Well, the second week of January has not been kind to me. I have been sick all week,(not Covid) and it has kicked my bum. So not a lot of fun finds from the couch this week but I do have some things to share from over my winter break. This week’s finds include a Parisian sandwich, a page turner, a new cookbook and a zingy mocktail.

The Cheese Shop of Portland

Popped into this quaint shop to pick up some cheese and saw that they have so much more to offer. The focus of the shop is cheese (of course) curated from European and local creameries as well as a selection of olive oils, charcuterie, coffees, pastas and my favorite French moutarde! I left with two sandwiches, a couple of Italian sodas, truffle chips and the cheese I went there for. Best jambon-beurre I’ve had in the states.

Trip to the Library

I read 21 books in 2021 and I’m hoping to surpass that amount this year. I popped into my local library and checked out Early Morning Riser. It was the perfect read to kick off the new year. If you enjoy small town novels featuring casts of quirky characters, you’ll love this one. It had me laughing out loud at some points (“Gary doesn’t like kitchens, he has a thing about linoleum”) which I really needed because I felt so crumby all week. It was just one of those books that made you feel good.

New Recipe

Trying out a recipe from The New Portland, Maine Chef’s Table. Published in 2019, this is a great companion to the original Portland, Maine Chef’s Table. A few years ago Portland was named the Restaurant City of the Year by Bon Appetit and the foodie’s have flocked to our not so big city. I haven’t sat inside a restaurant for a while so I’m excited to try my hand at making Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Delicata Squash this weekend.

Ghia Ginger Spritz

I love Ghia! It’s a non alcoholic aperitif, inspired by the Mediterranean. I have been hoping to try their new Ginger Spritz that I saw on Instagram and I finally found some at my local bottle shop. It’s the perfect instant mocktail. Check out their site for more info and where you may be able to find it near you! If you are in my area, Bow Street in Portland carries it.

Happy Friday and a great weekend! Stay healthy 🙂