Proud to Provide Local Flavor.

I’d like to start out this post by saying it’s time we take a look at our local shops and stores. In the next few weeks and months ahead, I want to highlight the variety of different places that are around West Michigan (and hopefully beyond), and share with you all what’s unique about each! So don’t worry, we hope to make it around to all our local friends of Gourmet International and share our local flavor!

We have an opportunity to connect with Kingma’s Market this weekend to feature Butlers Chocolates, Hachez Chocolates and some tasty treats from Wicklein! Stop on out to the Ada location of Kingma’s Market from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, December 9.

Kingma’s Market has been a staple serving the community for 80 years with its main storefront located on Plainfield Avenue. Just this past year, Kingma’s opened a new location in Ada, Michigan, where the downtown revitalization is hopping. Many in the area had awaited the grand opening, offering shoppers a variety of meats, cheeses, local and imported beers and wines, bulk food items and more.

Originally located in the Boston Square area of Grand Rapids, Kingma’s Market was originally owned and founded by the Kingma family. In 2014, Alan Hartline purchased the store from the family and has continued to expand the company and the many products offered within its shelves.

Proud to provide local flavor to the community, Kingma’s Market provides all natural, local meats, a range of Michigan based fresh produce, roasted coffee, honey, dairy products and more! By partnering with Fish Lads and Carvers Finest Meats of Grand Rapids, the local residents can be assured that they are purchasing quality fish, meats and poultry.

So stop in and visit some of Gourmet team at Kingma’s tomorrow if you are local! We’d love to meet you and we’d love it for you to stop by and say hello! While you’re there, pick up some holiday items for yourself or for your loved ones! Nibble, nibble with us!

Some information from this post was obtained by MLive and Kingma’s Market websites.

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Gift Ideas Perfect for Boss’s Day!

Happy Friday the 13th — in case you have forgotten — Boss’s Day is approaching! If you haven’t looked at your calendar, it is Monday, October 16! Now that we have reminded you and have you thinking, you have the whole weekend to prepare and shop for the perfect Boss’s Day gift! And we are here to provide you with some awesome suggestions! Chocolates are always a winner for any boss, unless, they do not like chocolate! And if they don’t like chocolate, well… maybe there’s something wrong with them! Ha! Just kidding!

We wanted to share some ideas for your boss on Boss’s Day.

Such as…
…this Butlers Irish Whiskey Bar! You know you’ve probably stressed your boss enough for him or her to deserve this decadent chocolate bar! Or maybe they’ve stressed YOU out and you need to pick an extra one up for yourself! No worries about any alcohol content when giving this bar, it is just Irish Whiskey flavored, so you are safe to bring this into the work place! I couldn’t help myself from trying it, it’s delicious!

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Or…
…this Reber Fascination Box! This gift box contains 8 pieces of delicious chocolates made by Reber. Inside this box of deliciousness are dessert pralines without marzipan. The pralines are covered with alpine milk and dark chocolate. The four different flavors include: Mousse au Chocolat, Crème Brûlée, Zabaione and Tiramisu.

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Or…
…perhaps a box of Butlers Dessert Menu chocolates! Choose from a large box or small! If you know what’s best for your boss (or mabye your job!), the large box would be my suggestion! The large Dessert Menu box has 16 different chocolates and the smaller Dessert Menu has 8 pieces. The Dessert Menu (assorted 16) has won the Irish Quality Food & Drink Award in 2015! You know with that honor, these are some fantastic tasting chocolates!

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Here’s a little info on what’s inside the award winning Dessert Menu boxed chocolates:

This luscious chocolate assortment features a delectable collection of sixteen gourmet sumptuous chocolates inspired by famous desserts, lovingly crafted and then presented in a delicate chocolate shell and hand finished with a chocolate decoration – the ultimate dessert hit! The heavenly collection comprises; Café Mocha, Red Velvet, Sticky Toffee, Crème Brûlée, Orange Bombe, Lemon Parfait, Hazelnut Brownie and Great Taste Award winning Raspberry Panna Cotta.

And there you have it! You can’t go wrong with any of these choices for a Boss’s Day gift! Now you have plenty of time this weekend to get out and get your shopping done!
Shop! SHOP!

For the Love of Milk Chocolate.

When I’m stressed out or something is bugging me, I open up my cupboard doors and scrounge around for something… tasty. Something… chocolatey. And it better be good! Because there are days when I just need something to take my mind away and nothing is worse than old, horrible tasting chocolate. Was it stale? Did someone not cover it up all the way and it’s gotten yucky?

I. Need. Chocolate. NOW!

So… the search is on for another piece of chocolate or candy or something – but what are my odds it’s going to taste any better than what I just had? I keep looking in the cupboard… searching for a small miracle.

Hoping.

Praying.

Wishing… that there’s another bar of chocolate or something, lurking for me behind a box of cereal or behind the kid’s school lunch stuff. Where is it? I *know* I have to have one more bar of tasty goodness somewhere in this mess!

And why yes… what have we found here?? I have found myself some delicious milk chocolate! SCORE for me! And lo’ and behold, it’s Butlers Chocolate! And today I am in luck… it’s even more special than just a milk chocolate bar… it’s a Butlers Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar! Oooooh delicious! Loving this chocolate that comes all the way from Ireland! And check out that creamy chocolate truffle center! Time to nibble!

Take a close look at the milk chocolate center of Butlers Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar. Delicious!

So, as I sit here and sip my morning coffee, send my oldest off to school on his bicycle (hoping he makes it safely), yell at the cats who are fighting with each other, and wish my youngest a Happy 4th Birthday (and share with him a bit of my milk chocolate truffle bar), I enjoy this little moment of victory – BLISS – and enjoy a quick quiet moment before it all goes out the door. Thank you milk chocolate truffle bar… at least I had that quick, quiet moment. And to think, today I was going to write about National Milk Chocolate Day, but as I soon discovered, I was reading my information incorrectly. That’s actually in July. Today is actually National Chocolate Milk Day. Meh. Give me National “Whatever Type” of Chocolate Day – everyday! Who would argue with me on that? NO ONE!

Is anyoe else sad that we do not have a Butlers Chocolate Café close to us? Chocolate and coffee all in one spot? YES, PLEASE! I think it’s time we pack up, travel and visit one! Oh yeah, here I am again. Hoping. Praying. Wishing… Maybe. Someday!

And speaking of coffee, that topic will be addressed in the next few days! Stay tuned! For now… Nibble, nibble!