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

Today was the grand opening of the Lake Grove Zupan’s Market, a locally-owned store that caters to food lovers. What’s the big whoop, you ask? Well, several years ago my beloved Wizer’s Market (the store that occupied the same location) closed it’s doors. I had been shopping at the quaint gourmet market for nearly 20 years, so it was a sad day when I found out that they weren’t renewing their lease. Once closed, the space stayed vacant for a little over a year until last year when demolition/construction on the new Zupan’s started. I’ve been anxiously awaiting today’s grand opening so I invited a friend to join me for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new store is stunning! Beautiful floral arrangements greet you as you approach the store (kudos to the floral department). Once inside, I made a beeline to the produce department where top-quality fruits and veggies are artfully displayed. I was a little nervous to remove one of the cauliflowers for fear of starting a veggie avalanche (thankfully that didn’t happen).

Zupan’s features lots of local products and gourmet ingredients, as well as national brands and basic items. Although I won’t be doing all my shopping there, it will be my first stop for specialized ingredients and local products — just like Wizer’s was.

One thing I’ll be returning for soon is the Harris Ranch Beef Tomahawk Rib Steak for Husband. Basically, it’s a ginormous rib-eye with the bone exposed (frenched). I guarantee Husband will light up like a Christmas tree when he sees it…just like I did when I first walked into the new Zupan’s store!

Tags: cowboy steak, frenched rib-eye, Harris Ranch Tomahawk Rib Steak, Lake Grove, Oregon products, ribbon cutting, Wizer's Market, Zupan's, Zupan's grand opening, Zupan's Lake Grove, Zupan's Market