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Lee Marmon Photographer

 As of November 6th, 2009, please contact us at:

505  552  9584

In Association with Wines and Foods International :

For pricing of our food and wine products, please go to:

www.chrissaimports.com

What a nice way to buy great things

WINTER IS HERE & A SPOONFUL OF LAVENDER HONEY IS STILL THE PERFECT COMPANION TO YOUR HOT GLASS OF MINT OR GREEN TEA.

If you've travelled around the world, stopped in one place or another for sightseeing, shopping or refreshments, you might have come across a style of art you really liked, some scent you really enjoyed,or some speciality food you went crazy over.... It has happened to us on several occasions, especially in the south of France, and some other exotic out-of-the-way places with incredible regional traditions and art.

A Tale of Honey

High in the Hills of Beaujolais, just north of Fleurie, lies the little hamlet of Avenas, bordered by pine forests and the wide expanse of the large Beaujolais Bowl, with its vineyards and small villages. Avenas is ideally situated. Pierre Cochet owns a small bee farm here, on the road to Regnie. With his wife and son, he has been able to establish himself as one of the outstanding beekeepers of France. With approx. 700 bee hives, he travels quite extensively during the blooming season to the different parts of France, to collect his aromatic honey. Olivier David just joind a few years ago and has been a great asset to his operation.

Honey is the only natural product that will never spoil. It will change in texture though. They found honey in the amphores stored in the ancient Egyptian Pyramids.

Fleurs de France: Montagnes Honey, 17.6 oz jar: The crest of the Beaujolais Hills are forested, and so, some of the pollens are collected by the bees from flowers blooming on the ridges and clearings of the forest. Some of course are collected also from the neighboring fields, which separate the vineyards of Beaujolais. Its color is darker, due to the influence of forest flowers and its taste has also a stronger flavor. A pleasant "foresty" quality can be detected.

Fleurs de France: Lavender Honey, 17.6 oz jar: Provence is the magic word for many people. One has to experience it to really appreciate it. Wild fields of Lavander are cultivated for a variety of products, like perfume, soap etc...but also HONEY. From the Dome Provencal comes this light colored, intensively flavored Lavender Honey. A tribute to Pierre Cochet and his beekeeping and honey producing knowhow.

Fleurs de France: Chestnut Honey, 17.6 oz jar: In comparison to Lavender honey, which is collected from the pollens of the Lavender flower in Provence, the Chestnut flower honey is collected mainly in the hills of the Cevennes of southern France, about 70 miles east of Avignon. Historically, the Chestnut fruit was called the food of the poor and was the main staple of the French Farmers in the Middle Ages. Little did they know, that the flower of the Chestnut tree, would become one of the most popular honeys of the 21 century. Darker in color and with stronger flavors, the Chestnut flower honey of Pierre Cochet is just what the lonely heart needs.

Fleurs de France: Heather Honey, 17.6 oz jar: The flower consists of four or five partly fused petals. They are radically symmetrical. Although the bush is widely distributed, it thrives much better in cooler climates. The Massive Central, in the center of France, is where our Heather Honey comes from. The texture is more jelly like and not wipped like all the other honeys, but its flavor is very intense and luscious. A great companion to Croissants chauds, butter and a very strong Costa Rican Coffee from Mr. Espresso.

Fleurs de France: Fleurs de Printemps Honey, 17.6 oz jar: In Spring, as days grow longer, the first flowers bloom, and the bees start with their inborn activities. Dandelion, and the wild fields of rape-seed plants (Coplza in French and Raps in German), dot the landscape of the French Countryside. Bees adore this nectar. It is the first harvest of the year, of all  the Spring flowers in full bloom. Creamy texture, light in color, with an itense flavor of poppy. 

The 2010 harvest is the best we every had over the years. It seems to get better by the season. Clean, creamy, no crystallization at all, even with the bad weather they had in Europe!!!! Close to white, we must say. In other words, a big success. Lets hope, prices will stabilize. The U.S. Dollar has not been doing very well in the last few months, but we are confident, things will turn to the better.  Plenty of Chestnut Flower Honey this year. The season was great in the Cevennes. Spring Flower Honey is also available, which is excellent and a shade lighter then Chestnut Flower. Give it a try!!

The 2011 harvest just came in, and according to our friend Pierre Cochet, the quality of the Lavender Honey is fantastique. More in the very near future.

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Over the years, we all have tried and mostly succeeded to stay healthy, by excercising, climbing mountains, skiing in the Swiss Alps, having an open mind and eating the right food. As mentioned above and throughout this web-site, honey used as a sweetener and once in a while buffalo steak or buffalo hamburgers ought to be on the menu. Excercise sometimes is not enough, especially with people with a great appetite, and therefore a little extra effort should  be made. We joined a group called HERBALIFE, and already after a couple of weeks,  we feel better physically and more upbeat. In your spare time, please check out the web-sites indicated below:

 www.greatenergytoday.com      

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Bargains Galore!!

The End of the Year Holidays have come and gone, and every large Department Store had extended Hours, great Bargains, fantastic Sales and big Discounts on major brand items. There is always a new event lurking on the horizon, like a Birthday of a relative or friend, a wedding or a divorce. The hustle, the hours standing in line, becomes a nightmare for many busy shoppers, who have a job and a family to attend to.

Why not do your shopping from the comfort of your home, with a nice glass of Pinot Grigio from the www.mosbywines.com in Santa Barbara (see wine blog 72), or a Cabernet Sauvignon from www.ardentewinery.com  in Napa  (see wine blog 27), sitting next to you on the edge of your desk?? We touched base with some people, and here are the results:

Children's Attire: Your Children, your Grandchildren and for your friends and co-workers, who may have small Children or Grandchildren, go to:

www.prontokidswear.com . .

..

For You, your Friends and Co-workers, please go to:               www.9052-site.smartmallshopping.com

You just might be amazed at the bargains and discounted prices on very popular items you will find. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

Also for you: in case you need it:

www.dynamicsolutionsintl.com/tfasel

Dynamic Solutions International is dedicated to help credit consumers and those who have experienced loss or hard harship due to  to economic and financial stress.                                                                   

Dynamic Solutions International is an association that offers benefits and services designed to assist consumers who are working their way through a financial difficulty. 

Good Luck and have a prosperous New Year.

Early morning hours or all day long:

It is so nice to wrap your hands around a steaming hot cup of coffee,

especially when it is one of the best you have ever tasted. Call up Mr. Espresso in Oakland, California, and talk to our dear friend Carlo, he just might make you a great deal on 10 x 1 pound roasted coffee, either French Roast, Select Roast or any other type of coffee they have on hand. They will ship anywhere, for a small UPS surcharge. Please go to:

www.mrespresso.com                                     

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If you are a Retailer, Wholesaler or Distributor, please call us at: 505 552 9584 , or e-mail your request to:

tonyfasel@msn.com