We are ready to provide you with another great season of fun and food at one of the oldest (celebrating 24 years) grocery and specialty food stores on the Outer Banks. We are introducing “Taste It Tuesdays” from 2 pm till 7 pm. You can sample and sip a variety of food, wine or micro brews for FREE. You will have the opportunity to try sauces, marinades, fresh salsa, our homemade seafood dips, our famous and addictive cookies and so much more. You can hear about the families and stories behind the products and watch Kelly, the Outer Banks Chocolatier, hand dip chocolates right in front of you, be sure to call us for her schedule. We will also be featuring a different Local, Domestic, International Winery or Brewery each week so you can sip and sample while you shop at your favorite grocery in Duck, ok so maybe the only full service grocery in Duck, North Carolina.

If you have kept up with our family you know Kaitlyn has been in South Africa and is off to Spain this summer to continue her study abroad experience. We are all a bit jealous so the family, 10 of us no less, will be spending a week with her in Madrid. Don’t be surprised to see a few new goodies on the shelf from our latest adventures.

Over the winter months the Tommy’s Gourmet Market staff has been trying lots of new grocery and gourmet foods to find the best new flavors to offer you this summer. After sampling dozens of gluten free breads, muffins, cookies and mixes we have an even wider selection of really good gluten free grocery and gourmet foods to offer. Our grocery aisle also has more organic choices than ever before. After years of eating our seafood, free of hormones, preservatives and dyes, as well as our specialty foods which are primarily free of additives and preservatives, I can taste the difference even in a blind tasting. If you’re still not convinced it worth the few extra pennies commit to only buying a few organic foods at your grocery that you eat on a daily or weekly basis for a month. Then go back and try your old brand, I’ll bet you will taste the difference, just try it, what do you have to lose, you know it’s better for you.

Of course I have to mention that we are all striving to be “green”. We are so excited to see so many customers bringing their own shopping bags, of course we love our “chico bags”, the bags are small and compact and hook on to your purse or belt loop so you always have it – no excuses. Some of you are also opting to for go the bag altogether when you only have a few items. Collectively we will make a difference every time we individually make a greener choice.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful summer. We have been busier than ever here at Tommy’s Gourmet Market & Wine Emporium, on The Outer Banks of North Carolina. It seems Tommy’s Market customers are not willing to sacrifice on quality food even in these tough economic times.

I am excited to say that we have redesigned our website and am confident that you will find it extremely user friendly. We have added some new features that I hope you will enjoy. One of the new features is “Lucinda’s Picks”, which are some of my favorite new products that we have available and thought you would like to know about. Next is “Recipes”. I have some favorites that I am looking forward to sharing with you and hope you enjoy as much as I do. Be sure to come back to the Tommy’s Gourmet Market & Wine Emporium website, as I will be updating these features on a regular basis. For my regular customers, you will notice the “Groceries to Go” and “Dinners to Go” have changed. We wanted to make it easier and more convenient for you to make your choices and still have that personal contact that you are so used to.

We are looking forward to Fall and it is fast approaching! Many of you have already begun ordering your Thanksgiving Dinner and reserving your fresh turkey. For those of you that haven’t done it yet, go to the “Dinners to Go” page and get your order in early. If you would like us to cook the turkey for you, be sure to call early. We sell out every year.

Our Bagels to Beef Café in Southern Shores has fast become the place to stop for amazing breakfast and lunch sandwiches on the way in and out of The Outer Banks for visitors and the locals place to gather. If you aren’t familiar with the Bagels to Beef Café please visit our website, http://www.bagelstobeef.com.

This is the first of many blogs for Tommy’s Gourmet Market & Wine Emporium. I look forward to hearing from you, so please feel free to send your comments, thoughts and suggestions. We have been very fortunate and thank all of you who have continued to support us.