Rosé d'Anjou, Friendship, and An Apology

Yes, I'll agree with the experts on the merits of lots of wine but when you get right down to it, it's YOUR palate that has to be pleased, not the Monseigneur of whatever wine tasting club that decides the rating of a bottle.

I love Rosé d'Anjou. It tastes like summer to me, and the rosé from the Loire Valley is somehow lighter and more enjoyable to me than domestic rosés. It might be due to my Francophile tendencies, or because this was the first rosé I ever had -- who knows? It's reliably delicious and brings back lots of nice memories.

Wine and friendships are very similar, if you think about it. Some friendships are like box wine, available when you want to have a good time but shallow and not the sort of person you'd take to a nice dinner party. Other friendships are like a fine Bordeaux that becomes richer and more complex as the years go by, a wine -- and a friend -- to be treasured and appreciated.

I'd like to be a Rosé d'Anjou kind of friend: always reliable, sparkly, and someone who makes good memories for my friends.

Now, the apology goes to Jeff because I'm going to miss another wine tasting at Parker Wine Cellars. I will be whooping it up (in a most dignified fashion, of course, since we're professionals) with fellow members of the Association of Legal Administrators at our Regional Convention on Thursday, so will regretfully miss out on his offering this week, but I will endeavor to post what he's going to serve as soon as I find out what it is so that anyone who wants to take my place and go to the tasting can do so. It's always fun and educational.

That Voo-Doo That You Do

Today the temperatures in Dallas dipped all the way down to 55 (when I walked outside to get the paper before breakfast) and never got above 80. This is the proper weather for thinking about the State Fair (weird fried foods/corny dogs/charburgers/funnel cakes) and . . . Hallowe'en (CANDY and parties). This year, I think I'm going to throw a proper Hallowe'en themed party, with voo-doo as the theme. There's a good chance that a few of my friends from Louisiana will come to visit, so it's appropriate for them, and it also reminds me of my Cruzan heritage. Oh, okay, so I only lived in St. Croix for five years, but I was ages 9-14 and those were very formative years. I embraced the island lifestyle with my entire being and will always think of that beautiful island as my home. Plus, one of my in-laws who didn't like me had fun spreading the rumor through that side of the family that my parents had used voo-doo to make my husband fall in love with me and marry me, which makes me laugh every time I think of it.

The food in the Caribbean is wonderfully exotic, yet homey and comforting. The first recipe that comes to mind is for tostones, made with plaintains. Those are the large banana-looking items in the specialty section of your grocery store. They stay green, with a hint of yellow when they're very ripe, but to make tostones you want the green ones. Peel the skin off and slice the fruit into one-inch chunks. Fry them in a little oil until both sides are light brown and then remove them from the oil and put them on paper towels to drain. Nobody likes a soggy tostone. There's a press called a tostonera that will press them flat but, if you don't have one, put the plaintain pieces between two pieces of wax paper and press them flat with a rolling pin or a heavy cookbook. Refry the flat plaintain pieces until golden brown on both sides and sprinkle them either with garlic salt, onion salt, or cinnamon sugar. Or you can top them with a little sour cream. Or scrambled egg and ham. They have a lovely, pleasing taste that complements a lot of different foods, so try them on their own first and get a feel for what you'd like to add to the mix.

Ripe plantains are sweeter, more like ripe bananas, and can be baked or fried with a little sugar and spice for a delicious side dish.

Living in St. Croix gave me the opportunity to try all sorts of new and different foods and to appreciate old favorites, like fried chicken cooked in a skillet over an open fire on the beach, or goat stew simmered for hours until the meat was tender beyond belief, or fish so fresh they were still swimming in big tubs at Teddy's Fish Shop in Christiansted, a kaleidoscope of colors shimmering as they wove figure 8's in the water. Conch fritters, kallaloo, fungi, Johnny cakes, black beans and rice, arroz con pollo -- it was indeed a magical place of food, love, and beauty.

No, This Was NOT An "Old Thunderbird" Wine Tasting Event!

Contrary to the connotations of wine in paper bags, this was a really upscale wine tasting that I attended, courtesy of the Dallas Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators, of which I am a member. We have socials every once in a while, and this one was held at Coal Vines Wine Bar in Uptown Dallas. The eight bottles, three white and five red, were part of a blind tasting to see which one(s) we liked the best. I had fun trying to guess which varietals I was drinking. They were all very good and I'm still waiting to hear from the host, who promised to contact me with the names and types of wine. I'll let you know if I was right about any of them. Coal Vines considerately served pizza, bruschetta and the most delicious meatballs to help us legal administrators keep our senses while wine tasting and networking.

And, I'm sorry to say, I missed the weekly wine tasting at Parker Wine Cellars on Thursday night. I was really and truly heading there after work, but traffic proceeded north on Central Expressway at a snail's pace and I had to get food on the table before taking my 16-year-old to a college Q&A session with the counselors at her high school. Never in the history of cooking has stir fry chicken, broccoli, mushrooms and rice been prepared so quickly or eaten as fast as it was that night. We were still 10 minutes late to the Q&A but it turns out it was aimed at seniors, not juniors. However, my daughter likes being ahead of the game, so she went home, researched colleges, art classes, and (knowing her) already has a mental list of what to do and when to start in her college prep.

I'm sorry I missed the weekly wine tasting, though, but will make amends next week. This has been an impossibly busy work week for me and creativity of any kind has taken a back seat to the Business Of The Day. However, I hope to create some Soul Food either in the kitchen or at the easel this weekend.

More Soul Food

I'm just starting to discover my artistic voice and I'm dabbling in oil and acrylic paints. Instead of creating art in the kitchen on Sunday, I locked myself in the guest room (a/k/a Mommy's workroom) and produced "Mermaid." I find painting to be emotionally fascinating -- it taps into something deep inside of me that I haven't identified yet, but I'm enjoying the ride. I don't pretend to be as talented as my late Uncle Paul, but what comes forth from my brush is part of my soul, a cacophony of colors and shapes and energy.

However, I didn't totally foreswear cooking, just streamlined it. Dinner was burgers and brats (sauerkraut on my bratwurst -- I'm the only one who likes it in my household) and a couple of glasses of pinot noir, after the rum and juice that went with my painting. And I providentially thought ahead to tonight's dinner by making a pot of rice.

Dinner tonight was chicken fried rice and spicy sushi tuna rolls. Making the rice yesterday gave it a chance to chill and get the right consistency, so all I had to do was chop up the garlic, onions, ginger, and carrots, cut the chicken up, and throw it all together in the wok. Meanwhile, the rice cooker made my sushi rice. I seasoned the rice, spread it on the nori (I've got one of those nifty bamboo mats that I used to make the rolls), added the chopped raw tuna (mixed with a little mayonnaise, chili oil, sesame oil and a touch of garlic powder), and rolled it up. In a perfect world, I would have added thin sticks of cucumber, but I forgot to buy one at the store. Oh well, there were plenty of veggies in the fried rice, so no one will die of malnutrition.

Today I saw the first small flock of Canada geese flying overhead, a harbinger of true autumn weather on the way. They stop in Dallas on the way south, after the northern states begin to chill out, and hang around until our weather cools off before flying down to Rio, or wherever they end up. I love to watch them practice their V formations, honking madly as they zoom over our house in the morning.

My favorite time of year is beginning! Now let's get those temperatures down a wee bit . . .

Smoked Salmon Tortilla

It's just not right for the temperatures to still be hovering in the mid-90's in the middle of September. However, since it is doing so no matter how much I complain, all I can do is make the best of it and try to prepare food that doesn't make me feel like I've swallowed a winter coat.

The September 12, 2010 Guide section of The Dallas Morning News published a recipe that was adapted from a Wolfgang Puck recipe (that alone will hold my attention), and today I tried it as a light lunch. It's easy and it ROCKS! Here's the link: http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/recipeoftheday/stories/091310dnlivrecipeofthedayappetizer.ecf15b89.html. In case that doesn't pull up for you, the gist of it is to brush a couple of flour tortillas with melted butter and put directly on the rack in the oven at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Spread each tortilla with a mixture of cream cheese (I used the chive flavored one) and shredded Havarti (with dill, if possible), top with thin slices of smoked salmon and thinly sliced red onion and put it back in the oven for 6 minutes. Top with bits of fresh dill and capers, if you have any.

The calorie count on one of these is 1,022, and sodium zooms through the roof at 3278 mg., but it DOES taste good and if you're going to eat smoked salmon you're not counting calories THAT much anyway. Or you can cut it up and serve it as an appetizer.

Champagne with Raspberries, Parker Wine Cellars, and Chicken Provencal

What a lovely Thursday evening! I attended a writer's cocktail hour and book signing event at a neighboring law firm, then moved on to Parker Wine Cellars' Thursday night tasting, and then home to a meal cooked by my husband, which was accompanied by a lovely chablis. I don't usually have Thursdays like this.

First, the writer's event. The writer is Carla Powers, an attorney who was raised in the Armstrong cult in Big Sandy, Texas. She wrote her memoirs -- "Matches in the Gas Tank" -- and they resonated with me because I was raised Jehovah's Witness and the two cults have very similar beliefs. Champagne was served with a lovely, perfect raspberry in each glass, which was not only a pleasing visual but a nice last gulp of tart, sweet fruit along with the champagne bubbles. There were delicious appetizers of Asian meatballs, crab cakes, and chicken satay, and a dessert tray, but the real draw was hearing Carla's inspiring story of self-discovery. She is a remarkable woman.

While at the reception, I missed three phone calls from my daughter, who discovered that Murphy the basset hound had shredded three rolls of toilet paper in the living room. Life goes on.

Tonight Parker Wine Cellars featured the wines of Hannah Nicole out of Contra Costa County, as Jeff recounts:

Le MELANGE BLANC '07~~ A blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Viognier, this blend saw both stainless steel and oak before the final bottling. A bit of a flowery nose turns to hints of vanilla and citrus on the mid palate. Slightly dry, the finish is sharp and distinct with dabs of lemon and honeysuckle that pleases even the picky white wine palates. (MY NOTES: I enjoyed this wine. It was a bit sharp, but I love sauvignon blanc, and this was a nice crisp white wine.)

Le MELANGE ROSE' '08~~ Oh what a nice little treat! Oddly enough a blend of 30% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 10% Petite Verdot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc that turns into a pink wine. (OK, right now, get the idea of Pink Wine= Sweet out of your head!) Using all stainless steel, this crowd pleaser starts with a nose of ripe bing cherries and rhubarb that hits the palate with a cascade of strawberries and an overtone of raspberry. Great depth, and fairly muscular for a Rose, the finish almost doesn't want to leave. This one works great for those upcoming Autumn days and really would work quite well on your Thanksgiving table. (MY NOTES: Yeah, right, like this will make it until Thanksgiving at my house! I love this rose and bought a bottle. There's a pronounced strawberry flavor that is very impressive and, in my opinion, makes this a great wine. It didn't hurt that the price was $11.99 either.)

MERITAGE '05~~ Out of nowhere comes a standout! A Bordeaux style blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot (8% from '07), 7% Cabernet Franc (also from '07) and 8% Petite Verdot, this bad boy delivers a knockout punch. Each blend was fermented separately, racked, then put in French and American Oak barrels for 26 months before bottling. A nose of black cherry and dark chocolate explodes on the palate with rich cherry and plum followed by bits of cocoa that delivers on a finish that lingers with an earthy goodness that calls out for another sip. Drinking very well now, but could hang on for 5 or more years. (MY NOTES: An excellent red wine. I love almost anything that hints of Bordeaux, and the complex robust flavors of this wine are quite remarkable.)

I drove home VERY carefully and found that Chris made Chicken Provencal from a recipe he found on Epicurious.com: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-Breasts-Provencal-242287. Trust me, this is DELICIOUS. I wasn't really hungry, but had to taste it and will definitely make it or request it again. He served it with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, salad, and a nice Chablis.

And all traces of the toilet paper were gone from the house, so it was a very lovely evening!

Turkey Meatloaf, San Antonio & Herb Kelleher

Herb Kelleher, Chairman Emeritus of Southwest Airlines, really doesn't have anything to do with my turkey meatloaf. It's just that all three events took place in the same day. I had to be in San Antonio today for a business meeting, and Herb Kelleher happened to be on the same return flight as I, so I played the proper groupie and got a hug and a photo with the great man. I complimented him on his airline and he modestly said "it's the people working for it who make it great." Such a sweet man!

The meeting ended early, so I was on an earlier flight than I had previously booked and I got home in time to cook dinner. I found a recipe on Epicurious.com for turkey meatloaf and decided to give it a try. Here's the recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turkey-Meatloaf-107599 (because I'm WAY too tired to type the whole thing out and I like to give proper credit for anything I post here.

I like meatloaf. My mother made a pretty good one, with bread and sometimes sausage and lots of spices mixed in with the ground meat. The leftovers made wonderful sandwiches. I wanted to try a turkey meatloaf because I wanted something a little lighter and healthier. This recipe had carrots and mushrooms in it and sounded flavorful. It really did have a good flavor but the consistency was a little too smooth for my taste. I may play around with it, or not, depending on how the leftovers taste. Jennie wasn't too impressed with it, Chris said it was good, and Jackson ate all of it. CAVEAT: Since "Halo Reach" for XBox came out today, I am not sure that Jackson's opinion on anything EXCEPT Halo Reach counts for anything. It is Jennie's opinion that we could have put cat food on his plate and he would have eaten it without noticing.

I roasted asparagus with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, made mashed potatoes and homemade focaccia, and then decided I'd done a little too much cooking for someone who got up at 5 a.m. to catch a 7:30 a.m. flight.

However, at least I cooked SOMETHING!! I hate the weeks where I'm running around so much that I don't get a proper meal on the table for days. I enjoy having the time to prepare a meal -- if I'm not zooming hither and yon, I find it relaxing to make the ingredients come together to form something delicious and satisfying.

Drink Dallas!

I missed last year's Dallas Wine Trail tour, but this year my friends Bonnie and Margaret made sure that I was able to go (thanks, Chicas!). Four wineries in the Dallas area were featured on the trail: Fuqua Winery, Times Ten Cellars, Calais Winery, and Inwood Estates Vineyards. We set out this morning with A Plan to beat the inevitable crowds of people and, for the most part, succeeded.

There were six of us on the tour in an SUV that seated five: Sue & Perry Colip, Bonnie & Greg Rogers, Margaret Malone and yours truly. We took turns sitting in the trunk area of the SUV, where Sue had thoughtfully put a pillow and towel for comfort, not to mention a cooler of water bottles with our names on them (we were each alotted three bottles).

The Plan was to start at the LAST winery on the list instead of the first and to begin spot on at 11 a.m. when the tour started. It worked like a charm. We went to the Fuqua Winery, which is surprisingly located behind a Home Depot in an industrial area of Dallas, and had the place to ourselves for the first 15 or 20 minutes. From there we went to the Inwood Estates Vineyards, then to the Calais Winery, finishing up at Time Ten Cellars where we gratefully sat and consumed a couple of bottles before heading home.

I learned a lot about winemaking today. I was able to compare the taste of an un-oaked Chardonnay with one that had been placed in oak barrels. The un-oaked Chardonnay, in my opinion, was lighter and more interesting than the oaked Chardonnay. I learned that in order to be called a Texas wine, the wine is required to have at least 73% Texas grapes in it and must be made and bottled in Texas. I learned that Kobe beef burgers may well be the best reason for me to not become a vegetarian.

Calais Winery offered the table pictured above with several of the tools used by winemakers to create the proper balance, alcohol and sugar content of the wines. It looked like a chemistry experiment, which of course it is.

Standouts:
2008 Fuqua Chardonnay (the un-oaked one -- I was given a bottle of this as part of the tour) -- very light, sparkly, with a cheerful flavor and a nice clean finish.
2006 "Magellan" at Inwood Estates Vineyards -- a blend of Bordeaux grapes and Tempranillo, the flavor was incredible. So was the price: $59.50, which I realize is a bargain for what it was but still WAY out of my price range.
La Cuvee des Marrons Dessert Wine at Calais Winery -- this was served with a chocolate truffle as an accompaniment. The rich, sweet flavors of the wine perfectly complemented the dark chocolate.
The Kobe beef burgers -- yes, I know I mentioned them already, but they were SO good I had to bring it up again.

Each winery on the tour kindly provided appetizers from local restaurants and suppliers, so in addition to the wines we were able to sample everything from the handmade chocolate truffles, Kobe beef burgers (you knew I'd say it again!), Wagyu beef, locally made cheese, dips, hummus, sandwiches, and a lovely taste combination of dried apricots and bittersweet dark chocolate dusted almonds.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday, and it has piqued my interest in the process of winemaking. It is wonderful to see the passion and dedication the vintners have in their quest for a perfectly balanced wine.

I Missed Pinot, Pinot, Pinot, But I Had Salmon and Chardonnay

I'm going to blame this on payroll time clock changes and a school law convention for which I had to register five attorneys: I missed the Parker Wine Cellars weekly tasting. I am SO SORRY!!! Tonight was "Pinot, Pinot, Pinot" and in tribute to Jeff's hard work, I'm going to treat you to what we all missed:


Lange Vineyards Pinot Gris '09~~Lange Estate Winery was the fourth producer of Pinot Gris in the United States and has built a reputation for producing some of the state’s best examples of this popular Oregon grape. The Willamette Valley Pinot Gris is entirely stainless-steel fermented in the classic “Pinot Grigio” style resulting in a light, crisp, approachable wine true to varietal character with beautifully balanced acidity. This 2009 vintage shows orange blossom, nectarine, and lemon cream on the nose, while rich-but-racy palate displays mandarin, mango, white peach, lime zest, and a hint of honey.

Chalone Vineyards Monterey Pinot Noir '08~~ Chalone Pinot Noir? Say no more! Fragrant heirloom roses, ripe black cherries and a touch of tobacco invite the senses into this approachable and enjoyable Pinot Noir. The red fruit brightens across the palate, picking up raspberry and spice. Soft and silky through the middle, the wine crescendo on the finish, leaving a vibrant, juicy memory in the mouth. This guy simply satisfies.

Domaine Chandon Carneros Pinot Meunier '07~~ Here's a grape rarely seen outside of the Champagne region of France, especially in its natural red state. While Domaine Chandon is best known as one of America’s top sparkling wines, the winery also produces limited quantities of varietal wines from estate-grown vineyards. Pinot Meunier, French for “miller” in reference to the powdery underside of the leaves that can look as though dusted with flour, is the soulful sibling of Pinot Noir. It plays a small but vital role in the blending of Chandon sparkling wines. Rarely planted outside of the Champagne region in France, Pinot Meunier is pursued by only the most adventurous winemakers. Rich, vibrant aromas of lavender, plum, and white pepper escape from the glass of this garnet-colored wine with hints of raspberry, nutmeg and sweet tobacco following suit. Luscious flavors of cherries, red plums and strawberries are immediately evident while inherent earthiness and brown spice characteristics develop in the finish.

Yes, I am REALLY sorry I missed this -- I've been looking forward to it all week and then got seriously distracted by work. However, since that's what PAYS for my wine habit, I can't complain too much and I really try to do the best job possible (note that devotion to duty, please, all shareholders who may be keeping up with my blog).

However, I went home to a treat: my husband, who has spent the past 27 years of marriage protesting that he couldn't cook, has taken up a new hobby . . . cooking. Tonight was his night and he decided to grill salmon with a cream sauce (Knorr's Bearnaise), and serve it with rice and salad. We opened a bottle of the Treasure Hunter Chardonnay purchased at Parker Wine Cellars after a wine tasting a few weeks ago, and it was PERFECT with the salmon, nice and crisp. I can't fault any dinner that I don't have to cook, and it really was quite good. High five to the new hobby!

Soul Food

This is my soul food: a day at the beach. My daughter and I drove down to Galveston for a couple of days to commune with the sun and sand and salt water. I've come back full of Vitamin D (a/k/a a slight sunburn) and feeling very relaxed. We did nothing remarkable, ate nothing remarkably good or evil, but just relaxed and laughed and had a great time together. I think sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to take time to feed our souls. Sitting on the beach reminds me of my place in this vast universe. The pounding of the waves and the tides going in and out keep me centered on the soothing predictability of the laws of nature and time. The weather change from sunny and calm to windy, raging tropical storm (I really need to watch more weather reports) reminds me of the wild and exciting unpredictability of life even in the midst of the ordered universe. And sometimes the most important thing in life to do is sit at the edge of the ocean and get sand in your swimsuit. Just because.

My husband held down the home fort and distinguished himself by cooking the house pork chop recipe AND mashed potatoes AND broccoli AND corn AND (wait for it) homemade bread! I'm so proud of him.

Jennie and I had bad Tex Mex (everything was watery and I'm not convinced there was ANY tequila in my margarita), okay-but-not-remarkable sushi (accompanied by a sake bomb -- I can still down it in one long unbroken drink in spite of Jennie chanting "don't laugh don't laugh"), and split an International Passport Crepe Breakfast at IHOP. Good Lord, they give a lot of food for one person! Two crepes, two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausages -- too much for one person, but perfect for two.

So now I'm home with the salt washed off me, my car full of sand, and lovely memories. Back to work tomorrow!

Thursday Night Wine Tasting at Parker Wine Cellars (and Yes, I'm Feeling Better!)

I'm not at 100% yet, but I was well enough to pop into Parker Wine Cellars for the Thursday night tasting. Of course, since I'm now back on my feet I was multi-tasking madly: left work early to take Jennie to the doctor (same virus I just got over, poor kid), remembered it was Cowboys Game Day so after the doctor's visit I dropped Jennie at home, changed into my Tony Romo jersey so I could hit Albertson's for the 10% off, and dashed off to Parker Wine Cellars. I'd been looking forward to this all week, A Taste of Italy, and the wines, as always, didn't disappoint. Here are Jeff's descriptions:

Fantinel Prosecco NV~~ Prosecco is unusual in the world as it is almost always used to produce the sparking wine of the same name from Italy's Veneto region. The wines tend to feature a light orchard fruit tone, recalling white peaches and pears, with bright acidity and light body. This is Prosecco at its best: lighter than Champagne, uncomplicated, and the perfect starter to any party or meal! (MY NOTE: I found it a little sweet for my taste, but I can see where it would be a nice starter, fresh and bubbly, to whet the appetite for dinner.)

'08 Carpeneto 'Dogajolo'~~A young “Super-Tuscan”, whose characteristics are never found together in the same wine. Dogajolo combines the power and deep colors of a young wine, the elegance and balance given by wood aging, as well as a fruity and fragrant bouquet. A blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, this beautiful red has a nose that is very fruity and intense, with hints of cherry, coffee, vanilla and spice, and a finish that lingers for longer than expected. (MY NOTE: I LOVE Super Tuscan wines. They have a wonderful, unpretentious hearty flavor and are perfect to serve with big Italian meals with lots of family.)

'06 San Felice Rosso di Montalcino~~Using 100% Brunello cloned Sangiovese, this wine can stand out in any crowd. Ruby red in appearance, with aromas of dark cherry and blackberry over oodles (yeah it's really a word) of pungent cedarwood and sweet pipe tobacco that is well structured, smooth and full-fruited and coats the palate with pure joy. The finish of all the combined dark red fruit lingers, and even seems to flex some muscle before the next sip. Big, spicy Italian food begs to be seen with this sexy Italian star on the table. (MY NOTE: I enjoyed this one too -- and I'm going to HAVE to find out what "oodles" refers to.)

This tasting was perfect for September 2, a promise that autumn is on its way, with cooler temperatures, a desire for larger and more elaborate meals, and the holidays around the corner. I can see myself making lasagne or a rib roast and serving one of those wines as an accompaniment, and . . . actually . . . having . . . the . . . WINDOWS . . . OPEN!!! Sorry, I'm tired of canned air conditioning inside and blasting hot air outside. Gimme a blue norther, NOW!