Agata & Valentina :: Fine Food & Good Ideas

What's new Ghost Chilis Have Arrived August 13 2011 Wild Maine Blueberries - Summer Treasure August 9 2011 A&V 7-Grain Fresh Pasta July 12 2011 Get Ready For the 4th! June 29 2011 BIG NEWS!! A&V Opening in the West Village! June 3 2011 Easter & Passover Menus April 22 2011 Spring Holiday Catering Tastings: Easter & Passover April 6 2011 Llanllyr Organic Water March 22 2011 Something New: RAZOR CLAMS February 16 2011 Rediscover A&V Coffee / PROMO! February 14 2011 Dinner for Two, Chez You February 11 2011 Countdown to Valentine's Day February 11 2011 > more... Previous Entries August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 November 2010 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009	Ghost Chilis Have Arrived August 13 2011 This is exciting: We've just gotten a few cases of fresh Ghost Chilis, or Bhut Jolokia. This is the hottest pepper EVER grown, folks! On the Scoville Scale (the scientific measure of spiciness) it's fully twice as spicy as the spiciest habanero. If you can handle a seriously spicy kick, this is the chili for you! (Tip: Always wear gloves when handling these powerful peppers.)
	Wild Maine Blueberries - Summer Treasure August 9 2011 Wild Maine blueberries are in! What could be more summer-y than a pint of these gorgeous little gems? Great for pies and tarts, paired with Greek yogurt, and simple healthy snacking. The season for these berries is very short, so pick some up while you can!
	A&V 7-Grain Fresh Pasta July 12 2011 It's Pasta You Can Feel Great About! New from the A&V kitchen: Fresh, hand-made 7-grain whole wheat pasta, available by the pound at our pasta counter.
	Get Ready For the 4th! June 29 2011 The countdown to the holiday weekend begins...time to stock up for those 4th of July BBQs, whether they're on the beach or on an NYC rooftop! We've done scientific research and it turns out that our house-made sausages, marinated meats and fish, party salads and antipasti spreads taste just as great in either place!
	BIG NEWS!! A&V Opening in the West Village! June 3 2011 Agata & Valentina will be opening a second NYC location late this Fall! We're thrilled to be expanding to the West Village (one of our favorite neighborhoods) in just a few months! See last item from Florence Fabricant's Off the Menu column in the NY Times
	Easter & Passover Menus April 22 2011 Doing some last minute holiday planning? We're happy to be your wingman. Check out our online holiday menus for all the options available to you! EASTER Menu Here PASSOVER Menu Here
	Spring Holiday Catering Tastings: Easter & Passover April 6 2011 We understand the importance of tasting the food you'll be serving to your guests, so this year, we're offering tastings from our holiday menus to help you decide! Stop by Agata's Corner (located at our pizza counter) and try some of our holiday favorites, all available from our Catering Department for your holiday celebrations. PASSOVER TASTING FRIDAY APRIL 8TH - 4:30 PM to Closing *FEATURED DISHES* Matzoh Ball Soup Potato Pancakes Apple Walnut Haroset Beef Brisket Roasted Turkey Breast French cut chicken with Pomegranate & Rosemary Homemade Potato, Noodle, and Spinach-Noodle Kugel Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes & Asparagus Tzimmes PLACE YOUR PASSOVER ORDER THAT EVENING WITH OUR CATERING DEPARTMENT AND RECIEVE A COMPLIMENTARY SEDER PLATE WITH ALL ORDERS OF $150 OR MORE. ***** EASTER TASTING THURSDAY APRIL 14TH - 4:30 PM to Closing FEATURED DISHES** Costolette D'Agnello alla Milanese Homemade Spinach Ravioli in a butter sage sauce Broccoli rabe Torta Pasqualina Vignarola Soup Farro Soup Roasted Asparagus with hard boiled eggs and shavings of Pecorino Romano cheese Cioppino *PLACE YOUR EASTER ORDER THAT EVENING WITH OUR CATERING DEPARTMENT AND RECIEVE A COMPLIMENTARY HOMEMADE PASTIERA DI GRANO (7") WITH ALL ORDERS OF $150 OR MORE.
	Llanllyr Organic Water March 22 2011 We’re not sure which will stump you first: the pronunciation of the name or the concept of ORGANIC water... We can’t do much about the former (oh, the Welsh and their consonants!), but we can explain the latter: This is the first “organic” water, because it comes from ancient sources beneath certified organic fields on the Llanllyr Farm in Wales. The farm has been in the same family's hands since the year 1720, has been accredited organic by the Soil Association, and has never, ever been farmed non-organically. The taste is very clean, refreshing, and soft: a perfect accompaniment for meals!
	Something New: RAZOR CLAMS February 16 2011 Razor Clams: They sound dangerous, don't they? Dangerously delicious, if you ask us. Florence Fabricant wrote a great article about this little-known mollusk for the NY Times, and we're a featured purveyor. According to Ms. Fabricant, the thinner the clam, the better, and the razor clams at A&V are "especially slender." If you're interested in preparing these tasty clams at home (the article conveniently provides four different razor clam recipes), please visit our Fish counter, where they're fresh from the market and ready to go! Check out the full article & recipes .
	Rediscover A&V Coffee / PROMO! February 14 2011 We’ve completely revitalized our coffee selection! After months of intensive tastings and meetings with prospective roasters, we are very excited to introduce an array of new, perfected coffee blends and roasts in our Coffee Department and at the Cappuccino Bar. If you haven’t tried our coffee in a while, we encourage you to come back and give it a shot! AT THE CAPPUCCINO BAR…Choose your blend! We’re now offering three coffee options at the Cappuccino Bar, so you can order the one that suits you best! Agata’s Blend - A medium roast with a rich, full body and well balanced flavor. This signature blend invigorates the palate with a smooth and vibrant taste. Agata’s Dark Roast (NEW!) - A darker, bolder version of Agata’s Blend with a hint of smokiness. Agata’s Blend Decaf IN OUR COFFEE DEPARTMENT… …all new roasts and blends and a MAJOR PROMO to sweeten the deal! Take $2 off the price of ANY 1 lb. bag of A&V-brand coffee, whole bean or ground! (Offer runs through 2/23)
	Dinner for Two, Chez You February 11 2011 Does the idea of city-wide restaurant mayhem on Valentine's Day make you want to run for the hills? If you'd prefer to skip the crowds this year, let us bring Dinner for Two to you: Say the word, and we'll deliver a deluxe 4-course dinner for two to your door...for a mere $65!! Full menu details HERE.
	Countdown to Valentine's Day February 11 2011 This weekend is your last chance to pick out treats for your sweetheart. Love and chocolate are a perfect match! Why not try our decadent hand-rolled chocolate truffles, gorgeous mini chocolate tartufo cakes, and other sweet delights?
	Big Coffee Developments in the Making... February 7 2011 Insider Tip: We'll be introducing a new line of coffees and roasts in our Coffee Dept. and at the Cappuccino Bar in the next week. Look out for details on a BIG Coffee Promo in the next couple of days!!
	Super Bowl Sunday Provisions January 31 2011 ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?? In honor of the teams hitting the field this weekend, we've developed a party sandwich that represents the best of Pittsburgh paired with the best of Green Bay: A&V's Battle of the Gridiron Heroes Hero! This deluxe party hero is 1/2 Pittsburgh (Primanti Bros.-style with Genoa salami, ham, sopressata, provolone, cole slaw, tomatoes, and potato chips) and 1/2 Green Bay (Bratwurst, sauerkraut, and chopped onion). No matter which team you support, we've got you covered! For our full selection of Super Bowl nibbles, see our ONLINE SUPER BOWL MENU.
	Valentine's Day: The Chocolate Holiday is Upon Us! January 27 2011 It's time to start thinking about Valentine's Day goodies for the sweetheart(s) in your life. A few of our hand-made chocolate delights got the attention of Haute Living magazine! Article HERE!
	Don't Miss It: Sicilian Monti Iblei DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil January 18 2011 Once you try our A&V Sicilian Monti Iblei DOP extra virgin olive oil you’ll have a hard time going back to the regular stuff. This olive oil is, without exaggeration, one of the best on the planet. It is known for its fresh, herbaceous aroma, and for a flavor reminiscent of green Sicilian tomatoes and freshly cut grass with a peppery finish. The delicate complexity of the flavors and the seductive nose of this oil are truly unique, and we couldn’t be happier to be able to offer it to our customers. Our Monti Iblei is harvested, pressed, and bottled for us at a family-owned farm and mill in the Chiaramonte Gulfi region, located in the heart of the volcanic Iblei Mountains in southern Sicily (the DOP designation means that oils labeled as ‘Monti Iblei’ must come from this very specific region). The olives here, primarily of the Tonda Iblea variety, come from century-old trees grown in rich volcanic soil. The age of the trees correlates with low productivity, which makes the supply of Monti Iblei oil scarce in comparison with the feverish demand for such a high-quality oil. Our recommendation: Seize the day and enjoy the Monti Iblei while it’s here!
	Eric Ripert at Agata & Valentina! November 10 2010 Watch world-renowned chef, Eric Ripert, as he shops at Agata & Valentina and plans a phenomenal fish dinner with Plum TV's Adam Rapoport (A&V's cameo begins at minute 7:30).
	A&V in Edible Manhattan! November 9 2010 Agata & Valentina is featured in Edible Manhattan this month as a 'Super Market'! The article is a great read - take a look!
	Homemade Caponata August 20 2010 the real Sicilian version - good size chunks of fried eggplant, onions, caper, celery, tomatoes & vinegar - now in pick up 'n go containers
	Eckerton Farms Heirloom Tomatoes August 20 2010 the ones all the chefs are clamoring for; grown in Kutztown, Pa
	Jersey Tomatoes August 20 2010 Gorgeous Jersey Beefsteaks are in
	Fresh Cleaned Calamari August 20 2010 "never-ever" frozen; this is what you want to use for grilling, frying or sauteeing - won't become rubbery
	Homemade Garlic Bread August 20 2010 slathered with extra virgin olive oil and lots of freshly chopped garlic
	Gluten-free Waffles August 20 2010
	Lemon Verbena Strawberry Shortcakes August 20 2010 made with fresh strawberries, lemon verbena leaves, vanilla beans and almond spongecake; in individual serving cups
	Shredded Cheeses July 13 2010 A variety of freshly shredded cheeses in pick-up-'n-go 15 oz. containers for your convenience: Parmigiano Reggiano Tilamalook Cheddar x-sharp Provolone Australian (white) Cheddar
	West Side Melons July 13 2010 The best melons in the world, from Turlock, California are now in - Crenshaw, Orange Flesh, Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Galia, Casaba - you can smell the sweetness when you walk by!
	Jamaican Jerk Spiedini July 13 2010 ready-to-cook kebabs made of chicken,pineapple & red onion chunks in soy, brown sugar & fresh herb marinade
	Lower East Side Knishes May 19 2010 hand-made, brick oven-baked, with old world traditional taste & texture - "the ultimate comfort food" - made without eggs, oil or yeast; available in 4 flavors: potato, broccoli, spinach kasha
	Cinnamon Polenta Crumbcake May 19 2010 made here by our in-house, Sicilian-trained pastry chef; fluffy, cake with fine-grained Cinammon Polenta topping
	Gluten free Pastries May 19 2010 Chocolate Chip Cookies Almond/Cranberry Biscotti made here by our pastry chef using almond flour instead of wheat flour & agava syrup instead of sugar
	"Slice It As You Like It Pizza" May 19 2010 Handmade Brick Oven pizza displayed in oblong sheets; different toppings every night including: Insalata, Chicken & Broccoli, Mediterranean (peppers, mushrooms, black oives, pepperoni, meatballs, prosciutto/mozzarella and more... Buy only as much as you need $6.99 lb.
	Spicy Indian Ketchup April 28 2010 Made by Maya Kaimal - An intriguing, spicy-sweet flavor with warm Indian notes that come from toasted cumin; sweetened with brown sugar & spiced with hot chiles. All-natural, no high fructose corn syrup. Delicious on burgers,sausages, samosas, eggs, sandwiches and more! Add a dash to your beef chile or homemade bbq sauce - you will love this condiment!
	A&V Local Grass-Fed Hudson Valley Milk April 28 2010 36 hours from the cow to our store! This fantastic milk is from ultra-healthy, responsibly-raised cows in Dutchess & Colombia Counties that are grass-fed in summer & hay-fed in winter and are never, ever given antibiotics or growth hormones. Because these select cows are exceptionally healthy and well-raised, their milk tests at extremely low bacteria & somatic cell counts - much, much lower than levels required by the USDA. As a result, their milk is subjected to a much shorter pasteurization process than commercially-raised cows,which in turn means less change in flavor. This factor, plus the quality of the milk to start with, give it a very good flavor and longer shelf life. A&V's Local, N.Y. State milk is rich, sweet & fresh-tasting - milk the way it used to be...
	Olive Oil Pound Cakes April 28 2010 made by our Sicilian-trained Pastry Chef, Eileen Guastella. ...for those who love pound cake, but don't want all that butter. Flavors include: Almond Olive Oil Pound Cake Chocolate Hazelnut Olive Oil Pound Cake Lemon Olive Oil Pound Cake Pistachio Olive Oil Pound Cake - sold in slices
	Soft Shell Crabs April 28 2010 Back in Season, alive 'n kicking!
	Oven-Ready Meat Entrees April 28 2010 our new butcher from Italy is busy creating easy, oven-ready entrees favored by busy housewives in Italy: Tramezzini - 2 thin slices of silver tip roast sandwiching prosciutto, provolone & pepper Fagottini di Pollo - bundles of boneless chicken things enclosing pancetta, thyme, rosemary & seasonings Trecce di Vitello - thick slices of prime sirloin twisted around strips of pancetta & provolone. Cooking instructions included on each label
	Gelato Ice Cream Sandwiches April 28 2010 made here using our homemade gelato sandwiched between our house-made cocoa sugar cookies which are moist & crumbly at once -; sold individually or in 3 packs; flavors include: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or hazelnut all with cocoa cookie crust
	International Sea Salts April 28 2010 Check out our new selection of International Sea salts, hand-harvested from the most flavorful salt beds in the world... Fleur de Sel from Guerand, France Sel Gris from Guerand, France Sicilian Trapani Sea Salt Himalayan Pink Salt *Black Truffle Salt from Italy Hawaiian Red Salt available on our meat counter
	Wild Alaskan Salmon April 28 2010 the real deal, back at last. It hasn't been available for months, so we're thrilled to see this Omega 3 fish back in stock. Enjoy at home at least once a week - the robust, "wild" flavor of true wild salmon is incomparable!
	Eclipse Goat Cheese Pyramid March 10 2010 small goat cheese pyramid made in the Hudson Valley; coated wth vegetable ash right under the rind which shows up as lovely speckles in each slice; flavor is sweet-tart, extremely delicate with a creamy texture
	Wild Alaskan Trolled King Salmon March 10 2010 The season for wild salmon from Alaska has started! Deep red flesh with thick ribbons of heart-healthy fat running through it; a full-bodied flavor and silky texture
	Wild Morel Mushrooms March 10 2010 The season has started for these earthy-flavored wild mushrooms, native to the Pacific Northwest. Split in half, rinse well and saute with shallots & butter and toss with our fresh egg fettuccine and shelled peas -
	Homemade Spinach Ricotta Ravioli March 3 2010 Made in our kitchen using fresh egg pasta dough. Light, delicate & tasty with rich spinach flavor
	Homemade Gelati di Pistacchi March 3 2010 Our own Homemade Pistachio Gelato, made with imported Sicilian Pistachio paste, which gives this creamy frozen dessert its rich, sweet, pistachio flavor
	Fiddlehead Ferns March 3 2010 first-of-the-season from California
	homemade marinades March 3 2010 Citrus-Soy Marinade - fresh orange jucie, soy sauce, ginger, minced garlic - perfect for chicken, pork or turkey cutlests Salmoriglio Marinade - extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garli, dried Italian oregano - perfect for fish fillets, shrimp, chicken, skirt or flank steak
	New Homemade Dips February 18 2010 Our chef has created new dips that bring this class of condiments to a whole new level. These are all fun, all-natural, delicious dips you can proudly serve a crowd: White Beans/Roasted Garlic Dip, with sour cream & a little lemon juice $3.99 8 oz. Spinach/Water chestnut Dip - with sour cream & roasted red peppers $4.99 8 oz.
	5 Layer Party Dip February 18 2010 Another of our chef's creations to feed a fun & hungry crowd. This 5 layer strata consists of homemade guacamole alternating with layers of homemade salsa, homemade chicken chile, sour cream & topped with grated cheddar - WOW! A party in a tin... $7.99 15 oz.
	Homemade Country BBQ Sauce February 18 2010 We make it here, so you don't have to at home anymore. This piquant condiment is made with ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, honey, ginger, cayenne & more zesty ingredients... Perfectly balanced, not overly sweet like most barbecue sauces are $4.99 12 oz. bottle
	Shad Roe February 18 2010 The very first sign of Spring Shad Roe from the Hudson River is in! $8.99 pair
	Bonduelle Frozen Vegetables February 18 2010 High end, prepped veggies from Prince Edward Island Parisienne Carrots and Potatoes (meaning "turned", almost ball-shaped) Snipped Green Beans & extra-fine Petite Pois
	Homemade Grissini February 18 2010 real Italian-style Grissini hand rolled here by our chef, then brick oven-baked - thin, crisp, gnarled and delicious with hints of oil in the dough
	Homemade Chicken Sausages February 3 2010 We are now making 4 types of chicken sausage in our Meat Department: Chicken Sausage with Basil Spicy Chicken Sausage Regular Chicken Sausage (with sage & seasonings) Chicken & Apple Sausage all $5.99 lb.
	spring garlic February 3 2010 From the Baja peninsula - the long, sweet, scallion-like shoots of a garlic plant that grow above-ground
	stem & leaf citrus February 3 2010 This is the time of year for gorgeous heirloom navel oranges, Meyer lemons and Blood Oranges, all with stem & leaves attached. They look and eat beautifully!
	Stuffed Filet of Sole January 27 2010 We stuff these tender fillets with our own mixture of crabmeat, shrimp, scallops, a little potato, mushrooms & carrots - a
	A & V Dried Pasta from Italy January 20 2010 Here at last! Rich, wheaty flavor and aroma in this high-quality Italian pasta. The egg varieties have a silky-soft texture, perfect for delicate sauces. The regular dried pastas have toothsome texture that sauce clings to.
	Kobe Beef Burgers January 20 2010
	Pachino Tomato Sauce December 7 2009 Those who really know their tomatoes know what a great find this is - tiny, super-sweet Pachino tomatoes from the Pacchino area of Sicily cooked with onions, basil & a pinch of salt - that's it! Rich, vine-ripened, intense tomato-y flavor - deep & earthy. Just pour over pasta & sprinkle with grated Parmigiano cheese for an incredible, easy meal $4.39 11.6 oz.
	Naked Nuggets November 16 2009 All-natural, fully-cooked chicken tenderloins - just heat 'n serve. These succulent fillets are grilled, not fried and made from antibiotic-free, all-white chicken meat. Really, really good...the kids will love them too! $9.99 12 oz. pkg in freezer case
	Berkshire Pork All-Natural Sausages November 4 2009 Made by our butchers in-house every day using prized Berkshire Pork. Sweet Italian & Small Breakfast Sausage links flavored with Sage - no antibiotics, no hormones
	Nantucket Bay Scallops October 4 2009