We know this year has been full of ups and downs. In the blink of an eye, everyday life as we knew it was forced to change, but we adapted. As we reflect upon this past year and prepare to celebrate the meal in which we think of what we give thanks for, our family would like to share what we are grateful for.
Our Loyal Customers
We are incredibly thankful to all those who have supported us over the years. Whether you have been shopping with us since our Harlem and Wrightwood days in 1958, you recently discovered us, or anytime in between… we are incredibly grateful to the support and loyalty our customers and communities we serve have shown us!
Our Dedicated Staff
We want to thank our dedicated staff who have been working selflessly to keep our stores clean and our shelves stocked. We are so proud and thankful for the hard work and dedication, especially during these trying times. Our staff has made our family so proud in the way that everyone has stepped up and helped to serve our local communities!
We would also like to extend our thanks to their families for the support they have offered to our employees!
Our Family
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets started as a dream. My grandfather, Angelo Caputo, left his home in Italy to come to America in hopes of creating a good life for himself and his family. His hard work, dedication, and sacrifice is the reason we are where we are today. The unending support of my grandmother, Romana Caputo, cannot go unnoticed. She was a helpful and supporting pillar through the hard work and long days. My parents, Robertino and Antonella, have done more for us than you can imagine. They both began working at very young ages. They take every opportunity to thank my grandparents for their sacrifices and dedication, but will never look for credit or draw attention to all they did for us as a business and a family. They have taught my siblings and I so much. I am also grateful for my siblings. Our parents have raised us to put family first and because of their influence, I am blessed enough to have siblings that I can call my best friends.
We hope that everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. We continue to hope and pray for happy and healthy days ahead.
With the holidays coming up, you may be preparing for small get togethers with loved ones. Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more… the holiday season means connecting with your loved ones. You may be charged with the task of bringing a dish or maybe you want to add a little flare to your at home dinner! An antipasto tray or charcuterie board is a go-to when this task comes up!
We can help you create the perfect seasonal charcuterie board that is sure to wow your group and their taste buds!
Whenever you make a charcuterie board, you have to remember that it is important to balance your colors, textures, flavors, and shapes!
If you’re looking for some advice on what to put on your board, here are some tips!
The Cheeses
Rustic Red Cheddar
This is a grass fed rustic cheese. It has a bit of a stronger taste and a bit of a crunch to it– it is sweeter and grittier than normal cheddar. The pop of bright orange color makes it really great on a board. For our board, we decided to cube it.
Manchego
This is a sheep’s milk cheese that comes from Spain. It is 12 month aged cheese that is dry, but creamy at the same time. The dry cheese helps to incorporate the sweeter items on the board. This manchego is not as salty as normal manchego cheese either! We cut it in even wedges, leaving the rind on in order to make it easier to hold while you eat and add some color. You can eat the rind, but you’ll notice a different texture so we suggest not eating it.
Castello aged havarti
This ia havarti that has been aged for 12 months and is bold, creamy, and almost caramel flavor with a bit of a crunch. Havarti is typically creamy, but this one has a crystalline texture that adds little crunches to the cheese. This cheese is a great compliment for many dishes and even melts easily! For our board, we cut it in slices.
Marieke Gouda- Honey Clover
This is a raw milk, unpasteurized Gouda. It is sweet and has a kick at the same time as it is made with honey and a sweet clover herb. We started by trimming the rind off and then cut it in slices!
Sartori Chardonnay
This is an easy and delicious Wisconsin cheese. Sartori creates this line by taking their Bella vitano base– a parmesan. They then dip this wheel of cheese in a vat of Chardonnay wine. The rind is edible and delicious, so make sure to cut in wedges and to enjoy the rind. This cheese has it all– it is gritty, crunchy, and creamy
Lemon blueberry goat cheese
This is a goat cheese that is hand rolled in sweetened blueberries. This cheese is sweet and smooth, it tastes exactly like a blueberry lemonade! It is also seasonal, so it is only available while supplies last. For the board, we cut the cheese in half, then cut the halves again and placed it around the Il Nicciolo which is the center of our board.
Il Nicciolo
This is cow milk, sheep milk, and goat milk blended together to make soft ripened cheese with minimal rind. The outside is more of a butter line and inside is creamy which gives it an excellent flavor! We opened the box, cut the rind off, and placed it right in the center of our board! We put a special Limoncello jelly next to it because adding this jelly takes the cheese to the next level!
Limoncello jelly
With this jelly, a little goes a long way. Imported from Italy, this limoncello jelly is bursting with flavor. It is a great topping for a simple, creamy cheese! Put some on a cracker and top it with the vibrant limoncello jelly!
The Meats
We decided to use pre-cut salami and prosciutto because it is an easy time saver without sacrificing quality or taste. We all know that those extra few minutes, especially around the holidays, can be very helpful!
Bussetto salami nuggets
Classic, dry salami. It is simple, but compliments the unique flavors on the board perfectly.
Prosciutto di Parma
We grabbed the pre-sliced package and cut each piece in half. To put them on the board, we spun them into bite sized, round pieces. Want to try something different, but delicious? Try wrapping a pear slice in the prosciutto! You will get the perfect combination of salty and sweet.
Genoa Salami
This is another basic salami that adds a different texture and simple taste to the board. This one is inexpensive and you can use the whole package at once.
Fruit
Fruit gives you texture and a natural sweet on your board and breaks up the other flavors on the board. We used seasonal fruits
grapes
gala apples
d’anjou pear
Dry Figs (adds a good texture and natural sweetness)
The Crackers and Fillers
These are generally used a palette cleanser and are a great way to break up your board! Different flavors, textures, and colors help to create a balance and well-rounded board.
Mini tortas
This is a soft cracker with anise and crystallized sugar. It is sweet which complements the different flavors on the board
Parmesan crisps
Leave them whole and stack them on their side to add a different texture and crunch to the board.
Olina’s Fig and Sunflower Seed crackers
These gluten free crackers are firm and add a good crunch to the board. They are loaded with fruits and seeds to make them a wonderful mix of salty and sweet to compliment most any cheese!
Date and walnut cake
Dates and walnuts pressed together to form a cake. This is great with a sharp white cheddar!
Caramelized pecans
These are not too sugary because they are caramelized instead of sugared.
Cocoa almonds
These cocoa dusted chocolate almonds are perfectly sweet and salty with a crunch. They go great with cheese, especially goat cheese
Did you know that we will make the board for you? You pick the cheeses and we will create a masterpiece for you! You can provide your own board or we can get a small one for you. It is the perfect gift or tray to bring to a party!
There is nothing quite like a crunchy, refreshing apple on a cool fall day. Apples and fall just go hand in hand!
There is one specific apple that comes out of Washington that is specifically created and harvested to help you “Experience Autumn All Year” and embodies the best flavors and scents that fall has to offer… the Autumn Glory apple!
Autumn Glory apples have a sweet, firm flesh. In every bite, you will taste hints of cinnamon and notes of caramel making it unlike any apple you have ever tasted before. It is a crispy apple with beautiful yellow and red colors that just look like fall! The flavor profile can be compared to that of apple cider or apple sauce– it is an incredibly unique and delicious apple.
Autumn Glory apples are harvested in Washington by Domex Superfresh Growers, a family business for over five generations. This apple, along with all Domex fruits, are non-GMO. Domex skillfully and carefully crossed varietals of apples to create the natural flavors, quality, and crispiness you can only find in an Autumn Glory!
Quantities are limited, so we are so excited to be able to offer you this delicious apple!
Feeling inspired and want to make the Autumn glory into something delicious? Try out this recipe!
Buy Autumn Glory apples here and check out more recipes here!
