Chef View
By Dana Johnson
Sip, Taste, and Shop!
As the holiday season is upon us, I find I have less time in each day, a lil’ more stress, and a valid reason to treat myself to something I enjoy while I’m multi-tasking for everyone else! Stewart & Jasper Orchards Company Store conveniently located in the ever popular McHenry Village is my kind of place to do just that! Shopping, wine tasting, and free specialty food samples all in one swanky, yet cozy setting!
Sure we can order specialty food products online, but we won’t be able to taste a sample beforehand, shipping costs can be expensive, and if you have to pick up your package at the post office those lines are even longer at this time of year. Stewart & Jasper is a family run business of over 65 years located in the Central Valley including Jim Jasper, his son Jason Jasper, and his 10 year old son Jake Jasper who even has his own line of flavored almonds; mesquite smoked, bloody Mary, and bleu cheese & cracked pepper! Their philosophy is to give customers the finest quality products by controlling every aspect of production, from the orchard to the marketplace, from the ground up. Besides their Modesto store, they have 3 more in Patterson, Monterey, and Newman. Brittney Bloom is the retail manager, Danielle Rushing and Linda Porhat both work in the Modesto store where I was delighted to be introduced to so many unique flavors!
Among the all the fabulous S & J products I was pleased to see some local products as well, like Sciabica’s Olive Oil and Nune’s Candy. I recommend a bib as you read this list of Dana~licious ranked products in the store: Almond butter; natural, vanilla, & honey, apricot pepper sauce (divine!!), pumpkin spice, raspberry, and maple praline syrups, dried fruits, extracts, almond flour, specialty crackers, honey, preserves, jerky, dressings, sauces, apricot balsamic vinegar, butter pretzels, popcorn, and puffed corn: churro (my fave & so addicting!!), golden caramel, & butter toffee! Gorgeous gift baskets, too! They really have something for everyone on your gift giving list! Since this month is Thanksgiving, I recommend you add many of these ingredients to your dinner. I love their Apricot Pepper Sauce and my recipe this month will make a really great appetizer for one of the events you have to go to this holiday season.
After all that shopping I recommend a tasting in the wine bar! Over 400 wines for sale, too. Including Rombauer, Silkwood, Justin, and so on! The bar also has 19 beers to choose from and $5-10 cheese plates.
*November 10, 2016, Thursday, Rombauer tasting event! 2 tasting times 4:30pm-6:30pm and 6:45pm-8:45pm Cost $18 + tax. Best to get your tickets in advance.
Modesto View signature question: Danielle, Beatles or Stones? Lol so hard, she looked at me like is there any other answer “Stones!”
Stewart & Jasper Orchards Company Store
McHenry Village
1700 Mc Henry Ave., Suite 58
Modesto, CA 95350
209-577-NUTS (6887)
Stewartandjasper.com
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am to 7pm
Thursday to Saturday 10am to 8pm
Sunday 11am to 4pm
Chicken Rangoon with Apricot Pepper Sauce
Ingredients:
4 oz Diced & cooked chicken breast
2 oz Hoisin Plum Sauce
6 Won Ton Wrapper
1 Egg, Beaten
Add the cooked chicken and hoisin sauce together. Place in the middle of the won ton wrapper, and egg wash the sides to seal the corners. Fry the Rangoon in vegetable oil at 350 degrees for 1 min or until golden brown.
Serve with Stewart & Jasper Apricot pepper Sauce as a dip.
Garnish with green onions.
