Headstart Gourmet  Durham NC  919.824.3993  copyright 2008 Headstart Gourmet LLC

info@headstartgourmet.com

WELCOME TO HEADSTART GOURMET.com

We make compound butters with intense wine reductions. Our products are modeled after the classic French wine sauces: the Beurre Blanc or Beurre Rouge. Making these in the form of a compound butter allows you to use them in a variety of ways: use as a spread to make fancy sandwiches or hors dourves, make into a sauce by melting gently in a pan, or simply dollop on top of your hot food to add a gourmet finish.  Our compound butters “add a burst of flavor to any dish” (N&O, 8/25/07).  Whether you are a kitchen novice or a pro chef, you will find that our compound butters add wonderful flavor and convenience!  Click here for quick cooking ideas!

 

NEWS:

9-15-08

Our friends at the Charlotte Observer are picking up the story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and rolling it out in today’s paper.  Many thanks to to those at the Charlotte Observer, and at the AJC.  This officially kicks off our online sales season, so order some for all your friends and family!

9-10-08

We just got word that we have been accepted into the NASFT - the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.  This is big news.  It means we can participate in such events as the “Fancy Food Show”.  We hope to be at the January show in San Fransisco.  We hope this opens some doors for us!

9-04-08

The Atlanta Journal Constitution praised our  Compound Butters in their “New and Now” today.  They said our butters provided a “Quick punch of flavor”.  They only had access to the Red Wine Compound Butter, which the used on duck breast, calling it a perfect match.  They also thought it would be a natural on steaks, and as an spread for hors d’oeuvres with  salmon or roast beef.  Of course we’re inclined to agree!  Click HERE to read the story.

8-11-08

Demo Masters:  If you live in Atlanta or Florida, you may see a friendly face at your local Whole Foods Market passing out some tasty samples.  Down in Florida, look for Charlene - she loves talking about food and wine!  And in Atlanta look for Chef Paula - and be sure to ask her about her “Yummy Tummy Cafe” Personal Chef and Catering Services!

07-05-08

Bigger is Better:  Thanks to the help of so many wonderful people, HG is growing!  We now have some great friends working to bring our Compound Butters to hungry masses in California and New York.  If you want your local store to carry our butters, drop us a note at the addresses below:

California: kim@headstartgourmet.com

New York: marisa@headstartgourmet.com

04-01-08

Headstart Gourmet’s Compound Butters were featured in the April 2008 issue of Food and Wine Magazine!  Proclaiming “INSTANT BEURRE BLANC”, we’re leading off the popular News and Notes section of the magazine.  Click here to read the piece by Nick Fauchald.

2-2-08

Great news:  HG’s Compound Butters have been picked up by the Florida region of Whole Foods starting in March 2008!  According to the regional team leader, our products are going to be placed in all stores region-wide.  So call or email your friends in FLA, and start spreading the news!

12-12-07

HG’s Compound Butters will be featured in the holiday guide of Mountain Express down in good ol’ Asheville NC!  Of course we are quite fond of Asheville, the home of our beloved Blue Ridge Food Ventures (without whom we would not be here right now).  Thanks to Hanna and Steve!  Click here to see the feature!

10-20-07

We just learned that Headstart Gourmet’s Compound Butters have been selected for Carolina Country Magazine’s annual gift guide!  Each year, CC selects unique NC products to feature, and this year they picked us!  The issue will be out on Oct 29, so look for it in your mailbox or at your local newsstand.  Click here to see the feature!

08-25-07

Headstart Gourmet was profiled in the August 25 edition of the DURHAM NEWS! Click HERE to read the story!  The headline is  “Innovator’s Butter Business Spreads - Outside the box idea for compound butter finds its way into stores”.  Thanks to David and John for making it happen!

08-10-07

We have a new demo video!  This one is for our favorites, an easy pork chop recipe that you can find on our “Wine and Dine” cards, and in our recipes section of the website.  We’re using  our Red Wine Compound Butter as a sauce.  If you don’t have the time to watch the whole video, and want to just see the sauce demo, skip to the middle of the video! 

07-30-07

New video demo now available on the new VIDEOS page.  This is the first in what will be a series of online videos meant to help you come up with ideas about how to use our products.  There are some other more ambitious video ideas floating around, but we’ll start with these.  Please send feedback with your opinions and ideas!

07-25-07

Our product line was reviewed in the Raleigh News and Observer!  Here are a few quotes from the article:

"Add a flavor burst to any dish." 
-The News & Observer

"I was pleased and impressed with how natural the ingredients are." 
-Sheri Castle, Chapel Hill cooking instructor

“But the real question is do they taste good? I tried the white wine compound on a baked chicken, red potato and squash dish. I chose the dollop-at-the-end approach. The flavor was very subtle but good, so good I found myself sucking on the bone. Eventually, I used the last of my baguette to soak up the reduction sauce.”

-Bridgette A. Lacy

The News and Observer

Click here to read the entire article.

Who we are:

Headstart Gourmet founder, David Stemmle, spent 12 years in the restaurant industry developing an appreciation for fine food and wine before starting his own food business.  David was inspired to create a wine-infused compound butter when he was asked to make a sauce for salmon at a party.  The sauce was a hit – and a big time-saver – and Headstart Gourmet was born!  David lives in North Carolina with his son Nate and wife, Laura who works as the editing director for a paper editing company based in Durham.  He produces his artisanal sauces by hand in Asheville, NC.