Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) June 20, 2012
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine has expanded its menu to include new sandwiches and salads available at all three store locations, five new variations on Pastorals signature Picnics for Two, plus small production wines and craft beer pairings selected especially for summer by Pastorals new beverage director Mark Hayes. Pastoral will also continue to offer picnic options that serve one, cheese and charcuterie plates-to-go, plus a selection of handcrafted sides, sodas, locally made sweets, confections and accompaniments which can all be enjoyed on-the-go or at Pastorals al fresco dining patios open throughout the season. Many of Pastorals picnic offerings are designed specifically with Chicagos summer concert season and outdoor festivals in mind.
Summer at Pastoral revolves around our travel-friendly picnics, new sandwiches and salads, cheese and charcuterie plates to-go, plus perfectly paired wines, spirits, craft beers and accompaniments from around the block and around the world. We always offer something for everyone and all occasions, and the summer is no exception, said Greg ONeill, co-founder and co-proprietor of Pastoral. As we grow and expand our offerings to appeal to a wide range of customers and events, we stay focused on our commitment to give customers the best small production and specialty products available from the best culinary producers near and far.
Pastorals new sandwich additions include the BridgePork featuring prosciutto cotto, Manchego cheese, red pepper mayonnaise, red onions and field greens served on a signature baguette ($ 9.57); Farmhouse Veggie Deluxe with Manchego cheese, avocado, green apple, cucumber, balsamic vinaigrette, whole grain Dijon mustard and field greens ($ 7.52); Salumi Piccante including Calabrese salami, Podda cheese, locally made spicy giardiniera, mayonnaise and field greens ($ 9.11); and the new Pastorals Banh Mi with prosciutto cotto, country pate, pickled ginger carrots, piparras peppers, cucumber and whole grain Dijon mustard ($ 9.57). New sandwiches are additions to Pastorals current sandwich menu, including the Build-Your-Own, with prices ranging from $ 5.38 – $ 10.02, plus tax. A wide variety of gourmet salads are also available including the new vegetarian Market Salad featuring field greens, goat cheese, dried cherries, house-roasted spiced almonds and balsamic vinaigrette (full salad $ 7.97, or side salad $ 4.10). Salads range from $ 4.10 for the Market Salad side salad to $ 9.57 plus tax. All three shops will also continue to offer cheese and charcuterie plates-to-go, including a single serving trio of artisanal cheeses or meats paired with artisan bread and seasonal accompaniments. These are available for pre-order (thirty minutes in advance) or in Pastorals grab-and-go cases, as available, and start at $ 9.11 plus tax.
Most sandwiches are offered on freshly baked, signature baguette new from Cook Au Vin in Chicago. Pastoral also prepares sandwich platters for office events and parties with an assortment of best-selling sandwiches, cut in thirds and garnished with olives and cornichons, served on Pastorals signature wooden tray. Sandwich platters start at $ 45.30, plus tax and delivery if requested, and are available for groups of six or more. Pastoral also offers box lunches, gourmet salads for groups of six to 12 and catering including a new selection of antipasti, tapas and other artisanal party platters.
Pastoral has also introduced five NEW variations on the companys signature Picnics for Two, each with drink pairing recommendations by Pastorals expert staff, including Fresh From the Farm (a celebration of small American farmers including La Quercias Prosciutto Piccante and Prairie Breeze Cheddar, both from Iowa, fresh chevre from Illinois Prairie Fruits Farm, Ames Farm honey from Minnesota, Dante from Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Co-Op, pickled ginger carrots from Sourpuss Pickles in New York, house-roasted spiced almonds, fresh seasonal fruit and baguette); the Summers Brew (a beer-focused picnic featuring Righteous Rye and Bengali Tiger from Sixpoint Brewery, three cheeses including Evalon goat cheese from Wisconsin, a Swiss Emmentaller and Tulum cheddar from Wisconsin, plus a Salametti from Molinari in San Francisco, Sicilian spiced olives and baguette); the Sweet and Savory (cheeses including a young gouda from Hollands Family Cheese in Wisconsin, fresh chevre from Illinois Prairie Fruits Farm, Blue DAuvergne from France, plus small batch preserves from Wisconsins Quince & Apple, caramels from Truffle Truffle in Chicago, Spanish chocolate-covered almonds, fresh seasonal fruit, house-roasted spiced almonds, locally made cookies from Cookie Bar and baguette); the French Revolution (French cheeses including Fourme dAmbert, Brie dMeaux, Mimolette and Morbier, a country pate, Nicoise and Picholine olives, crunchy cornichons, French whole grain Dijon mustard, Rosette de Lyon salami and baguette); and the Alla Campagna (an Italian countryside-inspired picnic with Prosciutto San Daniele paired with SarVecchio cows milk cheese, prosciutto cotto paired with fresh mozzarella, along with curried cauliflower and pickled ginger carrots from Sourpuss Pickles in New York, oven-roasted tomatoes marinated in olive oil and herbs, mixed olives, Tuscan white bean puree and baguette). All Picnics for Two are available for $ 39.99, plus tax, and should be ordered no fewer than six hours in advance by calling any shop location.
For a travel-friendly lunch or dinner for one, customers can choose any sandwich or salad from Pastorals newly-expanded menu and Pastoralize it by adding $ 3.97 plus tax to the sandwich or salad price (includes any Pastoral sandwich or salad, a bag of gourmet potato chips, small drink and locally made cookie from Chicagos Cookie Bar).
All Pastorals picnic collections are eco-friendly with biodegradable packaging including plates and utensils made from potato starch, recyclable paper bags and napkins. Additionally, many of Pastorals wines, spirits and brews focus on organic, biodynamic or sustainably produced selections that are both food- and earth-friendly.
The Pastoral team is available to help customers pair a bottle of small production wine or craft beer with their picnics from the shops thoughtfully-selected collection of wines, spirits and brews. Pastorals beverage director, Mark Hayes, has selected many of his favorite wines and craft beers for summer 2012, most of which feature a screw top or champagne-style stopperno corkscrew requiredwhich is ideal for summer outings. Top picks include everything from the L. Mawby sparkling Blanc de Blancs from Michigan ($ 22.99); to the Cascina Ulivi Semplicemente from Italy ($ 18.99) to the Heron Pinot Noir from California ($ 14.99) to the Sixpoint Bengali Tiger American IPA and the Righteous Ale Rye Ale from New York ($ 2.99 per can).
A full range of sandwich, salad and picnic accompaniments are also available at all Pastoral shops including Pastorals NEW house-made prosciutto bacon potato salad, Tuscan white bean puree, cheese-stuffed sweet peppers and a NEW Israeli couscous salad, plus cheeses, breads, olives, sweet and savory spreads, honeys, homemade cookies, confections, chocolates and fruit.
Pastoral is a 2012 (and 2007) winner of the Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer of the Year Award from the NASFT (National Association for the Specialty Food Trade). The company will open Bar Pastoral, a neighborhood bistro at 2947 North Broadway located adjacent and connected to Pastorals East Lakeview location at 2945 North Broadway, later this fall 2012.
For more information on Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine and nationwide shipping, visit the companys NEW web site at http://www.pastoralartisan.com.
PASTORAL LOCATIONS AND HOURS
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine Chicago French Market
131 North Clinton Street
Recent Comments