SALUTE!
The pleasure and passion of the table.
Erontades, or “love seekers” in ancient times, took great risks to gather the pink blossoms of Dittany, a flowering origanum of the mint family on the rocky terrain of the White Mountains and chasms on the island of Crete. Tenderly made with several estate grown aromatic herbs, including Dittany of Crete, Amore Mio Aperitivo follows tradition, but the reddish color comes from the Roselle blossoms, a hibiscus native to West Africa, not artificial colors. Historically, the aperitivo custom dates back to the Egyptians and Romans, and opens the door to the time of day spent with close friends and lovers, when the work day is finished and the joy of the evening is just beginning.
2020 Good Food Awards Winner
January 17, 2020
Salute! LLC, dba VICARIO micro-distillery and farm announces "VICARIO Amore Mio Aperitivo Liqueur" wins the 2020 Good Food Award for spirits.
"We found a 115 year old recipe, which sounded quite interesting, however, several of the herbal ingredients had disappeared from herbal suppliers. We searched everywhere, but could not find any of these herbs even to test the recipe. But we could find seeds, so we planted them, and they grew, very slowly. After the herbs had grown enough, two years later, we were able to test the recipe, and we changed a few things to create our own version.
Made with the disappearing herbs, Estate Grown Wall Germander and Estate Grown Dittany of Crete, Amore Mio Aperitivo follows the classic Italian Aperitivo tradition, but the amber color comes from Roselle blossoms, a hibiscus native to West Africa, not artificial colors. We add no red food dye, no cochineal beetle, just all natural herbs and spices. For those who enjoy the beautiful Italian "Aperitivo" time, this liqueur gives 100% satisfaction to the moment of the day which opens the door to have a drink with close friends and lovers, when the work day is finished and the joy of the evening is just beginning. It is perfect with a little sparkling water, and a slice of fresh orange on the side. We are so proud to receive this award, and to keep alive beautiful traditions, made with vanishing herbs and all natural ingredients. The purchase of VICARIO Liqueurs and Spirits supports certified organic agriculture, and when we can find it, certified kosher and certified fair trade products such as sugar, herbs and spices, that help improve millions of lives while protecting land and waterways. You can visit us and take a nibble of some of these vanishing herbs growing just behind our distillery in Greer, South Carolina when you take our tour. Of course, a tasting of the Aperitivo and a few other earthly delights can be sampled at your visit"
Janette Wesley and Renato Vicario, owners of VICARIO
10th Good Food Awards Recognizes 219 Crafters from 38 States, Washington, D.C. and Guam
Dolores Huerta, Michael Pollan, Alice Waters & 1,000 guests gathered to celebrate.
San Francisco, CA (January 17, 2020) – The nation’s leading food crafters, grocers, chefs, journalists and activists gathered tonight at a gala Awards Ceremony in San Francisco to honor the 219 Good Food Award Winners of 2020. An annual recognition program now in its tenth year, the Good Food Awards celebrates American food and drink crafters who demonstrate a commitment to creating tasty, authentic and responsible products and in doing so, bettering our nation’s food system. Each of the 2020 winners demonstrates both a mastery of their craft and a commitment to maintaining exceptionally high social and environmental standards in their work.
This year, the Good Food Awards distinguished makers in sixteen categories (beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, elixirs, fish, grains honey, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks, spirits). The 2020 winners come from 38 states, Washington, D.C. and Guam, rising to the top among 1,835 entries in a blind tasting with 252 judges held in September. The highest scoring entries were underwent a rigorous vetting process to verify they were not only exceptionally tasty, but met the sustainability and social responsibility criteria required to become a Good Food Award winner. Of the 219 winners selected from 320 finalists, 50% are first time winners. The greatest number of winners come from the Golden State (48), followed by Oregon (21), Washington (20) and New York (17). Following closely were Vermont, North Carolina and Colorado (11).
The gala Award Ceremony began with a glass of sparkling cider from winner Far West Cider and snack from Isadore Nut Co. and ended in an affirmation from Director Sarah Weiner of why, at this particular moment in time, the work of the 219 winners – each one a talented artisan, local business owner and sustainability advocate – is so important:
“Each of you is a living example of something that is impossible to imagine for so many people. Leaving a corporate job to join a rural economy; transforming one’s body and life through a curiosity for real food; reinvigorating an entire coastal community with a delicious idea. The 219 stories in this room make the impossible feel possible. You show us it can be done. Open our minds. Help us grow our gardens. That is your legacy.”
