A good cocktail doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, when a cocktail - a really good cocktail - can easily be made with only two ingredients, it’s a real thing of beauty. Something like the Gin Gimlet. It’s gin, it’s lime cordial, and that’s it. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. It’s refreshingly tart from the lime cordial and herbal from the gin. It tastes far more complex than one would think from its short list of ingredients. For a warm springy afternoon, it’s perfect.
Now, the gimlet may only have two ingredients, but you can adjust their ratio to your liking. Per Raymond Chandler, a real gimlet should be equal parts gin and lime cordial, and I find that I tend to agree with him. However, if that seems a bit too sour for your liking, a 2:1 gin to lime cordial ratio may be more to your liking. Regardless of your ratio of choice, the fact remains that when it comes to simple mixology, the gimlet is king. Honestly, we should probably all be drinking more of them.
Gin Gimlet
2 oz gin
2 oz FIX Lime Cordial
Lime wedge for garnish
Combine gin and lime cordial in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge. Take a drink and channel your inner Phillip Marlowe.
]]>Throw a simple but sophisticated happy hour and serve gin gimlets, using our fresh lime cordial.
Jump on the tiki wave and mix up some rum runners or jungle birds with our sweet tiki pineapple syrup.
More of a garden party type? Cucumber mint mixed with vodka and topped with soda is as lovely as your blooming dahlias.
Batch up some Manhattans with our tart cherry grenadine to serve at your next campfire.
As usual, we only use real fruit, no GMO ingredients, pure cane sugar and never any corn syrup.
Summer's not over yet, time to make some cocktails!
]]>Warm, gooey Brie melds with our luxurious, luscious pear preserve for a truly indulgent pairing. Simply place your cheese on a baking pan and top with several spoonfuls of Pear with Honey and Ginger preserves. Put into a 350 degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove when cheese is gooey, but not melting. Serve with crackers or crostini for a satisfying crunch.
Bright, spunky Raspberry Rose livens up stately Alpine cheeses, just like Maria does Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Serve a small amount of preserves a top some cheese and a bit of crusty sourdough or baguette.
]]>If you haven't heard, Quince and Apple recently purchased Treat - an artisan spiced and candied nut maker out of Milwaukee, WI. Since the announcement was made, several people have asked me - why Treat?
There are so many ways that the two companies make sense together - we both make really delicious products, we share many of the same customers, we're both from Wisconsin, we both spend a lot of time around the cheese industry. And while these were all very important considerations, they weren't fundamentally what gave us that gut feeling that we should move ahead with buying Treat.
Instead, it was the fact that, at their core, both Quince and Apple and Treat are companies that make things.
I think one of the misconceptions about running an artisan food company is that you spend much of your day in a series of Instagram-able moments - laughing attractively at farmers markets, styling lush cheese trays or quaintly admiring each individual piece of fruit that goes into a pot.
In reality, if you're going to be a successful artisan food producer, you're going to spend much more time making sure your glass shipment arrives on time, trying to accurately project what inventory levels you'll need to fill orders quickly, learning and responding to constantly shifting FDA rules and managing your ever important cash flow.
Oh, and cleaning. Lots and lots of cleaning.
Anyone who starts an artisan food business that starts to enjoy some success eventually runs into this reality and when they do, they have a few choices:
Not that many companies choose option three because it's expensive, complex, the FDA is a bear to deal with and it can take a long time to get right.
But, at Quince and Apple we've always felt that our commitment to making our own product and staying true to artisan production methods is what makes our preserves and syrups special.
In Treat, we found a company equally committed to making their own product.
For six years, every bag and jar of Treat spiced and candied nuts has been made and packed by hand with great care and attention. And even though Treat's nuts are now sold in stores nationwide, they've never outsourced production and their quality has remained outstanding because the same people are making them in the same way as when the company first started.
And, fundamentally, it was this shared culture of choosing commitment to quality through making everything in house that assured us that Quince and Apple and Treat would be a perfect match.
-Matt
]]>photo by Things I Made Today
]]>Quality assurance is commonly described as a process to prevent mistakes or fix defects. From this perspective, QA is about defense, ensuring some set minimal threshold of quality. But, at Quince and Apple, we've developed a Quality Assurance program that is fundamentally about driving continuous improvement and making even great things always better. The work our QA team is doing to source a new tea for our Tart Cherry and White Tea preserve is a case in point.
Fine teas are like wines, with each vintage showing different flavor and aroma profiles based on the terrior and growing conditions of that year's season. Every so often, we need to bring in a new tea when our supply of a previous year's vintage runs out. Right now, our Quality Assurance team is taking this opportunity to deepen our knowledge of our ideal tea profile, with an eye to making this special preserve even better.
So far, we've tasted 27 different tea blends from 8 different tea growing regions and evaluated each using the International Tea Masters Association's flavor wheel in an effort to more perfectly define what our ideal tea blend is. We will use this knowledge not just for this sourcing project, but for future purchases as well, in an effort to make this special preserve even better.
Now, Tart Cherry and White Tea is already an award winning preserve, taking home a coveted Good Food Award this year, so it might not seem like the obvious choice candidate for improvement. But, that's where our QA team is a little different.
Instead of working to maintain a static quality standard, a sort of line in the sand, we are always striving to get closer and closer to that perfect jar, that perfect batch. We understand that perfection isn't truly attainable, but the constant drive to get as close as we can is what makes our QA team a true driver of value and continuous improvement.
And when you're cooking for people everyday and they invite your products to their table, you have a responsibility to try and make every batch better than the last.
When you acknowlege, as you must, that there is no such thing as perfect food, only the idea of it, then the real purpose of striving toward perfection becomes clear: to make people happy, that is what cooking is all about. - Thomas Keller]]>
photo from Cheese Sex Death
]]>The Good Food Awards celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic and responsibly produced. They grant annual awards to outstanding American food producers and the farmers who provide their ingredients. They host an annual awards ceremony to celebrate companies that promote craftsmanship and sustainability while enhancing our agricultural landscape and building strong communities.
We won a Good Food Award back in 2014 for our Tart Cherry Grenadine and we're hoping for the same result this time around!
]]>We’ve got a lot of exciting things lined up for the coming year that we can’t wait to share with you. And, as always, thanks so much to everyone who has supported or contributed to Quince and Apple this year!
]]>Germain and Gin
Door County Sunset
Combine orange juice and vodka in tall glass over ice. Pour grenadine genlty down the side of the glass to allow it to settle at the bottom of the glass. Top with a splash of clud soda and garnish with an orange rind.
If you order via UPS, shipping is guaranteed. However, shipping with USPS is not guaranteed, so get your order in early to give enough time. For the most guaranteed delivery, get your order in today!
]]>Happy Thanksgiving from the Quince & Apple team here in Wisconsin. No matter how you spend your long weekend, remember something you’re grateful for.
If you still need inspiration for the big day, you can find more recipes on our … Read more »
]]>Happy Thanksgiving from the Quince & Apple team here in Wisconsin. No matter how you spend your long weekend, remember something you’re grateful for.
If you still need inspiration for the big day, you can find more recipes on our website at:
www.quinceandapple.com
Don’t forget about the leftovers!
Try this Grilled Turkey Sandwich for lunch the day after Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
Directions
Stack ingredients on sliced sourdough and grill until the cheese has softened and the bread is golden brown.
]]>Thanksgiving is coming up and here are some ideas for new innovative recipes with some Quince & Apple preserves at the forefront. For a nice side dish, try Grilled Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan and Shallot Confit with Red Wine.
For … Read more »
]]>Thanksgiving is coming up and here are some ideas for new innovative recipes with some Quince & Apple preserves at the forefront. For a nice side dish, try Grilled Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan and Shallot Confit with Red Wine.
For something a little lighter, try a nice salad to offset the heavy turkey, dressing and gravy you’ll be eating, yum!
Or if you want to try an nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner, try a light, healthy alternative: Apple Cranberry Chicken Dinner.
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is having a Holiday Art Fair and we’ll be there!
Each November, the spaces of MMoCA and … Read more »
]]>The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is having a Holiday Art Fair and we’ll be there!
Each November, the spaces of MMoCA and the Overture Center for the Arts are transformed as over 85 artists and specialty food vendors come together with thousands of visitors to kick off the holiday season with cheer. The 2015 Holiday Art Fair will present fine art and craft from around the country, as well as local and gourmet treats, a silent auction, performances by local art organizations, and the popular Rediscovered Arts & Treasures Sale. This festive event is one of MMoCA’s most important annual fundraisers, providing crucial support for exhibitions and education programming.
The Holiday Art Fair is three days:
Admission is $6, children under 12 free.
]]>
We’ve been loving it with:
Aged Gouda (6 months and older) Soft, washed rind cheeses (Taleggio,… Read more »]]>We’ve been loving it with:
First orders will ship the week of October 19
]]>
A special shout out to our amazing team – Cameron, Jen, Julie, Melissa and Shawn – for their incredible work making it all happen as smoothly and painlessly as possible. We truly could not have done it without them.
Shipping is up and running again and we have everything in stock, so keep your orders coming in!
Thanks again for your support of our little company for the past six years to make this dream a reality.
–Matt and Clare
]]>
Find the video on MG&E’s page and watch other businesses featured: https://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/greenbiz/story/quinceandapple
]]>Small business blogger Katherine Raz gets real about the challenges entrepreneurs face while creating their business. Katherine interviewed us for her blog to find out more about Quince & Apple and how we got from point A to where we … Read more »
]]>Small business blogger Katherine Raz gets real about the challenges entrepreneurs face while creating their business. Katherine interviewed us for her blog to find out more about Quince & Apple and how we got from point A to where we are today.
Read the full article here!
]]>
The Quince & Apple team loves what we do. We make delicious preserves with quality ingredients, and we’re always trying new ways to enjoy them. So for holiday entertaining inspiration we asked the team, “What’s your favorite cheese pairing?” Here’s … Read more »
]]>The Quince & Apple team loves what we do. We make delicious preserves with quality ingredients, and we’re always trying new ways to enjoy them. So for holiday entertaining inspiration we asked the team, “What’s your favorite cheese pairing?” Here’s what they had to say:
Easy. Alemar Cheese Company’s Good Thunder with Pear or Orange Marmalade or Apples and Cranberry. Those three are my favorite with it.
Shawn, Production Manager
Cocoa Cardona with Tart Cherry and White Tea.
Clare, Co-owner
My favorite is Tart Cherry and White Tea and Montchevre’s bucheron or Pear with Pleasant Ridge Reserve.
Matt, Co-owner
Hidden Springs Creamery Driftless and Shallot! Maybe with some cracked pepper crackers.
Julie, Shipping Manager
Pear with Honey & Ginger paired with Alemar Bent River Camembert, Apples and Cranberry paired with Roelli Red Rock, Raspberry Rose paired with Clock Shadow Creamery Quark.
Jen, Kitchen Manager
Pear with Roelli Dunbarton Blue and Orange Marmalade with Marieke Gouda 2-4 month.
Stacy, Order Fulfillment Manager
I love Figs and Black Tea or Pear with Honey and Ginger with Bleu Mont Bandaged Cheddar. Clock Shadow Creamery’s Quark is always a winner, I enjoy it with everything, but my new favorite is with Raspberry Rose. A great goat cheese (fresh and aged) is hard to keep away from me and all of our preserves, too.
Sarah, Marketing Manager
The awesome caramely-ness of Hook’s 15 year cheddar matches really well with the sweet and caramelized onion flavor of our Shallot and Red Wine Confit.
Cameron, Production Lead”
A cheeseboard with this selection is sure to please. Shop for our preserves here!
]]>Raspberry Rose! This new preserve is luscious and bright with ruby raspberries complemented with floral rose.
Raspberry Rose can … Read more »
]]>
Raspberry Rose! This new preserve is luscious and bright with ruby raspberries complemented with floral rose.
Raspberry Rose can be enjoyed spread on a piece of toast or topping your favorite dessert. And, of course, we love it with cheese! From salty manchego to nutty mimolette, from a grassy alpine to fresh goat cheese – add Raspberry Rose to any cheese board to find your favorites.
It is now available to order on our shop and will be in stores soon!
Tasty Gift Collections
In addition to working on a new preserve, we have been updating our online shop with new photography, new gift collections, and brand new gift boxes. Take a look at our new selection to find your favorites to give as gifts or enjoy for yourself.
MMoCA Holiday Art Fair
From November 21-23, a Holiday Art Fair will be taking place at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Overture Center. Over 90 vendors will be showcasing their art, products, clothing, and food, and Quince & Apple will be there, too! Come take a stroll through the museum and find wonderful, local holiday gifts. Be sure to stop by our booth in the Gourmet Gallery to enjoy our preserves and syrups (including our newest Raspberry Rose!) and find a variety of great gifts!
The American Made Awards judges have spoken – we’re a finalist!
The American Made Awards celebrate “creative, beautiful, useful, and innovative products.” Among hundreds of nominees within the food category, we stood out!
The awards are a great way to … Read more »
]]>The American Made Awards judges have spoken – we’re a finalist!
The American Made Awards celebrate “creative, beautiful, useful, and innovative products.” Among hundreds of nominees within the food category, we stood out!
The awards are a great way to spread the word and love for great American made goods, but the best part comes along with the grand prize: $10,000 to grow your business, a trip to New York to attend the American Made event, a video created to showcase your brand and products, and a variety of great press opportunities to celebrate the award.
Check out our page here to learn more and help spread the word.
Starting September 15th, the voting opens to the public for the finalists to become winners! Once it opens, please help support Quince & Apple and cast your vote.
We’re so grateful to everyone who has helped Quince & Apple grow – Thank you!
]]>We snapped some pictures of our booth before the event got too busy. Enjoy!
Watch … Read more »
]]>Watch us make a small batch of our Tart Cherry and White Tea preserve and stop by the first store to ever buy our products, Fromagination. A big thank-you to Wisconsin Foodie for featuring us!
]]>We’re turning 5!
On May 9, 2014, Quince & Apple will officially be five years old! That’s when we delivered our first ever case of preserves … Read more »
]]>We’re turning 5!
On May 9, 2014, Quince & Apple will officially be five years old! That’s when we delivered our first ever case of preserves to Fromagination, here in Madison. We are so thankful for how far we’ve come. It started with just Matt and Clare coming up with unique recipes and cooking preserves in their home, and today we’re a growing team of hard working food lovers.
As a thank you to all of you who have given us the support to get us where we are today, we are offering $5 off any website order for the next month (through June 9).
Pick up a few preserves and syrups for your next get together or even some gift boxes to give away. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, you can get mom something delicious and show her your good taste in food. Just use this coupon code during checkout! And again, thank you!
HAPPY5YEAR
A new way to label
We’ve introduced a labeling machine to Quince & Apple and it has completely transformed the way we label our products and how fast we’re able to get it done! While labeling by hand for almost five years was fun, this will help us get more preserves and syrups to our stores and customers much faster.
Pastoral Festival
We had a great time at the Pastoral Artisan Producer Festival on April 12 in Chicago. The event brought in their biggest crowd yet! Over 15,000 people stopped by the Chicago French Market to sample products from over 70 local artisans, from cheesemakers to distillers to preserve makers! (Preservers?) If you haven’t gone we highly recommend it. Here’s us at the Festival!
Summer Fancy Food NYC
We are thrilled to announce that we will be an exhibitor at the Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC. This will be the biggest event that Quince & Apple has ever attended and we are so excited to show off our products. If you or someone you know is going, be sure to stop by our booth!
The Quince & Apple Team
Quince & Apple wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our amazing team. We’re going to start featuring them in our newsletter to give you an inside look at what we do every day! To start, meet Shawn and Jen, the chefs in the kitchen.
Quince & Apple was one of five Wisconsin products to win this award, including those by Lakefront Brewery, Underground Meats, Uplands Cheese, and Kickapoo Coffee Roasters. We are so proud of our state! Check out the full list of winners here.
Visit our online shop to get your own bottle of our Tart Cherry Grenadine for your home bar.
Seasonal flavors go year-round
Due to popular demand and our own love for the products, we have decided to make Apples and Cranberry and Honey Lemon available year-round! They are available to order on our website as well as in specialty food and beverage stores.
Distill America 2014
We are so excited to be part of this year’s Distill America. If you’re a fan of spirits, this show should not be missed. On February 22 from 5-9PM at Inn on the Park in Madison, distillers and beyond will gather to bring you one of our favorite events in Madison. We’ll be teaming up with NessAlla Kombucha to bring you the best cocktail mixers from the Midwest and a nice break from the alcohol samples (trust me, you’ll want it). Get your tickets now!
We expanded…again!
Thanks to all of the support we receive from incredible stores and customers, we have recently expanded our kitchen and warehouse! It was just over one year ago that we fit the entire business in one little room, since then we have tripled our square footage, increased the amount of preserves and syrups we’re able to make daily, and created a sustainable space to grow our business further. We’ll post pictures soon!
]]>
Last minute news: Today our … Read more »
]]>Last minute news: Today our cocktail syrups are featured in the Wall Street Journal!
“Love a good cocktail but struggle to find mixers worthy of your top-shelf hooch? Consider Quince & Apple, the Madison, Wis.-based producer of syrups and preserves.”
-The Wall Street Journal
We’re excited to announce that our Tart Cherry Grenadine has been chosen as a Good Food Awards finalist for 2014! The Grenadine was chosen among 1,450 entries from across 10 industries and 50 states, and there are a total of SEVEN Wisconsin products that have made it as finalists! See the full list here. Winners will be announced in January, so be sure to grab a bottle of Tart Cherry Grenadine and cross your fingers with us!
Madison’s Cap Times newspaper wrote an article titled, “Mom & Pop 2.0” and covered the Mom & Pop shops in Madison, including Quince & Apple! Our very own Matt, Clare and Max, our newest addition, were featured on the front page! Read all about it.
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Our favorite pairings: * Roast turkey … Read more »
]]>Our favorite pairings:
* Roast turkey
* Pork
* Goat Cheese
* Brie or Camembert
* Aged cheddar
* Cheesecake
Holiday Gift Boxes
The holidays are sneaking up on us, let us take care of your gifts! We put together a variety of delicious holiday gift boxes with Quince & Apple preserves and syrups and our favorite local foods. We ship fast and to anywhere in the US. Visit our shop page for our full selection!
Custom Gift Boxes
Don’t see the perfect combination box for you? Let us know! As a small business we are able to work closely with customers to provide just what you need. We are happy to put together a custom gift box with the pairings that you’d like at your ideal price point.
An Update on our Seasonal Cocktail Box
Quince & Apple released its cocktail box last year with a seasonal subscription option. This December will be the last subscription cocktail box that we will ship out. But don’t worry, we are making some exciting changes! Stay tuned for new and fun cocktail boxes in the future with more variety.
Order our December cocktail box for your favorite home mixologist!
For those who have pre-paid cocktail boxes, we will fulfill your orders with the new cocktail boxes to come. If you have any questions regarding your ongoing subscription or pre-paid order please feel free to contact us!
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