Olive oil, produced by the pressing or crushing of olive fruit, is the major component of the Mediterranean diet. It’s believed to be the reason people of the Mediterranean regions have a reduced risk for certain chronic diseases and a longer life expectancy compared with other groups of people in the world.

The Olive Oil Council, the governing body for olive oil producing countries, grades olive oils depending on the amount of processing involved. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) being regarded as the highest quality olive oil in terms of both flavor and health benefits. It’s mechanically processed, extracted at minimal temperatures (cold pressed), has a free fatty acidity of 0.8% or less and a positive fruity aroma and flavour.

What makes a great olive oil?…..A good balance of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency!

Fruitiness refers to the aroma and taste of the oil. It should be fresh, positive and have an underlying fruity olive character or it may be reminiscent of freshly cut grass, green apples or ripe tomatoes. The naturally occurring polyphenols in Extra Virgin Olive Oils, produce the bitterness and pungency in the oils.

Pungency can be described as astringent or throat catching, either peppery or similar to chilli in its heat. Polyphenols, are also an indicator of the level of antioxidants that are considered vital for good health with the more pungent oils generally containing higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants.

Extra Virgin Olive Oils come in 3 distinct flavours. All are derived from single varieties or blends and will be free from all faults.

EVOORobust features high levels of fruitiness balanced with a strong bitterness and pungency. Best used combined with other ingredients for marinating red-meats, roasting vegetables with herbs or shallow pan frying. It will stand some heat and still allow the delicious olive flavour to penetrate the ingredients.

EVOOModerate/Mediumwill feature a moderate bitterness and pungency. Use this versatile oil in salad dressings,marinades, splashing over fresh cheeses, in sauces, biscotti or cakes.

EVOODelicate features a delicate, sometimes floral level of fruitiness with a balanced delicate bitterness and pungency. Pair with delicate flavours of soft herbs, seafood and raw vegetables with subtle flavours.

Tetsuya Wakuda grew up in the Japanese town of Hamamatsu. At the age of 22 his thirst for new experiences brought him to Australia. Starting off in Sydney as a kitchen hand, his real love of cooking was realised when he met Sydney chef Tony Bilson who employed him to make sushi. It was while working for Tony that Tetsuya learnt the classical French technique which forms such an important part of his style today. His unique approach to food combined with his culinary philosophy which centres on pure, clean flavours, his Asian heritage, worldwide travels and insatiable curiosity have all played an important role in making Tetsuya one of Australia’s, if not the world’s, most renowned chef.

At Colin James you can purchase his wonderful Tetsuya’s for Oysters which is a combination of grapeseed oil, rice vinegar, soy and ginger and is delicious served over freshly shucked oysters. His vinaigrette is perfect drizzled lightly over salad greens while his Black Truffle Salsa for Butter, when mixed with a little olive oil, is perfect for tossing through hot pasta or stirred through scrambled eggs. Why not try it combined with butter and parmesan cheese to make a delicious truffle butter.

The 200 acre Pukara Estate is located at Muswellbrook between the Barrington Tops National Park and the world Heritage listed Wollemi National Park. Bruce Eglington, the founder and planter of the original trees, chose the area for its climate, position, soil and reliable water supply. The greatest care is taken in handling the olives from harvest through production, in their state of the art processing and storage facilities, to guarantee that the freshest product reaches customers throughout each season. Steve Goodchild, one of Australia’s leading olive experts, manages the estate to world best practice standards to produce premium extra virgin olive oil that has won an award in every show its been entered into, including the prestigious Australian Olive Association National Shows.

Colin James Fine Foods Pty Ltd now stocks a great range of the delicious Berry Farm products. Margaret River is a world renowned region abundant in natural beauty with a reputation for producing some of Australia’s finest gourmet food and premium wine. The Berry Farm products are a great testimony to this.

Established in 1985, The Berry Farm is one of the most popular attractions in Margaret River and has a reputation for making products of exceptionally high quality. They produce an impressive range of food products including jams, sauces, syrups, vinegars, verjuice and a range of fruit and berry wines. The fruit and other ingredients for all Berry Farm products are carefully selected, picked and prepared by hand on the farm. Their policy is to create pure, clean food so all lines are free of artificial colourings, flavourings, preservatives and additives.

A refined blend of pure fruit ingredients has been melded for the discerning palate to produce a range of tempting jams, marmalades and jellies such as; Plum, Blackberry and Orange, Fig and Ginger, Apricot and Brandy, Boysenberry and Orange, Apricot and Almond, Whisky Marmalade and Shiraz Jelly. Their Vinaigrettes are produced using the best quality extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs and various fruit wines. Not only do they taste good, they are also beautifully presented ready to serve.

In 2003 the Cahoots label was developed to introduce a contemporary range of jams and preserves in keeping with new food trends. The range was developed for the more discerning foodie and is a little less traditional than the Berry Farm label. The Cahoots selection reflects this with flavours from Asia the Mediterranean and Morocco. Cahoots Mustards stocked are Red Wine Mustard, Honey Mustard and Hot Chilli Mustard. Other Cahoots products stocked include Chilli Sambal, Chilli Jam, Charred Capsicum Relish, Spicy Moroccan Chutney, and Summer Berry Jam. Cahoots Charred Capsicum Relish and Cahoots Red Onion Marmalade spread onto your next Pizza Base and then topped with spinach leaves, goats cheese, olives, roasted pumpkin and pine nuts and then drizzled with a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil and cooked in a hot oven (200C) for 20mins, will bring a whole new meaning to the word Pizza.

The team at The Berry Farm are always evolving new food ideas that are guaranteed to find something to tempt even the most experienced palate. No wonder their motto on their labels is ………indulge and enjoy. To top up your pantry with some of these delicious goodies call at Colin James Fine Foods, 37 Maple Street, Maleny or phone 5494 2860 for more information.

New England Larder is an innovative business concept developed by Granite Belt chef Geoff Metcalf. Passionate about  using only  fresh, high quality ingredients, Geoff is able to access a fantastic range of produce grown right in the heart of the famous Granite Belt region.

Initially Geoff was inspired to use local vine or tree ripened products in his range of relishes and preserves, however, Geoff is now looking at ways in which he can increase the exposure of these products while at the same time enhancing culinary tourism in the region.

At Colin James we have chosen to stock a wide variety of Geoff’s products because they are attractively presented, are of superior quality and, as a chef, he loves to combine flavours and fruits together to produce products with a difference. His Lemon butter is smooth, buttery and creamy just like your Grandma used to make and is delicious spooned into a tart shell and served with double cream. Geoff’s jams range from the chunky and slightly sour variety of Sour Cherry to the full flavoured Raspberry and Apple Jams well as the unusual but very popular Apricot and Pumpkin
combination.

Looking for a bold smokey flavour to top off your next barbequed steak? You certainly won’t be disappointed with Geoff’s Onion Jam. To add great flavour to your next sandwich, burger, curry or cold meats select from Geoff’s range of Red Capsicum Relish, Eggplant Pickle, Autumn Chutney, Beetroot Relish, Quince Relish or Spicy Tomato Chutney New England Larder’s White Verjuice provides a great flavour base or can be substituted for lemon juice or vinegar in your sauces. Geoff recommends you try his Red Verjuice drizzled over ice for a really refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day or try brushing it over roasting poultry to caramelise with olive oil and fresh green herbs.

Looking for a special gift for that person who loves fine food, then you can’t go past Geoff’s Prunes in Shiraz Syrup, Peaches in Chardonnay and Vanilla Figs. Not only do they look fantastic in their elegant bottle but they also taste great with Colin James gelati and sorbet, mascarpone or yoghurt.

Looking for that special gift for that special some-one!  Why not consider a gift voucher from Colin James Fine Foods.  With  $5, $10, $20, $50 Gift Vouchers available your special someone can then use the voucher on yummy meals, a visit to the Fromagerie, gourmet shelf lines or our award winning ice cream.

If you want something a little bit different and more personalised, why not give them a Colin James Fine Foods ice cream cake that will not only be attractive to look at but will also be a delightful way to conclude their next meal, dinner party or special occasion?

How do you purchase an ice cream cake?  Just visit our shop and select a pre-made cake from our freezer, contact us by phone or make a personal visit to our shop, select the shape (round, square, dome, heart) that you think would best suit your requirements, choose your price range ($35 small, $45 medium, $55 large), select from our wide range of flavours in our gelati and sorbet and we will do the rest.  Cakes are decorated with colourful ribbon, ice cream balls and bows or chocolate.  If it is for a special occasion a message can be written on top of the cake and often special touches are added with different decorations.  Cakes can also be made to cater for those on gluten and dairy free diets.

For those very special birthdays, novelty cakes can be made.  Although ice cream is more of a challenge to work with than cake, we have managed to conjure up Dinosaurs, butterflies, hearts, BMX race tracks, farms, animals, penguins, Dolly Varden cakes and number shapes to suit the needs of our customers.  Because novelty cakes often require more time to make, customers need to order at least 48 hours prior to the day the cake is required.  With Christmas just around the corner, what could be more delightful than a refreshing slice of ice cream cake to finish off your meal?
Remember it’s as easy as a phone call or a visit to our shop where you can ask one of our friendly staff to assist you with your requirements.

The word “Gelato” is simply the Italian name for ice-cream, but it is never used to describe industrial ice-cream.

The term is exclusively used to describe deliciously rich and creamy hand-made ice-cream. Where industrial ice-cream consists of approximately 50% air and 50% actual ice-cream, Gelato is much richer and more solid with only 23% – 26% air on average.  Industrial ice cream contains 14% fat while Gelato averages 6 – 10% fat.

Because the texture of gelato is more “solid”  it is usually also much richer and creamier and has a smoother texture and mouth feel. Gelato is hand-made in small batches of 1.5 to 10 litres at a time.  Industrial ice-cream is made in hundreds or even thousands of litres at a time. Gelato is served at around minus 15 Celsius.  Industrial at minus 18 to 20 Celsius. Because it is hand-made, it is much easier to change ingredients and create a unique range of gelati using ingredients such as real fruit to make a superb product.  At  Colin James, Colin and Andrew are always seeking ideas to provide you with new and interesting gelati flavours.

What is sorbet? Sorbets are made up of sugar (approx. the same quantity of sugar as in the gelati), water, fruit and a base product pertaining to which ever flavour the sorbet is.  Sorbets are completely dairy free, fat free and egg free making them a delightfully refreshing palate cleanser for between courses or a perfect dessert at the end of a meal.

Because many commercial gelati and sorbets are quite icy and crystalline, many customers have found them to be an unpleasant taste experience.  Colin James gelati and sorbets are smooth and creamy. Our sorbets are so smooth in fact, that they are often mistaken for milk based products.  Our gelati and sorbets are made fresh each day from only the best ingredients we can source including Maleny Dairies Guernsey milk and fruit grown on the Sunshine Coast.  Our products do not contain gelatine.

All of our sorbets are gluten free and there is always an extensive range of gluten free options available in the gelati range.

Colin James cellar door licence allows customers to purchase Riversands wines to take away or to have placed in gift baskets and hampers for that special occasion.  Riversand’s owners, David and Alison Blacket, have been running the vineyard on the banks of the Balonne River at St. George in south west Queensland since 1996. Their award winning wines have been named after many of the wonderful Australian men and women who played a part in shaping the history of the district.  Popular local Member for the Balonne Shire has had not only the local dam named after him but also Riversands Beardmore’s Dry White Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon.

Responsible for exploring large areas of Australia’s south east, the well known explorer and surveyor, Major Mitchell owned a vineyard as part of his “Craigend“estate.  Muscat was one of the varieties grown at his “Craigend” vineyard so Riversands Fruity White Muscat has been named after him.  Dr Seidel’s soft Red has been named after Dr Ernest Frederick Seidel who was the first to grow wine grapes at St George.  This soft, slightly sweet red wine is very popular with the Grey Nomads.    Not to be outdone by the men, the delightful Ellen Meacle Merlot (which displays a nice peppery finish) is named after one of the pioneering legends who became one of the first white women to live in the Moonie River region in the 1850’s.

Western Rivers Run is a full bodied red wine well matched with any red meat or robust blue  or vintage cheddar Stirlings Reserve and Golden Liqueur Muscat are beautifully presented examples of late harvest liqueur wines.

The Condamine Bell, especially made at Bendigo Pottery for Riversands Wines, is a collector’s bell filled with Black Magic port while the Pottery Waterbag is filled with Sterling’s Reserve Liqueur.  Either would make the perfect gift for Dad for Father’s Day or just to enjoy on those cold winter evenings beside the fire.

I’m a Coeliac!!  Oh no!  That means that I can no longer just pop into a café to have a meal that I can enjoy because people don’t understand that it’s not just wheat and wheat products I can’t eat, there’s also a whole range of thickeners, starches, grains etc.

Here’s some good news!  You can eat with confidence at Colin James Fine Foods.  We purposefully source products for our meals to make them different, healthy, tasty and gluten free.  Sick of looking at the menu and knowing that all you can eat is the same old unimaginative and tasteless salads that have been prepared for an unknown time?  Our made to order salads are a combination of top quality products that will open your eyes to making a salad appealing, nutritious and delicious.

While not all of our meals are gluten free, a large  proportion of them can be easily changed to make them comply with your requirements.  Our bread, mud cake, orange and almond cake and cheesecake have been sourced from local  manufacturers. Even the icing sugar used to decorate our cakes is gluten free.  To our usual tasty range of gluten free biscuits we are adding 2 new flavours, ginger with pistachio or peanut paste and chocolate.

Worried about the chocolate on your cappuccino?  We have sourced an excellent quality gluten free chocolate that is used in all of our drinks. We buy our turkey and chicken fresh and cook them ourselves.  Our salamis, smoked beef, smoked salmon and leg ham are all gluten free too. All of our freshly prepared sorbets are gluten free and a large percentage of our award winning gelatis also fall into this category.

Rest assured, at Colin James, if you stipulate gluten free then your meal will be made only of gluten free products and will be prepared safely in a gluten free  environment.