Even though it’s just now back-to-school time, we’re pleased to have received some pretty good grades from bloggers and customers over the summer.  Here are a few excerpts from our report card:

Michelle Valigursky wrote about our Demi-Glace Gold® in her blog, Savor the Salt, “the flavor is intensely brilliant . . . this product is a permanent fixture in my own pantry (and should be in yours as well).”  We also received a nice note about this product from customer and Montana rancher Jan A.:  ”My brother-in-law introduced me to your Demi-Glace, and I don’t think I will ever be able to make my wine sauce without it in the future . . . We are in the process of changing over to grass-fed beef on our ranch, and I’m looking forward to some yummy sauces with your wonderful Demi-Glace!”

Leslie Mayorga reviews vegetarian products in her blog, Leslie Loves Veggies.  She gave our Veggie-Stock Gold® and Veggie-Glace Gold® high marks for being ”rich and full of flavor.”  Our Classic Mushroom Essence, Leslie said, “adds hearty, earthy taste that just can’t be beat!  It can also be used full strength to add a wonderful mushroom aroma and flavor to almost any finished dish.”  By the way, all our vegetable-based stocks and sauces are certified vegan by the prestigious American Vegetarian Association.

In his blog, The Select Gourmet, Lou Magill evaluated our Ready-to-Use  Wines Sauces.  He described our White Wine Sauce as “a perfect pairing” with seared salmon and grilled chicken.  Lou reported “high fives all around” for a rotisserie roasted pork loin sauced with our Red Wine Sauce, and he also used it to liven up an everyday meal: “Adding More Than Gourmet Red Wine Sauce to my wife’s meatloaf and hand mashed Red Bliss potatoes took the American classic dinner to a whole new level.  As I have said many times before, taking ordinary to gourmet may simply be the addition of a single ingredient.  In this case it was the Red Wine Sauce from More Than Gourmet.”

Thanks to Michelle, Jan, Leslie, and Lou for putting us to the test.  We’re proud to be in their kitchens and yours, too.

Here’s a recent comment sent to us from Jackie:  “This past weekend, I used my last “Red Wine Sauce” and truly began to “panic” about not having it in my pantry.   I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how good your products are … but, I’m going to do it anyway.  They are the BEST!!!  They have a way of making “ordinary cooks” (such as myself) turn into spectacular “chefs”.  Again, I thank you for your prompt and courteous reply.  Wishing you much aloha …Jackie”

Thanks, Jackie.  There’s no need for panic.  You can order our wine sauces direct from us, or from your favorite specialty retailer.  Good cooking, happy holidays, Aloha.

Some old, false perceptions are slowly and surely changing in the world of home cooking, especially the one that claims you have to be a trained cook to work with french stocks and sauces.  You know, that “french cooking thing”.  Au contraire,  we say!   (That’s just about the extent of my French speaking skills, by the way).   Our customers are disproving this myth every day. The truth is,  the kitchen novice to well trained gourmand can prepare our products and enjoy a wonderfully simple, great tasting soup or entrée as well as a genuine gourmet meal.  And yes, feel like a chef, too.  Here’s a comment from Michelle in Rhode Island:

“Hey Bill…  dude, you guys are awesome.  I have already received my shipment — super fast.  I have to tell you, I have tried a few other demi-glace products on the market and yours is superior to all the rest.  I’ve been told that I’m a pretty good cook but your products have pushed me over the top.  Using your products, I have been able to produce dishes of such complexity and richness that everyone thinks I’m a professional chef.   SNAP! I can’t wait to try the ready to use wine sauces because I think practically everything tastes better with wine in it.  In any case, thanks again.  Michelle

Thanks for the note, Michelle, we’re more than happy to be your secret saucier.  Good cooking! Add some fresh herbs to the wine sauce, perhaps sauté some mushrooms with a bit of fresh parsley for an easy enhancement.

That’s the sound of a happy cook in the Land of 10,000 lakes – not the way the locals up there pronounce the name of their great state. You know, I’ve always wondered who counted all those lakes.  I mean, it’s an even number for goodness sake.  How can that be?

We love Minny.  We enjoy a very dedicated following of home cooks there and we are truly grateful for their loyalty and feedback. Recently, Shirley from Burnsville added a post, and we received this nice comment from Louise P. Finander (she calls herself Saucegirl Lu):

“This morning I opened my MTG package….. couldn’t wait.  So my critique of the packaging (and, trust me, I am accustomed to opening plenty of packages here at the store).  Outside box – clean (important for food shipment, but it is not uncommon for me to receive boxes here at the store that are of a thin, brittle cardboard that look as though they were dragged behind a truck on a gravel road).

The Inserts – I like that the inserts are of cardstock.  More substantial. Reflects quality, attention to detail.  Provides some great info about product and contact info. Short and sweet. Easy to read. Not too much info. Just enough.

Looking forward to Exploring the Sauceablilites!

—Saucegirl Lu

Saucegirl indeed!  Thanks, Lu, and good cooking.

We’re going to add a new category where we invite you to rate the products and share your comments.  It’s called From Our Customers, and we hope to hear from you.  After all, your point of view is the one that matters most. The first ones will be shared in our next posting.

Look for us in the news, shortly.

Early notice:  we’ll be announcing a new promotion early next week.  Seems our team cooked up a “more than” special Thanksgiving holiday promotion for our customers while Brad and I were in France.  They’re always up to something, especially when were on the road.  Since we have a lot of travel through the end of this year, it’s a fair bet they’ll be doing more of these sauce special shenanigans while were away.

The new SauceMaker’s Dozen pack has been a big hit, and we thank you.  Some have expressed concern these packages were going to be a limited time offer only.  No worries, we’re keeping them in our pantry for you.

We’ve received a couple of messages from “Boo” Larroo – a devoted follower of MTG and she cooks with our products often.  Recently she ordered our new SauceMaker’s Dozen 14 pack of Gluten Free stocks and sauces and she sent us a picture to “show us what she thinks of it”.  Thanks, Boo, for sharing.  Hey, we have no objections at all if you share the great news of our new multi-packs with friends and family.  Good cooking!