Recently in General Category

By Deirdre Bourdet

As an incorrigibly food-obsessed individual, my favorite wine tastings are those that involve snacks as part of the experience. I was recently invited to visit Buena Vista Carneros to try their current releases and check out their Carneros Room tasting, the food and wine pairing program offered to visitors on Saturday mornings.

When You Actually Put It In the Food

By Deirdre Bourdet

Some may consider the deliberate pouring of wine into anything other than a drinking vessel or eager mouth a shameful, wasteful act.  While I see their point, wine-based cooking also happens to be one of the most delicious, easy, and traditional techniques for creating wine-friendly food.  A splash of red to deglaze your meat searing pan, a dash of white to loosen up those all-too-quickly browning onions, and you've suddenly added worlds of flavor, depth, and sophistication to your creation.
 
Then there are the truly wine-based recipes (coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, moules marinière, etc.) where the wine takes center stage.  Typically there is a great deal of reduction involved--simmering the wine with other ingredients to concentrate flavor and reduce the volume of liquid to a thicker, more sauce-like consistency.  These recipes make you confront the question of which bottle to use head-on, because the quality of the wine reduction really sets the tone of the dish.

Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Chile Rellenos with New Mexico Red Chile Sauce

Recipe provided by Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar chef/owner Jeff Mall from the Down Home : Downtown cookbook, with Josh Silvers from Syrah Bistro and published by Rodney Strong Vineyards.

Pair with Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Estate Zinfandel

Take in the changing of the seasons while sipping a glass of Rodney Strong's Knotty Vines Estate Zinfandel. Fresh, bright berry fruit from our heritage Russian River vineyard combined with the ripe pepper jamminess from our Alexander Valley vineyards make for wonderful diversity of flavor that compliment these chile rellenos.

By Deirdre Bourdet

I love prix-fixe menus, and wish more restaurants outside of Europe embraced the concept. There is something very satisfying about walking into a restaurant and having the whole meal just brought to you without instruction, all thought out and planned and decided by the chefs. So obviously, when the girl and the fig invited me to come check out their Bistro Plat du Jour prix fixe, I jumped at the chance.

New Downtown Napa Deli

I had pretty much given up hope in finding a really good deli sandwich for lunch in downtown Napa. Too often workmates tried to lure me to makeshift deli places and each time I left disappointed and many times throwing my sandwich away on the sly. As a result, I decided to just part ways with this standard fare for lunch. And certainly, downtown Napa has plenty of other lunchtime options.

However, today I ventured into Frankie's Italian Deli located on 1502 Main Street at the urging of a friend who boasted she loved everything on the menu.  "Everything"?  Hmmm. I decided to order the Genoa sandwich which had Italian salami, provolone & anchovies, red onion, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette on a French roll. (had them add pepperonchinis too).  And my opinion on the matter?

It's no wonder that everyone's New Year resolution is to lose weight considering that one gorges themselves for a month straight starting with Thanksgiving through Christmas!

Of course, it's quite hard to resist all of the wonderful foods this time of year especially all of the sweets and baked goods.  Dancing in my head are pies, cakes, tarts, cookies and many other warm, feel good treats. One is not even safe at work. So without further ado, start the baking, grab the elastic waistband pants and let the feasting begin!

Pecan Pumpkin Butter Pie with Butterscotch Cream

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse w/ Walnut Toffee Crunch
"With no pastry crust to wrangle, these luscious parfaits of pumpkin mousse and cream are easier to make than pumpkin pie."

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
"I am a huge fan of trifles, and this is so easy and so delicious. It has the right ingredients for the holidays to bring in all the warm fuzzies of past years." - Linda, Food Network

Pumpkin Cake w/ Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
"In this fun variation on traditional pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake spiced with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves gets frosted with a slightly tangy, super-caramelly frosting. It's delicious served cold or at room temperature."

Olive Oil & Sauternes Cake w/ Roasted Pears
"Because Neil Perry has a passion for wine, he uses Sauternes in every component of this dessert, from the cake to the sauce. He also adds olive oil to the batter, which creates a delightfully moist crumb. Pair w/ Riesling."

Caramel Pecan Pie

Of course, your family expects a traditional holiday meal. But, you yearn for the fun and challenge of cooking up something a little different and adventurous. Why not do both? Prepare the traditional meal of time-honored favorites your family loves, but this time, give tradition a tasty timely tweak. Here are some recipes to help you discover that traditional doesn't have to mean predictable. We've taken holiday menu classics and recharged them with a few fresh new ingredients. Try these delectable subtle flavors that add to but don't overpower the familiar ones and take your holiday dinner from being a good meal to a great one.

Cranberry relish gets a new taste makeover - and powerful antioxidant boost - with the addition of a splash of Petite Sirah and a half cup of fresh blueberries mingled with the cranberries. The delicate sweetness of the blueberries helps tone down the cranberries' tartness in a beautiful glistening tapestry of rich jewel colors.

Submitted by Concannon Vineyard

Cranberry relish gets a new taste makeover - and powerful antioxidant boost - with the addition of a splash of Petite Sirah and a half cup of fresh blueberries mingled with the cranberries. The delicate sweetness of the blueberries helps tone down the cranberries' tartness in a beautiful glistening tapestry of rich jewel colors.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Active Time: 10 Minutes
Inactive Time: Refrigerate for 4 hours

Yields approximately 2 cups

Ingredients

• 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
• ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup Concannon Petite Sirah
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• ⅓ cup orange juice

For a sensational savory side, try the caramelized onion and gruyere tart. Fresh Bermuda onions caramelized in butter to a golden brown blend with cream, eggs and heavenly gruyere. Fresh nutmeg and thyme send the flavor to the stratosphere plus scent the table with robust spicy holiday aromas.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yields one 9-inch tart or 6 individual 4¼ inch mini tarts. Either option should be a fluted pan with a removable bottom. (Note: you may use store bought pastry or your own favorite pastry recipe.)

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups yellow onions, sliced thin
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• ½ cup Concannon Petite Sirah
• 4 teaspoons fresh thyme, stems
  removed and chopped
• 6 ounces prosciutto, chopped
• 1 cup gruyere cheese, grated
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 sheet prepared pastry, thawed
• salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet, melt the butter and oil on medium high heat. Add the onions, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Sauté on low heat for 30 minutes until golden brown and velvety soft. Add the wine and cook an additional 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated.

Cut the pastry to fit the fluted pans. Press the pastry on the bottom and against the sides. Poke holes on the bottom of shell and on the sides. Brush the borders of the tarts with the egg and assemble the prosciutto on the bottom of the tart. Add the gruyere cheese (evenly if using individual tarts) and top with the caramelized onions. Bake until golden at 350 degrees, about 20 minutes.

Submitted by Ferari-Carano Vineyards & Winery

Nothing says fall and winter more than a warm, cozy dish that marries the sweetness of harvest fruit with the traditional entrée's of the season. Ferrari-Carano Winery has just the recipe for you - Grilled Duck Breasts With Black Currant Pomegranate Sauce.  It's also the perfect dish for company during the holidays.

The Ferrari-Carano Zinfandel pairs well with the duck and "boasts aromas of boysenberry and blueberry pie with hints of vanilla and baking spices. Concentrated fruit continues on the palate with juicy, sweet wild berries that linger well into a finish that is highlighted by smooth, silky tannins."

By Deirdre Bourdet

The restaurant MECCA in San Francisco was one of my favorite spots in the city when Stephen Barber manned the stoves. I was devastated when he and the management team left to open BarBersQ in Napa's uber-suburban Bel Aire Plaza, so I moved to Napa as well. (Kidding... though I did move to Napa.) The new digs are not quite as sexy or dramatic, but they do have plenty of urban flash. And the restaurant's lusty flavors and mood music make up for whatever style points are lost for the slightly less soigné clientele.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Recession-special happy hours are still popping up at a fabulous pace, even though the recession tide has turned and is (officially) over.  Downtown Napa recently added a couple of new and exciting options for happy hour tippling, besides Pica Pica Bar with its fab $3 drinks and ceviche.

To most, turkey and Thanksgiving is as obvious as peanut butter and jelly.  What isn't obvious anymore is how we cook that turkey.  In addition to the traditional basted, bagged and roasted turkey methods we now have a myriad of new, exciting and untraditional ways of cooking that delectable bird. Step into the culinary world of turkey grilling (yes, on the bbq!), smoking, deep frying and rotisserie. Set your fears aside and discover the "untraditional turkey" this year.  You may be surprised at the response you and your bird get this year, kissing your traditional method goodbye forever.
 
Don't believe me?  Then let me tell you a story ....

Last Thanksgiving, my husband decided to smoke the turkey instead of the traditional "bagged" turkey. While my husband is great on the grill and smoked turkey sounded wonderful, I did not like the idea of being adventurous on Thanksgiving. Truth be told, I was a little worried that it wouldn't quite turn out as expected. What's more, we were expecting quite a few people for dinner!

To be safe, I cooked my traditional "bagged" turkey and it came out as expected - juicy and delicious.  However, my turkey sat virtually ignored and my husband's turkey was completely devoured. He clearly "smoked" the competition-namely me. I conceded defeat.  The smoked turkey was good, absolutely memorable, and our family can never go back.  Our traditional turkey has forevermore flown the coup and has been replaced by our new tradition-the "untraditional turkey". 

To help you find your own new Thanksgiving un-tradition, we've provided a few our favorite recipes and methods below.  Happy Thanksgiving! 

By Deirdre Bourdet

This time of year you can't turn around without a pumpkin or nine staring you in the face. Every storefront has trotted out at least ten or twelve for the window display, and the Stanly Ranch Pumpkin Patch is rockin' and rollin' with its hay bale maze, giant sunflowers, and pumpkins of every size and color. Though the decorative pumpkin frenzy will die down after Halloween, the edible pumpkin bandwagon is just getting going in wine country. It's one of my favorite seasons for sweets.

By Deirdre Bourdet

In keeping with their reputation as the first family of fun, the Cejas are throwing a Halloween bash this year in their downtown tasting bar. This means far more than special pricing on the wine... though there will be by the glass discounts and a healthy 30% off all their bottles for the evening, including those to take home. No, Halloween with the Cejas means music, passion, drama, and dancing.

By Deirdre Bourdet

The avalanche of autumn produce in our markets is a sure sign that fall is here, notwithstanding some freak summer flashback days. Pumpkins, squashes, apples, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and beets of every color beckon with their earthy sweetness and sexy dark green leaves.

Like everyone else I hated the canned beets of my childhood, but I've since grown to love the silken texture, rich flavor, and eye-popping colors of the real deal. Beet greens also rank among my favorite leafy green vegetables of all time, but only appear in good shape in fall and winter. Easy to clean and quick-cooking, they taste like a more tender, earthier version of chard. Since you typically get the beet greens for free with the beetroot, a bunch of beets is also one of the best produce deals out there.

Trick or Treat? Well, treats of course! Whether you have kids or your a kid at heart, we have some fun recipes for you! So, set aside that store bought candy and get ready to taste some really wicked treats! Just click below to get your spook-tacular Halloween underway!

Chocolate Candy Corn Truffles
"Dark chocolate and bitter orange offset the sweetness of candy corn in these fun but fancy truffles."

Double-Chocolate Caramel Apples
"Indulge in the ultimate chocoholic experience by dipping the caramel apples in both semisweet and bittersweet chocolate."

Pumpkin Patch Cakes
"Petite pumpkin-shaped cakes. Dust with confectioners' sugar, finish them with colorful frostings, or pipe on smiling or scary jack-o'-lantern faces."

Caramel-Dipped Apples
"Delicious caramel apples...decorate with toffee bits, mini M&Ms, candy sprinkles, etc."

What's your favorite treat to make for Halloween?

Submitted by Viansa Winery & Vineyards

Viansa's 2007 Chardonnay offers flavors of Apple, honeydew melon and toasty oak with a crisp clean finish. This wine was 50% barrel fermented and 50% stainless steel tank fermented. A deliciously fresh wine that pairs nicely with a cheese and fruit platter, grilled fish or light pasta dishes.  Drink now through 2010. Visit Viansa.com/lifestyle for recipes like "Pepper and Prosciutto Frittata".

submitted by VirginiaWine.org

by Melissa Close, Executive Chef of Palladio Restaurant

Executive Chef Melissa Close has directed Palladio's kitchen since the fall of 2000, continually working to bring authentic Italian Cuisine to Central Virginia. Raised in Alabama, Melissa has been in the restaurant business since she was 16 years old and is a distinguished graduate from the New England Culinary Institute, Alumna of the Year in 2005. She has focused on Italian cuisine since working for award-winning chef Frank Stitt at Bottega Restaurant & Cafe located in Birmingham, Alabama in the early 90's. Her quest to refine her fluency in Italian cuisine led her to San Francisco's Rose Pistola Restaurant.

After taking a hiatus to work for one of her early culinary mentors and fellow Charlottesville chef, Craig Hartman, at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs, Colorado, she was drawn back to Italian cuisine when asked to take the Executive Chef's position at Palladio Restaurant. She has brought both national and international recognition for Palladio Restaurant through her constant striving to create menus with the freshest ingredients found locally and internationally. During the restaurant's annual closing in January, Melissa and her staff travel across the Atlantic to stage in some of Italy's finest establishments to expand their knowledge of Italian cuisine. Melissa and her staff's commitment for excellence has won her induction in the Chaine des Rotisseurs, and three invitations to create dinners at the world-renowned James Beard House in New York City, a great honor bestowed upon select chefs in the country.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Most ingredients go in and out of style, depending on the latest health craze or foodie fad. This doesn't of course affect their deliciousness, or deter the converted from continuing to use the items in our own cooking once they have fallen out of fashion with the rest of America.

So I'm sure I wasn't the only one whose heart soared when Julie & Julia hit the silver screen this year, trumpeting the timeless and unparalleled glory of butter to audiences near and far. Sweet vindication! I almost cheered at the scene where Julie sets a pound of butter in front of Julia's portrait in the Smithsonian.

By Courtney Cochran

It's official: Thanks to the addition of yet another stellar eatery - Diavola Pizzeria-Salumeria - from the mega talented Dino Bugica, Alexander Valley's miniscule Geyserville may just be wine country's newest foodie mecca. Turns out the master salumist - who's already conquered cuisine more haute with his highly regarded Taverna Santi - wanted to create more casual fare in the vein of la cucina povera (literally, Italian peasant cuisine), comprised of a deliciously straightforward collection of panini, pizzas, salads and, yes, house cured salumi.

Get ready to Swirl, Sip & Sizzle at the Old Food & Wine Festival in Alexandria, Virginia on October 10-11th from 11am to 6pm both days. Meet local winemakers and taste Virginia's small-batch artisan wines. Tasting admission also includes a souvenir glass and all exhibits and seminars on the Viking culinary stage.

For the foodies, author Joe David, Gourmet Getaways (50 Top spots to cook and learn), will be on hand to share what he thinks makes your meals special. According to an excerpt from his book "One way to create an outstanding meal is to add the meal multiple layers of well-prepared ingredients that will enhance the essential goodness of the primary ingredient."  David, along with a local catering chef and a winemaker will have a wine and food tasting and food demonstration ~ Saturday, Oct. 10th at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11th at 3 p.m.

What: Old Town Food & Wine Festival
When: October 10 - 11, 2009; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Tickets: Tasting Admission ($35), General Admission ($15)
More Info: www.oldtownwinefestival.com

Chef Jennifer B. Keller (from the Keller Family)

The aromas of cherry, raspberry, tangerine and minerals are in harmony in this lovely wine and once more show us the nature of the Keller Estate terroir. The lively acidity on the palate reminds us that this wine is meant to express the most delicate side of Pinot Noir, while making for a great wine to be paired with summer fare. To continue on this voyage to the south of France we share with you a family recipe for pissaladière, a flavorful onion flatbread that work beautifully as an appetizer to pair with our Rosé!

By Deirdre Bourdet

(1) Healdsburg Farmer's Market. One of the most famous farmers' markets in the Bay Area is mere steps from the square. Unusual heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers are only the beginning... local cheeses, meats, seafood, and breads round out the offerings and make it clear you are in a very delicious place.

Healdsburg Farmer's Market
Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings (check website for seasonal closure)
North and Vine Streets, Healdsburg
707-431-1956

By Deirdre Bourdet

A wave of anti-gluten sentiment is washing over wine country... everywhere you look, foods trumpet their gluten-free status, chefs dole out gluten-free recipes, and South American-Americans hawk their pão de queijo.

I first encountered Brazilian cheese bread at the Napa's farmers' market, where Alex Fochi of Sampas was handing out samples of her company's miniature versions behind a huge GLUTEN FREE banner. She makes her pão de queijo the size of Swedish meatballs or Asian fish balls, perfect for wine tasting snacks... or really any kind of snack. The traditional tapioca flour in pão de queijo means there is no gluten in the finished product, although the "bread" is puffy and chewy and much like a tender pizza crust in snack form. Since the cheese is completely incorporated into the dough, every mouthful has a smooth, sensual texture worthy of the Brazilian title. Napa-based Sampas does both the traditional plain (cheese) version, as well as rotating weekly specials like roasted garlic or black olive.

By Deirdre Bourdet

The heat is on! And few things are more glorious than summer dining alfresco in wine country. I offer only three recommendations here because there are far too many fabulous patios than I can do justice to in the space permitted.

Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar just off Healdsburg's main square has a blissfully shaded garden patio on which to sample their delectable and different small plates. Tuna tartare--normally a snore-inducing must-skip item for me--goes in an entirely new and awesome direction here with cashews and slivered chilies in a cool coconut milk sauce, served atop crispy taro chips. Pumpkin seed-cilantro pesto takes bacon-wrapped scallops to new levels of delicious depravity. If it hits triple digits on the patio, move inside to the bar and have Bob the bartender (or one of his compatriots) cool you down with a cucumber martini.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Summer romances are as old as time, and like clockwork, I find myself falling in love every year around this time. I speak of course of fresh salmon.

Nothing says summer more enticingly than a huge piece of barbecued wild salmon, charred and smoky from the grill, its succulent pearlescent flesh crying out to be devoured. Unless you consider sweet and toothsome and absolutely impossible-to-say-no-to grilled corn on the cob... ; or the intoxicating fragrance of farm-fresh heirloom tomatoes seducing the unwary into $30 salads... or hunks of cold watermelon so juicy that you need a napkin just to think about putting a piece in your mouth.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Harvest 2009 is underway in Napa, meaning that the harvest party season is officially upon us. And that of course calls for celebration.

I am a staunch believer that when it comes to entertaining, simple is best. My favorite kind of dinner party is actually the all-appetizer sort, because (1) appetizers are typically the most interesting part of a meal; (2) the host can get all the preparation done in advance and never has to tear herself away from the party to clear dishes or prep the next course; (3) people can snack continuously all evening; and (4) sensational market-driven starters are a snap to make, especially this time of year.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Napa recently experienced a sudden, tragic, and devastating loss... Ubuntu took its strawberry sofrito pizza off the dinner menu. In my humble opinion, this dish showcased all the best qualities of the restaurant: uber-local organic ingredients, creatively prepared, internationally inspired, and perfectly executed. Who else would think to combine Napa's famous summer strawberries with onions and garlic, slow cook the mixture in olive oil for three days to a sweet, savory, caramelized nirvana, and then spread it on a thin-crust pizza with fresh burrata and pine nuts? It was bliss, and I was in love.

Ingredients:

• 4 halibut fillets, 8 ounces each and 1 inch thick
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Salsa:

• 2 fresh peaches, skinned and cut into ¼" dice
• 1 mango, peeled and cut into ¼" dice
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon crystallized ginger, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon mint, finely minced
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• Dash of salt

Submitted by Louis M. Martini Winery

Since 1933, the wines of Louis M. Martini have been crafted in the belief that wine is best enjoyed with food and among friends and family. The Martini family has been gathering and creating recipes for generations, recipes made with their rich, distinctive wines in mind.
Here is one such recipe.

Ingredients:

• 8 loin lamb chops

Marinade:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup Louis Martini cabernet sauvignon
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon. whole grain Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoon. Herbs de Provence
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon. paprika
• ½ teaspoon Kosher or sea salt

By Deirdre Bourdet

I recently attended a Women for Winesense event focused on pairing wines with ethnic cuisines, since most Americans these days eat some form of international cuisine as part of their weekly diet. Great idea, but what do you do when you're trying to rustle up a drink to go with your all-unnatural, luxuriously salty, and heart-stopping fatty favorite junk foods? For better or worse, American junk food is forever, and it seems more and more people are trying to find ways to enjoy wine with our nation's bad for the body, good for the soul contribution to international cuisine. Some fast food restaurants will soon be offering wine with your burgers and deep fried tortilla-wrapped gut bombs, so it's time for some experimentation. Here are some suggestions to try.

Recipe provided by Syrah Bistro chef/owner Josh Silvers from the Down Home : Downtown cookbook, with Jeff Mall from Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar and published by Rodney Strong Vineyards.

Wine Pairing: Rodney Strong Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Summer's not over for a couple more months.  Take in as much of it as you can sipping a glass of Rodney Strong's Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay.  It's at once refreshingly crisp and luscious and will compliment these scrumptious crab cakes.

By Deirdre Bourdet

I'd heard that Redd's bar has quite a scene, but I couldn't quite believe it until I showed up on a Monday night to standing room only. The two guys next to me were trying to pick up their to-go order (and whoever else would tag along), the newlyweds on my other side were toasting themselves and making lifelong friends with anyone who'd hold still long enough, and Patrick the St. Louis sommelier was charming his way into everyone's evening with his seductive beverage list and bedroom eyes.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Shopping for cheese can test the endurance of even the most food-obsessed.  The typical modern cheese counter has so many delicious options from so many interesting places, with flavors and textures and shapes all over the map.  And yet, when it comes down to identifying the cheese that is always in my fridge  at home, the cheese I can eat straight out of the packaging and also serve gussied up with fresh herbs and truffle honey when company unexpectedly drops by, the choice is surprisingly easy.  Fresh chèvre is my go-to.

 

By Deirdre Bourdet

It is time to shine the harsh light of investigative journalism on the mysterious Three Twins operation and their "inconceivably delicious" ice cream.

First shocking revelation: the three Twins are not genetically related, nor do two of them share a body. Neal and Carl Gottlieb are just twin brothers from Marin, and Liz is Carl's wife (and another twin). Neal is the tall, curly-haired twin who started and runs the business. Carl let Neal live with him and Liz as the ice cream dream was taking flight, thus inspiring the company's inconceivable name. (FYI, Carl also inspired an unofficial, off-the-menu sundae that involves a great deal of chocolate sauce... ask for it at the San Francisco store.)

By Deirdre Bourdet

I am a truffle fiend. And while not technically a truffle from the Tuber genus, huitlacoche--aka the Mexican corn truffle--definitely has enough funky, truffly sex appeal to make me happy. (Plus, its other English name is corn smut, which makes me smirk every time I hear it.)

Mexicans consider huitlacoche a delicacy and eat it in a variety of dishes, but most American corn farmers do their best to keep it from showing up in their crops. Huitlacoche is the black, squishy, and disgusting-looking tumescent manifestation of a plant fungus on corn kernels. Not coincidentally, perhaps, the most common restaurant preparations involve hiding the huitlacoche from view... in tamales, quesadillas, soups. I once had an amazing pizza in Mexico that proudly kept the evil-looking fungus front and center--but honestly if there hadn't been neon orange and green zucchini blossoms sharing the stage, I'm not sure I could have eaten it every day like I did.

Tri-Valley, California is a haven of artisan vintners and undiscovered culinary talent.  Home to the Livermore Valley Wine Country, Tri-Valley is an affordable and authentic destination.

EAT: Passionate Chef's Pair with Passionate Winemakers
Attend a winemaker's dinner at one of Tri-Valley's restaurants. Local chef's are very passionate good food and wine, many feature regular winemaker dinners, including the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards. Nestled in the Livermore Valley Wine Country, the restaurant's Executive Chef, Arthur Wall works with fifth Generation winemaker, Karl Wente to create an exquisite menu.

Marie Galbo

Business brought me to Monterey; my stomach brought me to the Monterey Fish House.

I have only been to Monterey a couple of times so I stopped a few places and asked some locals for recommendations on where to eat with the remark "I don't need fluff & puff, just want good food".   Nearly every person mentioned Monterey Fish House.  I set out to find the location and turns out the fish house was right around the corner from where I was staying at Lone Oak Lodge.   

By Deirdre Bourdet

Hot summer nights call for sexy music and spicy company... enter nduja, everybody's favorite spreadable salame. Assertive, tender, musky, and exotic, it's everything you're looking for, and you can spread it on a cracker too.

Nduja, pronounced "en-DOO-yah"(not "NOOD-jah," as I was hoping) is a traditional cured pork salumi product that originates from Calabria, the "toe" region of Italy. The name derives from the French andouille, which is another type of spiced pork sausage bearing only a faint resemblance to nduja.

A domestic version of this Calabrian classic is now making Americans swoon, thanks to Chris Cosentino (of Incanto restaurant fame) and his Oakland-based artisanal charcuterie business, Boccalone. Cosentino's nduja features a unique, almost rillettes-like texture, hints of sour orange and smoke, plus plenty of heat from a variety of chilies that also lend the meat a fiery red hue. The salted meat and spices are fermented, lightly smoked, and dehydrated only enough to firm up the exterior casing, leaving the inside enticingly soft.

Submitted by the Birmingham Bed & Breakfast
Nancy and Jerry Fischman, and Kathy Pappas, chefs

• 1 cup half and half
• 4 eggs (1 egg per serving)
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8-teaspoon garlic power
• 1/8-teaspoon pepper
• 1/8-teaspoon salt
• 4 white onions, finely diced
• ½ cup sliced black olives
• ¾ cup diced ham, Canadian bacon or cooked chicken sausage (may be omitted)
• 1 cup shredded Italian cheese (I used a blend that has asiago in it)
• ½ cup diced tomato for topping

Earth Meets Ocean:
Modern comfort food from the Sonoma Coast

Foreword
My life long journey with food began on the east coast. Charles Mortimer, my grandfather, was a true pioneer in the food manufacturing industry, but my food adventure has always followed a different map. At a young age I learned to love a great meal and the process by which it was attained. While enjoying the dining aspect, service and trying new flavors my thoughts would always wander to where the ingredients came from. What we were enjoying at the table never had as much an impact as picking and shelling peas with my grandmother earlier that afternoon.

    In the subsequent decades to those early food memories I found myself perpetually moving west. Across the fertile plains of the Rocky Mountains I learned of the fruitful bounties of the rich, irrigated soils. I found great respect for the majestic animals that roamed the monochromatic hills and boned many trout from the cool, clear streams. All wonderful, yet still there existed an incognizant limit to my culinary dreams and I always longed for a place where you didn't have to perpetually out-think the food as a cook. 

    In what amounted to an almost unexplainable fervor in a breathless week's time as if irresistibly pulled by a cosmic magnet my family headed west to lands end in the greatest food continent on the blue planet. It was the blue I'd been missing, teaming with life and crying out to be married with the fruits of the farmer's labors. The sense of place with which the wine epitomizes the food on the Sonoma Coast is a combination rarely experienced with such seamlessness. It is all so clear sitting on the coast at Timber Cove with the fertile, mineral rich soils behind me and ocean stirring before me...it's time to capture Earth and ocean in a pan and use all the respect of a lifetime with food and capture it on a plate.

By Courtney Cochran

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board works hard to get its message across (and we're pretty sure it has something to do with cheese). So hard, in fact, that it's created a delectable organization called, fittingly, the Cheese & Burger Society. A quick troll around the society's expertly designed micro site reveals its core mission: To celebrate - in vivid color and alongside expert recipes - "the greatest cheeseburgers ever made." Amen.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Has anyone actually used this expression in the last thirty years? Kind of a shame it's not more commonly heard, as I am a staunch believer that we could always use more ways to say we look foolish or ridiculous, and more opportunities to eat dishes with egg on them. Toast and salads are just the beginning--in Australia I hear they top hamburgers with a fried egg, like a cooked riff on steak tartare. In France, and now increasingly here as well, you see pizzas crowned with runny-yolked eggs. If you've not yet experienced this combination, your life is empty and meaningless. Get thee to a pizzeria immediately.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Salty-sweet desserts are catching on like they're going out of style and I couldn't be happier. Once limited to French fleur de sel caramels, this delightful taste sensation has now exploded into salted ice creams, truffle fillings, and chocolate desserts near you.

I adore Chocolatier Blue in Berkeley because Chris Blue puts tons of Camargue sea salt into every one of his creations. From pistachio to sweet corn to deep dark chocolate truffles, the flavors pop and send your salivary glands into overdrive. Needless to say, his peanut brittle is also beyond compare--ethereally crispy, buttery, salty, nutty, and completely addicting.

By Deirdre Bourdet

You have likely seen the Bolani and Sauce guy if you have ever visited a farmer's market in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the human whirlwind dishing out sample after sample of stuffed flatbreads and colorful sauces to every passerby within reach. He is unstoppable, insatiable, hell-bent on feeding you all his favorite combinations before he allows you to step away from the booth. Have you tried the pumpkin bolani topped with garlic-mint cheese and sun-dried tomato pesto? Or the spinach bolani with hummus and smoky eggplant pesto? Curried lentil and sweet jalapeno? He knows that it is humanly impossible not to like at least four of their ten condiments, and that once you have found those four, you can't walk away without buying them, and a package or two of the irresistible veggie-stuffed bolanis themselves.

Submitted by Gallo Winery

The Gallo family believes that one of the reasons they have stayed strong as a family business for over 75 years is their love of sitting down together to share good food, wine and conversation. Many meals have been enjoyed, some from old Italian family recipes and some more contemporary Californian in style.  Here is one they hope you enjoy...

Ingredients:

For the dressing:

• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Thai hot chili paste, or to taste
• 1/4 cup Thai fish sauce
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

By Deirdre Bourdet

A $10 dinner with wine in a wine country restaurant is like a unicorn--beautiful, magical, fun to think about, but totally a mythical beast... or at least that used to be the case.  I can now say with certainty that such an animal exists, every night, AND you can sit outside by a fireplace to enjoy it.  

Estate is Sondra Bernstein's latest restaurant project in the old General Daughter's location just a few blocks west of the Sonoma square. The restaurant offers up some seriously well-priced California-inflected Italian cuisine, and the Pizza and Pinot special is perhaps the best example of the restaurant's bicultural offerings.  Every night, and all day Saturday and Sunday, the bar menu features your choice of pizza with a glass of featured pinot grigio or pinot noir... for ten dollars. Total.  

by Deirdre Bourdet

What, who, or where is a must-see on a trip to Bordeaux? According to a former colleague of mine, a cozy little restaurant called La Tupina. A quick perusal of their website revealed that this 30 year old + establishment prides itself on simple, classic bordelais specialties, prepared with the finest local ingredients and a hefty dose of nostalgic passion. When I read that French president Nicolas Sarkozy had also lunched there on his recent visit to the city, I figured there really was something to this place, and cut out early from Vinexpo's lunacy to see for myself.

Incredibly, on a day when 50,000 wine industry members had overtaken the city, I walked in without a reservation at the height of the lunch hour and scored a prime table on their terrace. Even more incredibly, I also scored a very amiable and helpful waiter... yes, they do exist in France.

by Deirdre Bourdet

Far more could be said about the positive aspects of the recession than would fit on this blog, so I'll limit this discussion to some of the incredible discounts available these days on Napan indulgences.

One of my personal favorites is the all-day Monday happy hour at Bounty Hunter, where the entire stable of "house" brands is two-for-one by the glass... including the Waypoint Vineyards Beckstoffer/To Kalon wines, normally $20 a pop.  If you can make it in between 3 and 6 p.m.  on the other weekdays, the same deal applies.  Consider adding a "mini" barbecue sampler plate heaped with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and coleslaw to your tab, and you've basically got dinner and two glasses of killer wine for $35.

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

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

By Robert Farmer

Can somebody tell me what happened to Babe's Burgers? Actually, I think the official name was Babe's Burgers and Franks but everybody just called it Babe's. It's the little ramshackle shop along the highway (Hwy. 121, to be exact) that neatly ties together Napa and Sonoma valleys. You know the place. Or maybe you don't. That was the beauty of Babe's, it was beloved by some, completely off the radar for others. It was the kind of place that maintained an "insider" vibe no matter what restaurant was currently the talk of the valley - either valley. It was easily blown by when cruising along the Highway in the Carneros District, bouncing from one winery to the next.

By Courtney Cochran

Here's a dare: Sidle into a bar in San Francisco's Mission District and ask a patron to name her favorite food purveyor in town.  Given recent trends, she's just as likely to respond, "The Bacon Dog Cart ", "The Tamale Lady" or "The Crème Brulee Guy" as to finger a member of the city's restaurant royalty such as Zuni Café or Boulevard. Why? Because, you see, street is the new chic when it comes to dining out in SF, a trend that - so long as the economy continues its lackluster performance - will only gain still more strength.

By Courtney Cochran

According to reputable sources, Twitter - that fashionable new medium for micro-blogging that my parents keep asking me about and that I keep - ahem - trying to get the hang of - has now officially become a "major source in breaking news" , so I thought it only fitting that I begin scouring the Twittersphere for hot new tips on food to report here. And so - with no further ado! - fasten your seatbelts for forthcoming features on top food Tweeters and their fare.

These beauties are a different fruit of the vine

By Laurel Miller

As Seen in Napa Sonoma Magazine

Tell the guests you've invited to your next dinner party that you'll be serving eye of the goat, and you may get some last-minute cancellations. However, when you explain that you've cooked a round, tan-and-brown-speckled heirloom bean with a rich, full flavor and a meaty pot liquor (the residual cooking liquid), they may think you're a little odd, but will probably still come.

Read More

CLICK HERE - To order your personal copy of the Napa Sonoma Magazine

Submitted by Gallo Winery

The Gallo family believes that one of the reasons they have stayed strong as a family business for over 75 years is their love of sitting down together to share good food, wine and conversation.  Many meals have been enjoyed, some from old Italian family recipes and some more contemporary Californian in style. This recipe was created by one of the first employees at the Winery and has been a favorite of the Gallo family for years.

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti, 1 lb.
• Tomato Paste, 4 cans (6oz. ea.)
• Plump Tomatoes, 2 cans (14.5oz. ea.)
• Ground Round Steak, 2 lbs.
• Ground Pork, ½ lb.
• 2 Eggs
• Gallo Family Vineyards Frei Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 1 cup
• Garlic Cloves, Sliced, 4 each
• Parsley, Chopped, 4 Tbs.
• Cheese, Parmesan
• Basil
• Water, 1 can (14.5 oz)
• Salt, 1 ½ tsp
• Garlic Salt, 1 ½ tsp
• Black Pepper, ½ tsp

By Courtney Cochran

With all things locavore taking off faster than you can say "farm fresh," it comes as no surprise that today's diners are itching to get closer to their food sources.  And though most restaurateurs are hard pressed to literally bring the farm to the table (though this phrase gets tossed around far more often than it should), it turns out we CAN in fact take the table to the farm.

By Courtney Cochran

There's a reason they call it the 100-Mile Diet "Challenge": It's not easy eating local. Ever since "locavore" became the Word of the Year for the Oxford American Dictionary in 2007, the movement that champions consuming only locally produced foods has skyrocketed to the fore of our national consciousness, even scoring a much-replayed send-up by Robin Williams on Law & Order: SVU . ; But as the hype wanes and reality sets in, a backlash is brewing as would-be adherents struggle to stick to a diet that's long on effort and - more often than many proponents would care to admit - often short on gustatory reward .

Submitted by: Perry Hoffman, Chef de Cuisine
                          étoile at Domaine Chandon

Dungeness Crab has everything a chef loves - sweet, salty, rich, but also light - all at the same time. An incredibly versatile ingredient, crab has the enviable ability to work well with many other components. Chef Hoffman prefers to pair this dish with étoile Brut.

Popular television host Leslie Sbrocco invites wine and food lovers to share a toast

By Bonnie Wach

As Seen in Napa Sonoma Magazine

Over the last decade, wine guru Leslie Sbrocco, host of the popular KQED television food show Check, Please! Bay Area, has promoted cheap champagne, championed screw caps, and proudly paired fine wines with everything from Rice Krispies Treats and Twinkies to Chinese takeout.

"Wine should be comfort, not stress," says the Petaluma resident, who is also the author of Wine for Women and The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide. "It's simply fermented grape juice. People shouldn't get uptight about it. I try to teach people that there's never any wrong answer with wine."

Read More

CLICK HERE - To order your personal copy of the Napa Sonoma Magazine

Submitted by: Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen
Chef: Les Goodman

Wine Pairing Suggestion:
Papapietro Perry Winery 2005 "Peter's Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, located in Hotel Healdsburg, serves an ever-changing menu celebrating Sonoma County's fresh seasonal ingredients and wines. Each March, Chef Palmer hosts Pigs and Pinot, a two day festival of spectacular food and wine.  This dish is a tribute to Pigs and Pinot and is paired with this year's winning Pinot Noir.


Hotel Healdsburg
25 Matheson Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448
800.889.7188
www.hotelhealdsburg.com

Dry Creek Kitchen
Hotel Healdsburg
317 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707.431.0330
www.charliepalmer.com

Author Nadia Gordon stages her series of mystery tales in a fictionalized Napa Valley

By Peter Crooks

As Seen in Napa Sonoma Magazine

In the new novel Lethal Vintage, chef Sunny McCoskey is tossed into a murder mystery involving a billionaire, his mistress, and a cast of winemakers and foodies. Plus, McCoskey's restaurant just received an overabundant shipment of salmon that needs to sell that day. What's a chef (and amateur detective) to do?

Getting to the clever whodunit twist at the end of Lethal Vintage is just part of the fun in the delicious potboiler. Along the way, readers are treated to a virtual tour of Wine Country, with a flurry of references to real and fictional restaurants and wineries dropped into the quickly turning pages.

To Read More, Click Here.

By Courtney Cochran

Mega popular - and controversial - user review site Yelp.com announced last week that it will begin allowing businesses reviewed on the site to publicly respond to reviews left by customers. This is big news for businesses (including restaurants, who comprise the lion's share of spots reviewed on the site) who feel they've been unjustly maligned by unsatisfied customers - and big news as well to users who would prefer to keep the site completely free of business feedback.

Submitted by Chef Felipe Barragan of Chateau de Vie Bed and Breakfast & Vineyards

Rumor would have it that many moons ago when the Napa Valley was just a hand full of eager young vintners, a weekly gathering of the minds would come together and share in a breakfast of Scrambled Eggs and Napa Valley Chardonnay. Here you find the only breakfast that Chateau de Vie so daringly pairs a glass of golden delight.

Ingredients:

• 12 large eggs
• 2 tbsp butter
• ½ cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Tarragon
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 6 Slices or pieces of your favorite Brea Cheese.

Submitted by Chef Christopher Kostow of
 The Restaurant at Meadowood

Squab:

• 1 whole squab
• 3 ½ tablespoons Darjeeling tea
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups salt
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 liter duck fat

Submitted by Louis M. Martini Winery

Since 1933, the wines of Louis M. Martini have been crafted in the belief that wine is best enjoyed with food and among friends and family.  The Martini family has been gathering and creating recipes for generations, recipes made with their rich, distinctive wines in mind.
Here is one such recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 duck breast halves
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• ½ cup cabernet sauvignon
• 2- 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons powdered ginger
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon softened butter
• 1 teaspoon flour

Submitted by The Meritage Resort and Spa

The new Friday tradition at The Meritage Resort is Fish 'n Chips.  Chef Laurent is using seasonal cold water fish and Napa's own Napa Smith Brewery Beer to create the perfect batter.  Every Friday morning, Laurent brings the freshest fish available from Kanaola Seafood at Oxbow Market, depending on the season, to make the perfect Fish 'n Chips.

Submitted by Timber Cove Inn ~ Sonoma

Wine Country Chef Jon Mortimer is the mastermind behind Alexander's, the Sonoma Coast culinary soiree that overlooks panoramic seascapes at the attractive Timber Cove Inn. Inspired by local ingredients and sensory Sonoma bliss, this radiant dish offers exotic flavor via local pork and the unique collaboration of cinnamon, coriander and cayenne pepper.

Submitted by Timber Cove Inn ~ Sonoma

8 smoked Roma tomatoes (cut in half and smoked for ½ hour, or fresh tomatoes if desired)

Ingredients:

• 1 large Walla Walla sweet onion
• 2 oz. Vegetable oil
• 2 to 4 Chipotle peppers (chopped)
• 1 zucchini (diced)
• 1 yellow squash (diced)
• 2 stalks celery (cut on a bias)
• 2 small carrots (peeled and cut on a bias)
• 1-cup pork stock (use chicken if unavailable)
• 1-cup tomato juice
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Kosher salt to taste
• 20 sprigs fresh cilantro

By Courtney Cochran

In a down economy, a lunch invitation is a valuable thing. Implicit behind said invitation is "I will pay - I am inviting you, so it's my treat." So when my sister invited me to lunch downtown today, I was thrilled (good company and a free meal - I can hardly think of a more pleasant prospect). But when I stepped gleefully though the doors of Sam's - an institutional eatery in San Francisco's financial district known as a hot spot for lunch time power players - I was floored by what I saw: a nearly-empty restaurant, nary a power player in sight.

Submitted by Chad Hendrickson, Executive Chef The Hess Collection

At The Hess Collection, Executive Chef Chad Hendrickson utilizes an organic garden outside the kitchen, and purchases from local farmers and vendors to create fresh seasonal recipes to pair with Hess Collection wines.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  
• 1 ea. Chickens cut in 8 pieces
  
• 1 cup Porcini mushrooms, sliced
  
• 1½ cup Onions, diced
  
• 2 ea. Garlic clove, minced
  
• 2 Tbsp. Tomato paste
  
• 1 ea 14 oz can stewed tomatoes
  
• 1 Tbsp. Fresh Thyme, finely chopped
  
• 1 ea. Bay leaf
  
• to taste Salt and Pepper
  
• 1 Tbsp. Italian Parsley, chopped
  
• to taste lemon juice
  

By Courtney Cochran

As is tradition, the Obamas appointed no shortage of new cabinet members and White House staffers when now-President Barack assumed the executive office earlier this year, though one important post went unaltered:  that of White House chef.  Turns out that Cristeta Comerford, a young Filipina mother, has run the White House kitchen since she assumed the post of top toque under Laura Bush - and the Obamas are set on keeping her. 

Yountville, CA - Napa Valley Irishman Bob Hurley is getting ready to celebrate his own brand of Saint Patrick's Day at Hurley's Restaurant & Bar in Yountville. When March 17th rolls around most people come for the corned beef and cabbage - cured six weeks in house. But Chef Hurley also plans to get back to his roots in County Kerry and showcase what the Emerald Isle does best despite the short summers and rocky soil. He feels that the secret and beauty of Irish cookery lies in its simplicity. The menu, written in Gaelic, will feature Breac Bácáilte (whole baked trout with cockles, mussels, new potatoes and pearl onions), Gaelic Stú (Irish stew), Brat Caoireola (Irish farmhouse soup with peas, barley, carrots, onions and lamb), Ciste Visce Beatha (Irish whiskey cake) and of course his own corned beef and cabbage and more. Classic Irish potato preparations of the day will be Champ (mashed potatoes with melted butter and green onions) and Boxty (Irish potato pancake). For those who can't get enough of the restaurant's favorite dishes the regular menu will also be available.

By Courtney Cochran

When I hosted a "Salty & Sweet" wine and food tasting in San Francisco last spring, I sought out products for sampling whose sophistication and good taste was matched by sense of whimsy. Hotel Chocolat - a decidedly design-forward luxury chocolatier with a penchant for capricious concoctions - fit the bill perfectly, a fact evidenced by the sheer delight with which many of my guests greeted the UK-based company's Chocolate Dipping Adventure kit, a centerpiece at the event.

Bella Villa Messina is located in Sonoma Wine Country. They boast 5 rooms that feature goose-down comforters, fine linens, private baths, TVs with VCRs, Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces and a superb Sonoma breakfast prepared each morning.

They submitted two recipes (Spinach Frittata or Hawaiian French Toast) that you can either try at home or perhaps taste when you make reservations at the villa!

Sonoma County is famous for their year-round abundance of produce. Each season Ferrari-Carano's culinary gardens offer Rhonda Carano's inspiration for new and delicious recipes as well as tried and true recipes from her Italian ancestry. With farmers' markets spreading across the country and people's desire for fresh fruit and vegetables, it's becoming easier for today's cook to create fresh and diverse menus that are not only delicious, but also nutritious.

This ever-changing bounty of ingredients makes entertaining fun and pleasing for every palate when paired with the perfect wine. Below are two such recipes...

Grilled Lamb Chops with Wine-Mint Marinade
Wine Pairing: Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon

Pasta Butterflies with Asparagus and Snowpeas
Wine Pairing: Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay

Ferrari-Carano also offers several other recipes online. Or use their Wine and Food Pairing Guide to assist you in selecting the ideal wine for all your entertaining needs.

Provided by Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery

16-18 first course servings

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 12 oz. tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 2 lbs all-purpose flour
• Cornmeal, as needed
• Parmesan Cream Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions:
Combine eggs, tomato paste and salt in food processor and blend. Mix in eggs and blend till very well combined. Add flour slowly, and continue to mix until dough is formed into a ball. Take dough out and knead a little, then let rest.

Roll dough to thinnest possible setting on pasta machine. Lay strips of dough on a surface lightly dusted with cornmeal. Let rest, uncovered for 10 mins. Cut 1" x 2" rectangles, with a serrated hand wheel. Pinch in the center of each rectangle to form the "butterfly" shape, making sure the pinched center adheres.

Parmesan Cream Sauce:

• 1 lb asparagus
• 2 oz unsalted butter
• 1/3 lb. snow peas, trimmed
• 1-1/4 qt heavy cream
• 2/3 cup parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Trim and peel asparagus, cut on bias into 1" pieces. Blanch asparagus and drain and dry. Melt butter in sauté pan and add snowpeas and asparagus, sauté, tossing often until vegetables are tender. Add cream and cheese. Bring to boil and reduce until cream is slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss with pasta immediately.

Wine Pairing: Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

Recipe provided by Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery

Marinade:

• 2 med. garlic cloves
• 1 med. shallot
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped mint
• 1 Tbsp chopped rosemary
• 3 Tbsp dry red wine
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp mint jelly (or honey)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Freshly-ground black pepper
• 8 lamb chops, or rack of lamb

Finely chop garlic, shallot, mint and rosemary in food processor. Add mustard, red wine, olive oil and pepper, until blended. Rub on meat. Store in plastic Ziploc baggie.

Prepare barbecue and grill according to your likeness. Serve immediately.

Garnish with grilled peaches with gorgonzola crumbled on top.

Wine Pairing Suggestion:  Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

HEALDSBURG, CA - Don't miss this year's Fourth Annual Celebration of Pigs & Pinot 2009 event, March 20-21, 2009 at Hotel Healdsburg. The weekend will include a series of intimate dining and educational events hosted by renowned Chef Palmer.

Tickets can be purchased directly online and there are several lodging packages available at Hotel Healdsburg which include access to all Pigs & Pinot events, including exclusive access to the Gala Dinner. But space is limited; so make sure you make advance reservations now!

By Courtney Cochran

Last July California made headlines when it became the first state to ban - by 2010, that is - the use of artery-clogging trans fats in restaurants.  Hailed by nutrition advocates as a dramatic and positive step towards the betterment of public health, the Schwarzenegger-backed legislation has stirred up vehement opposition from some state residents who call the ban an infringement on their basic civil liberties.

ST. HELENA, CA - Dine at PRESS Restaurant this Spring and enjoy their featured specials and limited time offers.

*MONDAY NIGHT DINNERS
Four course dinner served family style
See website on Sundays for menu
$55 per person

*Visit online to view weekly Monday Night Dinner Menu*

WINE LIST WEDNESDAYS
Free corkage and 50% off entire Napa Valley featured wine list until May 1, 2009

SUNDAY-THURSDAY BLUE PLATE BAR SPECIAL
Only at the PRESS bar
$10 Blue Plate Special that changes daily Call daily for chef's special selections

PRESS Restaurant
587 St. Helena Highway South
Call 707-967-0550 for reservations
www.presssthelena.com

Whether a self proclaimed gourmet cook or one in hiding, you most likely know the benefits of cooking with wine and (in imitation of Julia Child) consider drinking wine while cooking a must.

I myself am no stranger to using a little Zin in spaghetti sauce, Chardonnay with sauteed mushrooms and butter, and scores of other wines when the recipe calls for it.  Of course, there are also those times, while drinking wine, when every dish seemed to warrant a dash of wine here and there whether dictated by a recipe or not, but I digress...

In any event, it never crossed my mind to use a dessert or ice wine in cooking. But lo and behold, I read an article A Lesson in Enjoying Ice Wine that aptly stated "You pair it with desserts, drink it after meals, but you've never thought to use it to make your desserts, or use it in your meals".  Perhaps, its time we all venture out into new territory.  Imagine all the wonderful possibilities of cooking with ice wine...like with your French Toast....

NAPA, CA - Locals or any in the area during the work week trying to save a buck (or two) on a light late lunch or early dinner should stop by Bounty Hunter Wine Bar in downtown Napa.  Bounty Hunter boasts 40 wines by the glass and a seven page wine list of wines from around the world.

The items on their regular food menu can start to add up, but their happy hour is quite the bargain.  Happy Hour is Monday - Thursday only from 3 to 6 pm and features:

• 2 For 1 - Bounty Hunter Brands By-The-Glass
• 25% off the Wine List
• $5 Quarter Slab BBQ Ribs & Slaw
• $10 Smokin' BBQ Taster Plate
• (includes ribs, brisket, & pulled pork)

Stop by for a small respite from the worries of life.

Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ
975 First Street
Napa, CA 94559
www.bountyhunterwinebar.com

Colorado Lamb Rack with Blueberry Compote,
Pumpkin Risotto and Mustard Glace

Chef: James Waller
Executive Chef, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Prepared for Pairings at the Plaza during the 9th Annual Great Wine Escape in Monterey, CA

By Courtney Cochran

In Barbara Kingsolver's fascinating new book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,  the bestselling author of The Poisonwood Bible chronicles a year in which her family - having relocated to a small Virginia farm - commits to consuming only those foods grown on their own small patch of land or on those of neighboring farms.  And while the premise of the book - a return to the local food culture on which our nation was initially based, and which has long been trumped by corporate farming and industrial food production - is fascinating, even more so may be the insights the book affords into Americans' warped view of just how food is created today, and how it arrives at our tables (clue: we tend not to think too hard about it, to our own detriment).

If you've ever been to Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery in Napa Valley Wine Country, then most likely you have tried their signature chocolate treat called "Bouchon".  It is chocolaty, brownie, cake-like goodness that no person should be without! If you have yet to go, definitely make this as a must visit, see, and taste for yourself stop next time you are in town*.  But what will you do until then???

Apparently, Bouchon Bakery has partnered  exclusively with Williams-Sonoma who are now selling the Chocolate Bouchon Mix directly to consumers.  "The mix combines Guittard cocoa powder, Nielsen-Massey pure vanilla and a generous helping of Callebaut chocolate chips".

It's only $18.00 and yields 18 bouchons.  Of course, you also have to buy the "bouchon mold pan".  Sigh...just looking at the picture is making me salivate all over again. I may have to order my mix tonight or since I live local, maybe just pop over to the bakery itself.

If there are any readers out there that have already tried the mix and have tasted the original, let us know if it tastes the same!

*Note: Bouchon Bakery is also located in New York and Las Vegas.

Chef: Sharon Campbell
Executive Pastry Chef, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Prepared for Pairings at the Plaza during the 9th Annual Great Wine Escape in Monterey, CA

Voges Haut-Chocolate
Ordinarily, you might think of chocolate for the holidays as a stocking stuffer or just a candy dish treat. Don't get stuck in boring traditions. Chocolate should be on your list for a friend, workmate, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin...you get the point.

Voges Haut-Chocolat offers decadently, rich chocolates, truffles, caramels, toffee, and even brownies, ice cream and cake for the sophisticated "I love chocolate" palate. But now that you've scampered across the website, in this menu and the the other, salivating at all this chocolaty goodness, what to get is the now burning question.

With such hard economic times upon us, at least it's heartening to know that businesses are responding with to make your dollar stretch a little farther.

Opentable.com is doing it's part with their Appetite Stimulus Plan.  Enjoy specially priced ($24 lunches, $35 Dinners) three-course menus at top restaurants. In addition, you'll earn 200 Dining Rewards Points for every Appetite Stimulus Plan Reservation that you honor! If you aren't a member yet, you just might want to think about joining.

A couple of restaurants participating in Napa Valley Wine Country and Sonoma Wine Country include:

• Celadon - Napa, CA
• Downtown Joe's Brewery & Restaurant - Napa, CA
  
• Martini House - St. Helena, CA
• El Dorado Kitchen - Sonoma, CA
• Shiso Restaurant - Sonoma, CA

Experience wine & food wherever you are. CLICK HERE to see list of participating restaurants in cities across the nation!

TIP: Cut costs even more and bring your own bottle of wine. You may have to pay a corkage fee, but it will most likely still be cheaper to bring your own then buy!

By Courtney Cochran

Attention, outdoors-loving oenophiles:  Gone are the days of scarfing sub-par sandwiches and downing cheap brews between downhill ski runs. Well, at least for those of us lucky enough to hit the slopes in Southern California, that is.  There, über chef Joachim Splichal of LA's venerable Patina Restaurant Group (think Patina, Pinot Bistro, and Vegas's popular Pinot Brasserie) was recently appointed to oversee all food-service operations on Southern California's Mammoth Mountain, which means that visitors to the state's most popular year-round resort can now enjoy the fruits of the group's signature French-Cal cuisine between runs.

By Courtney Cochran

In a world where blogs and user reviews - AKA the wisdom of the crowd - carry ever-increasing weight, it seems only natural that the pioneer of the user-as-expert theory where restaurants are concerned would still carry significant clout.  And indeed, Zagat still boasts some serious cred with consumers, as evidenced by the widely-noted release of the group's 2009 America's Top Restaurants survey yesterday.

NAPA, CA - As if there was not enough dining options already in the city of Napa, a new one just popped up in the Bel Aire Plaza - Firewood Cafe. Occupying a nice space across the ways from Wholefoods Market and a BBQ place I'm told is quite expensive, Firewood Cafe offers a happy medium for local lunch goers or the casual dinner crowd. It hails from good ol San Francisco with three other locations, Napa being it's fourth location.

By Robert Farmer

Portland, Oregon: If you care enough about wine to read websites devoted to it (this one, for example), I'm guessing you also care enough about food to use the Internet to learn and make better decisions about food. So let me tell you about my new favorite website. It's called Culinate.com and it is one of the best among many food-related websites popping up from one end of the web to the other.

By Robert Farmer

Recently my wife and I ventured out for an increasingly rare night on the town for dinner without our new baby. To us, such an occasion is special, so we set out for one of our favorite special occasion restaurants in San Francisco.

Though the place isn't one of the high-voltage restaurants that most people in SF correlate with a special occasion, it is a local favorite, which consistently earns high marks with critics and area foodies alike. Also, they have an exceptional wine list to match their gorgeous menu.

by Courtney Cochran

Brenda and Dylan had The Peach Pit. Rachel and Ross had Central Perk. Even Carrie and Samantha shared many a gab fest in the same sunny Manhattan diner (what was it called??).

Whether we're talking 90210, 10010 or right here in wine country, there's an undeniable fascination with dining haunts frequented by our favorite locals. And, lucky for wine country travelers, the spots in our own backyard are much more accessible than their fictional TV counterparts.

By Courtney Cochran

Tea & Cookies
"It is the intersection of food and life that I find most fascinating," Seattle-based food blogger "Tea" explains of the MO behind her popular blog, Tea & Cookies, which focuses as much on the stories behind food as the good stuff itself. In a recent post, the professional writer - who goes by the pseudonym Tea to remain anonymous - chronicles her quest to make the perfect pita, a process that begins with a Sunday morning itch to bake and follows the author as she grapples with a fear of yeast and failed attempt at making her pita dough rise.

In the culinary world, the term "award-winning" is tossed around like so many mushrooms sautéed in a skillet. But sometimes the term actually means something, and some restaurants and chefs just seem to rack up the awards faster than others. Especially in Wine Country, where the competition is fierce, the awards and accolades a particular place earns can mean the difference between good and great.

By Courtney Cochran

IKEA got it right:  Give design conscious customers appealing, easy-to-assemble furniture at reasonable prices, and - presto! - they score designer-caliber furnishings, a feeling of accomplishment and even cross the finish line with enough dough left in the bank to splurge on the matching ottoman.

Everyone wins.

By Courtney Cochran
Leave it to wine country dwellers to divine a venue where you can master downward dog, realign your chakras and dine on sustainably farmed eats and drink all in one place.  At Napa's new Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio (ubuntunapa.com), a daily roster of classes including Ashtanga, Hatha, prenatal and Vinyasa techniques is complemented by - what else? - vegetarian-inspired cuisine crafted from goods sourced from local farms and the spot's nearby biodynamic gardens.

by Courtney Cochran

If the flurry of construction that's been underway along the waterfront in downtown Napa is any indicator, the once-sleepy city is on the brink of becoming a major tourist destination. And the Oxbow Public Market (oxbowpublicmarket.com) - at just three months' old one of the newest additions to the downtown area - may be one of the city's most promising new arrivals.  Read on for the scoop on our favorite purveyors in this venue that looks poised to become the next big thing in a whole new Napa.

by Courtney Cochran

When I was a freshman at UCLA a decade ago, the school was considered ahead of its time - and ranked as one of the nation's top college campuses for dining - thanks to its "high end" cafeteria embellishments like a DIY pizza bar and made-to-order omelets on weekends.

by Courtney Cochran

Like the always-chic little black dress, chocolate never goes out of style.  Whether prepared in a winter-perfect soufflé format, drizzled over ice cream during the summer months or tucked into a decadent truffle that's perfect any season, chocolate gets it right every time.  Read on for tips on pairing wine with this timeless treat, as well as insights on some of the best spots to try your hand at wine and chocolate pairing in person.  

The highly anticipated announcement of this year's finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards (jbfawards.com) counts some of wine country's brightest stars among its honorees.  Dubbed "the Oscars of the food world" by TIME Magazine, the "JBF" awards have been recognizing North America's top food and beverage professionals, broadcast journalists, authors and restaurant designers since 1990 at their annual awards gala at Lincoln Center.  Past recipients include Jacques Pépin, Joel Robuchon, Thomas Keller and Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards - to name just a few.

By Courtney Cochran

Spend enough time in a wine country brew pub and you'll sooner or later hear the favorite mantra of wine country bartenders, "It takes a lot of good beer to make great wine."  And while beer's popularity with the winemaking cognoscenti may not come as a huge surprise, its affinity for cheese probably does. That's right, like wine beer can pair beautifully with an array of fromages from Muenster to Morbier, and often does so even more gracefully than vino itself.

By Natalie MacLean

Breakfast in a gulp, lunch on the go and dinner on the run. Life in the fast lane seems to have bypassed the slow, ancient pleasures of the table. However, an amiable group of gastromes hopes to put an end to our nuke-it-and-eat-it culture.

With a charming chiocciolina (small snail) as its mascot and a philosophy that advocates the defence of pleasure, Slow Food, an international organization with 30,000 members in 35 countries is helping members rediscover the flavours of regional cooking and fresh local produce. The group believes that small doses of sensual pleasure preserve us from the fast and frozen food, the enemies of contemplative cuisine.