June 2009 Archives

by Deirdre Bourdet

For those of you who love food emporiums as much as I do, here is my list of the top five things to hit on an eating romp through Napa's Oxbow Public Market.  Warning: may be habit forming.

Summer is here and that can only mean one thing (okay, maybe a couple) . . .

First - Throw as much as you can on the grill because who wants to slave all day cooking and cleaning in the hot kitchen?! 

Second: Your kids will tire of hot dogs and hamburgers every night for lunch and dinner so why not try out some new things on the grill. The banana and nutella panini sounds delicious for a snack or dessert!

Third: There is more to life than just grilling meat!  Vegetables, fruits, bread and a slew of other things can be grilled too!

That being said - check out some of the recipes below. Let us know how they turn out and don't forget to pair them with wine!  White Wines for Summer or Best Wines for BBQ. Happy Grilling!

• Apple-Glazed Barbecued Baby Back Ribs
• Kansas City-Style Barbecued Chicken
• Peach-Mustard Pork Chops
• Moroccan Grilled Salmon
• Grilled Quick-Brined Jumbo Shrimp
• Grilled Corn w/ Seasoned Butters
• Grilled Zucchini/Summer Squash Salad w/ Citrus Splash Dressing
  
• Grilled Potato and Onion Salad w/ Blue Cheese and Bacon
• Grill Baked Brownies w/ Bing Cherry Ice Cream
• Grilled Banana and Nutella Panini
  

By Courtney Cochran

The Obama administration is putting its resources where Americans' mouths are, so to speak, advocating sweeping changes in the way our nation perceives, grows and consumes food.  To wit, healthy food advocates scored a symbolic victory in February, when newly appointed secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack took a jackhammer to the pavement outside his headquarters to create his own organic "people's garden," also unveiling plans to create a sustainable landscape on the grounds of the long-stodgy USDA. 

A Sommelier Sheds Light on the Best Wines for BBQ
by Courtney Cochran

Firing, roasting, and grilling are decidedly du rigueur during the summer months, but finding wines that work well with this tricky fare can be a challenge. Just as shining a spotlight on an actor onstage brings her features into focus for an audience, these cooking methods serve to concentrate the flavors of whatever's being cooked, necessitating a wine with both strength and personality to stand up to the food.

Read on for the low-down on some of the more common characteristics of flame-cooked fare and how to track down the perfect wines to pair with these traits.

Submitted by Chef Kelly Wangard of Paso Robles Inn Steakhouse

A savory interpretation of a classically sweet pastry this version of Baklava combines the rich flavor of Blue Cheese with walnuts for an amazing, out of this world treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 box phyllo dough
• 3 pounds Hook's Paradise blue cheese, Gorgonzola, or blue cheese
• 1 pound butter
• 5 cups walnuts, toasted
• 1 cup sugar

By Deirdre Bourdet

Who knew they would turn up in a suburban shopping plaza just off Highway 29 in Napa? Or that they would be offered alongside fabulous mushroom quesadillas and scarily good grilled octopus burritos?

La Taquiza is a gem. Though the restaurant name suggests that the fish tacos are the can't be missed signature item, do not be misled. Shrimp is the way to go here. Perfectly grilled to order, juicy, succulent shrimp, to be specific, buried under fresh shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa verde, and a luxurious dollop of crema. All you need to attain nirvana is to anoint them with your condiments of choice--pickled onions, more pico de gallo, and/or one of the housemade salsas, as you prefer--and lift the Mexican masterpiece to your lips.

Submitted by B.R. Cohn chef Sherri Hewitt

A simple, slightly crunchy cake recipe. With flavors of walnuts and orange this is a great Summertime or anytime desert. Enjoy!

Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

• Nonstick olive oil spray
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup B.R. Cohn Mandarin Orange Olive Oil
• Powdered sugar

Submitted by The Grill at Silverado - Silverado Resort
Executive Chef - Peter Pahk

The Grill at Silverado, is a one-of-a-kind Napa Valley restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar appetizers. This restaurant in Napa Valley features Wine Country Cuisine with an Asian flair, emphasizing fresh and sustainable products. Chef Pahk's Cervena Venison Shabu-Shabu won Cervena Venison Dish of the Year 2008.

Are you the grill master of the cul de sac? Do your burgers evoke sighs of satisfaction and gushing praise from even the most jaded of picnic attendees? Do you dream of tender patties sizzling on the grill? Answer yes to any of these questions, and you just might have a chance at $50,000 in one of the nation's biggest and best cook-offs, The Build a Better Burger contest.

Oh sure, just about anyone who's lit a charcoal grill thinks they've got the secret to deliciously delightful burgers: onion soup mix, hickory chips, homemade relish, or perfectly grilled buns. Amateurs all, compared to the folks who've re-invented burgers from the ground up at the Sutter Home Winery competition that takes place each year in Napa, CA.

Winners in past years have had recipes ranging from simple portabella mushroom burgers, and a Greek-inspired burger with lamb meat, roasted eggplant and feta cheese, to Hawaiian tuna burgers with onion and lime salsa. Definitely not your everyday burgers.

The competition is already open (April 1 - July 29, 2009) so you better get a move on if you plan on submitting your top secret perfect burger concoction. CLICK HERE to enter. Ten finalists  will be selected to cook their creations at the Sutter Home winery next year, in addition to being featured on the Food Network. The pressure builds in the timed cook-off, where contestants are challenged to create their recipes in front of judges, cameras, press and other finalists for the $50,000 grand prize, or the $10,000 Best Alternative Burger category.

If you like to eat burgers rather than cook them, take the Burger Personality test and see what type you are, get the best burger recipe to match, along with a wine pairing suggestion.

Submitted by the Hadsten House Inn and Spa

At the Hadsten House our goal is offer comfort food with friendly country club style service where regulars are treated like family. Our dishes are all intended to wow guests with the best burger in the Santa Barbara Wine Country, outstanding short ribs or this outstanding pasta dish each intended to make you want to become a regular guest.

Recipe: Spinach Pasta Sheets w/ Sauteed Shrimp & Roasted Tomato Cream Sauce

Chef's Name: Aaron Dixon

Wine Pairing: Artiste Winery "Cafe Noir" 2008