Greetings,
Opera House is ready to help spruce up your home, cook up a treat, indulge your chocolate craving or sample the perfect vintage. Our store is the little indulgence you need. Our shelves are laden with unique finds for connoisseurs and collectors with a touch of elegance or whimsy. Create an inviting home with our gorgeous décor, stunning pottery, and all things gourmet. We are open later this time of year, see our hours below. Your visit is just the thing to make your spirit bright.   
Merry Christmas, Jan

RECENT CLUB SELECTIONS

Consilience Petite Syrah 2006.

This wine is ultra concentrated with loads of blueberry balanced with hints of white pepper. It is dark, inky and voluptuous. While many winemakers may choose Petite Syrah simply as a blending agent to beef up their other wines, the winemakers at Consilience have always believed the beast can be reformed. It should be able to stand well and behave on its own. And it has, Consilience Petite Syrah 2006 is winner of the Silver Medal at the O.C. Fair Wine Competition June-09. Learn more >


J. Lohr’s October Night Vineyard 2006 Chardonnay

The 2006 J. Lohr October Night Vineyard Chardonnay is an attractive pale yellow in color, with floral aromas of white flowers, tangerine, lemon curd and butterscotch.

The winemaking technique to enhance the floral nature of this Chardonnay included barrel fermentation in largely one-year-old French oak barrels in the coldest corner of our barrel room, followed by malolactic fermentation with lees stirring, all contributing to a wonderfully complex floral bouquet that is echoed on the palate with textural richness.

"Given its unique characters, the October Night Chardonnay would be an ideal accompaniment for an Asian pear salad with scallops or delicately-flavored white fish entrees." Jeff Meier, winemaker Learn more >

GOING ROGUE
Ms. Palin has her book— we have beer

Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops—including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph by head brewer John “more hops” Maier! It is the proud recipient of Learn More >

DEFINING TASTE

zabaglione [zah-bahl-YOH-nay]
Zabaglione is one of the many gifts we have from Italy. This delicate dessert is made by whisking together egg yolks, Marsala wine and sugar over simmering water to cook the yolks. What you will have is a thick yet light, foamy custard. Served either as a dessert by itself or as a sauce over cake, fruit, ice cream or pastry it is a decadence worth the whisk.

allumettes [al-yoo-MEHTS]
When you take thin strips of puff pastry and spread with something savory like shrimp butter or grated cheese, or mushroom tapenade you serve as an hors d'oeuvre. Try a sweet filling such as jam or sweetened cheese and you turn this pastry into a dessert. Allumette , the French word for "match," also refers to potatoes that have been cut into thin "matchsticks" and fried.

café brûlot [ka-fay broo-LOH]
This is a traditional New Orleans brew consisting of coffee blended with spices, orange and lemon peel, brandy and fire, yes fire. Café brûlot is generally made in a flameproof bowl and ladled into cups. In French, brûlot means "burnt brandy."

INSTANT GOURMET
Tudor Kitchen Brandy Butter and Traditional Christmas Pudding

They have come across the pond to holiday in the States, and they are right here in our store.

Our Brandy Butter is handmade with delicious ingredients of butter, sugar, brandy, lemon juice, nutmeg, and milk. This English treat is the perfect accompaniment to our Tudor Kitchen Traditional Christmas Pudding. The ingredients are long and include wonderful spices, nuts, fruit, eggs & sugars.

The package explains that that each year, family members would take turns mixing the pudding and making Christmas wishes. Serve a generous spoonful of the brandy butter atop the pudding and may all your wishes come true.

GOODIES WE LOVE
The portable event

This year, forget the generic sweater and give a little event. Our beautiful gift baskets are one-of-a-kind, custom designed for that someone special in your life: a fantastic client, wonderful employee, terrific co-worker, or sensational friend or relative. They can encourage an impromptu party, sharing, and conversation. Each basket uses an attractive box, basket or tray that will be a lovely reminder as they are used throughout the year. Learn more, give easy >

Gotta Have a few of These

Holiday Bottle Toppers. Charming as a hostess gift or just to keep your fizz intact.
Too perfect to pass up.

Give the gift of light

These adorable packages festooned with a perfect bow, come in three sizes: 9.5", 7" and 5.5” cubes. They light up from within and three can be strung together to make a lovely Christmas accent. Hang them up or create a fun table display.

ROSEMARY
Its smell is invigorating, and it may help protect blood vessels. As an essential oil, it's a great hair conditioner and can freshen breath. The scent may help with respiratory problems, and the leaves may help with digestion.

TUMERIC
Tumeric is the "that's it" spice in many curries. It seems to have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and may offer cardiovascular and liver protection. Its curcumin may offer protection against cancer cells. Add it to rice, eggs or salad dressings. Try for about 1/8 teaspoon per day, or 500 to 800 milligrams.

OUR TRUFFLES
always in season. Nuf' said.