 Image: ChocZero This December ChocZero has launched a Sugar Free Peppermint flavor of their best-selling Keto Bark. The festive packaging makes it a perfect holiday hosting gift, stocking stuffer or sweet treat for Mr. and Mrs. Claus after a long night of wrapping gifts.
 Image: Smart Sweets One bag of SmartSweets fun-pack gummy candy only has 3 grams of sugar, where normal gummy candy can pack an average of 24 grams of sugar! Check out their super cute holiday packaging—ugly Christmas sweaters filled with snowpeople and Christmas trees that taste like pineapple and strawberry! SmartSweets candies also include Fruity Gummy Bears, Sour Gummy Bears, Sour Blast Buddies (Vegan) and Sweet Fish (Vegan).
 Image: The Grommet
 Mixed Berry Pie with Coconut Oil and Agave Credit: Better Body Foods Are you looking for new Holiday Recipes? Check out the following healthy ingredients and the yummy recipes below!! 1. Organic Coconut Flour: Gluten-free and lightly textured, Organic Coconut Flour makes for a delicious, alternative to standard grain-based flours. 2. Organic Agave: Agave Nectar is naturally low-glycemic plus, since it’s sweeter than white sugar, and you won’t use as much. 3. Organic Cacao: You get the great taste of chocolate with the healthy benefits of Organic Cacao superfood— protein, antioxidant flavanols and polyphenols, plus vitamins, minerals and natural fiber. Recipes below courtesy of Better Body Foods. Cheers! Mixed Berry Pie with Coconut Oil and Agave Ingredients CRUST -- 2 Cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 tsp sea salt 2/3 Cup BBF Virgin Organic Coconut Oil 5-7 Tbsp cold water 2 Tbsp BBF Organic Agave FILLING -- 2 Cups fresh raspberries 2 Cups fresh blackberries 1 Cup fresh blueberries 1/3 Cup BBF Organic Agave 3 Tbsp constarch 1/4 Cup water  Homemade Agave Hot Cocoa Credit: Better Body Foods Homemade Agave Hot Cocoa
Ingredients 1 Cup milk of your choice 1 Tbsp LIVfit Superfood® organic Cacao 1 Tbsp BBF organic agave 1/4 tsp BBF organic bourbon madagascar vanilla 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional) Dash peppermint extract 1 tsp BBF organic naturally refined coconut oil  Seafood Stew Benchmark Oakland. Image: Gratitude Gourmet Benchmark Oakland is now open featuring a delightful and lovely Italian-Californian menu prepared with seasonal, often locally sourced, organic ingredients. Executive Chef Peter Swanson and Operations Manager Melissa Swanson are co-owners and husband and wife. Chef Swanson opened Benchmark Pizzeria in Kensington, California in 2012 and Benchmark Oakland is their new restaurant. Assisting him in the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Jennifer Moffitt who was most recently at Boot & Shoe Service. The restaurant’s house-stretched pasta and doughs for pizza are from sourdough starter made with their own wild yeast. If historic architecture delights you, you will love this building as it was built in 1876, and a portion of the restaurant’s mosaic and tile flooring has been in place for almost a century. The 50-seat dining room was designed by Said Jon Eghbal, in collaboration with the Swansons, and include a dark orange and black color scheme, wood-topped tables, high ceiling, over-sized windows and an exhibition kitchen with a wood fired pizza oven. The zinc-topped bar has room for 10 people and there is outdoor sidewalk patio seating. The outdoor street and trees at 499 9th Street, on the corner of Washington Street, are beautifully decorated for the holidays and is beautiful at night!! The beverage selection includes an international wine list, assorted beers, and craft cocktails curated by Tamir Ben-Shalom of Bull Valley Roadhouse. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Every item we ordered was exquisitely prepared, fresh with exceptional taste! Saffron in the Seafood Stew is an excellent idea! The Sourdough Crust in the Pizza was mild and perfect! We will be back! A detailed list of items we enjoyed are below along with slideshow pics! Enjoy!! Wine Mourvèdre-Syrah blend Bedrock Wine Co., Evangelho Vineyard, Contra Costa County 2017 Starters - Butternut Squash Soup Warm spice, brown butter, sage - Singleness Crab from the Wood Oven Potatoes, Aioli, Spices Pizza - Benchmark Tomato Sauce, fresh mozarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil Entree - Seafood Stew Saffron broth, crab, clams, mussels, aioli, toast  Karen Flying Noir - Image: Gratitude Gourmet We at Gratitude Gourmet enjoyed judging exceptional chocolate again at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon last weekend. Each Judging is getting more challenging as there are many impressive Chocolatiers! The Winners are here. See our photos below in our Slideshow!  Image: Nielsen-Massey We LOVE Persian Rose Water Ice Cream, and you can make it yourself!
Here's the Recipe courtesy of Nielsen-Massey. PERSIAN ROSE WATER ICE CREAM Ingredients
Pour 1/2 cup cream into a 1-quart container. Seal and place flat into the freezer. Allow to freeze completely. Mix the remaining 2 cups cream and milk in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat to 175 degrees F. Stir in the sugar and continue cooking until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in the rose water and salt. Transfer the cream mixture to a storage container with a lid and refrigerate 6 hours to overnight. Freeze ice cream in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Meanwhile, remove the frozen cream from freezer, chop into pieces; set aside. Once ice cream in the ice cream maker is nearly frozen, add the frozen cream pieces and nuts to the mixture and continue churning until the pieces are evenly distributed. Transfer ice cream to a storage container and let set in the freezer for at least 4 hours before eating.  Image: Cafe Gratitude WHO: Cafe Gratitude, along with Nikki Reed & Whitney Cummings, hosts 14th Annual Donation-Only Community Thanksgiving Meal with 100% of proceeds benefiting a Safe Place for Youth and the California Fire Foundation.
WHAT: Served with love on a first come, first serve basis -- Cafe Gratitude will be home for organic plant based Thanksgiving meals & for Angelenos to give thanks and give back to Los Angeles, featuring live music from Avasa and Matthew Love. Menu items will include: GT’s Living in Gratitude Kombucha, Red Lentil Holiday Loaf, Raw Stuffing, Smashed Potatoes, Mushroom Gravy, Rosemary Roasted Vegetables, Autumn Salad and Pumpkin Pie. WHEN: Thanksgiving! November 22nd from 11am to 3pm - (first come, first served). WHERE: Café Gratitude Larchmont 639 North Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 WHY: Because love is greater than fear, Cafe Gratitude has been operating restaurants for 14 years with the support of their local communities. Thanksgiving is an annual event for those in need to experience community and a stellar meal, in a joyful and nourishing experience. Come one, come all to eat, to feel at home or volunteer, sign up here.  Fish + shellfish stew with early girl tomato, aioli + toast by Western Pacific (Image Gratitude Gourmet) Western Pacific restaurant entrepreneurs Donna Insalaco and Charlie Hallowell, working with Chef de Cuisine Troy Wilcox, have created a small plate and pizza-focused menu often prepared with organic, locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients. Insalaco states, “ours is an exploration of Northern California ingredients sourced from small organic farmers and cooked through the ethos of southern Italy with some hints of North Africa and gentle whispers of the American south: Cal-Italian soul food! We are stewards of the food and craftspeople, charged with getting the best into the bellies of our guests.” The Western Pacific beverage list showcases eight local craft beers on tap, as well as four Northern California wines on tap and a California and Italian focused list of wines by the bottle. The restaurant's full bar serves classic, contemporary, and specialty cocktails curated by Bar Manager Todd McKean. The 100-seat dining room designed by Wiley Price evokes Northern California’s rugged coast, the rolling oak savanna, and the redwood forests. Highlights include wood design elements utilizing a redwood water tank and siding, acacia slabs and fire salvaged valley oak; custom built tables; hand-blown glass light fixtures; old handmade terra cotta tiles that decorate space alongside living plants from Flora Grubb Gardens; and a serpentine-shaped banquette running the length of the bar area. Price comments, “I’ve sought to reflect the natural awesomeness of the region we inhabit. The design is a journey from light to darkness, from water to the forest, from the river’s edge, to the dry oak savannah, to the dense shadowy redwood.” We enjoyed the most thoughtfully and exquisitely prepared entrees that were all delightful and pleasing to the palate! Many items are seasonal so try them soon to enjoy these spectacular Fall dishes! The address is 2286 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA. See all the items we recommend below along with Photos! We will be back for the Pizza! Later this fall, the venue’s café will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering coffee and grab and go selections such as breakfast salads, pastries, and housemade bread. Enjoy!! Antipasti * Halibut ceviche with avocado, guru ram das oranges, pomegranate, cilantro + marash pepper * Ricotta di bufala with hazelnut salsa verde + charred bread Giardini * Cauliflower, marinated beets + leeks vinaigrette with sauce gribiche + tuna confit Secondi * Fish + shellfish stew with early girl tomato, aioli + toast Cantor * Kabocha squash purée with sheeps milk ricotta , sage + pomegranate Dolci * Double 8 Ranch buffalo mill soft serve: vanilla, salted caramel or a swirl of both with Cajeta with puffed amaranth  Image Credit: Purple Heart Wines Chefs, winemakers and dignitaries from the Town of Yountville in the Napa Valley saluted residents of the Veterans Home of California - Yountville on November 7th by preparing a multi-course feast for the 14th Annual Celebrity Chefs Veterans Day Luncheon. The Veterans Home of California - Yountville houses over 800 aged and or disabled United States military veterans and their spouses, nearly a third of the town’s population.
Purple Heart Wines also donated $10,000 to the Purple Heart Foundation in a check ceremony at the Veteran's Home; with this donation, the brand has contributed $70,000 to the non-profit since the projects' inception in 2016. The wine brand—created by the C. Mondavi family—was created as a way to honor the veterans and help the foundation that does so much to serve the needs of military men and women around the country. Orchestrated by Napa Valley Chef Bob Hurley and the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, this annual luncheon to celebrate our nation’s veterans featured the culinary talents of Chef Cary Delbridge of Brix Restaurant & Gardens, Chef Nate Lindsey of Lucy Restaurant & Bar at Bardessono, Chefs Donald Young and Adam Nichol of the Napa Valley Wine Train, Chef Gregory Short of Bistro Jeanty, Chef Francois Heigel of Bouchon Bakery and Chef Michael Foster of Mustards Grill. "Preparing this annual feast to honor the sacrifice and service of these brave men and women is a small gesture of our gratitude,” said Chef Hurley. "The Veterans Home is a significant part of our community and many of its residents are unable to visit our restaurants or wineries, so once a year we bring the experience to them. Truth be told, we really enjoy our interactions with the Veterans during this event, it is something we look forward to each year." Purple Heart Winemaker John Moynier gave a brief speech during both seatings of the luncheon to talk about the Purple Heart Wines' project and the meaning it has as a military veteran in his own right. Served restaurant-style, the meal was served by over 60 volunteers and Brix Restaurant & Gardens staff, and accompanied by some of Napa Valley's finest wines, including wines from Purple Heart Wines, Duckhorn Vineyards, and Domaine Chandon.  Image Credit: Pereg Check out the 2 new spices from Pereg: Spanish Paprika and Poppy Seeds. Did you know that Paprika is the fourth most consumed spice in the world? All paprika starts life as a type of red Caspicum annum, otherwise known as the bell pepper. Spanish cuisine being a huge trend these days, you may have come across Spanish paprika on a recipe's ingredient list. Also known as pimentón, this spice is becoming very popular in the United States. But what exactly is Spanish paprika and what makes it so special? There are two types of Spanish paprika: smoked and non-smoked. Spanish paprika is commonly made with smoked peppers, which brings a deeper, smokier flavor to the table. That earthy essence comes from smoke-drying the peppers with oak wood for two weeks before they are ground. Per Joy from Pereg, "It's a great spice for adding flavor and depth to vegetarian and vegan dishes, she says, and to dishes that are light on fat. It’s a must for everyone’s spice cabinet.”  Image Credit: Pereg Poppy Seeds come in three different colors: white, blue, and black. There are no distinct differences between these types aside from their color, with the choice mainly depending on the color preference of the baker or the cook and its availability. Poppy seeds add a floral, earthy, and nutty flavor and pleasant color and crunch to all sorts of dishes, from savory and sweet to airy pastries.
According to Pereg’s resident spice expert, “Poppy seeds are often associated with bagels and breads, but they tend to be forgotten among the other seeds we use when cooking.” For cooking and baking, she recommends adding poppy seeds to muffins, cakes, scones, and sweet rolls, and brushing them on top of bagels, buns, crackers and eggs. Poppy seeds can be added to buttered egg noodles, fruit salad dressings, yogurt and yeast breads, even pancakes too. You’ll even gain nutrients from these tiny seeds – they contain some niacin and folate and are also a great source of minerals including calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Enjoy!  Image Credit: Tre Olive We received an Olive Tree Adoption package and love it as its a great gift for foodies like us! You adopt an olive tree from their groves and you receive an adoption certificate, photos of your tree, tag it with your name for the year and then after harvest, they send you the olive oil from your tree! Packages start at $79.99 and you can find more info at www.treolive.com.
TRE Olive is a 4th generation family owned olive oil business with groves and an olive mill in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The grandfather still owns the olive groves. Enjoy!  Image Credit: Waterloo Offer guests refreshing bubbles at your holiday gathering without alcohol! Waterloo Sparkling Water offers true-to-fruit flavor & aroma in each sip, an ideal choice for serving guests who want to enjoy a healthier beverage!
Waterloo is available in 8 mouthwatering flavors including NEW Mango, Original, Black Cherry, Watermelon, Coconut, Lemon, Lime & Grapefruit. Waterloo has zero calories, sugar or sodium and offers Non-GMO Project Verified natural flavors in BPA-Free cans, made with Vapor-Distilled Water (Reverse Osmosis). Enjoy!  Image: Time Inc Books The Vegan 8 Cookbook by Brandi Doming features 100 Simple, Delicious Recipes Made with 8 Ingredients or Less. Classic comfort foods are made healthier using real, whole food ingredients. No fake cheeses, no fake meats, tofu, green smoothies or boring salads! This is a book that you will find comforting, satisfying, filling and incredibly delicious recipes for your whole family to enjoy! Here's a great recipe for Red Lentil Curry Soup courtesy of Time Life Books. Enjoy!  Image: Time Inc Books INGREDIENTS
 Image Credit: 12 Linajes 12 Linajes releases its Roble 2017 (srp $ 18.99), Crianza 2015 (srp $24.99), and Reserva 2014 (srp $34.99). The 12 Linajes labels include 12 coat-of-arms -paying tribute to Spanish King Alfonso’s Round Table. 12 Linajes is part of the D.O. 5 Hispanobodegas wine group.
The 12 Linajes wines are all made with 100% Tempranillo. The age of the vines and wood-aging differs with each wine. The Tempranillo used in the Roble comes from 60 year-old vines and the wine is aged 5 months in American oak followed by 4 months of bottle aging. The Tempranillo used to make the Crianza comes from 70 year-old vines and the wine is aged in French and American oak for 14 months followed by 12 months in bottle. While the Reserva is made from 80 year-old vines and it is aged in both French and American oak for 24 months and is then bottle-aged for another 12 months. 12 Linajes is made at Bodegas Gormaz which is located in the Ribera del Duero. The winery was founded in 1972, and was one of the first wineries to receive the official certification of appellation. Bodegas Gormaz controls over 573 acres of vines in Ribera del Duero’s Soria province, which is the highest and least exploited of the region’s districts. The Gormaz vineyards, which are distributed over more than 1,000 small farms, are planted at altitudes ranging between 845 and 960 meters (2.535 and 2,880 feet). There is a wide diversity of soils, both in terms of composition and diversity, with one common characteristic: the calcareous rock which adds minerality to the grapes. At the helm of the winery is Ms. Jose Garcia Moren. She is the winery’s Technical Agricultural Engineer, holding a Masters Degree in Viticulture and Oenology. She has been with the winery since 1999. She is a firm believer that winemaking starts in the vineyards. She believes that great wines come from great quality grapes. D.O.5 Hispanobodegas, owned by Juan Rivero, is a group of boutique wineries which produce quality wines from the most emblematic officially certified winegrowing regions of Spain: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Rueda. The group consists of three wineries: Bodegas Valdelacierva (Rioja), Bodegas Gormaz (Ribera del Duero), and Bodegas Garci Grande (Rueda). 12 Linajes wines are sold in fine wine shops and restaurants throughout the United States.  Image Credit: bnutty Honey Roasted Peanut Butter has been blended with Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkin Flakes to bring an amazing Pumpkin Pie flavor! Check out bnutty Gourmet Peanut Butter With 100% Creamy Pumpkin & Holiday Spices. Perfect the Holiday sandwiches and snacking!
 Image Credit: Groove Ring Wearing your hard metal ring on the job, at the gym, or even on long hikes and rock climbs is uncomfortable or unsafe. Groove Rings solve these problems so that you can push your limits. These silicone rings are designed with breathable grooves on the interior of 80 durometer medical grade silicone and come in beautiful colors!  Image Credit: Groove Ring An acquaintance of mine and her husband were wearing these rings because their jobs are hard core and wanted to keep their wedding rings and fingers safe! I wanted to try them myself, and they are so comfortable and practical!! They even have Wedding Rings and have a Warranty for Life if you break it or lose it!!
Check out the Groove Rings Here.  Image Credit: Grow Fragrance Looking for a natural fragrance for your home, especially a home with our beloved Pets? Check out Grow Fragrance, a modern home fragrance that is 100% plant-based, toxin-free, and safe. It eliminates odors and freshens fabric naturally. We love the Citrus Cedar, Bamboo, and the Fall Fragrance Apple Pomander! Now we are ready for guests! :)
 Image Credit: Dave's Sweet Tooth "Hand Made. Homemade. Michigan Made...Eat Responsibly" is the perfect tagline mentioned on Dave's Sweet Tooth website, for these gourmet toffees prepared one batch at a time. An excellent selection of flavors include Peanut Butter Crunch, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Cherry, Coffee Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla Bean and More!! Ingredients include real butter, real sugar, real milk chocolate, and hand sliced almonds, with no artificial flavors, no preservatives, Kosher certified and naturally gluten free! We at Gratitude Gourmet have been judging Chocolate and Toffee for many years, and this brand is one of the best! If you can't decide which flavor you want you can get the Pouch Collection with 5 total :). We see what they mean by 'Eat Responsibly'! :) Enjoy!!
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