Light online perusing suggests that all every mother wants for Mother’s Day is breakfast in bed, a bouquet of flowers, and a bottle of wine. We’re not here to argue with the masses; those options are tried and true. But what about a little extra for the mom that deserves it all? Here are a few ideas to help you go above and beyond this Mother’s Day.

A Clean House

While it’s lovely to wake up to a breakfast buffet, it can also be quite messy! For an even more blissful morning, rally the troops to clean the night before. Extra points for tackling those hard-to-clean rooms, like the kitchen!

Symbolic Jewelry

Leave the heart pendants and infinity necklaces in 2008, and opt for something a little more creative. Get mom an item that somehow represents the family. For example, a 3-pearl cluster necklace for a mother of three. Or for mamas of newborns: a silver bracelet engraved with the little one’s date of birth!

Workout Clothes

For on-the-go moms who love to stay active, support her hobbies with some fresh new workout clothes! Running pants, yoga tanks, and even phone-holding fanny packs are sure to be much appreciated and quickly put to use.

A Fancy Day Trip

Gifts are great and always appreciated, but why not go the extra mile and plan a special outing for mom? Take a day trip to that new local brewery, or surprise her with tasting passes at a winery. She’ll love getting dressed up and spending quality time with the family (or maybe just Dad ????) Make sure to take plenty of photos so she can cherish the day forever! 

Charcuterie

Don’t just relegate the holiday to the morning. Make sure mom feels special all day long by planning something sweet for dinner, like fancy appetizers! A colorful charcuterie board, fit with fine cheeses, flowers, nuts, and of course, pâté, is sure to do the trick!

Including pâté in your mother’s day plans? Show us how by tagging us @alexian_pate on social media! 

The first food many people associate with Ireland is potatoes, but did you know that the crop only became prevalent in the 18th century, after England took control of Ireland’s agriculture? These days, Ireland is seeing a revival of traditional cuisine, which is as rich and colorful as the country’s own verdant landscape. 

All that said, if you are looking for recipes featuring pâté and potatoes, not to worry! We’ve got you covered with a previous Pâté Rendezvous article. Today, we’re celebrating traditional Irish recipes with creative ideas on how to make them even more delicious – with pâté, of course!

Shepherd’s Pie

This traditional main course is essentially a lamb and vegetable skillet dish topped with cheesy mashed potatoes. It’s already hard to beat, but our suggestion is to mix Truffle Mousse into your potatoes, bringing all of those incredible flavors alive. 

Bacon & Cabbage

You can make this yummy and affordable dish in just one pan: simply cook up some torn bacon slices, then fry cabbage in the bacon fat. For a little extra oomph, crumble some Sage and Pork Mousse with Vermouth into the pan before serving. 

Boxty

Put simply, boxties are potato pancakes. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and buttery throughout, this dish would go perfectly with a thin slice of Black Peppercorn Mousse.

White Pudding

A traditional Irish breakfast dish featuring barley, leeks, egg, and handmade pork sausages. If you’re up to the task, add Wild Forest Mushroom Pâté to your sausage mixture for an extra burst of flavor.

Soda Bread

If you’re interested in bread-making, Irish soda bread is a great way to get started. This dense and delicious bread includes ingredients you already have in your pantry, plus plenty of buttermilk. Enjoy as a breakfast toast or snack, topped with your favorite pâté!

Alexian Pâté is a woman-owned company, so we take pride in celebrating the accomplishments of women everywhere. From Cat Cora to Julia Child, there are so many women who have completely changed the landscape of the food industry. Though we wish we could write about them all, here are just a few of the incredible people we’re honoring this Women’s History Month. 

Buwei Yang Chao

Born in China in the late 1800s, Buwei moved to Massachusetts when her husband, Yuen Ren Chao, was hired to teach Chinese at Harvard. With translation help from her daughter and husband, Buwei wrote the book, “How To Cook and Eat in Chinese.” For most Americans at that time, the book was their first-ever introduction to Chinese cooking. Buwei also coined the terms “pot sticker” and “stir fry,” so if you enjoy either of those, you’ve got her to thank!

Eugénie Brazier

Brazier was a French chef in the early 1900s. She worked on Lyon farms for much of her youth. When she became a single mother at age 19, she sought cooking jobs in order to provide for her son. Brazier quickly made a name for herself among the upper-class set of Lyon. She went on to open several restaurants, and was the first person to be awarded six Michelin stars. Her approach to cooking simplified many traditional techniques, and she is now recognized as a pillar of modern French gastronomy. 

Edna Lewis

Lewis was born in 1916 and raised in Freetown, Virginia, a community established by emancipated slaves. Her work on Roosevelt’s presidential campaign landed her in New York City, where she was something of a socialite among bohemians, known for her incredible dinner parties. She worked as a chef at Café Nicholson, serving dishes inspired by the Southern cuisine she’d grown up with. Lewis went on to write several cookbooks, including “The Taste of Country Cooking.” She is heralded as an early champion of Southern-style cooking. 

Alice Waters

Waters is a chef, author, and activist known for popularizing the organic food movement and creating the farm-to-table model. After opening her restaurant, Chez Panisse, in 1971, Waters struggled with acquiring high-quality ingredients. She found that the solution lay in building relationships with local farmers and educating people about organic practices. To this day, she remains active in the cause for sustainable living.

Cristeta Comerford

Comerford is the current White House Executive chef, a position she has held since 2005. Born in the Philippines, she is both the first woman and person of Asian origin to hold the post. Her tenure has spanned four presidential administrations and countless diplomatic state dinners. She also worked with Michelle Obama on Obama’s “Let’s Move,” initiative to promote healthy eating and living.

There’s a lot to celebrate about our Pâté of the Month. Winner of the prestigious Good Food Award in San Francisco, our creamy Duck Liver and Pork Mousse with Cognac blends flavors both strong and subtle for a delightfully decadent experience. With duck, pork, mushrooms,  fine Cognac, and a perfect mix of spices, this savory-sweet mousse is the perfect winter pick-me-up. It’s also our most popular mousse (followed closely by Truffle Mousse), and has accordingly been featured in many Alexian recipes. At this point, you’re probably impatient to try it. To make things easy for you, here’s a directory of our favorite pairings:

Appetizer Pairings

• Pear and Mousse Blinis – Though this mousse is primarily rich and savory, it has a refreshing mid-note of sweetness from the Cognac. We find that pairings with fruit really make this quality shine.
• Pâté Flight Sampler –  Flights are all about showcasing a variety of unique flavors, so no sample platter is complete without this iconic mousse. 
• Mousse-Spread Bagels – A classic for a reason. Enjoy it for breakfast, or substitute bagels for bagel chips at your next dinner party!

Entree Pairings

• Pâté Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers – Colorful, filling, and delicious, these can be served as a side dish or main course, depending on pepper size!
• Tournedos Rossini – This buttery steak dish is a French delicacy, made even more luxurious with a dollop of mousse.
• French Bistro Burger – While this recipe suggests truffle mousse, duck liver and Cognac bring next-level flavor. Just make sure to pair with extra-sharp cheddar to counterbalance the sweetness from the Cognac!

Drink Pairings

• Chardonnay – A crisp, fruity, and slightly buttery chardonnay provides the perfect palette cleanser between bites. 
• Port Wine – We’ll say it: delicious duck liver mousse with sweet, rich port wine is a snack fit for royalty. 
• Cognac Cocktail – Yep, we saved the best for last! As the name suggests, the Cognac in this mousse really comes to life with a sweet and slightly bitter Cognac cocktail.

While these ideas are enough to get you started on your Duck Liver and Pork Mousse with Cognac journey, we’d love to see what YOU make with it! Next time you incorporate this delicious pâté into a recipe, tag us on social media! 

Ah, the kitchen. For some, a place of inspiration, nourishment, and joy. For others, the oft-avoided holding place of an eternal pile of dishes. Whatever your relationship to the kitchen, it cannot be avoided. Food must be cooked, meals must be eaten, and your takeout budget can only stretch so far. 

These realities of life are further complicated when you move in with a partner. Sharing responsibilities– and sharing the space– can be hard to navigate at first. Luckily, Alexian is here to help you traverse these tricky waters. Whether you’ve started a new relationship, just signed a joint-lease, or are #WorkingOnUrself right now, these tips will help you share the kitchen without drama and see cooking as a joyous occasion.

1. Ask the important questions

When you make your weekly chore chart with your boo, consider this: Who actually likes to cook? If one of you is a kitchen wizard and the other is more of a boxed mac n’ cheese chef, divide tasks in a way that reflects this. Maybe the chef-in-residence does most of the cooking, while the other tidies the house and does laundry! If both of you are gourmet pâtissiers, congratulations. Collect $200 and move on to step two. 

2. Yes, chef!

Though cooking a meal together may seem like a total rom com moment, it can turn into a drama quickly if it’s not clear who’s doing what! Take a note from professional kitchens, where everyone has a clear and predetermined role. Assign one person to prep (chopping, shucking, measuring, etc.) and the other to the more active roles of mixing, seasoning, stirring, and frying. The latter is under a bit more pressure, so allow them to give directions. Affirmations of “yes, chef,” are never required, but always appreciated!

3. No backseat cooking!

If you’ve been cooking since childhood and your partner is just now learning, you may be tempted to peer over their shoulder and make suggestions. But cooking can be a vulnerable thing, and your helpful tips may be interpreted as judgments. Instead, give your partner the space and trust to learn on their own. Offer support by suggesting simple, beginner-level recipes, or making them an appetizer and cocktail to enjoy while they grill their first quesadilla. And if your dearest is thisclose to ruining the cast iron, it’s okay to gently course-correct. Just remember to note your appreciation before sharing advice!

4. What about breakfast? 

This article has been mainly dinner-focused, and that’s not even the most important meal of the day! Luckily, this one’s simple. If you and your partner tend to share breakfasts and lunches together, the rules above still apply. If you’re on your own schedules, just remember to clean up right after cooking. Though a plate in the sink may not seem like a big deal, the late luncher’s annoyance may pile up! 

Let us know on social media how you share the kitchen! And if you’re excited to get cooking but not sure where to start, browse the many recipes and serving suggestions we have right here at Alexian Pâté. Bon appétit! 

Looking to follow through on your New Year’s resolution to go meat-free? Or maybe you’re a seasoned vegan in search of something new to snack on. Whatever your experience level with vegan eating, even committed carnivores will find these vegan pâté snacks delicious.

Tomato Basil Skewers
Cube a block of Tomato Basil Vegan Pâté and use toothpicks to sandwich the blocks between cherry tomatoes. The fresh and colorful mini-skewers also make a great side to any dish.

Pâté Stuffed Peppers
This one takes a little prep work, but then you’re set with snacks for a week! Lightly saute onion, garlic, and some vegetables, then mix in a bowl with cooked rice. Break up a block of Curry & Bell Pepper Vegan Pâté and add that to the bowl, then add salt and spices to taste. This mix will keep in the fridge for about a week, and whenever you’re hungry, just scoop some into a red bell pepper and bake at 400° for 20 minutes.

Garlic Mushroom Toast
Move over, avocado toast. For a twist on the millennial favorite, bake some store-bought garlic bread, then top with a smear of Earthy Mushroom Vegan Pâté for a quick, hearty, and savory snack.

Mushroom Pita Dip
Mash some Earthy Mushroom Vegan Pâté lightly with a fork, then serve in your favorite dipping bowl. This makes a great, simple dip for pita chips, tortilla chips, or toasted pita bread!

Pâté and Crackers
Did you think we were going to forget this classic? Forget the prep work: sometimes, some delicious Alexian crackers and a few slices of your favorite vegan pâté are all that you need. No judgment here, just pass us the plate when you’re finished!

Dinner parties are a great way to gather community and stay connected during the winter months. Friends getting together, home-cooked meals, and not leaving your house: it’s a perfect event to begin with. But we’ve got a few creative ideas on how to add an extra layer of fun to the next dinner party you throw. And no, it’s not just by serving Alexian Pâté.

Bring A Friend No One Else Knows

We first stumbled across this idea via @right.eye.studios on TikTok, and we LOVE the sound of it. On your invitation, indicate that guests should bring a friend no one else in the group would know. Think coworkers, pals from volunteering, and neighbors. There will be plenty of fresh faces at the event, which will encourage mingling! Remember that nervous excitement you used to have on the first day of school? This is that, all grown up.

Easy-Mode Mystery Party

Everyone loves a mystery party, and with the release of the latest Knives Out movie, they’re more popular than ever! However, setting up a mystery requires prep work, and you’re already busy enough with cooking and hosting. Try this easy-mode mystery method instead: Encourage guests to come dressed as classic mystery characters. Between Clue, Glass Onion, and Enola Holmes, they’ll have plenty of inspiration. Then, write down a few kinda-difficult questions and place them in a small bowl. Make sure the questions are tougher than trivia, but not rocket science. Kick off the evening with one question, and have your guests try to figure out the answer in character and without Google. As the night goes on, guests can draw more questions at-will and consult the knowledge-keeper (AKA you) for hints!

Indoor Picnic

This idea comes from @hanselkai, the Tik Tok dinner party queen. If your home is too small for a large dinner table, lean into the bohemian vibes and throw a picnic party! Clear furniture from the center of your space and throw down a gingham blanket or sheet– any thrift store will have one. Add a bright bouquet for a centerpiece and arrange pillows and clean towels as seating. Serve a menu of sweet but hearty picnic fare: mini cheese plates, pâté sliders, and fruit. With this springtime setup, you can escape winter, if just for an evening.

Micro-Gallery Opening

If you’re part of an artistic friend group, this one’s for you! Send your friends a formal invitation to submit their work for display at a “local micro-gallery.” About a week before the party, gather your talented pals’ paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, and writing. Display everything around your apartment in cheap frames and write small labels interpreting their work. On the big night, set up a few food stations serving charcuterie, hors d’œuvres, and of course, champagne. Your friends will have an incredible night of mingling, snacking, and affirming each other’s artistic achievements. Bonus points for if you set up a corner for live poetry readings!

Dinner and a Movie

This one may be obvious, but our list wouldn’t be complete without it. Invite your friend or boo over for an intimate, one-night-only restaurant opening, AKA: Your living room. Cook something simple, but go all out with the decor. Adorn your little bistro table or nightstand with a nice tablecloth, splurge on an adorable vase, break out the fancy wine glasses, and offer a handwritten menu. With some mood lighting and a Parisian soundtrack, this setup rivals a busy restaurant any day. And of course, cap the night with a movie of your date’s choice. They don’t have that at Lombardi’s!

Most people are familiar with drink flights– specialty beverage shops often offer them as a way to introduce people to, say, several wine options at once. But did you know that the same concept can be applied to food?

Tasting flights feature a range of closely related items presented in small servings.

These “sampler platters” are a great way to provide novelty, variety, and a whole lot of flavor in just one dish. If you’ve ever enjoyed a charcuterie board, then you’re familiar with the concept!

If you’re reading this, odds are you’re already a pâté lover. So what better way to introduce your family to all the unique flavor profiles and textures of pâté than with a flight?

Here are our tips on how to create an amazing spread that will have everyone asking, “What is this delicious stuff?”

1. Start by gathering four to eight different pâtés. Select a variety– for example, include one vegetable-based pâté, one truffle mousse, one creamy pork or duck, and one coarse cut. Plan to have about two to three ounces of pâté per person.
2. After making your pâté selection, decide what will accompany your flights. Pickles, French baguettes, olives, crackers, and veggie sticks all make colorful and tasty pairings. And of course, we highly recommend including cheese on the menu. Offer two or three different hard cheeses so that people can mix and match combinations.
3. Finally, be sure to pay close attention to your drinks. You can experiment with beer, seltzer, and white wine, but when it comes to pâté pairings, a full-bodied red wine is king. We suggest Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône, or Pinot Noir as great go-to wines. They’re robust enough to stand up to pâté’s complex profile but not strong enough to overwhelm the delicate layers of flavor.

Those are our tips for getting started, and of course, we’d love to see what you do with this concept! Tag us on social media @alexian_pate to share pâté, your way! 

In a recent feature on Manufacturing in the state of New Jersey, popular local radio host Eric Scott of New Jersey 101.5 highlighted the accomplishments of Alexian owner Alexandra Tierney, one of the key figures in New Jersey’s food manufacturing sector. Watch the whole video here.

Gifts have been given, it’s solidly winter, and the holiday season is coming to an end (with the exception of tonight’s big party, of course). Turning towards 2023, we have an opportunity to reflect on the year that’s passed and set intentions for the year to come. At Alexian, we have so much to look forward to. Here are just a few things we’re toasting to tonight.
First, we can’t wait to see what 2023 brings for creativity! This year saw the ever-growing influence of Tik Tok, bringing amazing recipes into our homes and helping professional and amateur chefs alike collaborate in this new frontier. We’ve even contributed ourselves, sharing serving ideas online. Even we remain inspired by just how much you can do with pâté.
We wouldn’t be anywhere without our community. Our incredible network of distributors and retailers has helped move our products from shelf to table, and we’re so grateful for all the work each individual business does. Among our audience, the charcuterie craze seems stronger than ever. We’re happy to be a small part of that. Not to mention, it’s so much fun seeing all your beautiful boards on social media!
And of course, here’s to health. Feeling good is an everyday blessing, and it’s always been our mission to make quality, natural food accessible. We’re committed to the cause by keeping preservatives, fillers, and artificial flavors and colors out of our products.
May your loved ones remain healthy through this year and beyond. Have a very happy New Year, from all of us at Alexian Pâté.

Via Nicole Michalo

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And for hosts, caterers, and heads-of-house, it’s also the busiest time of the year. Seasoned party planners already have their main courses picked out, but how to start the meal?

Versatile, spreadable, and downright delicious, pâté is a great base for many exquisite appetizers. Here are Alexian’s suggestions on small bites sure to win over the crowd.

Via Fox and Briar

Via Blue Walnut Culinary

Pomegranate and Goat Cheese Pâté Bites

Flavorful and easy to make, these savory-sweet bites also feature dazzling holiday colors. To make, fill phyllo shells with your favorite goat cheese. Top with any Alexian pâté and garnish with pomegranate arils, honey, and fresh thyme.

Savory Pâté Puffs

Didn’t use up all your thyme from the previous recipe? Use some of those same ingredients for this yummy umami-forward snack! Fill puff pastries with mushrooms, caramelized onion, thyme, and pâté, then bake according to the instructions on your pastry box. 

Baby Bella Pâté Poppers

Okay, we’ll take a break from waxing poetic about puff pastry and shine the spotlight on pâté’s other best friend: tender, tasty mushrooms. Stuff some baby bellas with pâté, season, and bake on an oiled pan until the mushrooms are slightly browned. Cool for a few minutes, then top with cream cheese. 

 Mushroom Pâté Bruschetta

You can’t go wrong with bruschetta. Toast several baguette slices for the base, then brush with olive oil and top with minced garlic. In a separate bowl, mix pâté, mushrooms, chopped shallots, diced tomatoes, salt, and a dash of red pepper. Spread the goodness on your baguette slices, and top with even more of that thyme from the previous recipes.

Charcuterie Cups

Everyone loves a good charcuterie board, which is why the appetizer table can get so crowded! For big parties with lots of mingling, consider charcuterie cups. Fill clear plastic wine tumblers with your favorite charcuterie elements for an on-the-go delight. Our suggestion? Almonds or mixed nuts, cheese twists, brie, blackberries, mint or rosemary for garnish, and of course, pâté. Still have some thyme left? Well go ahead and throw some of that in as well????

The moment Alexian Pates expanded its line of offers,  and introduced new products was highlighted in the media. We are glad our decision and productivity  has been so fruitful since then. Here’s the full story.