Visiting Sonoma County-Healdsburg Part 3-Lunch at Bistro Ralph
Bistro Ralph, in Healdsburg, deserved a return visit for their great lamb burger with blue cheese, local Rosé wine, and great servers.
read moreVisiting Sonoma County-Healdsburg Part 2-Wine Tasting Around the Plaza
After a bit of hanging out at the plaza in Healdsburg, it was time for wine tasting.
read moreKermit Lynch’s 40th Anniversary Party- Yeh!
A stop off on my way up to Sonoma’s wine country to celebrate Kermit Lynch’s 40th anniversary.
read morePlanked Salmon Sliders with Rosemary Aioli
Leftover Planked Salmon slathered with Rosemary Aioli makes a great little slider. I found them so charming, that I think they’ll be come a part of my small plates repertoire.
read moreRosé Fest 2012- Part 1
Of all the treats summer brings, the one I most look forward to is Rosé, that most food friendly of wines. From the delicate salmon hued ones, to the voluptuous magentas, I love them all.
read moreThe Grand Tasting at New Orleans Wine and Food Experience 2012-with Crabmeat Donut Recipe
Just wanted to share a few pics with you from the Grand Tastings at the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, which took place at the Morial Convention Center a couple of weeks ago. Among so many items, some that stood out to me were Crabmeat Donuts (I’ve shared the recipe below), which I found amusing and unusual. But then I was in a Thai restaurant in So Cal a week later and saw little Shrimp Donuts on the menu – who knew??? Seafood Muffelattas – well, that’s different – muffelattas, the New Orleans sandwich invention that’s always included a selection of salume between the bread– go figure… And then there was the deconstructed Crawfish Boil. Well, it’s certainly easier to eat without all those pesky tail shells to bite and heads to suck, although maybe not as much fun. Enjoy the pics – and the recipe for Crabmeat Donuts with Crab and Avocado Shooter is below the slideshow… Crabmeat Donuts with Crab and Avocado Shooters Crabmeat Donut 1 3/4 cups flour, plus some for rolling 3 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon blackening seasoning 2 eggs 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for frying 4 tablespoons lump crabmeat 2 tablespoons water Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate mxing bowl, mix the eggs, oil, water and crabmeat together, then slowly fold into the dry ingredients. Knead to from dough, and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness on a flour dusted board. Cut with a 1/2 inch donut cutter. Fry in heated oil for about 1 minute each. Avocado Shooter 1 large avocado, peeled and pitted 2 tablespoons sour cream 1 1/2 cups chicken stock 1/2 teaspoon coriander 1/4 teaspoon cilantro, chopped 1/4 teaspoon cumin 2 tablespoons lime juice Salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste Blend all ingredients together in a food processor, and refrigerate until chilled. Crabmeat Garnish 1/3 cup lump crabmeat 1 tablespoon diced tomato 1/4 teaspoon cilantro, chopped Creme fraiche for drizzling Mix ingredients together and chill until ready to use. Fill a shot glass 3/4 full with the avocado shooter mixture. Fill the top of the glass with Crabmeat Garnish, and top with a skewered Crabmeat Donut. Drizzle with Creme...
read moreOysters Rockefeller, Escargots and Barefoot Wine
Lunch with Barefoot Wines at Antoine’s in New Orleans, home of the original Oysters Rockefeller
read moreArriving Just in Time for the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
I arrived in New Orleans last night. I’m here to attend the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience. Trying to get back on good footing after Hotwire.ocm completely screwed up my car rental reservation. I spent an hour or so on the phone with their customer service last evening, but in spite of her help and profuse apologies, they seemed unable to get me a car- a glitch in the computer system she said. Oh well… So I made a reservation this morning at Budget- let’s hope they get it right and will be going to pick up my car in an hour. But back to the Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE). It’s their 20th anniversary. I know some of you may not have heard of it- I regret to say I had not really been aware of it either until tipped off by my online friend and editor at OKRA (the online publication of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum-I’m going to visit there this afternoon), Stephanie Carter, who suggested I request a media access pass. Thank you so much, Stephanie, and thanks to NOWFE for granting me a media pass. Here are some of the great events I have to look forward to in the next few days. Tomorrow evening Things kick off with a little reception at the Monteleone Hotel before we head off to the Royal Street Stroll. Rue Royale in the French Quarter will be open to foot traffic only so that participants can stroll the antique shops there, enjoy live music, watching the Krewe of Cork parade all while sipping wines and enjoying tastes from some of the city’s finest restaurants, like Antoine’s (my cousin, Raoul tells me this is one of the oldest eateries in the country). The Bombay Club, Drago’s and The Pelican Club. Royal Street Stroll Friday afternoon I head off to a seminar on Rosé wines (you all know how I feel about them) at the Marriott. And then Friday and Saturday evenings are devoted to the Grand Tastings at the Convention Center-samples of wine from more wineries I can begin to mention here, and offerings from New Orleans’ finest chefs. Grand Tasting Oh, and just for a little bonus, Barefoot Wine invited me to a champagne luncheon at Antoine’s Friday afternoon. I’m a lucky girl, right? You can read more about my time at NOWFE at the following posts: Thursday at The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience The Grand Tasting at New Orleans Wine and Food Experience 2012 Oysters Rockefeller, Escargots and Barefoot...
read moreMuriel’s Goat Cheese and Shrimp Crepes at IFBC NOLA
These scrumptious Goat Cheese and Shrimp Crepes, courtesy of Muriel’s in Jackson Square, were the hit of the Friday night reception at IFBC NOLA last August.
read moreRosé Fest 2011-Part 2 and a Grand Aioli- sort of…
In the south of France, the stronghold of Rosé wines, they are served with another summer treat, the Grand Aioli- a meal of meats, fish, and vegetables all served with that wonderfully pungent garlic mayonnaise, aioli. In France, the meats, fish and veggies are generally poached, but here in So Cal we like to grill things. I offer my menu version for our Rosé Fest.
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