Are you making a list?...and checking it twice? No need to battle the crowded malls as you & Santa can turn to Savvy Company for lots of great gifts that will WOW everyone on your shopping list. Our Savvy Sommeliers have created one-of-a-kind gifts for anyone who loves wine, artisan cheese & craft beer.

Call on the Savvy Gift Hotline (anytime)  at  613.SAVVYCO (613.728.8926) or cheers@savvycompany.ca

AND . . . don’t forget a gift for yourself – Santa has noticed that you too have been VERY good this year!

For the WINE Lover on your list...

Gift Idea #1 - Subscription to SAVVY SELECTIONS wine of the month club

Did you know that our Savvy Selections wine of the month club is the largest wine of the month club featuring Ontario wines not available at the LCBO.  And Savvy Selections was recently featured on CBC Radio’s “Fresh Air”  as one of the top gifts for those hard to buy  people!

With a subscription to Savvy Selections, each month, 3 different bottles of wine from a different Ontario winery are delivered to your home or office.  The wines range from $15 to $35 per bottle and are selected by our Savvy Sommeliers ensuring that you will receive the best combination of red wines, white wines, sparkling wines and occasionally we would offer an option of dessert wine.  AND you’ll get to know the winemakers and the stories behind the wines in our monthly Savvy eZine along with recipes our Sommeliers have chosen specifically to match each wine.

‘A subscription to Savvy Selections is like Christmas for adults!’ - Colleen

OUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL: subscribe for 3 months!

Gift Idea #2 - WINE APPRECIATION ‘CLASS’ – a day with a Sommelier

Offered only once a year! On Saturday January 26, Savvy Sommelier Debbie will host this day long 'class' for you to learn the FUNdamentals of wine by sipping and sampling wines from around the world. In this jam packed day you will learn wine lingo, tips and tricks on choosing wine from a restaurant wine list, pairing food with wines, the importance of glassware and decanters . . . and you will even learn how to sabre a bottle of bubbly!

$135 per person
Gather a group of 4 people  and pay only $500 

Register for this fun wine 'class' > >

For the CHEESE Lover on your list . . .

The Great Canadian Cheese Discovery!

Back by popular demand! Join Savvy Cheese Sommelier Vanessa for a fun - not to mention delicious - evening tasting and learning about Canadian artisan cheeses. Vanessa will share with you stories about the people who make the cheeses, cheese tasting techniques and other insider tips!

Join us for one – or all three cheese tastings!

• January 15 – featuring Ontario artisan cheeses
• February 19 – featuring Quebec artisan cheeses
• March 19 – featuring BC, PEI & NS artisan cheeses

Tickets $55 per event or $150 for all three

Wrap up tickets  as a gift! > > 

For the CRAFT BEER Lover on your list . . .

BEER 101 ‘CLASS’ – featuring local and imported craft brews

Always a sell out! Join us for these two fun 'classes' at Ottawa's Kichesippi Beer Company. Your 'teacher' is Kichesippi's owner and Savvy friend Paul Meek.  The ‘class’ will take place amongst the kettles and bags of hops in the brewery as you sample a variety of different styles and learn the artistry of craft beers. These are fun night outs for anyone who enjoys a cold one!  Hint: If you are thinking ahead, tickets to this event are also a great Valentine’s gift for that special someone in your life!

• January 24 - featuring locally crafted beers
• February 21 - featuring imported craft beers

Tickets $55 per event or $110 for both ‘classes’

Put tickets to these events under the tree > >

Wines for holiday entertaining - Stock up and SAVE

ANNOUNCING Savvy Bin Ends - a new way to buy great Ontario wines at great prices. Every two weeks, we feature an Ontario wine that is available only through Savvy Company at a discounted price.  Here are our top wine picks to stock up on for holiday entertaining or to give to your special friends.

Sparkling wine - $7 off!

Our current Savvy Bin Ends offer features a duo of Ontario sparkling wines made using the same winemaking techniques as French Champagne.  Serve when guests arrive for dinner or have in the fridge ready for New Years Eve or to give to friends and colleagues.  Everyone enjoys a bottle of bubbly!  Stock up on bottles of bubbly at this great price!>> 

Love port?  You’ll love this one – only $13.95!

Our most popular Savvy Bin Ends yet! We’re holding over this offer so you can stock up on this delicious aged port to enjoy on wintery evenings by the fireplace, serve after dinner parties or give as a one-of-a-kind gift.  ‘This port ROCKS!. I'll be ordering another case.’ stated Greg - a new Savvy Bin Ends customer Greg. Buy before its all gone!

Want to have your own wine, cheese or craft beer tasting?

The Savvy Team will create special events featuring wine, artisan cheese or craft beer as client appreciation events, teambuilding activities for your employees or unique get togethers for friends and family in your own home. Leave it to our team of 14 accredited Sommeliers to organize all of the details to make a fun and memorable event. Or, we can personally select and source premium wines, artisan cheeses and craft beers for you to make your next event extra special.

You invite the guests, our Savvy Sommeliers will take care of the rest!

And we have MANY more Savvy gift ideas!

Call the Savvy Team ANYTIME on 613.SAVVYCO (613.728.8926) or email us on cheers@savvycompany.cato help you make your holidays merry and bright with great gifts of wines, artisan cheese and craft beers.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Savvy Company and here’s to a fantastic new year!

-Debbie & the Savvy Team

Our Savvy Event calendar in May is overflowing with Ontario wine, artisan cheese and craft beer events. We don’t want you to miss any of these fun nights out!

We're having a Savvy Seat Sale!

Buy online before the clock strikes midnight on Tuesday May 1st and save $10 off any ticket to our Savvy Events in May. Simply click on the event link and quote PROMO CODE: SAVVYSALE

Hurry! There’s limited seating and special pricing ends on Tuesday May 1 at midnight.

Join us at one event or come to them ALL – with each ticket purchase, you’ll save $10 off the regular ticket price.

May 2 – Ontario Artisan Cheese Tasting with our Cheese Sommelier Vanessa Simmons – she will show you the ‘whey’ with plates of locally made cheese. Named as one of Ottawa’s ‘Must do events’ – only 6 seats left!
Savvy Seat Sale: $50 (reg $60)

May 9 – An Ottawa first: County in the City wine tasting featuring over 15 winemakers and winery owners from Prince Edward County who will be serving their best wines from ‘The County’. Sip, sample + stock up on new favorite wines from The County.
Savvy Seat Sale price: $45 (reg $55)

May 15 – Craft Beer 101 ‘class’ featuring local brews. Our most popular beer tasting event. Join us at Ottawa’s own Kichesippi Beer Co to learn the lingo, pour a perfect pint + taste an array of brews - all made in Ottawa. Homework never tasted this good!
Savvy Seat Sale price: $50 (reg $60) – only 8 seats left!

May 30 – All 28 wineries from Niagara-on-the-Lake are hitting Highway 401 and traveling to Ottawa to showcase 56 Wines from One Unforgettable Place . Taste + try wines that are perfect for summer sipping. Buy them directly from the winemaker - you won’t find these outstanding wines at the LCBO.
Savvy Seat Sale price: $45 (reg $55)

Can’t decide which Savvy Event to attend?
Buy an all inclusive ticket for these 4 Savvy Events at a SUPER SEAT SALE price of $180 (save $50).

Have you already purchased tickets to a Savvy Event this May? No worries. We’ll give you a credit for the difference in ticket prices to apply to an upcoming Savvy Event. All ticket prices include HST.

This Spring Seat Sale is a Savvy first. Hop on online to buy your tickets and join us for delicious discoveries of Ontario’s best wines, artisan cheese + craft beers.

We look forward to seeing you this month at Savvy Event.

The Savvy Team

PS – Looking for a reason to travel? Here's our recommended getaways:

May 26 – Terroir - A County Wine Celebration – All Prince Edward County wineries are under one roof for this special festival – a perfect way to sip your way around Canada’s fastest growing wine region – only 3 hour drive from Ottawa + Toronto!

June 1 to 3 – Love cheese? You’ll love the Great Canadian Cheese Festival . This delicious weekend in Picton offers loads of opportunities to learn + explore that Canadian cheese is more than just cheddar!

March 9 to 31, 2013 - Pack your bags + join Debbie Trenholm on a one-of-a-kind trip to "Taste your way around Australia" . Cooking classes, winery visits, fine dining, boutique hotels + outdoor market trips to meet Australia's cheesemakers, olive oil producers + chocolatiers - and this is just a start! Check out the itinerary + grab your passport!

Fine print: Savvy Seat Sale does not apply to these out of town getaways.

Savvy Company
www.savvycompany.ca
613.SAVVYCO (613.728.8926)
Creative Social Experience
@savvycompany

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Read our blogs: www.savvycompany.ca/team

The annual Midsummer Herbfest, an Ottawa Valley tradition returns for its sixteenth year. It is a fun one-day must-attend event for those interested in herbs, gardening, cooking and living a healthy lifestyle. Held on the grounds of The Herb Garden, a privately owned AGRI-tourist destination in an idyllic rural setting that provides for a unique rural ambience.

For the 8th year in a row, we are proud to be involved in the ever popular Chef Cookoff. As MC & Sommelier, I will present the dishes, offer wine & food pairing tips, as well as Ontario wines that will match perfectly with the chefs' creations.

The popular Chef Cook-off, boasting three esteemed local chefs:
-Cesare Santaguida, owner & chef at Vittoria Trattoria (located in the Byward Market as well as Riverside

-Neil Mather, Executive Chef at Graffiti's located in the Holiday Inn Kanata

-Brian Vallipuram, Executive Chef at Grill 41 located in Lord Elgin Hotel

Each year, the chefs are challenged to create any recipe including the Herbfest's themed herb - this year it is horse radish & showcase their talent by doing a cooking demo under the big top tent before 100s of people. Here is a sneak preview of the recipes. Try them before Herbfest, or join us to see the chefs in action on July 24 - see you there!  More about Midsummer Herbfest at www.herbfest.ca

Horseradish & raisin risotto | pan seared Bison tenderlion

Chef Cesare Santaguida, Vittoria Trattoria

Serves: 4 persons

Beet Risotto
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons fresh horseradish (grated)
2 tablespoons Miso paste
1 cup Arborio rice
½ cup white wine
4 cups chicken stock
½ cup raisins
Parmigiano Reggiano

Directions
In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil and half of the butter over medium heat. Cook shallots for about 3 minutes until translucent, stirring occasionally. Add Arborio rice and continue stirring for another minute. Add wine horseradish and Miso paste stir for 2 minutes, or until wine has evaporated. Pour in 1 cup of the chicken stock and let reduce. Slowly add one ladle of chicken stock and stir until evaporated. Repeat this step until the risotto is al dente (16 to 20 minutes). Use remaining chicken stock to finish the cooking process. Remove from heat and mix in the remaining butter, raisins and parmigiano cheese.

Bison Tenderloin
1 ½ to 2 pounds Bison (or beef) tenderloin
2 teaspoons grape seed oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a saucepan on high heat, add 2 teaspoons of grape seed oil. Once the oil is hot, place meat in pan. Sear for 3 to 4 min per side.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Plating Directions
Place about ½ cup of risotto on plate, Place 1 piece of tenderloin

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

Fitzroy Beef Tenderloin with salsify & bean salad in horseradish dressing

Chef Neil Mather, Graffiti's

2x 3oz medallion of local beef tenderloin pan seared medallions med rare to medium

Sauce
1 slice white bread cubed without crust
1/2 cup cream
grated horseradish root
ground clove
tarragon
salt & pepper

bring ingredients to the boil & blend

Salad
1 shaved salsify
2 oz green beans blanched & sliced
1oz sesame oil
1 pinch sesame seeds
salt & pepper to taste
grated horseradish root
chives

toss ingredients together

Plating: Plate salad with medallions of beef & horseradish sauce. Garnish with infused chive oil & tarragon sprig

Roulade of Salmon & Scallop with Tomato Horseradish Cream Sauce

Chef Brian Vallipura, Grill 41

Ingredients
8 ozs salmon
2 U-10 scallops
2 plum tomatoes - diced
2 tablespoon fresh horse radish – grated
½ onion (medium size) – diced
1 spoon pickled ginger
¼ cup oil
2 tablespoons garlic
1 cup 35% cream
75 ml rice vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Mixture of fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme & parsley chopped)

Method
Slice salmon into four thin pieces and marinate with fresh herbs (thyme and rosemary), a teaspoon of garlic and a teaspoon of oil. Place scallops in the middle of salmon and roll into two rosettes and set aside (to hold together, use bamboo skewers).

- In a small sauce pan preheat and add three teaspoon of oil. Sautee onion, garlic and diced

tomatoes and stir while cooking for approximately 5 mins.

- Add vinegar, cream, and ginger, cover and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. Remove from

heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add fresh horseradish.

In a non-stick frying pan, heat pan and add remaining oil. Fry bottom side of salmon rosette for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and finish in the oven at 375 for 7-8 minutes. If no oven available, cover the frying pan with a dome cover and add a teaspoon of butter, a touch of water (to prevent from drying and sticking) simmer for 7 minutes.

Plating: Pour sauce on a warm plate. Place salmon rosette in the middle and serve. ENJOY!