This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about impending changes at Siciliano's Market
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
The news broke last week that Siciliano's Market will soon be under new ownership. Barb and I couldn't have found better buyers. Jeff and Robin Boorsma, former owners of multiple Adobe In and Out restaurants, are life long west Michigan residents. Day to day operations will be under the management of their son-in-law and their daughter, Dan and Tiffany Sipka. Born and raised on GR's west side, the Sipkas live a stone's throw away from the store and plan on eventually purchasing the business from the Boorsmas.
Many customers have already met Dan and Tiff. Barb and I have been working closely with them over the past four months, teaching them the ropes and getting them up to speed on every facet of the business. There’s absolutely no doubt in our minds that they will be successful.
“What are you going to do?” customers invariably ask upon hearing that we're finally hanging up the spikes. “Whatever Barb tells me to do,” I invariably answer. There’s a modicum of veracity in that cheeky reply but the truth is we’ll pretty much do what retired people do. I'm pretty sure that fly fishing and golf will be major components of the “do”.
Some folks have asked if the new owners are planning any major changes. There's been talk about some cosmetic alterations but there are no plans to deviate from the basic formula that helped make Siciliano’s (the name, by the way, is staying the same) one of the area’s premier specialty stores.
More than a few folks have also asked if I’m going to continue writing these blogs. The answer to that question isn’t nearly as cut and dried. I’ve been writing the weekly Siciliano's news letters for over thirteen years and I have to admit that I’ve been running out of creative steam. But there's travel and new experiences waiting on the near horizon. I have a feeling that after a little time off I’ll get the itch to do some writing and once again will be beckoning the muse.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our past and current employees who have been instrumental in making Siciliano’s a success. I would especially like to thank the recently departed John Barecki and Sarah Derylo. Barb and I wish them much luck in their future endeavors. Kati will continue to be an integral part of the new management team.
It's been almost thirty years since I purchased a dying "party store" on the west side of Grand Rapids. There were some lean years in the beginning but there were far more good times than bad. Finally, I'm being asked if Barb and I will have a hard time walking away from a business that has been such an integral part of our lives. My answer is no, because the little mom and pop shop that we poured years of blood, sweat and tears into is being left in very capable hands.
Featured Wines of the Week
Havenscourt Cabernet Sauvignon, $8.69 Multi-layered and medium bodied with dark fruit and oak spice accents; soft tannins.
Havenscourt Chardonnay, $8.69 Nice tropical fruit with a soft finish makes for a great quaffer or served with grilled chicken and fish dishes.
Recanati Yasmin Red, $14.89 Recanati’s Yasmin Red is produced from a blend of two noble varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The winemaking method brings out the softness of the tannins and the fruity aroma together with the gentle oak fragrances. We achieve this balance of flavors and aromas through a relatively short fermentation of 6-10 days at controlled temperatures. Tasting Notes: The wine is rich in fruit flavors and carries the aromas of black plums, spices and oak. It has a refined body and balanced acidity allowing the consumer to enjoy it while it is still young.
Buy three or more bottles of wine get 10 % off.
"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices
Featured Spirits of the Week
Tattersall Straight Rye Whiskey, $47.39/750ml Single-farm sourced rye from our friend Dale Anderson’s farm in Cambridge, MN. 85% AC Hazlet rye varietal with 15% malted rye. Mashed, fermented, and twice-distilled through a pot still. Aged in our on-site barrel room for a minimum of 2 years. Vanilla, maple, and mellow oak on the nose. Robust and peppery on the palate with light cherry notes. Lingering caramel finish. Try it in a Manhattan, Sazerac, Vieux Carre, Boulevardier, Red Hook, Gold Rush, Old Fashioned, or on its own.
Tattersall Creme de Fleur, $34.79/750ml Tattersall Crème de Fleur is distilled with seven distinct flowers and other botanicals for a beautifully concentrated flavor and aroma. Bottled at 60-proof with less sugar than most other floral liqueurs, the result is bright, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced. Subtle tea-like qualities on the aroma with fruity floral notes on the palate. Much less syrupy than most other flower-based liqueurs. Add it to a Gin & Tonic, to sparkling wine drinks like a French 75, Collins cocktails, Fizzes, Gimlets, Mules, and White Sangria.
Tattersall Aquavit, $36.89/750ml Tattersall Aquavit is crafted from a complex blend of botanicals anchored by caraway and fennel. Notes of warm spice are further accentuated by aging this traditionally Danish-style spirit in our rye whiskey barrels. Soft licorice on the aroma is complimented with pumpernickel rye on the palate with hints of citrus, oak, and baking spice. Try it in a Bloody Mary, Aquavit Collins, Negroni, Last Word, Gimlet, or Southside. Plays curiously well with citrus and pineapple.
New and Returning Products
450 North Cookie Bongster, $10.89/16oz-Cookie Bongster XXL is a Blueberry Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cookie Slushy conditioned on Blueberry, Marshmallow, Vanilla Cream, Lemon Zest, Brown Sugar, Lactose & Chocolate Chips.
450 North Hawaiin Sherbert, $9.79/16oz-Hawaiian Sherbet XL is conditioned on Passionfruit, Orange, Pineapple, Papaya, Raspberry and Rainbow Sherbet.
450 North Jay and Bob Cup, $11.99/16oz-Jay & Bob Cup Set, part of the Collector Cup Series, is conditioned on Double Raspberry, Double Cara Cara Orange & Double Banana.
450 North Wedding Cheescake, $9.79/16oz-Wedding Cheesecake XL is conditioned on Pineapple, Cream Cheese, Banana, Graham Cracker & Vanilla Cream.
Arbor Brewing Tilted Earth, $2.39/12oz-Our Spring 2021 release is a crisp, light-bodied West -Coast IPA. Brewed with rye and pale malts and then heavily hopped featuring a blend of Strata, Michigan Chinook, Lotus, and Centennial. You'll find floral, dank and citrus aromas that run alongside flavors of white peach, grapefruit, pineapple with a resinous pine finish.
Arbor Yuzu Yu, $1.99/12oz-Belgian-style Witbier w/ Sweet Orange Peel, Coriander & Yuzu
Avery Island Rascal, $2.39/12oz-Passion fruit white ale
Brewery Vivant Straw Barb, $5.49/16oz-Stuffed full of fresh fruit, Straw Barb is a blend of our house sour, wood aged foeder and fresh beer with copious amounts sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb.
Dark Horse Rain in Blood, $2.19/12oz-Our tribute to the late Jeff Hanneman and the greatest band of all time, Slayer. This pale ale is brewed with fresh blood oranges and blood orange juice that is hand squeezed at the brewery. It should be enjoyed fresh and paired with delicious heavy metal. SLAYER!
Du Claw nSweet Baby Swirl, $2.39/16oz-Quite the blessing! Don’t let the straw-yellow appearance fool you, this Sweet Baby rendition sticks to its famous roots, featuring heavenly hints of smooth chocolate and peanut butter, but now with a swirling twist of vanilla and subtle creaminess for a unique white stout style of our original Sweet Baby.
Founders All Day Vacay, $18.99/15pk
Oddside Big Space Guy, $2.99/12oz-DIP HOPPED DOUBLE IPA OF CELESTIAL PROPORTION. STRATA, MOSAIC, AND AMARILLO HOPS ENCOMPASS THIS INTERSTELLAR DIPA.
Old Nation M43 Strawberry, $4.09/16oz-IPA - New England / Hazy
Short Sticky Icky Icky, $2.19/12oz-Dive into the dank with Sticky Icky Icky, a resiny and classic American IPA loaded with Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops, clocking in at 7.1% ABV. Radiantly clear, copper-colored and full of grapefruit and melon notes, this Short’s fam favorite drinks easy and drinks good.
Transient Dopplebuck, $4.39/16oz-Bock - Doppelbock
Transient Flightless, $3.79/16oz-Double dry-hopped APA with Nelson Sauvin and Amarillo hops.
Transient Mid Air, $5.19/16oz-Mid Air - Strawberry Daiquiri inspired beer w/ strawberry, lemon and lime.
Transient Spring Lager, $3.29/16oz
Transient Unreal, $5.19/16oz
Descriptions courtesy of Untappd