted Crunchy Caramels, or the Augustus Gloopable John Kelly half-pound Dark Chocolate Truffle Fudge Bar (with or without walnuts). Yum! If none of these tickle your fancy pants, know that this is but a small cross section of our entire selection. We will gladly help you put together a custom chocolate-fix kit, pack it in a reusable bayleaf wine bag, and ship it to you or someone special or have it conveniently ready for front counter or curbside pickup. All that really matters is that you get a good dose of quality vitamin C(hocolate)!

Day 3 | 12 Days of Christmas | ‘Tis the Season(ing)

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 03:23:43 GMT

Our next sustenance suggestion transports you clear around the globe (no prescreening or passport required) to the Sichuan Provence of China. This far-off destination is the source of Sichuan pepper – a unique spice closely related to citrus fruit. Not only is it a widely used East Asian culinary ingredient, as a bonus, Sichuan pepper has traditional Chinese medicine applications as well. It is reputed to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Plus, eating spicy food releases endorphins. (We could all use a few more endorphins these days!)

At bayleaf, we have been loving the crunchy, savory, tongue tingling treat Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp (a key ingredient in Mapo Tofu and Chinese hot pot but equally delicious on stir-fry, eggs, and our favorite – ramen!) so much that we had to add Fly by Jing Zhong Dumpling Sauce and Mala Spice Mix to our repertoire. Zhong Sauce is a sweet, spicy, umami rich, and exceptionally versatile dipping sauce, finishing sauce, or marinade mixer made with soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms, and some spicy spices. Mala Spice Mix is an intoxicating blend of eleven herbs and spices that goes above and beyond to add frisson to french fries, pizzaz to pizza , or a slammin sizzle to steak.

Take your taste buds on an Asian adventure with the Fly by Jing set, packed and ready for travel in a reusable bayleaf wine bag. Be sure to send a postcard and tell us all about your tasty trip!

Day 2 | 12 Days of Christmas | Fish Feast

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:29:09 GMT

If you haven’t heard, tinned fish is a real catch these days. And, we aren’t talking about your cat food looking, tuna casserole staple of yesteryear, either. Tinned fish has evolved into the sustainable, shelf-stable, seafood option that is the go-to of gourmets, foodies, and James Beard Award-winning chefs alike. Tinned fish is packed full of flavor and nutrition, has a long shelf life, and is handy to have around when you need to add a protein punch to salads, appetizer spreads, and pasta dishes. Tinned fish goes swimmingly with charred escarole, roasted fingerling potatoes, marinated fennel, or all three. Try some simply on toast or a hunk of Screamin’ Banshee bread . Or, grab a fork, pop open a can, and net yourself a scrumptious snack.

bayleaf has an incredible selection of tinned (and jarred) fish and other sea-fare, from the sashimi grade Island Trollers tuna to a killer Caesar salad upgrade – premium Ortiz olive oil packed anchovies. To simplify your selection though, we have scaled it back a bit. We know you will be hooked on this trio of house favorites – stocked in a bayleaf wine bag: Ritrovo Selections Tuna Chunks with Potatoes and Rosemary in Olive Oil (perfect for a quick niçoise style salad or tossed with white beans for a heart-healthy and satisfying main course), hand-packed Alaskan smoked salmon (the quintessential brunch bagel addon), and Olasagasti anchovy/sardine pâté (for a terrific tapas topper or a fine umami fin-ish).

Day 1 | 12 Days of Christmas | Mustard Trio

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 18:30:03 GMT

Mustard d ates back thousands of years to the early Roman era and is considered to be the oldest known condiment still in use today. Little has changed in the original preparation as all contain mustard seeds (powdered, ground, cracked, crushed, or whole), a liquid such as vinegar or wine, and a seasoning or salt of some kind. As with anything we carry at bayleaf, the mustards (and we have many including the vinaigrette staple – Dijon) are of exceptional quality and far beyond basic yellow. For your shopping convenience, we have put together three of our newest and most flavorful mustards that are perfect for a cheese and charcuterie complement, a stacked sammie slather, or a mind-bending meat marinade.

Think beyond pretzels and wieners (although they are pretty spectacular on either) with this trio of taste all packed neatly in a yellow (of course!) bayleaf wine bag. Seattle based Mustard and Co.’s Honey Curry mustard starts with fresh ground, raw mustard seeds and pure, raw Pacific Northwest honey and adds in a kick of curry. California made Kitty Keller Black Truffle mustard blends the elegance of black truffles with a decadent Dijon base. And our new favorite find – Florida’s award winning Terrapin Ridge Farms Garlic Kraut mustard is so scrumptious a certain mustard-loving staff member was spotted eating it with a spoon.

12 Days of Christmas

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:22:41 GMT

One thing bayleaf inarguably does best is search the world for the highest quality food and drink for you to enjoy, and none of the nonsense of this year was going stop us from doing that! The last many months have been more than a little bit different – life as we knew it was brought to a screeching halt, chaos ensued, and normal skipped town – so our traditional Twelve Days Gift Guide had to be a little bit different this year too.

Since traveling has been off the table (indeed venturing out, in general, has not been a safe option for many) in just forever, we decided to try even harder to bring the tastes of world to you – one way or another! Come into the store (a few at a time or make a personal shopping appointment ), pull up to the curb , order delivery, or have your selections shipped. One way or another, we will make sure you and your loved ones can enjoy a trip around the globe via the great cheeses, wines, and other goodies and gifts we have stocked in our Whidbey Island shop.

Before we head off on our adventure, it would first be prudent to pack a taste of home-sweet-home. World-renowned Penn Cove smoked mussels and Good Food Award-winning Island Trollers line caught albacore are two gifts that are sure to please – and a cinch to ship. House made Salty Blonds have a three-month shelf life – though they never ever last that long! Small batch San Juan Island Sea Salt blends (Have you tried Dill Pickle yet?!) are perfect for the discerning type, and Primal Island grain-free granola is our go-to for the health nut in your life. We have Mishal Rowley handsewn designs, Hannah Dunn fine art, and Turnco Wood Goods. In fact, we have so many popular island-made items that we have a gift basket dedicated to them!

Specials for Everyone!

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 19:09:27 GMT

We are closed today, open Saturday for our big holiday reveal with lots of treats in store. We know some of you would prefer to stay at home, but that's no reason to miss out! We invite you to stock up, take advantage of these specials by shopping on our website, calling in your orders or drop us an email. We'll make sure you have all the bayleaf treats you need.

6th one free ~ Stock up on your favorite pantry staple, buy 5 bayleaf pasta sauces and get the 6th selection FREE! Great for soups, pastas, pizza and any place you need primo tomato sauce.

15% off your house wine ~ such a deal! We'll create a custom case just for you and yours, let us know your over all budget, how many reds/whites/rose/sparkling and your favorites. You'll be stocked up with delicious wine all at a deal.

Free Shipping! Order on our website, we'll do the shipping for you - don't forget to let us know what message to add to your gift.

10% off ~ this applies to all orders on a one shopping spree, use in store, online, and email / phone orders too - just mention the code! Good for this weekend only.

Vermouth take home tasting with Leith Shenstone of Fasel Shenstone Imports

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:13:55 GMT

Vermouth take home tasting with
Leith Shenstone of Fasel Shenstone Imports

Pick up 23rd October

Wine Club members $20 / $25 non

Includes 5 tastes, discounts, nosh and video with the importer and producer

Vermouth....what is it? First of all, it is not the Martini & Rossi that we here in this country have been flooded with for the past few decades. That is not real vermouth. Proper vermouth is a sophisticated wine blended with a bit of fortification spirit and a range of exotic and rich botanicals, including the shrub called wormwood, which has long been known to be an anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety naturopathic ingredient. The word vermouth actually comes from the Germanic word for wormwood, vermut.

Are you a fan of history & nomenclature? Vermouth is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages we know of with evidence of its existence dating back 5+ millennia. From wormwood infused rice liquor in China to Hippocrate Wine in Ancient Greece and then Vinum Absinthium in Ancient Rome, vermouthesque libations have long been used as a cure-all medicinal and one can't help but realize that the added fortification really helped the cause. History shows that life has been hard for a very long time. Vermouth has added a rosy glow.

We are so lucky to have Leith Shenstone with us for this event. Leith represents the very best aromatized wines (i.e. vermouth) on the planet. Together with the help of his very good friend Giancarlo Mancino, renowned aperitivo producer and Italian barman, they will pick apart the "grand-cru" vermouth line of Piemonte (North Italy): Mancino Vermouth. These are absolutely fascinating delights full of nuance and surprises. Any hipster bartender will lick their chops with this stuff but it doesn't have to be used in a cocktail. Sip it like a wine! As an added bonus, as long as you are judicious with keeping it capped and refrigerated, it will last a few months.

Forget what you think you know about vermouth my dear buddies; this is the real stuff. Join us to learn about this category and delightful ways to enjoy it at home.

2020 Champagne Tasting

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 16:24:51 GMT

Save the Bubbles

take-home Champagne Tasting

Friday, November 20th

5 ~ 375 ml bottles ~ $175

snacks $20,

triple crème brie's, pate & potato chips

word, lots of words, stay with us...

Friends,

2020 has been a year of hard conversations and seemingly endless setbacks. One particularly difficult choice for us was shutting down all in store tastings. It was a no brainer to preserve the safety of ourselves and our customers, but man! We really miss tasting wine with you... and of those tastings that were lost this year, none have weighed more on me than the fate of our annual Grower Champagne tasting events!

So it is with great pride that we announce the "Save the Bubbles" Take-home Champagne Tasting, coming to you remotely Friday, November 20!

The way it will work: register online or in person for a tasting slot, then swing by the store on the big day to pick up your tasting kit of 5 fabulous half-bottles of real, pop-the-cork-yourself grower Champagne (and maybe some selected snacks to pair too), and then you're ready to enjoy the tasting from the safety and comfort of your own home! We'll send you a link to a video of Owen tasting the wines right there with you, answering questions you send in advance, and using the power of video editing and fancy graphics to help you understand the world of Champagne better than ever.

And the best part: this is a tasting you can enjoy at your own leisure and pace. Taste the wines straight through, or take your time and taste them over the course of the weekend. That's what the pause button was invented for! And if you've already got a few awkward Zoom calls under your belt, don't worry: we're making this as simple and easy as possible. Watching the tasting video is as simple as clicking a YouTube link.

After you've finished the tasting, you'll have the opportunity to order the wines at a special discount just like before. Take your time, pick your favorites, and let us know what you need to get ready for the holidays and the coming year.

We're offering a $25 discount for customers who register this weekend, so jump in now if you want to join us! Even though it's digital, the Champagne is still physical, so slots are limited.

Stay tuned for more updates everyone! And as always, thank you so much for everything you do for us!

MONS Cheese Tasting Event

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:08:45 GMT

MONS Cheese tasting event with Kevin Palmaccio

We are so excited to share these delicious cheeses with you! In January (sooo long ago) at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show, we were fortunate to sit with Kevin Palmaccio the US Operations for MONS cheeses. We learned more about the MONS program, how each wheel is carefully cared for; how the stewardship from dairy to cheese monger (and you!) is an integral part of their business and then of course we tasted cheese! Now you can too...Read more about the MONS Maison here . Please keep in mind, the cheeses themselves are limited (we took 1 of only 150 wheels made) and seasonal (aforementioned cheese is made 1 x a year) and MONS will only sell cheese once it is perfectly aged (we order 6-8 weeks out). We hope you'll join us - t his tasting event is for your personal education and tasting pleasure!

We are honored to bring these special cheeses to Whidbey Island.

Our host, US Operations Manager Kevin Palmaccio will be joining you during your tasting via video. Kevin made a career switch early on all for the love of cheese. Starting at his local Whole Foods as a cheese monger he later became a kaasemaker in Amsterdam. In between mongering and cheese making in both the US and Amsterdam, Kevin was also the first American to study at the MONS school in France. Thanks to Kevin for tasting with us and of course to cheese science.

This tasting event is LIMITED. Cheeses are below, all of these contain Cow's milk.

Cantalet Entre Deux

Gabietou

Pave du Nord

Coeur de Savoie

Etivaz

Simi Blue

Tasting includes over 1 lb. total weight of cheese, n otes & videos as well as discounts on purchases

Pick up is Friday 25th of September.

Purchase online here ~ please let us know if you have any trouble.

Every week!

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 14:49:41 GMT

The Times are a changin'...

Each week we continue to look at our shop and decide how best to serve you. After being here for 20 years (!) we want to continue - no matter what's going on in the world! We all want to stay healthy and safe. Right now (August 14th, 2020) at bayleaf you have the following options,

see our online offerings! So fun. These are for pick up, ship or delivery. Please note any special requests in the memo section.
email your order. Know what you need? Send us a detailed email, we'll be in touch.
come to the door! Shop at our door - you are at a safe distance, we are at a safe distance and both of us miss seeing each others smiles. (please wear a mask)
make an online appointment! It's super easy, here . And it's fun. Your group (up to 5) get the store to yourself for a half an hour. We wine and dine you. Right now this option is offered on Wednesdays - this too could change...again please wear a mask.
come inside!* Yes you are welcome to come in, only please wear a mask, use our hand sanitizer (touchless and generous). This option is meant for shopping. If you need but a few things and know what they are, please use option 3.

Option 5 - come in is offered when we have staff to accommodate and it's one party at a time. We so appreciate you being with us during this difficult time. We hope we can bring a bit of joy to your daily experience.

Beso Imports

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 21:20:40 GMT

Beso Imports Wine Tasting

This is the guest we had hoped to have in the shop back in March (remember then?) Well now it's summer so we've switched up the wines and welcomed Patrick back with a beautiful tasting for you to try at home! Take your time with these, get your good wine glasses out, and maybe a notepad too. Think of tasting with intention. Don't take the wine into your mouth until you've been able to think of a couple of words that describe what your nose is smelling. Watch the video when you taste, at your own pace - pause when you need...

The wines of Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe available in Washington state are not only largely organically grown but perhaps more diverse than any other region in the world of wine. Here farmers have never had to fight against top down regulations limiting the types of grapes that can be grown or the percentages of them allowed in finished blends. Here, the land, the climate and the farmer’s sensitivity to what actually worked given the natural resources available in the environment, led the way. The result is wines made from a diversity of grape varieties that spans all of those best known in France, Italy and Spain. Each farmer plants what works best in his or her family vineyards.

This freedom to grow what actually worked best gives rise to the precision expression seen coming out of the Valle today. These are not wines that taste “like” wines from anywhere else and it is this “somewhereness” inherent in these wines that is stealing the hearts of consumers across the nation.

Washington is fortunate to have exclusive access the largest portfolio of Mexican wines available anywhere in the US, and these wines show the diversity and quality on offer from the region.

While we would love to have all of you in the shop (Patrick lives in Anacortes) it's just not possible right now. So better yet we've brought this gifted importer, Patrick Neri of Beso Imports and wine maker, Santiago Lopez into your home via video. We hope you'll enjoy!

This kit includes,

5 tastes, a bite of food, notes & videos as well as discounts on purchases

Purchase online here .

Summer 2020 Mini Menu

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 22:57:31 GMT

To Go

Please note we make sandwiches daily, sometimes they sell out. For orders greater than 10 please give us 24 hours notice.

Food IS love.

Tue, 12 May 2020 15:00:51 GMT

Always here.

Food can bring comfort during even the most trying of times. Good food, such as bread handmade with love (and a century-old sourdough starter), nourishes the body and feeds the soul. Lucky us, locally made Screamin’ Banshee organic sourdough bread is available every week at bayleaf. This dense and toothsome bread is perfect for soup and stew, avocado toast, or simply served with fine olive oil or French sea salt butter (we carry those too). The lovely caramelized crust seals in moisture and keeps each loaf fresh for days. It freezes and ships well and leftovers can be revived in mere minutes in a hot oven.*

It takes 24 hours to go from proofing to perfection, so order a loaf (or three) on our online store by Wednesday evening and pick up your fresh boule or baguette after 2pm on Friday. Preordering guarantees we have enough bread for all and prevents precious loaves from going to waste.

bayleaf is open Thursday through Saturday, 11 to 5, for your walkup or drive-by shopping pleasure. We have wine and other tasty goodies all of the time, but the bread is not guaranteed…unless you preorder now! Man cannot live on bread alone, but Screamin’ Banshee organic sourdough comes pretty close. Take home a loaf of love for yourself or have us ship some to a friend.

*refresh bread by dampening the outside, either spray or wet your hand with water
and rub over the bread, place in a hot 400 degree oven for 5 minutes, it comes back!

Happy!

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:34:09 GMT

Greetings friends.

As we go on during this unprecedented time we keep learning new things...Like, most people are amazing. Not just support wise but downright kind, helpful and sincere. It's very reassuring. We want to keep up with the kindness that has been given to us. Is there some way we can help?

One thing I know I need help with is to eat more happy food. Happy food? Food that actually makes you feel better! It goes beyond comfort. Food that sparks curiosity and joy. One bayleaf way to eat is a Mezze Plate or a Tapas Plate or...you get the idea. Bites that are meant to accompany wine and conversation, even if it's over Zoom...

This week we present the bayleaf Mezze kit. The idea here is we don't really know what day it is let alone which meal we are supposed to be on, but this solves all of that! Part celebration, part healthy, all kinds of feel good with all the great taste you've come to expect from us. While the pizza kit is here to stay (and you certainly can make pizza healthy-ish too); this new kit offers a bevy of bites that encourages clean eating and a happy disposition. We hope you love it.

This weeks kit includes

House made hummus - unlike grocery store hummus ours is very soft, made with fresh garbanzos, high quality tahini, fresh garlic and lots of lemon.
Dolmas! Little rice bundles that are earthy and light
Whole Wheat Pita for dipping
Grilled Artichokes
Roasted Red Pepper Spread
Fresh cucumber & tomato salad with olives

HOW TO...

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 18:42:28 GMT

Lot's of options!

So for the past 20 years we've loved welcoming you to our store, that has NOT changed. What has changed is the methods on how to get the goods. Hope this is clear. Of course, email beth@bayleaf.us or call 360-678-6603 if you prefer, we want to be of service.

Strange Times

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 01:35:18 GMT

Didn't see that coming.

Nope. Not in 20 years did I think that deciding whether to open or close my "unessential" store would be on the forefront of my mind. Several things are being tossed about. Most on our minds are keeping YOU and our staff safe. bayleaf has always been a place of joy and camaraderie. Now it feels oddly cautious. Back up, don't hug, wipe, wash, repeat...Not sure what the right answer is - I don't think any of us know...So we've decided this, we will shorten our hours to Thursday - Sunday 11-5 - (this has changed, please refer to our front page for current hours).We will suspend all tasting events and dining in. We can arrange delivery if you need or curbside service. In addition we offer these NEW business ideas for you. Join us if you can, at whatever level of comfort you are able.

Just know that we miss you too.

Gift Certificate Program ~ you want to show support! Thanks so much. For every gift certificate purchased on our website we'll add 10% on us! When you get back in here we can celebrate together.

Call us ~ our personalized service is something that we pride ourselves on. We don't want you to miss out on that?! Set up a call appointment and we'll do some personal shopping together on the phone. You can either pick up curbside or we'll ship to you.

To your health! ~ 6 pack of wine $99 let us know your favorite colors, we'll make it a mix!

bayleaf pantry box ~ all the necessary ingredients...pasta...sauce...EVOO...balsamic...tuna...nuts...cheese and crackers $ 99,

substitutions welcome!

Mexico in March ~ POSTPONED

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:23:25 GMT

Let's go to Mexico this March!

It's raining, it's cold - we could all use a bit of warming up. Welcome back Patrick Neri of Beso imports, who is responsible for bringing Mexican wines to the Washington market! For a chance to get a window into this incredibly unique and complex region and to meet and mingle with a road-hardened importer who has wrangled mythical beasts to bring these wines to us, make haste and sign up your party for this delicious event now.

POSTPONED ~ 28th March Saturday 4pm

$30 ~ $25 wine club members*

discounts offered at the event

Washington is fortunate to have exclusive access the largest portfolio of Mexican wines available anywhere in the US, and the line up we’ll be tasting at this event shows the diversity and quality on offer from the region. From estate grown sparkling wine to biodynamically farmed 100% Tempranillo, those in attendance are in for a treat.

Featuring...

L.A. Cetto NV Brut 90% Chardonnay, 10% French Colombard (method charmat)

Corona del Valle 2018 Sauvignon Blanc 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Bodegas F. Rubio 2017 Sangiovese 100% Sangiovese

Vinisterra 2016 Domino Tinto 53% Grenache, 24% Tempranillo, 16% Mourvèdre, 7% Syrah

Symmetria 2017 Eje 60% Zinfandel, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 10% Malbec

Santos Brujos 2016 Tempranillo 100% Tempranillo

Isn't it time to join one of our four wine clubs ? Two selections a month, a delicious way to stay connected with bayleaf.

Seasonal Selection Box

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:15:50 GMT

You love bayleaf – thanks!

Life gets busy & you don’t get through our doors as often as you would like, we get it.

Welcome bayleaf seasonal subscription box!

Each quarterly box will highlight the season with delicious new finds, tried-and-true bayleaf items you may have yet to discover, and always what we are up to on Whidbey. Stay connected and be the first to discover what is new at bayleaf!

With each subscription receive:

A sweet
A savory
A beverage
A new
A tried-and-true
A collaboration with a local friend
A menu & recipe suggestion
A gift

Tasting notes that cover all the delicious details

Exclusive perks and benefits on our webstore & in the shop

Order by March 18th to receive March/April/May Box
Each box is $75 and includes shipping. Sign up for the year (4 boxes) and enjoy for $255

Annual subscription will be fulfilled within these deadlines,

March 18th to receive March/April/May Box

June 1st to receive June/July/Aug Box

Sept 1st to receive Sept/Oct/Nov Box

Dec 1st to receive Dec/Jan/Feb

Each box is $75 and includes shipping. Sign up for the year (4 boxes) and enjoy for $255

February Events

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:53:45 GMT

Join us this month!

This February make a plan! Join us each Thursday for THIRSTY THURSDAY - wine flights from 5-7, drop in. Super casual, social and fun.

The Riesling Event we are having on the 22 is almost sold out! If you can't make it would you like to host your own? See Beth for opportunities to host your own private event at bayleaf or purchase 1 bottle of each (at a discount) and have a tasting at your home, we'll provide notes too.

On leap day this year we are offering a terrific education event...

Join us for an education seminar and pairing tasting with Ilyse Rathet, owner of Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods and Slow Food Master of Olive oil. We will taste 5 Italian olive oils, including bayleaf’s private label olive oil, in a discovery of the diversity of colors, aromas, textures, and flavors of Italy’s regional olive oils. We will then apply that knowledge to help you become an expert olive oil shopper for any kind of olive oil you buy. This food-savvy information can help you become a better overall food and wine taster too!

Come ready with all of your questions and conundrums about terms like “extra virgin” and “cold-pressed”. Bring your palates to taste food bites prepared to exalt the different olive oils. This event is a game changer, you've been warned! Day of discounts will be offered.

29 February 2 pm

$30 ~ with $10 credit toward EVOO purchase.

Please register.

12 days of Christmas | Gift #12 | best gift of all

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 16:34:38 GMT

Whether you are out of time or out of ideas, we have the perfect present for you – a one-size-fits-all, hassle-free, sure to please even the pickiest recipient, better than a Jelly of the Month Club, bayleaf gift certificate. They are the easiest to give, as you don’t even need to pause your Christmas Vacation and come into the store to shop. Order online or give us a call – we can mail the certificate to you or to whomever you’d like (we’ll even throw in the stamp). We can write the certificate for any amount ($1 to $1,000 or even more!) for specific items (cheese, Grower Champagne, or Wine Club memberships perhaps?) or for whatever your recipient desires. Gift certificates are perfect for stocking stuffers, secret Santa exchanges, and more…or keep a few around just in case. You never know who will show up on your doorstep around the holidays (Cousin Eddie, I’m talking about you!)

12 days of Christmas | Gift #11 | Grower Champagne

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 16:21:50 GMT

For an opulent gift that’s better than gold, Grower Champagne is the only one that will do. It is the beverage of choice for royalty, rappers, the rich and elite…and bayleaf insiders. While Champagne is a tightly controlled label for French sparkling wine that is made from a few specific varietals of grapes grown only in the Champagne region, Grower Champagne one-ups those restrictions because it is Champagne made by the estate where the grapes are grown. Just like too many cooks spoiling the soup, too many growers (some commercial Champagne brands use grapes from as many as 80 different growers) can really spoil the Champagne. Controlling the final product from the bud to the bottle ensures only the highest quality Champagnes are produced. Browse our carefully selected lineup and select a bottle or a case (there’s a discount!) for gifting, toasting, or sipping on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

12 Days of Christmas | Gift #10 | Haku

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 19:28:14 GMT

Umami, the Japanese word for delicious or flavorsome, is a culinary buzzword with ancient roots used to describe a taste sensation that is deeper and more intense, far beyond the usual salty, sweet, sour, bitter. The new hotness in umami food trends is artisan shoyu (soy sauce), and – of course – the always on-trend staff at bayleaf discovered Haku, a superlative line of Japanese made, umami-rich sauces for your cooking and gifting pleasure.
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Choose Mizunara Whisky Barrel Aged Shoyu, aged in Japanese whisky barrels for thirteen months; Smoked Shoyu, cold-smoked with Japanese oak; Sakura Cherry Blossom Shoyu, a lighter shoyu aged with preserved cherry blossoms; or Iwashi Whisky Barrel Aged Fish Sauce, a highly-coveted, sweeter and more mellow two-year-aged fish sauce that is aged for an additional year in Japanese whisky barrels. Giving one would be extra, giving all four would leave any cook shook ��

Shop online...

12 Days of Christmas| Gift #9 | The Maggie

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 19:14:06 GMT

The Magi were reputed to give rare spices and herbs as part of their usual trifecta of gifts.

��✨ If you have a notion to do the same, bayleaf is here to help with a portfolio of traditional Middle Eastern seasonings from Seattle-based spice purveyor, Villa Jerada. Harissa, Chermoula Spread, Za’atar, Aleppo Pepper, Shawarma Spice Blend, and the finest saffron threads are among the Villa Jerada brand seasonings that grace the menus of several notable Seattle restaurants…as well as the shelves at bayleaf.

In addition to these executive chef-trusted ingredients, we also carry zesty preserved lemons and piquant Moroccan Picholine olives from the same house. Wise men (and women) know bayleaf is a shining star when it comes to offering the finest in wine, cheese, and pantry items, so give one, two, or three of these as a gift fit for a king, a hostess, or your favorite foodie friend.

Purchase online....

12 Days of Christmas| Gift #8 | Don Antonio bayleaf signature pasta sauces

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:23:47 GMT

bayleaf signature pasta sauces are simply the best. �� Start with the austere minimalism of the rich tomato and red wine based Sugo al Vino Rosso. Notch it up a bit with the sweet-savory taste of Sugo alla Puttanesca’s olives, capers, pine nuts, and raisins. Or take it all the way to the top and pamper your palate with the luxuriously silky Sugo alla Vodka and Sugo ai Due Formaggo.
��
All four proprietary recipes start with luscious vine-ripened tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh herbs and contain no artificial ingredients or added sugar. Each is delectable on any one of our amazing pastas, of course, but they also make an exceptional addition to pizza, panini, meatloaf, eggplant parmesan, and more. Try one or try them all. Snag a bottle or a box for you or a friend because if it says bayleaf, it has to be good!

Shop now...

12 Days of Christmas | Gift #7

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:20:26 GMT

Beef and pork salamis are the backbone of any respectable charcuterie spread, but when you are ready to move beyond your basic board, we’ve got what you need - Fabrique Delices Cured Duck Salami and Smoking Goose Gin and Juice Lamb Salame. ��
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The decadent Fabrique Delices salami uses a time-honored French recipe that flawlessly balances the deep flavor of duck with a touch of garlic, sea salt, and black peppercorns while Smoking Goose Gin and Juice kicks in crushed juniper berries and orange peel for an indulgence that is nothing short of sublime.
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Both are made in small batches and slow cured for outstanding quality, taste, and texture, and either will ensure any meat and cheese platter is extra cush. Slip in for one or the pair or have us ship them for you to the east coast from the ‪best coast‬ or anywhere in between.

Shop now...

12 Days of Christmas | Gift #6 | Little Apple Treats Caramels

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 17:55:58 GMT

If hot is a big not, but you still want to give a Good Food Award winner, check out the chewy gooey goodness of Little Apple Treats Caramels. �� Apple Cider Caramels with Rose Petals + Cocoa Nibs, Spiced Apple Pie Caramels, Apple Cider Caramels with Toasted Almonds, and Apple Cider Caramels with Candy Caps have scored Good Food victories nearly too many times to count – and bayleaf carries all four winning flavors.
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The secret is in the sauce, or, more specifically in the aged-in-French-oak-barrels-for-one-year apple cider vinegar (which we also carry!) made from tart Sonoma County, California apples and the cream and butter from Clover Sonoma Farms, a century old family farm right next door to the orchards. �� Now, if you think vinegar and caramel shouldn’t mingle, come in and ask for a sample and let your sweet tooth be swayed by the magical merger $5.99 plus FREE Shipping✨

Shop online....

12 Days of Christmas | Gift #5

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 02:15:50 GMT

�� Gift number 5:
We have the gotta get it gift for all of the people on your list – HOSA Fermented Hot Sauce. Made right up the road in Bellingham, WA, HOSA is a 2020 Good Food Award finalist ensuring it has a “tasty, authentic, and responsible” stamp of approval.
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HOSA, the hot sauce made to accentuate, not dominate, is an indispensable recipe ingredient or condiment. Each batch contains no junk or gunk – only a few simple ingredients like locally produced sea salt and seasonal peppers from area farms – and is fermented for a minimum of six weeks for fab flavor and gut goodness. From plucking picture-perfect peppers to packaging the palate pleasing piquancy, each part of the pepper preserving process is painstakingly precise – it’s a promise.
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Pick a peck of HOSA hot sauce and spice up the season for family and friends, or yourself.

Purchase online....

12 Days of Christmas | Gifts #3 & 4

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 19:35:58 GMT

�� Gift number 3:
bayleaf is proud to carry Big Dipper Wax Works taper pairs in a variety of amazing colors. Each hand-dipped, artisan candle burns for over 24 hours and is made using only 100% cotton wicks and 100% pure beeswax from free-range bees. �� Big Dipper Wax Works is a Green America® approved business which means they not only make gorgeous candles but also are independently certified as a socially just and environmentally sustainable business. �� In addition, 5% of the net profits is donated to support outreach, education, and promotion of sustainable beekeeping.

Order Big Dipper Wax Works taper pairs now...
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�� Gift number 4:
At bayleaf we know that “disposable” and “single-use” is so yesterday which is why we are excited to offer this reusable, rechargeable, and recyclable USB lighter this holiday season. �� Never again buy another match or wasteful butane lighter. Offering up to 300 lights for each 1-hour charge, this easy to use, cutting-edge lighter is perfect (and perfectly safe) for lighting nearly everything including candles, gas appliances, and cozy campfires. Better yet, pair one with a pair of Big Dipper Wax Works hand-dipped tapers for the ultimate in sophisticated gift-giving.

Order USB Lighter now...

12 Days of Christmas | Gift Idea #2 | Fer à Cheval hand soaps

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 17:21:57 GMT

Make every day spa day with our new must-have skincare find Fer à Cheval hand soaps. Fer à Cheval has been traditionally made in the same facility in the city center of Marseille, France using the same pure and simple recipes since 1856.

This beloved French household staple is available at bayleaf in three ultra-lux scents – Pétales de Rose (Rose Petal), Fleur D'Olivier (Olive Blossom), and Embruns & Cédrat (Seaside Citrus). Feel good about babying your skin (or your baby’s) with these lightly scented, gently cleansing, authentic Marseille liquid soaps.

Each is crafted with a base of coconut and sweet almond oils and contains none of the harsh petrochemical surfactants, parabens, mineral oils, animal fats, or artificial fragrances and colorings found in most other commercially produced soaps.

Treat yourself and impress your guests by styling your bathroom with the “good towels” and Fer à Cheval hand soap.

Order online now....

12 Days of Christmas | Gift Idea #1 | Cheese Knives

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 23:23:46 GMT

Do you need to up your cheese game?

bayleaf, the finest fromage dealer on the island, is also the go-to for the finest in cheese cutlery. Make your holiday cheese board truly Instagram worthy with the classic design of a Laguiole Jean Neron cheese knife set. The high-quality utensils embellished with the renowned Laguiole bee have been produced in the town of Laguiole since the mid 19th century.

We selected this three-piece set because it was designed and handcrafted in Thiers, France and is representative of the superior craftsmanship known to the region. It includes a fork-tipped cheese knife, cleaver, and spreader to accommodate a variety of cheeses. Grab a set of these French masterpieces for yourself or give one (with a gift certificate for some tasty cheese) as an enviable gift sure to be enjoyed for decades to come.

Buy Online Now...

bayleaf Holiday 6 - packs

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 17:50:57 GMT

one more thing to check off your list!

Each season we put together what we've come to call our holiday 6-packs - a special selection of wines that we've been thinking about for months. Some selections are house favorites (Gamay) some are allocated (we get very little) selections that we are spazzing out for you to try. We've bundled them together, with wine notes - you even get a bayleaf bag. They are discounted - a bundled price. They would all be terrific seasonal picks for your table. You can pick up more than one, we'll give you a discount 10%. That way you can squirrel one away in your pantry and be prepared when guests come by or you need an unexpected gift. Or maybe you really want to show someone extra gratitude this year and you'll pick up one for yourself and gift the other - how nice! Either way, they are here, ready for you. Either reserve online here, or drop by and see us - you'll be glad you did.

Sherry Tasting

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 18:00:38 GMT

Bodegas Gutierrez Colosia- taste with family member Carlota Gutiérrez and Eric Stone

Tuesday 29th October 6pm

$30 / $25 - $10 goes toward wine purchased that evening

Purchase tickets here

This is an amazing opportunity and we hope you'll join us. Bodegas Gutierrez Colosia was founded in 1838, at the mouth of the Guadelete River in the Bay of Cadiz, at El Puerto de Santa Maria. The dry winds of the Levante mixing with moisture coming from the Atlantic provide a perfect setting to create amazing wines. To capture this environmental confluence, the regional bodegas are built like cathedrals, with large ceilings and archways to help circulate the air, moisture, and yeasts which help to create the flor.

Being located right on the Guadelete River, Bodegas Gutierrez Colosia is the closest producer to the sea. Additionally, they are one of the last family owned and operated sherry producers, as the history of the region has been about consolidation and outside ownership groups. This makes Gutierrez Colosia special, as they are a testament to independent winemakers, crafting products with finesse, care and passion.

Read more about this incredible house here, http://www.gutierrezcolosia.com/

Holiday Ham Pre-Order

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 20:50:54 GMT

Make this Holiday Season special, order a Nueske's Spiral Cut ham! Unbelievably delicious and you'll love the leftovers not to mention soup making with the bone. These half hams range in size from 8-10 lbs and are pre-order ONLY!

Thanksgiving Ham ~ order deadline MONDAY November 4th - new deadline!

Christmas Ham ~ order deadline Friday December 6th

Make your ham deposit ($10) here

please note if you will pick up Nov 22- 27 or pick up Dec 20-23

Or you can call the shop, or drop by.

Let us know if you would like a larger or smaller, we'll do our best to match you up.

Smoked 24 hours over glowing embers of sweet Wisconsin Applewood
Hand-glazed with honey and spices for mild, sweet flavor
Delivers sweet, smoky signature Nueske's flavor
Spiral-sliced into neat, even slices for effortless serving
Fully cooked, ready to serve at room temperature or gently warmed
Award-winning and backed by bayleaf for 19 years

New California Wines Tasting | Saturday, October 26th @ 4 pm

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 23:11:24 GMT

Image by illustration: MARIA HERGUETA

Saturday, October 26th, @ 4 pm

$30 / $25 - club members, $10 towards purchase of event wines.

What do you think of when you think of California wine? Freshness? Vibrancy? (Relative) affordability? No? Well, you should! Come taste with us some of the new California wines that are now coming out of the leading wine state in the US. These are an example when a greater trend of food-friendly, young winemakers and natural winemaking practices come together. We've featured a few of these selections in our past wine club and the response has been fantastic. No extraction or big oak bombs here - instead expect nuance, complexity and sense of place to shine through.

Jesse Hufstader Indie Wineries Domestic Portfolio Manager will be on hand to show off these beauties, join us.

Purchase your tickets online now!

2018 Lalalu Rosé
Mostly Mouvedre, some Merlot and Cab Sauv. Made by Laura Bissell from Inconnu

2018 Iruai Arcana Savignin
From Chad Hinds of Methode Sauvage. Sierra foothills.

2017 Inconnu Chenin Blanc
From Clarksburg. One year on lees.

2018 Keep Wines Carbonic Counoise
14 days carbonic maceration followed by 2 days foot treading.

2018 Keep Wines Pinot Meunier
From the Vount Mill vineyard in Napa. 20% whole cluster.

2018 Methode Sauvage Blood + Flowers
100% Syrah, northern California.

Graditude for Teachers

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 19:22:44 GMT

Please share with a teacher you love. We all could use a little education in gratitute!
Good for all items in the shop. Not to be combined with other discounts. Must be a current working teacher.

Class is in session at bayleaf - don't miss these happenings this month.

4 October Vermouth Tasting -
SOLD OUT let us know if you want info from this tasting
5 October Autumn Artist Pop-up - Saturday!
Friday's in October ~ collaboration event with Kingfisher Bookstore & Hey Atlas Creative
19 October Parmesan Cheese Cracking Event read and reserve here !
Special THIRSTY THURSDAYS all month 5-7, it involves pasta.*

Saturday 19th of October we'll be cracking an 80 lb wheel of Parm, reserve yours!

October is National Pasta Month - we are sharing a new pasta dish each month at Thirsty Thursday for our nosh. Come and be inspired with a new dish each week! Take home the recipe and ingredients to share, all items in our weekly dish will be on sale.

Parmesan Reggiano Crack! | 19 October Saturday 2pm

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 18:35:24 GMT

Izzy Creveling aka #cheesequeen will start the crack at 2pm. Join us for a taste - FREE. We'll also be offering special parm plates and glasses of wine to pair for purchase.

Reserve your pound purchases online here * . Two pounds for you, 1 pound for your friend, 1 pound for that special neighbor, you get the idea - spread the love!

Known as the King of Cheese- and for good reason! It's not only a great ingredient cheese (pizza, pastas and salads), but it's also amazing to add to cheese boards. A little drizzle of good balsamic vinegar on top, and you don't need anything else- except maybe a glass of wine (or two!).

Parmigiano Reggiano's worth is so great that banks in Italy will accept loan collateral in the form of wheels of P.R. Each wheel is made in one particular region of Italy, under strict regulations that help to ensure quality and consistency. The Italian's say that cracking a wheel of Parmigiano is like letting the soul of the cheese escape- it might not make a huge CRACKing noise, but a bite of a freshly cracked wheel of Parm will rock your world!

Izzy currently curates Cheeses and Charcuterie for local importer and distributor Peterson. She has years of experience as a cheesemonger, and began her career in the Northwest driving a Cheese Truck. She is an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional.

* 1 lb Parmigiano-Reggiano 24 month aged $19.99

Please give us your first and last name for the order. We'll package each pound separately.

Pick up any time after 3 pm on Sat the 19th. Please let us know when you will be picking up.

Vermouth Tasting with Ben Reece

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:00:53 GMT

Friday, October 4th, 5:30 pm

$30 / $25 - club members, $10 towards purchase of event wines.

Mark Paschal of Fasel Shenstone will be on hand to guide us.

Forget what you think you know about vermouth...here in America, we have only very recently gotten access to the real thing. Martini & Rossi is not a true representation of this ancient & beautiful beverage. Evidence of vermouth goes back 5+ millennia in places as far away as China. The word vermouth comes from the Germanic word for Wormwood, Vermut . It is a finished wine that is then spiked with whatever local white lightning available, and infused with a recipe of botanicals, number one on the list being Wormwood. It has a long history of medicinal use for anti-inflammitory, digestif and of course the wonderful soothing properties of alcohol that has helped ancients get through their daily lives of toil and hardship.

These are amazingly complex, nuanced treats that can be enjoyed by themselves or in any number of cocktails that a knowledgeable mixologist can concoct.

Join us for an evening with expert, Ben Reece.

Purchase your tickets online now!

Practical Magic Movie Night | Friday, October 25th, 5:30 pm

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 18:06:05 GMT

Practical Magic Movie Night | Friday, October 24th, 5:30 pm | at bayleaf in Coupeville, WA.

Presented by: The Kingfisher bookstore, bayleaf, and Hey Atlas Creative.

Purchase your tickets online - $10 per person

A Practical Magic Read-along | Presented by Kingfisher Bookstore

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 17:57:05 GMT

We are partnering with our local bookstore - Kingfisher on Front Street for this month long read-along featuring Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic. Stop by the Kingfisher pick up the book and get together each Friday during the month of October! The package includes a tote bag & bookmarks (designed by Hey Atlas Creative ) and a bayleaf mocktail & nosh at one read- along.

A Practical Magic Read-along, presented by Kingfisher Bookstore and catered by bayleaf

*Discussion Nights*
Friday, October 4th
Friday, October 11th
Friday, October 18th

Register early and get the Practical Magic read-along package. Details at the Kingfisher Bookstore

Autumn Artists Pop-Up | October 5th | 4 - 6 pm

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:43:47 GMT

Autumn Artist Pop - Up | October 5, 2019 | 4 - 6 pm at bayleaf in Coupeville

Seasonal Shopping and Meet the Artists. Libations will be poured. Featuring Mishal Rowley, Hanna Dunn, and Lexi Ochoa.

Meet the cheese maker! Aug 17th 4 pm

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:08:03 GMT

Join us as we welcome Samantha Genke from BoxCarr Cheeses and Elaine Heide of Indie Wineries Portland for a delicious cheese and wine opportunity.

We'll taste these three cheeses and have an impromptu wine tasting. This will be a casual event with limited seating both in the shop and on the patio.

Please purchase tickets here.

Read more about the creamier here https://boxcarrhandmadecheese.com/

Aug 17th 4 pm

Paella Party ~ you're invited!

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:46:22 GMT

July 27th / $20 at bayleaf

The last Saturday of this month we'll be hosting a paella party at the shop! A chance to eat bayleaf Paella without hosting your own party - a rare occurance. Starting at noon on the 27th David will be cooking over a charcoal/wood fire on the patio - stop by and watch the show. Paella will be ready at 2pm. Dine in (first come first served) or take it to go. Our paella will include Chicken, Spanish Chorizo, Penn Cove Mussels and vegetables. Special glass pours will be offered or select a bottle from the shop ($8 corkage fee applies unless you are in our wine club).

Purchase Paella tickets here - day of we'll be serving the paella directly out of the pan, check in at the shop to complete your purchase and pick up your "plate". Only a limited number of paella servings will be available - don't miss this!

German & Austria Wine Event

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:53:50 GMT

20 July 4pm

$15 wine club / $20 non

PURCHASE TICKETS

When determining whether you should go to this tasting, ask yourself: when I hear the words “Germanic wine,” what do you see? If you imagine a geographically unique region with a surprising variety of whites and reds unlike any found anywhere else in the world, then you’ll definitely enjoy this tasting.

If you picture a bottle of Riesling with a blue nun on the label... then you absolutely need to come to this tasting to see how much more Germanic wine has to offer!

Not only will we be be breaking stereotypes and expanding palates with a whirlwind tour of whites AND reds from Germany and Austria, but we’ll also be delving into what makes these regions so exquisite in the face of domestic imitators... Plus there will probably be a few history lessons slipped in for good measure, because our host is a nerd and can’t help himself.

So if you’re already in love with the wines east of the Rhine, or if you’ve always wondered if there was more to Germanic wine than just Riesling, then come to this tasting and see for yourself!

Thirsty Thursday! - through September 5th

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 18:33:20 GMT

Wine Flights! Join us each week, taste 3 or 6 wines of discovery. Sometimes we have special guests. Some days we spill out onto the patio. Grab a friend or come solo, this a fun drop in event and we would love to see you.

Prices range $8-$15 per flight.

Tasting of the Lyrarakis wines of Crete, with Steven Brown

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 22:10:14 GMT

13 July 4 pm $15/$20

PURCHASE TICKETS

Join Steven Brown Saturday July 13th for a tasting of the Lyrarakis wines of Crete. These highly reviewed wines seldom escape the Eurozone but will be here at bayleaf!

The Lyrarakis wines are leaders in the global wine world with the focus on the indigenous grapes of their region, working with only organic and biodynamic methods and producing Certified Vegan wines. Beyond all that, the wines are delicious, well priced and versatile! Our region is considered a Mediterranean climate after all, so these wines tend to go better with our flora and fauna than most wines from our own state which are grown in an entirely different climate!

Penn Cove mussels ��Lyrarakis Assyrtiko!

Beso Imports with Patrick Neri

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:38:34 GMT

We welcome back this amazing portfolio featuring summer focused wines.

When people first learn Mexico's history with wine is older than that of any other country in the New World, it can be a perspective changing experience. Many realize it's likely that most of their assumptions about Mexico might be less than accurate and in need of an update.

One of the first questions we get upon pouring the wines to someone for the first time is, where in Mexico do these wines come from? Many people in the US have a blurry mental image that the land south of the border is an endless desert without much definition in terms of landscape or culture... nothing could be further from the truth.

The Lonely Planet said of Mexico, "the coolest country you'll never visit". Condé Nast just declared the culinary/wine scene in Valle de Guadalupe and the surrounding area the hippest place to watch in 2019. Yet, no headlines, accurate or not, can substitute for the transformation that's likely to occur when you first visit the place for yourself. Taste and see.

We welcome back this amazing portfolio featuring summer focused wines. Don't miss out this sold out fast last time!

Purchase your tickets today!

Events begin promptly at 4pm - if you are unable to make it please call us, we can only offer a refund if we are able to fill your seat. Please refrain from wearing anything scented - we want your focus to be on the food experience! Ticket price includes all tastes. Wine events include a bite of food to pair. Food events will offer wines by the glass for purchase. Discounts will be offered the evening of the tasting - we hope you'll take advantage.

Garnier-Thiebaut Trunk Show

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:15:14 GMT

You are invited... Saturday 22 June 11am - 3pm

ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

Discount offered on all orders placed - one day only!

Saturday the 22nd we'll have the new spring collection on hand, and we'll be pouring libations - ready to take your custom order. Bring dishes, paint chips, fabric swatches to match. This is a great time to get your summer table set, stock up on kitchen towels and pick out that special gift for someone on your list. Ready to buy? Please make an appointment with Beth - email beth@bayleaf.us or ring 360-678-6603.

View the Spring Collection here.

Glou Glou - delightfully honest natural wine

Sun, 19 May 2019 01:56:13 GMT

June 1 Saturday 4pm

Ben of American Northwest

Glou Glou Tasting

Purchase Tickets

Glou Glou (pronounced glu-glu{as in gulping read more here} ) is a term that is becoming evermore popular in Europe to describe unpretentious delightfully honest natural wines meant to be enjoyed and not judged. Organic & Biodynamic farming, non-interventionist winemaking, no new oak barrels, whole-cluster semi-carbonic maceration and little-to-no-sulfite additions. These wines are fresh, clean and absolutely delicious. There will be bubbles, whites & reds. Given the nature of single-vineyard natural wines, the final lineup will be determined closer to the time of the event. Local produce is only available seasonally, so why should fermented grape juice be any different?

Pelissero Tasting - Cultivating dreams, harvesting passion

Wed, 08 May 2019 18:51:48 GMT

May 18 Saturday 4pm
Chris of Bianco Rosso Wines

A tasting of Pelissero Wines

Purchase Tickets

Cultivating dreams, harvesting passion is the mantra of Pelissero wines located in the heart of Barbaresco DOCG appellation for three generations. It was Luigi, who first started bottling and selling the wines under the family label in 1960. Today, Luigi’s son and oenologist Giorgio runs the family business, continuing to place the utmost importance on the vineyards and the winemaking like his father.

Join us to taste, talk and experience these spectacular wines that show a time and place that harkens back to the ancient and time honored Piedmont wine making tradition, all without leaving Coupeville.

This tasting will be primarily reds, with one white.

Riesling ‘Rigadin’
Dolcetto Munfrina
Barbera Piani
Nebbiolo
Barbera ‘Tulin’
Barbaresco Nubiola

Events begin promptly at 4pm - if you are unable to make it please call us, we can only offer a refund if we are able to fill your seat. Please refrain from wearing anything scented - we want your focus to be on the food experience! Ticket price includes all tastes. Wine events include a bite of food to pair. Food events will offer wines by the glass for purchase. Discounts will be offered the evening of the tasting - we hope you'll take advantage.

Wines of the Loire Valley

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 17:07:35 GMT

May 4 Saturday 4 pm

Owen of Cavatappi

Wines of the Loire Valley

Purchase Tickets

Few wine regions are as paradoxically beloved and mysterious as France's Loire Valley. Home to the greatest expressions of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc in the world, the twisting banks of the Loire river also host lesser known grape varieties like the shape-shifting Chenin Blanc and countless other, esoteric grapes. From Muscadet in the west to Sancerre in the east, the wines of the Loire form a rainbow of styles across the river valley. Unifying them all thematically is a distinct pronunciation of terroir: minerality first, fruit second.

The whites range from crisp and citrusy to plush and floral, and the reds are intriguingly peppery and brimming with aromas of red cherry and raspberry, medium bodied with bright acidity. There are no oak bombs here, and the wines express themselves with intriguing grace and absolutely sing in the presence of fine cheese and good company.

Please join us for an fantasy tour of this oft overlooked region of Northern France, as we move from one end of the river to the other, sampling the local wines as we go and discussing just what makes each one so unique to anything else in the world. And heck, maybe we'll throw in some fun history lessons as a bonus too...

Eric Stone presents - Taste with Ramon Parera from Cellar Pardas of Spain!

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:53:53 GMT

April 27 Saturday 4pm

Taste with Ramon Parera from Cellar Pardas of Spain!

Eric Stone presents

$20/$15

S OLD OUT - PLEASE CALL TO BE ADDED TO THE WAIT LIST

Rare opportunity to taste with the wine maker! Join us for a fun evening learning more about Celler Pardas, also featured will be Spanish tapas.

At cellar pardas, we are viticulturists and enologists, winegrowers and winemakers. We are involved in all steps of production: working and cultivating the land to bottling and packaging the final product. It is because of this closeness and our relationship to all of the process, that we can commit to our final objective of creating quality wines. Wines that above all, characterize us and are a reflection of our corner of the world.

Our philosophy resides in allowing our vineyards to resemble and imitate nature. We treat the vineyards we cultivate and care for, as an extension of their larger environment and neighboring woods. We allow our vineyards to express themselves freely and according to the parameters and limitations placed on them by the land and climate. We only intervene in this process to direct and add minute but decisive touches. In keeping with our philosophy, we do not plow or fertilize the vineyards. We allow plants and flowers to grow amidst each year's new bounty of grapes.

We identify closely with the wild boar, our emblem, which symbolizes belonging to a place and identifying with its tradition. We also strive to promote our own roots as viticulturists and enologists in our work and creation. Regional grapes are combined with foreign varieties with the objective of capturing the essence of our estate and sealing it in a bottle.

We'll taste,

Rupestris
Pur Xarel-lo
Sumoll Rose
Sus Scrofa Sumoll
Negre Franc

Finding NEW with you in mind

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:06:59 GMT

Never a day goes by that we don’t hear one of our discerning bayleaf clientele exclaim, “Where do you find all of these treats?!” or “What an exceptional selection of wine! I don’t recognize any of these labels!” Well, lean in close, discerning bayleaf clientele, and I, humble bayleaf food writer, will reveal to you a bit of what goes on behind the scenes at bayleaf on Whidbey Island.

Our amazing wines, cheeses, chocolates, and specialty grocery items don’t get into the store by mere chance. Indeed, they are the result of countless hours of tireless traveling and searching and tasting (lots and lots and lots of tasting) for just the right quality and style to meet our scrupulous standards. We have sampled our weight in cheeses at Neal’s Yard in London, munched and nibbled our way through acres of chocolate, sauces, snacks, and more at San Francisco’s Specialty Food Association Fancy Food Show and at Good Food Foundation events (where the bayleaf favorites Le Bon Magot condiments and Island Troller Wild Pacific Troll-Caught Albacore have been awarded the coveted Good Food Award), and sniffed and sipped thousands of fine domestic and imported white, rosé, and red wines in the shop, at the wineries, and at industry tasting events.
Most recently I attended one such event (my first) where I had the pleasure of sniffing and sipping a hundred-ish wines in a room packed full of winemakers from all around the world. I was captivated by several choice rosé and red wine picks and became quickly educated on the proper way to discard the sips in the spit bucket. (Hint: If rendered improperly, the backsplash can be quite treacherous).

Only a small percentage of the items we sample make the final cut and end up on the bayleaf shelves. We often say – and it’s true – that each and every item has been expressly hand selected for the shop because one (or usually all) of us personally tasted it and loved it...and knew you would too.

It may sound arduous and tedious but it is a sacrifice we are willing to make for you, our discerning bayleaf clientele. Come in and reap the benefits of our hard work, and if you are in wine club (What?! Why aren’t you in wine club?!) you may soon have the pleasure of tasting a couple of my favorite picks from this most recent event.

A favorite.

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 14:50:28 GMT

Primo Pan Foglie di Mais

While we love every product we bring in sometimes our customers overlook or forget about a love that's been in the store for years. These are just that, here's your reminder and a deal!

Primo Pan Foglie di Mais are the traditional crumbly cornmeal cookies that have been enjoyed by the people of the Piedmont region in northwest Italy for centuries. This much beloved treat is still made with the same few simple farm fresh ingredients – wheat flour, fresh eggs, honey, cane sugar, stone-ground corn meal, and butter – in the small rural village of Battifollo near the Ligurian Alps.

Enjoy the toothsome paste di meliga alone or dunk one, two, or more of the delightful, leaf-shaped treat in coffee or espresso, tea, or – as the Italians do – in a sweet Italian dessert wine or a fruit forward Dolcetto or Barbara wine. Be truly decadent and serve with lemon curd sandwiched between. Having these in your pantry is always a good idea.

Come to bayleaf for a package or two and be sure to check out our selection of fine Italian wines for drinking or dunking. Mention “Primo Pan” and save 20% off your crumbly cornmeal cookie purchase!

offer good until May 1st, 2019

February! + March...

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 19:46:11 GMT

make a plan, call a friend and register

This month we've got a fantastic line up of events. Travel with us without the jet lag. These events are informative, fun, and do wonders to increase your palate knowledge. Life is short - too short to only enjoy one style of wine or cheese.
We hope you agree.
Please register.

Events begin promptly at 4pm - if you are unable to make it please call us, we can only offer a refund if we are able to fill your seat. Please refrain from wearing anything scented - we want your focus to be on the food experience! Ticket price includes all tastes. Wine events include a bite of food to pair. Food events will offer wines by the glass for purchase. Discounts will be offered the evening of the tasting - we hope you'll take advantage.

Beso Imports ~ Wines of Mexico
9 March 4pm*
$20 / $15 wine club members
Please note new date!

Local residents Patrick Neri and Lisa Strandberg are the co-owners of Beso Imports, the first importer to bring the wines of Mexico’s premiere wine region Valle de Guadalupe to Washington State. While Mexico is actually the first place in the New World that grapes were planted to make wine, Mexican wine is just starting to emerge into the US market, and Beso’s portfolio represents some of the best.

Long time lovers of wine, Patrick and Lisa, like many before them, hadn’t even heard of Mexican wine 5 years ago when they had their first bottle from the Valle de Guadalupe, an event which literally changed their lives. Since then they have made extensive trips to the region and have come to know the vineyards, the vintners, their wines, and the incredible history of the region’s wines.

The wines they represent fall in line with Bayleaf's philosophy from day one - these wines define there greatness by their ability to convey a sense of place. Derived from single small vineyard sites throughout the region, amongst whom organic style farming is the most prevalent, these are wines of finesse, balance and “somewhereness” that make them singularly interesting expressions for anyone who enjoys the nuance to be found in the world of wine.

Cheese Tasting ~ Neal's Yard
23 February 4pm
$20

Join us for an afternoon with Eric Meridth of Neal's Yard Dairy. We've hand selected wheels for this event. Read more about Neal's Yard here - psst, Dea was in their cellars this last fall!

We select, mature and sell farmhouse cheese from the UK and Ireland. We work with about 40 cheesemakers. We visit them regularly to taste their cheese with them and select the batches we want to mature and sell. Amongst the cheeses we select there is a great deal of variability. Cheese can change hugely, depending on how it is treated. We have a range of temperature and humidity controlled maturation facilities at our warehouse in London, run by a team who are dedicated to ensuring that we sell our cheese at its best. As the cheese is maturing we continue to taste through the stock to ensure we are aware of how it is developing over time. The essence of what we do has changed very little since our founding director Randolph Hodgson began seeking out farmhouse cheesemakers to supply our first shop in the early 1980’s. We believe that the time and energy we invest in understanding cheesemaking, selection and maturation gives us the necessary experience to source much of the best cheese available in the UK and Ireland.

Indoor & Outdoor Seating

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Order one of our signature sandwiches crafted on a fresh baked ciabatta. Or, if you want to truly experience all that our cheese case has to offer a sampling of cheese, meat, and antipasto on a large or small picnic plate is the perfect option.

Pair your food with wine by the glass or bottle, an ice-cold craft beer or FinnRiver cider, or one of our hip and trendy non-alcoholic beverages. Dine in our nicely stocked wine room or out on the patio overlooking the waters of Penn Cove…or have us pack up your choices to enjoy at home or at one of the many scenic vistas on our beautiful island.

Sample menu, expect seasonal changes

Sample menu, expect seasonal changes

Blue (or Stilton or Roquefort) Christmas at bayleaf

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 18:21:28 GMT

Have a blue (or Stilton or Roquefort) Christmas at bayleaf, for of cheeses we have many. The case is stocked with cow, sheep, and goat cheeses, or combinations of the three; cheeses from England, Holland, France, the Pyrenees, California, and lands beyond; aged, fresh, melty, spreadable, gouda cheese and many more not gouda cheeses. Come in, ask for a taste, and get to know our cheeses, then choose your favorite (or a few) to give to a friend or gift to yourself. We can cut as little or as much as you need, or have us put together a festive holiday cheese board for 2 to 200. Ask about the perfect wine pairing for each, and don't forget the crackers!

Gift Certificates

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 15:49:26 GMT

Gift certificates – big, little, or in between – are the one-size-fits-all gift for everyone on your list. Tell your hairdresser, mail carrier, neighbor, colleague, and favorite friend Susan how much you appreciate them by giving the guaranteed to be treasured, never returned Christmas winner. Gift certificates in any denomination may be purchased in the store, or take a bit of hassle out of your holiday and let us do all the work for you. Order online or over the phone, and we’ll be glad to mail the certificates for you free of charge! Gift certificates are valid for everything but wine club, but never fear – we have Bubbles, Rosé, New World, or bayleaf wine club gift membership certificates good for 3, 6, or even 12 months!

bayleaf Gift Crate

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:34:57 GMT

bayleaf signature goods are the most tasteful items on our best gift list – literally. “bayleaf” on the label is the seal of approval ensuring the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pasta sauce (four kinds!) meets our highest quality standards. We wouldn’t put our name on these if they weren’t delicious and apt to please even the most discriminating palate. Select one, a few, or give them all (plus a bag of tear-down-the-walls good Salty Blonds and the so-addictive-they-should-come-with-a-warning Nuts and Olives blend) in a bayleaf gift crate . Speaking of gift crates, design your own or choose from the Local featuring Whidbey Island goods, the Snack Pack , or the ever popular Dinner Tonight !

Le Bon Magot condiments

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 12:28:52 GMT

Le Bon Magot condiments are at the very top of our gourmet gastronomy gift guide. We never stop searching the world for the latest and greatest food flavors and hit it big when we found this line of award-winning chutneys and preserves. Send the taste buds of your food loving family and friends on an around the world vacation with one or all four tongue-tingling combinations including Brinjal Caponata – aubergine steeped in the exotic flavors of cumin and curry, Lemon-sultana Marmalata – saffron rich, unparalleled pairing with soft goat cheese or lamb, Spiced Raisin Marmalata – a rich treat with pork or brie, and the house favorite – Tomato and White Sultana Chutney – featuring the delicious combination of tomato, white sultana, ginger, and garam masala.

Michel Cluizel Santas

Sat, 08 Dec 2018 19:54:25 GMT

Everyone loves the jolly man with the little round belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowl fill of jelly. Rest easy with dreams of sugar plums by picking up a few Michel Cluizel Santas to fill the stockings of the most special someones on your list. Award winning Michel Cluizel chocolates are sustainably sourced from reputable cocoa plantations at several of Santa’s stops in Central America, Africa, and the Pacific. They are handcrafted from bean to bar and made with pure cocoa butter and bourbon vanilla pods (and never contain any naughty ingredients like soy or artificial fats or flavors) which ensures that every St. Nick is delicious from his toes to the tip of his cherry nose. (While you are in the shop, check out the Michel Cluizel chocolate gift boxes for an over-the-top hostess gift!)

Mishal Rowley Designs Potholders

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:00:53 GMT

Chistmas Gift Idea

Mishal Rowley Designs potholders are the best gift for any chef, baker, or bbq master. This Whidbey Island artist has been sewing since she was a wee child, and it shows. From the coordinating quilted patterns to the meticulous stich work, each handmade pair is one of a kind, designed with whimsy in mind. Mishal chooses 100% cotton fabrics that are fun and trendy and sure to match any kitchen decor. She lines each piece of cooking couture with heat resistant material to protect furniture and fingers alike. Place these functional art pieces under a hot pot of coq au vin or slip your mitts into the skillfully incorporated pockets to grab a Nueske’s ham or pan of madeleines from the oven.

Crunch Dynasty Hot Topping

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 03:52:51 GMT

For spice lovers and Asian food aficionados

For spice lovers and Asian food aficionados, there is no better pick than Crunch Dynasty hot topping. This “Tongue Tiger” balances the right amount of heat with a punch in the face of flavor and adds crunch and crave to everything from ramen noodles and fried rice to scrambled eggs and steamed veggies (bayleaf staff loves to sprinkle Crunch Dynasty on avocado toast!). The exotic Asian flavor explosion, party in your mouth is the result of an age-old secret family recipe that expertly balances garlic, shallots, gluten-free soy sauce, sesame seeds, hot peppers, and special seasonings.

Get it while it’s hot!

Elevation Salami

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:12:31 GMT

The charcuterie artisans who make Elevation Salami have only been on the salami scene for a few short years but there is nothing novice about these Denver based small batch meat makers. They accent the pure pork from humanely raised, family farm heritage hogs with organic spices and local beer, wine, and spirits. “Breakfast” has hints of sage and smoked maple bourbon, “Black Truffle and Sea Salt” is rich with Italian black truffles, and “Mole” is made with a Mexican chocolate stout. Elevation Salamis are shelf stable and can be mailed with ease to all of your favorite carnivores.

Pair one or all three with a fine bottle of Willamette Pinot Noir to give a present even the Grinch would appreciate.

Church Street Chocolates

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:42:58 GMT

So many indulgent chocolates, so little time. How does one choose? The chocoholics at bayleaf searched high and low to find the current staff favorite - Church Street Chocolates. Handcrafted in the big city of Seattle from Peruvian Pure Nacional chocolate, a strain once thought extinct, these single-origin bars are individually made to ensure each bar is as decadent to taste as it is gorgeous to behold. As a bonus, Church Street Chocolates are made with organic ingredients and are beautifully wrapped in earth friendly packaging. Choose the granulated honey bedecked “Northwest Honey,” the mind-bending flavor combination of ginger, toasted fennel, and black sea salt in “Ginger & Fennel,” or the pure and unadorned taste of “Fortuna No 4.”

Save on postage and order a bunch and check off all of the chocoholics on your list.

Ritrovo Selections Ligurian Vegetable Appetizer

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 16:18:12 GMT

Pair it with crackers, crusty bread, and goat cheese

Ritrovo Selections Ligurian Vegetable Appetizer is our choice for perfect gourmet gift giving. Each jar is packed with Ligurian olive oil, olives, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, capers, and anchovies. While this delicacy can be enjoyed straight from the jar, the exceptional flavor medley is unrivaled when tossed with pasta, like the Ritrovo Selections Umbricelli or Organic Stringozzi, or paired with crackers, crusty bread, and goat cheese.

Send some Ligurian Vegetable Appetizer to your favorite foodies, but be sure to keep a jar or two on hand for an impressive ready-to-eat appetizer to appease even the fussiest surprise holiday houseguest.

Salty Blonds

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 15:24:36 GMT

Baked in bayleaf’s own kitchen by bayleaf’s own baker, Michaelene McElroy

Salty Blonds - the cookie so popular we had to tear down our walls! These lip-smacking good, brown butter shortbread cookies are baked in bayleaf’s own kitchen by bayleaf’s own baker, Michaelene McElroy. Send some to a favorite sweets lover, give them as a hostess favor, or keep a few bags on hand for emergency gift giving.

Best of all, set a plate of the bayleaf exclusive and a big glass of cold milk by the tree on Christmas Eve for Santa’s snack to guarantee you stay off the naughty list for life!

The Popper

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 14:55:21 GMT

Pair with Peterson Family Farm perfectly poppable popcorn

Movie enthusiasts and snackaholics will love one of our pop-up microwave popcorn poppers. The easy to store, easy to clean, collapsible silicone bowls are just the right size to stash in dorm rooms, office desk drawers, or in a briefcase or bag for a quick grab and go to take anywhere a microwave can be found. “The Popper” popcorn poppers pop popcorn with or without oil making them best for guiltfree, healthy snacking. Pair a popper with a package of red, blue, or yellow Peterson Family Farm perfectly poppable popcorn.

Add a jar of Ritrovo Truffle & Salt for an extra extravagant, gourmet touch!

Our most delicious tasting of the year!

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:27:50 GMT

Champagne Tasting ~15 December @ 4 pm

Grower Champagne, caviar, triple creme brie, pate and potato chips, what could be better?

Opportunity to taste 6 delicious true, grower Champagnes, learn about what makes these wine special an stock up for your holiday celebrations or gifts.

$55 non club / $50 club / $45 bubbles club pricing

* event begins promptly at 4pm - if you are unable to make it please call us, we can only offer a refund if we are able to fill your seat. Also please refrain from wearing anything scented - we want our focus to be on the wine!

Seating is limited so register today - TICKETS

Port Event

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

develop your palate with us...

8 December Port Tasting $25 / $20 club 4pm*

Learn the difference between the port styles, taste and take home your holiday bottle and gifts. We'll taste Ruby - Tawnys - Vintage and Colheitas; all with blue cheese and chocolate to pair.

Seating is limited so register today - TICKETS

Magic Mushrooms

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:31:41 GMT

Fall cooking!

Mushrooms – those funky, earthy, flavorful fungi – are a desirable addition to many culinary ventures ranging from sumptuous breakfast omelets to toothsome dinner risottos. They play nicely with other elements such as wine, herbs, and stocks or can stand alone as the star player in many a meal.

While a few varieties of mushrooms are found in grocery stores year-round, more exotic specimens (matsutake, porcini, lobster, morel, and chanterelle) with their rich umami can be expensive and difficult to find even during the peak of their short growing seasons.

Fortunately, dried mushrooms are a readily available, affordable, and often preferred alternative to fresh. Even more fortuitous is the fact that the fun guys at bayleaf have two types of Mikuni Wild Harvest mushrooms – matsutake and porcini – in stock and on the shelf.

Mikuni (meaning “beautiful forest”) mushrooms are sustainably foraged from the beautiful forest floors of the Pacific Northwest and Canada, dried, and packaged in two-ounce portions. This seeming pittance of produce, when reconstituted, can yield 12-16 ounces of product (depending on the varietal) ready to add finesse to a favorite recipe.

Dried mushrooms likewise pack a two-for-one punch because the soaking liquid captures the essence of the shroom and can be used for braising, soup base, and more. And, in the case of the aforementioned risotto, one can incorporate both the broth and the rehydrated mushrooms to create a feast of otherworldly decadence.

Speaking of risotto , in addition to dried mushrooms, bayleaf also carries fine arborio rice, white wine (or vermouth), butter, olive oil, stock base, and cheese.* Stop in, get some, and stir up this favorite fall dish.

Simple mushroom risotto

1. Bring 1 ounce dried mushrooms, 2 bay leaves, 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock, 3 cups water, and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until mushrooms are fully hydrated (15-20 minutes).

2. Strain broth and set aside. Discard bay leaved. Mince mushrooms and set aside.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in skillet until foaming subsides. Add one half teaspoon salt, one large minced onion, two minced shallots, and mushrooms to skillet. Stir occasionally until mushrooms, onions, and shallots are browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.

4. Deglaze skillet with a half cup of dry white wine or dry vermouth and add brown bits and wine to broth.

5. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in large sauce pan until foaming subsides. Add one pound of Arborio rice to pan and stir frequently until rice begins to turn transparent (about 5 minutes). Add one cup dry white wine or dry vermouth to rice, stirring frequently until wine is absorbed.

6. Add mushrooms, shallots, onions, and two cups of broth to rice. Stir every couple minutes until liquid is absorbed. Continue to add broth a half cup at a time, cooking and stirring until absorbed and rice reaches desired texture.

7. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, 1 tablespoon butter, and 3 ounces finely grated, aged Pecorino, Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano. Stir until combined and serve immediately.

~ Susan Wenzel

*Pick up 3+ of these ingredients to make your own risotto and mention this Magic Mushroom post - we'll give you 15% off!

Stolpman Tasting

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:17:51 GMT

Delicious California Wines

27th October 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Stolpman Tasting TICKETS

Started back in the early 90s, Stolpman immediately put humanitarianism and organic, dry farmed un-manipulated at the top of their mantra list. Located just north of Santa Barbara in what is now the newest and coldest AVA in California, Ballard Canyon is a pure gem. Cold oceanic winds whip through the vines en route to the great Mojave Desert vacuum. The vines are exclusively dry farmed and sit on a mix of poor rocky soil often on quite steep slopes. Spontaneous native yeast ferments and nearly no new oak barrels help to create pure, honest very old world wines. We'll taste both whites and reds. Tasting includes a bite to pair.

We've had the fun whimsical label - LOVE YOU BUNCHES carbonic Sangiovese and the epic, lush, heady Syrah - come taste the rest! This house is fantastic, Ben from ANW will be guiding us. Be sure to register in the store or above.

Join us!

GT - Luxury French Linens

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:36:00 GMT

trunk show - 20% discount off all orders

20th of October 1 -4

GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW Superior quality French table, living and bed linens

ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

Join us this Saturday at our twice a year trunk show featuring these beautiful linens.

Two complete collections are produced each year showcasing unique designs and bold, vibrant colors. Come see what the 1018 Fall Collections brings. We'll have larger pieces of the line on hand on Saturday but as ambassadors of the line we always have up to date swatch books. Take advantage of the terrific 20% off on all orders and inventory. Please bring dishes, paint chips, fabric swatches to match.
Bubbles will be poured during the shopping extravaganza.

Can't make it on Saturday? Make an appointment with Beth any time before Wednesday October 22th, for a private consultation to place your order - email beth@bayleaf.us or ring 360-678-6603. This is a great opportunity to stock up on kitchen towels (great gifts!), purchase that special holiday tablecloth, treat yourself to quality bath towels or buy the apron you've always wanted. Oh and don't miss the sheets!

FALL 2018 Catalog

Wine Events!

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:35:20 GMT

develop your palate with us...

13th October 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Natural vs. SUPER-Natural Tasting with Indie Wineries TICKETS

We will explore what the undefined term 'natural wine' means and also differentiate (by discussion and tasting) between wines that are made naturally but are classic in palate and those that are more wild! Not quite sure what we mean by natural, see this in depth article by Maureen O'Connor.

... natural wine. That is, wine made from organically grown grapes fermented in their own naturally occurring yeasts. During fermentation, a whole ecosystem of yeasts and bacteria grow, die, interact, and expel by-products, including alcohol. Commercial winemakers use chemicals and machines to manipulate that ecosystem; organic winemakers do the same with organic grapes. Natural wine is even purer — or dirtier, if you’re being literal about terroir. “Nothing added and nothing removed” is the mantra: no industrial yeasts, no additives, no synthetic processes. In natural wine, the resulting imperfections are not really imperfections; they are the goal.

27th October 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Stolpman Tasting TICKETS

10th November 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Illahe Tasting TICKETS

We welcome Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards in the Willamette Valley! A family run farm and winery using a team of Percheron horses to plow the land. We will taste through the estate wines including Viognier and Gruner Veltliner as well as a trio of their Pinot Noir's including the famed 1899 Pinot which is made without any machinery or electricity. Tasting includes a bite to pair. Read more here.

Teacher Appreciation Month

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:48:51 GMT

This October we take a moment to thank teachers

We take the month of October to honor our teachers. This month all working teachers can enjoy 15% off everything in the store. Teachers deserve it! Whether it's a beautiful bottle of olive oil, a special kitchen towel, chocolate!, or an easy dinner of meat & cheese - we hope you'll treat yourself. Share this special on FB or here by tagging a teacher or a story about a teacher who made a difference in your life - we'll enter you and the teacher into a drawing for a gift certificate to be drawn on October 31st. Thanks to teachers for making a difference!

Psst - This includes Thirsty Thursday, join us every Thursday from 5-7 for wine flights and social hour. Just drop in.

Welcome fall!

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 15:29:34 GMT

As summer sets we've got a few ideas for you to look forward to.

Maybe it's because September is my birthday month - I'm always happy to see it arrive. The change in the air, the less crowded roads, the quiet of back to school - it's a time to make plans. We've been thinking you might need a few things to look forward to too...
Mark your calendars, and make plans to spend time with us!

This Saturday 4pm come taste Bubbles and Brie and support CADA . We'll be pouring grower Champagne, with a brie tasting to pair, you must register this is a limited seating event. Proceeds go to CADA. Purchase tickets here. Learn more about CADA here .

Thirsty Thursdays - a weekly event at bayleaf! Occasionally we invite our lovely reps to come and pour for you. The 27th of September Roland of OK Wines will be with us. Naturally delicious selections from around the globe. Drop in any/every Thursday from 5-7 a great opportunity to be social and improve your wine palate. Prices range from $10-$15

September 28 - October 3 is Whidbey Island Grown Week - lots of fantastic events going on! See here .

29th September a Cider Fest is happening at PRI - learn more here. We'll be pouring cider flights all weekend if you don't get your fill at the festival. Drop in for 3 tastes for $15.

Oct 3 - from 4-6 Whidbey Island Grown Week Event ~ Meet the Artists
bayleaf welcomes three amazing female artists to our shop. Come meet the talented, Whidbey inspired entrepreneurs - we'll be offering demos, discussion and hand crafted items for purchase. Lexi Ochoa/Forage - Mishal Rowley/Mishal Rowley Design - Hannah Dunn / Hannah Dunn ART. Don't miss the face to face opportunity, stock up for the coming holiday season and treat yourself to a local treasure.

Oct 20th 1- 4 pm GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW
We are ambassadors to this amazing line of French linens. You can order anytime but the trunk show is where you can see and touch more, get personalized service with a expert and take advantage of the 20% OFF discount!

Teachers...don't forget it's your month coming up OCTOBER !
All working teachers get 15% off at bayleaf all month long - thanks for making a difference.

Summer "School"

beth@bayleaf.us (Beth Kuchynka) — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 02:52:40 GMT

join us!

Just because warmer weather is on the horizon, it's no excuse to stop your wine education. To ensure that you are excited to keep learning we have scheduled some fantastic talent for you in the coming months. As you know our events do sell out. Please if you would like to join us register! These wine education events include wines, both white and red, food to pair and discounts for purchases made that evening. Unlike our Thirsty Thursdays these require you be in your seats at start time and offer our guests your full attention. Thank you!

We had the recent opportunity to taste with wine maker Morgan Lee of Two Vintners and Covington Cellars. Clearly the man can make wine. Our rep in knowing the focus of bayleaf steered us to the fun, food friendly wines of Morgans portfolio. As you can see below, we think it's a match made in heaven. Join us Saturday June 16th at 4pm, register in the shop or here.

Two Vintners project and Wine at Two Vintners is about the experience.

Branching out. Trying new styles. New varietals. We want to expose you to wines that show how unique Washington wine can be. Our goal is to make a wine that you want to share with your friends and family. We want our wine to be shared, experienced, and accessible to all, something special that everyone will enjoy.

Our goal is not only to be the best at what we do, but to be the only ones doing what we are doing

Please join us for a tasting of Southern Italian wines, Jesse of Indie Wineries will be on hand. We are very excited to pour warmer weather whites and reds from Campania and Sicily, including the wines of San Giovanni, Vino di Anna and Tentua la Favola. Even though the climate is hotter, these wines retain their freshness and brightness, perfect for summer weather! June 30th Saturday 4pm, register in the shop or here .

From the winemakers - it is a sense of place...

When Corrado goes down the northern side of the hill to reach the olive grove, Mt. Etna salutes him. If he goes down along the southern side, all he can see is the deep blue of the seas in front of him. The paths among the vineyards are calcareous-white and at night time with a full-moon, our land shines. He’s not completely wrong when he says he lives in paradise.

There is something magical, if not a little crazy about cultivating grapes on the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. The continuous smoke emerging from the centre crater is but a daily reminder of its precarious state.

Punta Tresino is located within a natural reserve. Isolated in the wood, the estate is only a few steps from the sea. When Ida and Mario first moved to the farmhouse on the property in 1999 there was no electricity, no internet connection, no phone, and no cellular reception. Since then they have been working to make their new home habitable, and their farm productive. It’s been a challenging workload, but with great rewards.

So happy to be welcoming back Nina Buty of Buty Winery. Many of you are familiar with her wines and how beautiful they are. This tasting is a fantastic opportunity to taste with the owner, understand what goes into each bottle and appreciate the bounty of what Washington wines can be. Don't miss this - Nina promises to bring a few surprises! July 7th Saturday 4 pm, register in the shop or here .

Nina approaches life and making wine with a similar philosophy, and sees the two as deeply interwoven. “Buty is a small, family winery,” says Nina. “My children play in the vineyards, and our growers and customers have become our friends. There is a wonderful flow and rhythm between life and work. With so few hard edges between the two, I try to be very aware of the interconnectedness of all the elements that contribute to Buty. All of the decisions that shape Buty are very intentional. Whether we are farming organically, creating wines using natural winemaking, or making decisions about pricing, we strive for balance and a sense of service and fairness.”

Jose Pastor Selections Wine Tasting

Sat, 12 May 2018 01:35:58 GMT

Championing Grower-Produced Fine Iberian Wines

Wine Tasting - 19 May Saturday 4pm - $30/$20 wine club member discount

When I first tasted these wines in the shop I didn't need much convincing to host an event. We hope you'll join us as we welcome this exciting portfolio to bayleaf...Below is an excerpt from the website. We'll pour 6 wines and a bite to pair. Discounts will be offered during the event to entice you to take home bottles for your cellar - the wines are fantastic!

We believe the most alive and vibrant wines are made in the vineyard. Since the founding of JPS, we have searched both established and up-and-coming regions throughout the Iberian Peninsula and its surrounding islands to find growers who respect their land by using the most natural means possible, often practicing organic and/or biodynamic farming. For many of our growers, this is how their ancestors made wine long before it became popular. Our winegrowers emphasize Iberia's indigenous grape varieties and, above all else, work with their land to handcraft honest wines with a sense of place. To this end , they harvest by hand, use only indigenous yeast during fermentation, and sulfur

additions and filtering are kept to a minimum or none. These are the guiding principles we use to seek out new growers, and as Iberia's diverse terruño continues to be uncovered, we look forward to discovering and bringing our customers many more new, fascinating and unknown wines.

For more than a decade, the José Pastor Selections back label has been synonymous with authentic, fine Iberian wines. Our longevity has always been based on taking risks (the good kind). We entered the scene at a moment in wine history when regional and traditionally made Iberian wines were disappearing and being replaced by an international style stripped of terroir. It was a time when chemicals in the vineyard and manipulation in the winery were the most celebrated and profitable. Long before it was fashionable, we championed the work of traditionally minded growers who believed in a minimalist approach in the vines and in the cellar.

From old-school Rioja – a near extinct expression of Spanish winemaking – to the historic wines of Colares and noble reds of Galicia, we've introduced wine lovers to little-known grapes such as Caiño and Mencía from the ancient, underappreciated terraces of Ribeira Sacra. We've helped Americans rediscover the rare and ungrafted vineyards of the Canary Islands. Seeking out these almost forgotten regional and delicious wines and bringing them to our customers, while helping the small growers thrive, is what continues to drive us.

Come by the shop to purchase a seat or online here.

Two for the price of one

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:51:10 GMT

2018 Paella Party - your place...

Hear the crackle of the wood fire and smell the aroma of smoke and saffron. Feel the anticipation grow as you watch Chef David perform his magic. And, finally, when it is just right, taste the paella.

This is no mere meal. Paella is a full-body experience that feeds all of the senses. Part luscious feast, part performance art, it is a two-for-one deal that is as entertaining as it is sumptuous.

Chef David, with more (than)forty years in the profession, explains.

“Paella is a celebration, a community event. We do a lot of paella for rehearsal dinners but, even more, I like to cook for the wedding. Sometimes people don’t think paella is elegant enough for a wedding, but it is. It’s a community meal that brings the crowd together in an intimate way. People remember the event, of course, but they also talk about the food years later.”

He likewise compares paella catering to a cooking show and loves to teach people about this traditional Spanish dish…and may even let you take over the paddle for a minute or two.

“Few people make authentic paella over an open fire. We’ve been using the same basic recipe for the fifteen years I have been making paella for bayleaf. It is a relatively simple dish - broth and bomba rice, chicken, Penn Cove mussels, vegetables, Spanish chorizo, saffron, and smoked paprika.”

While he may start with a handful of simple, top quality ingredients – some local, some available on the shelves at bayleaf – slowly cooked over a glowing fire pit, Chef David finishes with a creation that is something your guests will not soon forget.

Visit bayleaf now to start a discussion and save the date for your upcoming special event…or to make even an ordinary event oh so special. Vegetarian options are available and other specialty ingredients – such as shrimp – are negotiable. In addition to paella, bayleaf offers meat and cheese tray catering as well as soft drinks and beer and wine pairings with special case prices.

Make a plan, gather your guest list and book your party. Mention the special below and get a sweet deal.

Did you hear about our fundraiser on April 26th?

Once a year you get a chance to come and eat our Paella and not have to host a party yourself! This year we've teamed up with the Coupeville Farm to School to help them purchase a commercial green house. They already have the spot, there is a seller working with them and big plans down the road to teach kids about where their food comes from and provide real food in the cafeteria.
Join us!

April 26th Thursday 5pm $50
tickets @ bayleaf
Nordic Lodge 63 Jacobs Rd. Coupeville

360-678-6603, bayleaf

$50 ticket price includes Paella, salad and one drink. There will be opportunity to purchase additional beverages,please bring cash.

We hope to make this a sell out event to help them reach their goal.

Cheese spotlight!

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 21:54:52 GMT

Creamery 333 Trivium Goat Cheddar

Trivium is the first offering from Creamery 333 and named with a Latin word for a place where 3 roads meet. It is a natural-rinded goat milk cheddar made in Wisconsin and sent to Crown Finish Caves in Brooklyn to age for a minimum of 4 months. Crown Finish Caves is a cheese aging facility located in an 1850s lagering tunnel thirty feet below the street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Benton Brown, alumni from the Academie Opus Caseus training center at Mons, turned the tunnel into a modern affinage facility and cheese cave. Temperature, humidity, and airflow are all carefully controlled, and Benton and his team use traditional techniques to bring out the best in each wheel under their care. The ambiance of the cave, wood boards, and hand brushing and turning provided to these cheeses allows Trivium to develop its unique rind and distinctive flavor profile.

Unlike any other - the combination of depth, intensity and texture is crazy. It's textured like a creamy style cheddar. The goat milk provides a subtle tang that makes you pay attention. But the length, finish of this cheese is a stand out, which is all about the care during the aging process. You must come taste.

Mention this post and we'll knock off $5 a lb ! Good until the wheel is gone.

Events!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 16:08:47 GMT

Bringing you a multitude of opportunities to TASTE! & learn...

Every Thursday - THIRSTY THURSDAY join us for fun (and palate challenging) wine flights. Serving from 5-7, drop in, taste priced between $8-$15, order a nosh $5 and enjoy expanding your palate with new friends.

11 March Sunday - Natural vs Conventional Wine Jesse of Indie Wines will be on hand to educate us on the differences - there will be comparison tastes too. $30 / $20 wine club members 3pm. Limited seating. Register here .

31 March Saturday - AGOUR EVENT Juliette of the Basque house AGOUR will be here to share the bounty of these cheeses and Bayonne Ham $20 4pm Limited seating. Register here.

8 April Sunday - Ritrovo Olive Oil Education Ilyse & Ron from Seattle Importer Ritrovo are back featuring this season best Italian Olive Oils for your learning pleasure $30 - $10 toward purchase of 2 or more Ritrovo products 3pm Limited seating. Register here.

26 April Thursday * Coupeville Farm to Schools Paella Fundraiser All profits go toward helping Coupeville Farm to School purchase a greenhouse...details to come!

28 April Saturday Growing your Palate We’ll taste through 6 wines; learn the basic building blocks of pairing wines. This tasting is for beginners and those wanting to understand more about wine nuances. Please come with an open mind and get ready to step outside your comfort zone! $30/$20 wine club members 4pm Limited seating. Register here.

* please note NO THIRSTY THURSDAY this night - staff will be helping at the fundraiser.

cheese spotlight!

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:28:13 GMT

TERRE DE VOLCANS ~ BLEU d'AUVERGNE

About the cheese: terre des volcans means ‘the land of volcanoes’- the French Auvergne region used to be full of volcanoes, which has lent to its unique terroir (and to its perfect cheesemaking climate!). Though Bleu d’Auvergne is pasteurized, the mix of cultures added during cheesemaking gives this blue the full flavors found in other raw milk blues. TDV’s Bleu d’Auvergne has a soft-but-slightly crumbly texture, and is buttery and earthy with a slightly spicy kick at the finish. It is really well balanced, and never ends on a flat note!

Some describe Bleu d’Auvergne as roquefort’s mellower, cow’s milk cousin. Like Roquefort, Bleu d’Auvergne holds an AOC, meaning it’s production is strictly regulated. This ensures that this taste of French history and terroir stays intact!

mention this post and we'll give you

Mention this post and we'll knock off $2 a lb the already great price of $15 a lb!

Dear Valentine,

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 00:50:45 GMT

Don't delay - we need to know! These handcrafted love treats are limited. Email us, come into the shop or call with your orders.

Valentines Plate $25

A perfect selection, beautifully presented for two.
cheese, meats & antipasto
please reserve

Sweets

Locally made (@ the bayleaf!) these top quality treats are truly decadent. Limited - reserve yours

Order DEADLINE February 7th Wed for PICK UP Sat February 10th
OR
Order DEADLINE February 10th Sat for PICK UP Wed February 14th

Truffles - Classic and gorgeous, these lovelies are made with fine bittersweet chocolate and cream. Each truffle is hand Painted $4.99 ea.
Let us know if you would prefer gems or a heart, we will do our best to accommodate you. $4.99 each

Special Someone Cookie - The perfect gift for the chocolate lover. Two dark chocolate shortbread cookies are sandwiched together with chocolate ganache and topped with a decorated white chocolate heart. $5.99 each

Aztec Brownie - Not your run of the mill brownie. Spicy and bold, this cakelike beauty's center is truffle filled, robed in chocolate and dusted with gold. Share it with someone special. $7.99 each

XOXO Cookies - mixed shortbread cookies that are perfect for the office or your cookie jar. $6.99

Flowers

Valentine Flowers by FORAGE

Lexi Ochoa of FORAGE will be offering her beautiful bouquets for Valentines.
SPECIAL ORDER only!

Order DEADLINE February 7th Wed for PICK UP Sat February 10th
OR
Order DEADLINE February 10th Sat for PICK UP Wed February 14th

Small $35
Standard $45
Deluxe $55
Tea Cup Posies $20

Pre-order yours, call the shop, 360-678-6603 or drop by to place your order

Valentines Wine

A special someone deserves a special selection. Celebrate with bubbles priced $9 - $95. Or choose from an array of rich, heady Reds.
Go ahead, share a little love.

Spice Sense

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:31:45 GMT

education series & recipe

The name of bayleaf is synonymous with quality because we strive to provide nothing but superior products to our customers. This commitment is evident in everything from our award-winning specialty finds like Le Bon Magot chutneys and Silk Road teas to our discriminating selection of top shelf pantry staples including Ritrovo pastas, Arboreo rice, green and black lentils, and Prairie Bottom Farm Rockwell beans.

We are often asked, then, wouldn’t it be logical to add a rack of select culinary herbs and spices such as turmeric, tarragon, and tellicherry peppercorns to our repertoire?

Herbs and spices – the leaves, seeds, berries, bark, and other oil-rich plants parts – are used to lend desirable flavors, colors, and even health benefits to foods. There are hundreds of varieties of herbs, spices, and blends with near countless applications. Little else in the food world can add such complexity and soul to a dish, so it stands to reason that these seasonings should also be held to nothing but the highest possible standards.

However, it takes dedicated, specialized focus to be a purveyor of such a varied and volatile consumable. This is why bayleaf yields to the experts and recommends that you do too. We depend on the masters of mace, mustard seed, and marjoram – World Spice Merchants in Seattle – when sourcing the seasonings we use for our paella catering and baking. The botany, plant chemistry, and culinary arts professionals at World Spice Merchants practice a keen attention to detail by buying directly from the source and inspecting (and tasting!) each shipment to guarantee only the best garam marsala, grains of paradise, ginger, and more end up in your soup.

Unlike wine, herbs and spices do not get better with age. With these fickle botanicals, fresher is always better. Larger commercial businesses typically make one-time, bulk purchases to provide grocery stores with their coriander, cumin, and cardamom. World Spice Merchants buys small, frequent quantities thus guaranteeing quick stock turnover and optimum freshness. To further safeguard freshness and flavor, these seasoned specialists sell both ground-to-order (within 24 hours of shipping) and whole herbs and spices in suitable quantities – one ounce to one pound – for the home cook and the restaurant chef.

So, while bayleaf leaves the bay leaf, basil, and bergamot business to the pros, we do offer many tasty recipe necessities including Maldon sea salt, Ritrovo salt b lends, soy sauce, vinegars, honey, olive oil, harissa paste, tomato paste, and more.

Sage advice

-Buy whole spices and grind as you go (choose a mortar and pestle or an inexpensive coffee grinder)

-Give whole spices a quick nonstick skillet stovetop toast before grinding to further develop the vibrant flavors

-Store spices away from the light, heat, and moisture

-Store ground herbs and spices no longer than six months, and whole variations, roughly one year.

-Buy only from reputable dealers such as World Spice Merchants to ensure your fennel, fenugreek, and five spice is of the highest quality, unadulterated, and legally and sustainably obtained.

Over the busy holidays, bayleaf baker brought staff this delicious, nourishing soup - all of us wanted the recipe - we thought you might too!

It's the perfect example how fresh spices, exotic flavors, and quality ingredients yield a shockingly good dish. Enjoy.

Lentil Soup (best ever)

2 TBS. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 large onion, diced

4 stalks celery, sliced

2 large carrots, sliced

1 large sweet potato (red), large dice

1-1/2 to 2 TBS. curry powder

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. garam masala

1/2 tsp. fennel pollen

Heat 2 TBS. EVOO over medium heat, add vegetables and spices and stir for several minutes.

Add:

2 cups French green lentils

14 oz. stewed tomatoes, diced

8 cups vegetable stock

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat to simmering, cover with lid and cook lentils until tender (45 minutes to 1 hour), adding extra stock or water as needed to avoid sticking. Check lentils every ten to fifteen minutes and stir.

When lentils are tender, add:

1 cup coconut milk (example: Thai Kitchen)

5 heaping TBS. LEBONMAGOT Tomato and White Sultana Chutney

Salt and Pepper to taste

Stir until combined. Serve to people you care about.

Holiday Catering - Simplify your life

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:06:48 GMT

Before the panic sets in because you've forgotten to make reservations for your holiday party and now everything is booked, consider simplifying your life and hosting the party at your office. We can help.

Maybe you'd like to show recognition for your team. We've got you covered.

Or perhaps you're hosting a Christmas/New Year's party for your friends and family at home! Turn a holiday party into an extraordinary event that everyone will remember.

Simplify without sacrificing taste or presentation. bayleaf offers a wide range of cheeses, meats, and, marinated vegetables appropriate for any occasion. We can tailor our signature trays to your taste and budget. We are also happy to assist you in choosing the perfect wines, beers and cold drinks for your party.

We are here for you - so YOU can enjoy the holiday season. Give us a call...

Gobble it up

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:46:25 GMT

bayleaf loves to harvest the latest and greatest seasonal treats for you, our loyal customers. Often, we find an item that is so darn good, though, that it’s worth a repeat appearance on the shelves. Last year staff and customers alike had such fabulous results from the Urban Accents Turkey Brine & Rub Kit, we brought it back again just in time for all of your holiday turkeys (referring – of course – to the birds, not the relatives).

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, panicked people, in search of the most tender and tasty turkey ever, were snatching up this foolproof, three-step kit before the shipment was even off the pallet - because they know brined is the only way to go.

Brined poultry (and pork) is always best because of osmosis, hypertonic saline solutions, semi-permeable membranes, and some other sciency words. More simply put, brining makes for moist and flavorful meat.

So, what are you waiting for? Get a turkey, get a kit, and get cooking! It’s as easy as 1 (brine the bird with the Spiced Brine Blend in the included leakproof, heavy duty, BPA-free, zip-top bag), 2 (season said bird with the Smoky Peppercorn & Herb Rub), 3 (roast, smoke, or deep fry).

Don’t forget, while you are in, to order some Oystercatcher rolls, pick up some Matiz Gallego Organic Chestnuts for stuffing, antipasto items for the relish tray, and wine…yes, wine…plenty of wine…like the annual favorite Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais nouveau or our latest find, Willamette Valley Teutonic Red Blend (an 80% Gewurztraminer 20% Pinot Noir blend that’s absolutely perfect for turkey) or even a bottle of Champagne, if you dare!

Susan Wenzel wrote this article.

Beyond House Brie

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 03:41:51 GMT

Neal’s Yard Dairy in London is regarded as one of the world’s best cheese shops, so it’s no surprise that bayleaf, 2017 Best of Whidbey Cheese Shop, would have Neal’s Yard Cheese in stock.

Neal’s Yard Dairy opened its doors in 1979 in an era when cheap and easy, mass-produced, processed, pre-packaged foods were quickly taking over the world markets. Their mission was to preserve the traditional British cheesemaking culture by forming lasting relationships with the best farmhouse cheesemakers from England and Ireland. Their goal was twofold - buy exceptional cheeses for their shop and foster the last few farms still producing cheeses with age-old care and proper methodology.

The cheeses are meticulously selected from forty regional cheesemakers and matured in Neal’s Yard temperature and humidity controlled facility in London, providing a set standard for maturation and preparation as well as for food safety as many of the cheeses are made using raw milk. Buyers from Neal’s Yard regularly visit each of the farms throughout the year to monitor the cheesemaking process and scrutinize each cheese for flavor, texture, color, and overall quality.

Neal’s Yard is as meticulous in deciding who can properly sell the cheeses as they are in the selection and care of each, so we at bayleaf were thrilled to be able to bring these preeminent selections to Whidbey Island. For a limited time, stop by and get a wedge of Appleby’s Cheshire - the traditional cheese used in Welsh Rarebit, Lancashire - the last farmhouse raw-milk Lancashire produced in the world, and Colston Bassett Stilton - one of the last properly made Stiltons anywhere.

Beth Kuchynka and Susan Wenzel contributed to this article.

join us!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 18:55:01 GMT

It’s the time of year when we are all focused on giving — but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also take a few moments to indulge in a bit of self-love. Try attending a wine or champagne tasting!

At wine tastings, you can learn from your fellow tasters, as well as make new friends who share your interest in wine. Most importantly, you can taste wine in the company of some individuals who are more experienced than you, which is a real boon in training your palate. Here is your chance! We have confirmed our events and are ready for you to register - don't wait, as these do sell out! You can register in the store at any time, or here on our website.

11 November Open House – deals & demos! All day.
See our website for hourly specials - take advantage.

14 November Triple 'B' tasting 5pm

Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello

Only the best being served here - $30 non club / $25 club members read more here.
buy 6+ bottles and we'll waive your tasting fee

25 November Champagne Tasting 4pm*
Our most delicious tasting of the year!
Grower Champagne, caviar, triple creme brie, pate and potato chips, what could be better?
$55 non club / $45 club / $40 bubbles club pricing

2 December Port Tasting 4pm*
$25 non club /$20 club. Learn the difference between the port styles; taste and take home your holiday bottle and gifts.

9 December Champagne Tasting 4pm*
$55 non club / $45 club / $40 bubbles club pricing

* please note the time change - event begins promptly at 4pm - if you are unable to make it please call us. We can only offer a refund if we are able to fill your seat.

open house!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:33:38 GMT

join us November 11th - all day

We'll be offering demos, tastes and specials all day. These hourly specials are not to be missed!

11 - take 25% off all GT French Linens (current stock only)
12 - enjoy special pricing $15/lb HOUSE BRIE
1 - free bayleaf wine bag with ANY purchase
2 - Fermin Ham $5 off per pound
3 - take 15% off 6 + bottles of wine (not to include holiday 6-packs)
4 - enjoy special pricing all bayleaf Pasta Sauce - buy 6 - $39
5- 15% off all books

Triple 'B' Tasting

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:30:34 GMT

Tuesday November 14th, 5pm

In terms of Italian wines, when people talk about the big 3 they are talking about the Triple B's:

Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello

Please join us at bayleaf on Tuesday November 14th for a tasting of these wines from three special producers from the Indie Wineries portfolio! These are not shy wines, but big structured wines perfect for the cellar or for the holidays. All of the producers are natural, using native yeast and only adding a small amount of sulfur, and all are on the restrained elegant side of these appellations. We will feature wines from Ferdinando Principiano (Barolo), Paolo Veglia of Roccalini (Barbaresco) and Francesco Mulinari of L'Aietta (Brunello). This should be a special evening!

Take home 6 + bottles (for your cellar or as a fantastic gift) and we'll waive your tasting fee!

Register in the shop or in our online store, here.

Developing your palate

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 16:40:04 GMT

a beginners guide...

28 October Saturday 4 pm Developing your Palate

We’ll taste through 6 wines; learn the basic building blocks of aromatics/taste/texture. This tasting is for beginners and those wanting to understand more about wine nuances. Please come with an open mind and get ready to step outside your comfort zone!

$25/ $20 wine club members - 4pm register in the shop or here.

Silk Road Teas

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:09:23 GMT

we are here for all your snuggle needs...

Fall is here, followed soon, by the gray days of winter. One fabulous way to dispatch the seasonal gloom (and the associated sniffles and blues) is by snuggling down with a cozy blanket, a good book, and a quality cup of tea (or red wine).

While it isn’t always practical (or acceptable) to take a blanket, book, or glass of vino to work or out and about on errands, tea is, inarguably, one of the most portable and accessible creature comforts available anywhere.

In days past, the freshest, small batch teas – like those still found along the ancient trade routes called the Silk Road - were a precious commodity only available in specialty tea shops or to the most affluent connoisseur. Indeed, even today, most teas found on grocery store shelves are mass produced and often a year or more old.

However, one doesn’t have to travel to China or Japan or even head to a large multicultural metropolis (like San Francisco or Vancouver BC) to procure superior leaves. One of the preeminent lines of rare and artisan teas, Silk Road Teas, is available at bayleaf on Whidbey Island – the first location outside Canada to carry the award-winning blends .

Silk Road Teas found their start in 1992 in Vancouver’s historic China Town and our ever-searching staff found these select brews and brought them home to you. All varieties are made with premium quality, organic ingredients and contain no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners…and are always fresh.

(The fresher the tea, the more natural flavor nuances and beneficial antioxidants.)

Come in to bayleaf for all of your snuggle supplies like red wine, (cook)books, and now, superlative teas - perhaps paired with our decedent jams, cookies, or honeys!

~ Susan Wenzel

Genepi - Alpine Cheese Event - SOLD OUT

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 03:41:41 GMT

we will be selling a cheese sample plate - please inquire...

Genepi - Alpine Selections

Named for a wild flower found throughout the region, the Génépi Alpine cheeses represent the best of the Savoie tradition. Working hand in hand with cheesemakers and affineurs, we have sourced authentic, artisan cheeses made with the same traditional techniques that made the region famous. Focusing on raw milk, natural aging, and farmstead cheesemakers throughout the region, each wheel is selected and ripened with a specific flavor profile in mind. We are proud to introduce the authentic flavors and traditions of the Savoie through our Génépi collection of cheeses. Join us as we taste these cheeses and learn about what makes these delicious fall cheeses so special.

Seat includes tasting, educational seminar and special pricing on cheeses that evening. Please come early to purchase wine/beer pairing. Register here .

Special pricing will be offered at the event, these firm cheeses have a good shelf life - feel free to stock up or buy a friend a treat!

Cheeses featured

Vacherin Plissè
Vully Rouge
Simme Bleu
Artisan Raclette
Alpage Gruyere

Fall Collection 2017 Garnier-Thiebaut

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 00:31:12 GMT

October 21, 1- 4 pm

GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW Superior quality French table, living and bed linens

ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

free gift with purchase

Bubbles will be poured during the shopping extravaganza. Feel free to bring dishes, paint chips, fabric swatches to match.
Please let us know if we can expect you (send us an email or call 678-6603) - feel free to bring a friend!

Can't make it on Saturday? Make an appointment with Beth any time before Wednesday October 25th, for a private consultation.

This is a great opportunity to stock up on kitchen towels (great gifts!), purchase that special holiday tablecloth, treat yourself to quality bath towels or buy the apron you've always wanted. Oh and don't miss the sheets!

Discount offered on all orders placed by Wednesday October 25th.

Click the GT logo above for this seasons new offerings...

We love teachers!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 16:46:05 GMT

Teacher appreciation all September...

As a thank you to our working teachers we are offering 15% the entire store for the month of September. We think they deserve it. Thank goodness for the teachers. Hopefully this offering will make getting back to school a little easier! Please, thank a teacher and tell them about this special bayleaf perk just for them.

*bayleaf gift certificate give away...comment here about a favorite teacher, share this post to your FB page, tag a favorite teacher on FB, send us an email with a favorite teacher story and we'll put your name in a hat with a chance to win a $50 gift certificate! The more you tag/post/share/send stories the more you'll be entered to win. Drawing will take place Friday Sept 29th.

Summer Champagne!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 00:33:06 GMT

celebrate the sun...

Join us for a toast to the sun as we celebrate summer in style with glasses of Champagne and flights offered at special prices

Thirsty Thursday on August 24 @ 5pm-7pm Champagne Flight $15
with Owen of Cavatappi

first come first served, sorry no reservations

If Champagne is not your thing…do n’t worry; there will be a lovely red flight too.

Pop in Thursday thru Sunday, August 27 to order a glass of Champagne and enjoy it outside on our lovely patio. What better way to spend a day in the sun than with a refreshing glass of the best sparkling wine on Earth, true Champagne!

We will also have raffle prizes for fun swag on Thursday and a chance of winning the 'grand' prize on Sunday. Join us as we toast to the season.

Thirsty Thursday at bayleaf

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 16:27:32 GMT

welcome!

Are you Thirsty for something new to do during the week? Thirsty to meet new people or learn more about wine? Or, are you just plain ole’ Thirsty? bayleaf on Whidbey Island has the solution for all of these…and more.

Join us for Thirsty Thursday wine flights every Thursday from 5-7 p.m.

Weekly wine choices range from exceptional selections courtesy of visiting vintners to our latest exciting and fun finds. Though friendly conversation often prevails, tasting notes and informative discussions are always available. Choose from three whites (sometimes there will be a rose involved) or three reds, or even both if you are extra Thirsty. Flights range in price depending on the pours. Nicely paired, light but lovely noshes are $5.

The atmosphere is casual and friendly. Seating is first come, first served – no RSVP or reservations needed. Come by yourself or bring a friend (or few). Weather permitting, sip on the patio overlooking the waters of Penn Cove.

Wine Club Members! Don’t forget about your free Thirsty Thursday night. Stay tuned to your email for the exact date each month. ( What?! Not a wine club member? Did you know bayleaf has four - yes four - different wine clubs ranging from $29 to $50 a month? Two bottles of wine each month, discounts on bayleaf events, AND a free Thirsty Thursday tasting…why aren’t you in a wine club? Join online or in the store!)

Austria Wine Tasting

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 22:40:07 GMT

July 22nd Saturday 5pm ~ limited seated event

Please join us for a fun and informative evening of Austrian wine! Go beyond Gruner and get a taste of what this ancient winemaking country has to offer: Riesling, Blaufrankisch, Weissburgunder, Zweigelt, St. Laurent. They may not all be easy to pronounce, but they sure are easy to drink! Thematically appropriate snacks will be provided, plus the delightful wine wit of a certain skinny wine salesman who may or may not perform Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions on request. It’s going to be a great evening, you won’t regret joining us! Come by the shop to purchase a seat or online here.

4th of July - hours, deals & ideas!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 01:07:36 GMT

open Monday the 3rd 'til 6pm CLOSED on the 4th

We can't believe it's a holiday weekend. Whether you are grilling, enjoying some of this season's fresh produce or just sitting on the deck sipping a delicious Rose - we are stocked and ready for you!

Stock up for the holiday weekend. Our tide of wine is a giant swell at the moment, with something for everyone! We've got DRY Rose - (read our last post here ), that perfect BBQ Red that the gang will love and of course several thirst quenching whites that are sure to please. Did you know we always offer a mixed case discount of 8%? We are happy to consult with your palate and pocket book in mind! Mention our
flavor firecracker promo and we'll give you 10% off a mixed case this weekend.

The cheese case is stocked too. Upgrade your burger with blue cheese, aged goat cheese or a slice of fantastic cheddar. Don't forget to check our shelves for your new favorite condiment - mustards to chutneys we would love to change your burger experience. There are some deals to be had, get in here and check them out! Our favorite farmers just delivered lovely 2lb bags of new potatoes* - why not make your own potato salad this year? We have panchetta too.

We hope you have fun this weekend, be safe and enjoy all of this beautiful weather.

* New potatoes have thin, wispy skins and a crisp, waxy texture. They are young potatoes and unlike their fully grown counterparts, they keep their shape once cooked and cut. They are also sweeter because their sugar has not yet converted into starch, and are therefore particularly suited to salads.

Thirsty Thursday FREE

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 19:56:10 GMT

wine club member perks

Join us as we welcome Erik Cooper from Nefarious Cellars for this month's FREE Thirsty Thursday for wine club members.
We'll be tasting 6 wines from 5-7. Not in the club yet? Feel free to join us and pay only $10 to taste. Sign up and we'll waive the fee - read more here.
Thirty Thursdays are a fun, social, casual wine tasting. First come, first served. We'll have a nosh of food for purchase too. Don't miss out - these wines are terrific.

Nefarious Cellars story...

The tale of this winery mirrors that of this young and growing wine region and is equal parts love story, passion for wine, and defiance.

The wife and husband team of Heather and Dean Neff began their foray into the world of winemaking in 1998 by planting a one-acre test block on a piece of family land 20 miles north of Chelan. Planting a vineyard in the area was, at the time, an audacious thing to do. While the area had a hundred year history of growing tree fruit and people had intermittently grown wine grapes, no one was yet producing grapes commercially in the area at the time. In fact, many believed it was too cold.

Heather Neff says of their decision to plant a vineyard and start a winery, “It was the whole thought that winemaking was romantic, that sort of life that you imagine in your head.” It was this life that the Neffs set out to find.

The couple’s experimental vineyard confirmed two things. The first was that growing grapes in the area was possible; the second was that learning to make wine would require more training. “We decided if we were going to put our life savings on the line, we had to get a lot of hands-on experience,” Dean says.

So they packed up their belongings and traveled to Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley where they spent the next two and a half years learning the tools of the trade. By the time they were lured back to Chelan, eager to start their winery, a fledgling wine industry had already begun to take root in the area.

The Neffs planted two vineyards near their original test block north of Chelan in 2004. Rocky Mother (“It is!” Heather declares of the name) is planted to Syrah while nearby Stone’s Throw is planted to Riesling. They also purchased land on the outskirts of Chelan for another estate vineyard and as a home for their winery. They planted this site to Syrah, Malbec and Viognier, naming it Defiance Vineyard because, after all, it was still questionable how wine grapes, or a winery for that matter, would fare at Lake Chelan.

On a romantic overture, the couple opened their tasting room on Valentine’s Day in 2006.

At Nefarious, the Neffs take a unique approach to making their wines. Heather makes the white wines; Dean makes the reds.

“It seemed like a logical thing,” Heather explains. “We could either divide up the varieties or we could make it really simple.” While for some this division of labor might prove difficult, the Neffs have thrived.

~Washington Tasting Room

Best Gifts

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 17:22:39 GMT

We love to assist with all of your gift giving needs! Peruse our distinct collection of cookbooks, kitchen and table accessories, Riedel wine glasses and decanters, and more.

Choose from our collection of fine French Garnier-Thiebaut linens, browse swatch samples and special order your own. Shop our bi-annual trunk shows!

Stop in or call ahead for one of our featured gift baskets , build your own, or have our creative staff help you assemble the perfect combination for your favorite foodie, client, family member, or friend. Can’t decide? Give a gift certificate in any amount.

We specialize in corporate gift giving! And, yes! We ship!

Deli

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 17:18:00 GMT

Our well-appointed cheese case is filled with an exceptional variety of domestic and imported cow, goat, and sheep cheeses as well as delectable charcuterie including cured meats and pâtés from artisan local producers and traditional European houses. Questions? Ask for a taste! Need a bite for yourself or a platter for a party? We can cut as little or much as you need. We offer catering , custom meat and cheese plates, and wine by the bottle or case for your next event.

Accentuate your selections with an assortment of antipasto including olives, cornichon, tapenade, Mama Lil’s peppers, to name a few.

Our knowledgeable staff will be glad to assist you in finding just the right complement to your meal, wine pairing, or party. And, don’t forget the crackers!

Specialty Foods

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 17:11:44 GMT

We pride ourselves in our worldwide search for distinctive, ethically and sustainably produced, superior quality goods from small producers. We explore food shows, specialty markets, and even word-of-mouth recommendations to find the latest and greatest for you, such as RITROVO SELECTIONS™ extra virgin olive oils, Michel Cluizel chocolate chocolates, Nueske’s meats, Matiz figs, Billecart-Salmon Champagne, and Chad Stock’s Minimus wines.

Sign up online or in the store to attend one of our monthly food or wine tastings and learn more about our latest finds. Join one of our four wine clubs to taste exclusive selections from a range of regions.

Stay tuned here to be the first to know about the hottest new items to hit the shelves at bayleaf!

Fill your pantry

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 17:05:17 GMT

Fill your pantry and your belly with epicurean delights ranging from specialty groceries and ready-to-eat snacks to bayleaf signature foods and local goods. Our shelves are stocked with top-shelf candies and chocolates, crackers and pastas, and sauces and condiments, as well as wine, port, champagne, beer, and cider to complement your dinner, recipe, or nosh.

We offer many gluten free and organic options as well as Whidbey Island treats such as smoked Penn Cove mussels, Oystercatcher and Turner & Bea’s crackers, Screamin’ Banshee Bread, Whidbey Island Winery wines, locally produced honey and jams, and our world-famous, house-baked Salty Blonds.

Can’t find it on the shelf? Let one of our friendly staff know, and we will search to the ends of the earth to try and find it for you!

National Rosé day!

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 22:56:17 GMT

or every day at bayleaf...

A rosé by any other name…is NOT sweet!

The collection of splendid rosé wines at bayleaf are anything but your Aunt Bea’s blush or Granny Winnie’s white zinfandel. All are crisp, dry, fresh, fruity, floral, and delicious – of course!

Fresher is better. Unlike deep, rich reds, rosé wines are best when they are new – less than a year or two old. And, because they are not as costly to produce, they are one of the more budget friendly members of the wine family. At bayleaf, we have an impressive assortment of loveliness – most priced from $10 to $15. Come see for yourself, and buy a bottle (or a few) or have a glass (or two) while you sit on the patio and watch the sailboats navigate the blue waters of Penn Cove.

Real men drink pink… and think pink – from the barest blush to the deepest fuchsia. The grapes used for rosés can range from Malbec and Pinot Noir to Sangiovese and Syrah. Indeed, nearly any dark-skinned grape from nearly anywhere in the world can be used to make a rosé. Each varietal imparts its own distinct aromas and flavors, but the tones and shades of these blushing beauties are a result of pigmentation from the grape skins. A mere hour or two of exposure will produce a light, refreshing wine. Increasing the time will deepen the hue and intensify the flavors and tannins.

Summer in a bottle. Inarguably, chilled rosés are best when paired with seasonal favorites like grilled meats, seafood, and farm fresh vegetables or simply sipped during the long days and balmy nights of summer. However, at bayleaf we believe rosés should be enjoyed all year long. Treat yourself to endless summer (and reap the myriad benefits of wine club membership) – for only $29 a month - by joining rose club today! Tell them Susan sent you!

~ Susan Wenzel

Formaggi Busti Pecorino Cheese Tasting Event - SOLD OUT

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:14:02 GMT

Sorry this event is sold out. If you would like to purchase a sample plate from the tasting we will have them for sale Thursday - the 22nd. Please let us know if we can set one aside for you.

In 1955 two shepherds, Alessandro and Remo, began making cheese in Acciaiolo, very close to where the current Formaggi Busti plant is now located. Today, Stefano Busti, heir to this family tradition, manages the dairy with his son and daughter. Located in the heart of Tuscany, the Busti family is bound by tradition and respect for the art of cheese making, and we are very excited to bring a well-rounded selection of Busti’s fine cheeses to Whidbey Island.

Join us as we welcome Paolo Campigli of Busti for an evening of Pecornio. We'll share stories, explain how we bring these cheeses to your table and of course TASTE! Please come early if you would like to purchase wine/beer with your cheese pairing.

From Caseificio Busti, Paolo Campigli

Paolo is the Export Manager for Caseificio Busti and assists with introducing the Busti collection outside of Italy. Paolo lives in Fuecchio, a small town near Florence and commutes to Pisa (Fauglia) when he needs to get “to the office”. His background includes study as a sommelier and has worked in Argentina within the wine industry. Paolo worked along side Gabriele to help select the introductory collection of cheeses being imported to the Pacific Northwest.

From Peterson, Gabrielle Antongiovanni

Gabriele Antongiovanni the Italian Product Specialist at Peterson and works closely with suppliers to source foods of exceptional quality that are imported directly from Italy or produced in the US with respect for traditional Italian techniques. With his lifelong love of great food, Gabriele is a wonderful resource of information and training about Italian food production methods, cultural significance and regional variations, preparation of classic dishes, and ideas for use in modern cuisine.

Event is SOLD OUT*

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sun, 21 May 2017 01:48:21 GMT

Cynthia Nims *please let us know if we can hold any signed books for you

Join us for a special evening with local Seattle author Cynthia Nims. We've loved her books for years - especially her latest. This evening will feature demonstrations, tastings, personal stories and of course book signing. We'll be featuring both book subjects - OYSTERS and CRAB. This is a limited seating event. We'll have books on hand for sale - please let us know how many of each we can hold for you. Feel free to bring any of her other books for signing. $20 Please register here . Read more about Cynthia here .

What's in my wine?

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Sun, 14 May 2017 18:21:55 GMT

Come learn!

Join us as we welcome back Jesse Huffstater of Indie Wines as we explore the topic that's been in the news as of late. We've been showing you wines that are delicious and nutritious for years - fret not.

Saturday May 27th 5pm
$15 wine club members // $20 non-club members

Have you ever thought about where your wine comes, how it's made and (most importantly) what goes into it? If you have, this event is great for you! If you haven't, this event is perfect for you!! We will explore organics, biodynamics, natural yeast, sulfur and additives in wine (what?? They put other stuff besides grapes in wine??) We will taste through some of Indie Wineries selections as well as a few mystery wines for contrast. Bring your questions, your concerns and an open mind.

Please register here .

Tasting includes 6 wines both reds and whites and a nosh of food. Please refrain from wearing anything scented. We love the opportunity to learn and share that knowledge with you! Hoping you'll have fun, learn a little and take home some new found wine loves.

FORAGE Pop-up

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Mon, 08 May 2017 22:15:00 GMT

Don't forget MOTHERS DAY, it's Sunday!

FORAGE Mothers Day Pop-up!

Join us as we welcome local business owner Lexi Ochoa of FORAGE

Friday 11-2

Saturday 10-3
Sunday 11-2

FORAGE will be offering individual arrangements and personalized wraps for your Mom. Lexi specializes in local flowers in the beautiful color pallet of Spring!
Pre-order yours here , call the shop, 360-678-6603 or come build your custom bouquet this weekend.

Little about Lexi…

Lexi Ochoa has been watching her mother (Cindy Boyer) design flowers for 30 + years. Her earliest memories were at 5 picking neighbors sea breeze blooms and building her own bouquets’ that included weeds. FORAGE is inspired by a passion for pretty shiny things. While raising two small boys keeps her plenty busy it was providing flowers for a local friend’s wedding that inspired her to build the business. You’ll find her flowers to be funky, eclectic with a whimsy that is Whidbey inspired.

Wine Club Perks

bethbayleaf@gmail.com (Beth Kuchynka) — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 18:28:20 GMT

Tonight - FREE Thirsty Thursday 5-7 for club members!*

Join us as we taste 6 wines 'blind'. This is such a fun way to taste, remove your preconceived notions and see what you actually like! First come first served, pouring starts at 5pm. Nosh or our full menu available for purchase.

Get here and enjoy your club perks - FREE WINE!

*Not in the club yet? Guests are welcome! Come along and pay $10 for 6 tastes. If you join the club we won't charge you for the tasting!

Fermin ~ a cut above!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 21:23:59 GMT

Fermin Tasting Event with Eric Stone of Vinea Imports - May 6th Saturday @ 5pm $20

Come taste with Spanish expert Eric Stone. These award-winning salamis and hams are legendary. This is an amazing chance to taste them at one sitting and with an expert guide. We’ll taste Iberico Paleta Bellota Iberico Chorizo Bellota, Salchichon, Serrano Lomo, Serrano Paleta. The tasting will start at 5pm. Please come early if you wish to purchase beer or wine to accompany the tasting. Discounted pricing on the meats will be available that evening. Only 25 seats available. Please refrain from wearing anything scented. Purchase tickets here .

Eric Stone has worked in the world of specialty food and wine for almost 25 years. One thing he truly loves is Spain, the culture, cuisine and lifestyle, and has helped to bring many of their finest gourmet foods and wines to the market here in the Pacific Northwest. Among these, Fermin Iberico products reflect generations of tradition, care and artisan craftsmanship. One of the crown jewels of world gastronomy, Iberico jamon de bellota is widely considered to be the finest dry cured ham available.

Fermin is located in the rural village of La Alberca, in the mountains southwest of Salamanca and was founded in 1956. Today it is still owned and managed by the descendants of Fermin Martin and his wife Victoria Gomez.
In 2005 they became the first Spanish producer approved for export to the US. Eric has worked with the Martin family since their first entry into the US market as their ambassador de jamon here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Iberico pig or “pata negra” is a unique animal, the last free ranging and free grazing pig in Europe. Raised on small farms in the “dehesa” oak forest land of the western Iberian peninsula, with sustainable, traceable and humane practices, it is highly prized for its meat and for the delectable dry cured jamon, chorizo, lomo, salchichon and other cuts produced from the traditional alchemy of clean mountain air, pure sea salt and time. We look forward to sharing a bit of the history, culture and tradition of the world of Iberico jamon.

Paella Fundraiser Willowood Farm of Ebey’s Prairie

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

On the evening of March 6th, 2017 a devastating fire destroyed the historic Smith Barn. The clean up from this horrendous fire will be extremely costly. David Day and bayleaf invite you to enjoy an evening of Paella in support of cleaning up the devastation. Proceeds will go to the Smith family to help with this enormous undertaking.

No bunny does it better than bayleaf!

info@whidbeyweb.com (Richard Fagan) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

No bunny’s Easter would be complete without sweets. But when just any old candies won’t do, trust bayleaf to have the best quality treats.

The candies and chocolates at bayleaf are always exceptional but holidays are an opportunity for us to stock even better than our best. This year, in addition to our usual but never ordinary array of chocolates, we are proud to have a selection of the most decadent jelly beans, malted milk balls, and Robin’s eggs, along with exquisitely handmade chocolate bunnies, eggs, and inlaid bars, all from world renown French chocolatier, Michel Cluizel.

Award winning Michel Cluizel chocolates are skillfully handcrafted from bean to bar, and are made with pure cocoa butter and bourbon vanilla pod and never contain soy or any artificial ingredients, flavors, or fats. These fine chocolates also contain less sugar than many other chocolates because of the use of superlative quality beans and a high cocoa content in the finished product.

All of Michel Cluizel chocolate is sustainably sourced from renowned plantations in the most reputable cocoa-producing countries in Central America, Africa, and the Pacific. Michel Cluizel works directly with the growers to select only premium cocoa beans and then carefully ferments and roasts them to ensure the rich, sumptuous chocolate flavors and aromas from each region are emphasized.

Even the most discriminating chocoholic will be delighted to find an Easter basket filled with Michel Cluizel confections, so hop into bayleaf before these exceptional goodies are gone!

~ Susan Wenzel

bayleaf news and upcoming events

Spring Tasting 2026

Such a fun time.

💛 25 years of all things delicious

Can you believe it?

Patio Pour Line up Thursdays 5-7

Which Pour Are You Coming For?

Wine Club Members 2 for 1

Discounts offered on purchases

seated as a group, food available for purchase Thursdays 5-7

tickets here

Trusted, tried and true pantry staple

Such a fan favorite.

Tasting Opportunity

While visiting trade accounts in the area, Clarke has carved out time to lead this intimate tasting—and we’re thrilled to host him. This is a rare chance to explore the Rosenthal portfolio through the eyes (and palate) of someone who knows it inside and out. Tickets here .

Champagne Tasting 2024

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Below are the wines poured at this year's Annual Champagne Tasting. Please reach out with interest.

Fall Tasting 2024

Success!

Spring Tasting 2024

Amazing

Refresh! Spring Linens.

Spring Cleaning?

Hope this finds you well and enjoying the blossoming spring season!

Saturday 27 April 3-5

GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW Superior quality French table, living and bed linens ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

Why Champagne?

Grower Champagne

Fall Wine Tasting Extravaganza

Fall Wine Extravaganza

Grande Fior di Latte

Grande Fior di Latte

Pasteurized Cow's milk fresh Mozzarella - Wisconsin - USA

Onetik Bleu des Basques

Onetik Bleu Des Basques

Pasteurized Sheep - Onetik - Midi-Pyrenees, France

Cowgirl Creamery Pierce Point

Orange Wines

put it on your list to try...

Alcohol-Free or Sober Curious

Two Spanish Visitors

Soft Ripened Highlight

Neal's Yard Dairy

February Feta

Seasonal Subscription Box

Pet - Nat Explained

put it on your list to try...

Jasper Hill Cheeses ~ take home tasting

new cheeses!

Take Home Port Tasting

Est. 1638 Kopke Port

Day 12 | 12 Days of Christmas | Best Last Gift

Day 11 | 12 Days of Christmas | Best Ever Subscription Box

Day 10 | 12 Days of Chirstmas | Join the Club

Day 9 | 12 Days of Chirstmas | Uncommon Condiments

Day 8 | 12 Days of Christmas | Holiday Sweets

Day 7 | 12 Days of Christmas | BBQ Bunch

Day 6 | 12 Days of Christmas | Olive Set

Day 5 | 12 Days of Christmas | Olive Oil and Ritrovo Selections Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Day 4 | 12 Days of Christmas | Super Lux Chololates

Day 3 | 12 Days of Christmas | ‘Tis the Season(ing)

Day 2 | 12 Days of Christmas | Fish Feast

Day 1 | 12 Days of Christmas | Mustard Trio

12 Days of Christmas

Specials for Everyone!

Vermouth take home tasting with Leith Shenstone of Fasel Shenstone Imports

Vermouth take home tasting with Leith Shenstone of Fasel Shenstone Imports

Pick up 23rd October

Wine Club members $20 / $25 non

Includes 5 tastes, discounts, nosh and video with the importer and producer

2020 Champagne Tasting

Save the Bubbles

take-home Champagne Tasting

Friday, November 20th

5 ~ 375 ml bottles ~ $175

snacks $20,

triple crème brie's, pate & potato chips

MONS Cheese Tasting Event

Every week!

GARNIER - THIEBAUT TRUNK SHOW
Superior quality French table, living and bed linens
ALL ORDERS 20% OFF

Vermouth take home tasting with
Leith Shenstone of Fasel Shenstone Imports