I took a quick field trip over to Moonstruck Chocolates this morning because, well, do I need to have a reason?? Actually, I went there because Mother’s Day is this weekend, and my birthday is just around the corner, so I thought good chocolate was in order. Moonstruck Chocolates is a local Portland company that has received loads of awards, honors, and national press (Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Rachael Ray, Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, etc.). They have several cafe locations in the Portland metro area, and are carried at various retailers across the US. Or you can buy them online.

One of the things I like about Moonstruck chocolates is that some of their truffles feature Oregon products like Clear Creek Distillery brandy, Oregon huckleberry preserves, and Pinot Noirs from several different wineries (Sokol Blosser, Lachini, Ayoub).

I hand-picked a 4-pc. box of for myself: a Kir Royale Truffle, a Champagne Truffle, an Ayoub Pinot Noir Truffle, and a Clear Creek Apple Brandy Truffle (a Limited Edition Anniversary truffle). The chocolates are a delicious splurge that any chocolate lover would treasure! Now I just need to find a good hiding spot for mine so my family doesn’t eat them!!

Tags: Ayoub Pinot Noir, chocolate, Clear Creek Distillery, Lachini Pinot Noir, Moonstruck Chocolate, Mother's Day, Oprah, Oregon, Oregon chocolate, Oregon truffles, Portland, Portland chocolate, Portland truffles, Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, truffles, Valentine's

I was at the Zupan’s Market in Lake Oswego last week and I got to try a new local product that I’d never seen before…Bee-Nut Butter Bliss. The all-natural peanut butter has a touch of sweetness from Oregon clover honey, and a light saltiness from sea salt. The texture is in between smooth and crunchy. After tasting it, I told Daniell Bliss (she was handing out samples of her peanut butter) that I could eat it by the spoonful. Funny, she has a similar tagline on her website: So good you’ll eat it with a spoon. I couldn’t agree more! It truly is bliss!

I like this peanut butter best at room temperature, although I store it in the fridge.

Anyway, if you love natural peanut butter or know of someone who does, you should definitely get yourself a jar or two! Bee-Nut Butter Bliss is available at these Oregon and Washington markets or you can order it online. It is produced at Back 2 Basics Wellness in West Linn, Oregon. 

P.S. Hazelnut lovers, I’m told a hazelnut butter is next to be released.

Tags: all-natural peanut butter, Back 2 Basics Wellness, Bee-Nut Butter, Bee-Nut Butter Bliss, Bee-Nut Butter Bliss Peanut Butter, local Oregon products, Oregon, Oregon products, peanut butter

In Portland, we’re surrounded by great food and excellent locally-made products…and Big Tony Brown BBQ Sauce is absolutely one of my favorite local finds! My family loves it so much that they use it in place of ketchup now (I’m not kidding!). The sauce has a great balance of flavors — slightly sweet with a little tang and a bit of heat — and uses all-natural ingredients (no high fructose corn syrup or artificial stuff). Big Tony Brown BBQ Sauce is available in MILD or SPICY (which isn’t too spicy…my kids love it!), and is leagues better than the typical super sweet, smoke-flavored stuff sold in most markets. We’ve enjoyed The Spicy Sauce on chicken, beef, pork, and meatloaf. YUM!

And Tony Brown (aka Big Tony) is a nice guy so I love supporting his business. You can even hire him to cater an event. His over-sized charcoal grills, big personality, and grilling skills will be a huge hit at your next party!

Big Tony Brown BBQ Sauce is made in Newberg, Oregon, and can be purchased online or at these local Portland area stores: Barbur World Foods, Market of Choice (SW Portland and West Linn locations), Lamb’s Thriftway (Wilsonville and Lake Oswego locations), Gartner’s Meats, Red Hills Market (Dundee), Chuck’s Produce (Vancouver).

I heartily agree with Big Tony’s motto: “Heavy on The Spicy Sauce!” This stuff is liquid gold!

Tags: barbecue sauce, bbq, bbq sauce, Big Tony, Big Tony Brown, Big Tony Brown BBQ Sauce, Big Tony Brown The Spicy Sauce, Big Tony's, Oregon products, Willamette Valley

I have a confession to make…I’m a hot sauce junkie. I just love the stuff! Maybe I’m addicted to the endorphin rush that comes from eating spicy foods. Whatever the reason, hot sauce makes me happy.

Recently, I bought a bottle of Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce (Aardvark for short), a local Portland-made product. The spicy concoction is a blend of roasted tomatoes, habanero peppers, onions, carrots and other stuff. Its consistency is similar to thin ketchup, and is less vinegary than a Tabasco-style sauce (which I also love). The bottle states that it is “a unique Caribbean/Tex-Mex hybrid” … “Dump on Everything”.

Aardvark is currently my favorite hot sauce and is different from any other I’ve tried. Some sauces are all burn and no flavor. Aardvark, however, has loads of flavor. Yes, it lights my mouth on fire but that’s the point. In fact, I can still feel the slight afterburn of a liberal dousing of Aardvark on my eggs and toast this morning. It’s a beautiful thing…

Are you intrigued? The fiery condiment is sold throughout the Pacific Northwest and one market in New York City. Or you can order it online. Buy some and make yourself happy!

P.S. I’m not being paid to write this — I just really love this product.

Tags: chile sauce, endorphins, habanero chile, habanero hot sauce, habanero peppers, hot sauce, Portland products, Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce, Secret Aardvark Trading Company