Ken Cheuvront has a wonderful wine bar and bistro in downtown Phoenix and he's on the "local" bandwagon, hosting a winemaker dinner featuring a local wine paired with local food! I love that this concept is spreading like wildfire. It feels wonderful to support our neighbors and treat ourselves to a great meal!
Josh was unable to attend due to a previous engagement, however, I invited our good friend Christina to join me and we had so much fun!
As always, Sam is such an entertaining person. We were lucky enough to be seated with him and enjoyed the conversation that covered Arizona wines and film making (and the surprising similarities that they share!).
The restaurant features a beautiful bar, a wine wall and a lovely cheese display with some tasty artisanal cheeses (which we enjoyed after the dinner). Ken started the evening by explaining that he has these wine dinners monthly and was excited to feature local items at this event . . . especially because he is one of the few natives of the area! I have to tell you that the chef did a spectacular job pairing the food with the wines.
We started with a "Lamb Lettuce Wrap". The lamb was cooked perfectly - a very tender medium rare - and served on some beautiful fresh butter leaf lettuce and topped with a cucumber mint lettuce creme fraiche. This was paired with the Pillsbury Rose. In all honesty, when I saw the dish I was a little concerned about the pairing, not thinking it would be light enough for the wine BUT it pleasantly surprised all of us at the table. It was a perfect match . . . the freshness of the lettuce and the cucumber in the sauce played a perfect duet with the wine. I have to tell you that I am disappointed that once the Rose is gone - we won't be seeing it again. It was from a batch of grapes that no longer exist! It will be sorely missed. This truly was my intro into Rose wine and I compare all others to this. I better hit Sam up for some more to save before it's gone!
We were then able to enjoy a glass of the Pillsbury Roan Red, which I'm finding to be a favorite everywhere it's poured. It has a touch of spice that really is accentuated when served with the appropriate food. Once again the chef had a hit! She served a "Spanish Pizza" that was topped with chorizo and a chiptle tomato coulis and finished with smoked Gouda. Sam was apprehensive about the spicy chorizo overtaking the wine but it truly was a great match. The chorizo brought out the flavors of the wine and showcased the depth of the flavor! It seemed to be a hit at every table!
Our third course consisted of a "Southwestern Pork Roast" served with a sweet hominy polenta cake, roasted vegetables and a light cream and green chile sauce. Although we felt the pairing was not as on as the other courses, the food and the wine were great in their own right. The Diva is a bold wine that overtook the milder flavors of the pork. However, the freshness of the pork and the richness of the polenta cake made for a wonderful plate! The quality of the food throughout the entire meal never wavered. This is obviously a chef that cares about the food she serves and knows about quality and freshness.
For dessert we were served a "Caramel Peach Cobbler" paired with Page Springs Cellars "Short and Sweet". This is a "top secret" recipe but in trying to crack the code - we came up with a Malvasia. A very nice light and fruity wine that paired nicely with the fresh peaches and the nice light crust on top! I'm personally not a fruit fan and ate the top of the cobbler, but my friend who loves food (all food!) really enjoyed this dessert. Her favorite part was that the fruit was not TOO sweet - just a nice, light dessert - not heavy and syrupy!
Well, we really hope to enjoy another dinner or event at Cheuvront's! If this is any indication of the quality of food that is served on a regular basis - this really is a DON'T MISS in Phoenix!
(Because I'm not a dessert fan, we decided to wrap things up with a cheese plate and a bottle of Incognito after everyone left. Our server was fabulous and very informed about the cheese. Something we all noted was not common enough in our experiences at other restaurants! All in all - a great experience that I hope you will take the time to enjoy someday for yourself!)
PS - Sam will be hosting another winemaker dinner at Quiessence (at the Farm at South Mountain) on October 8th. Another great restaurant with another great wine!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Page Springs Cellars Harvest Festival
OK - this is the final of the three posts today! I'll have to stay up on things in the future! On August 23rd (Saturday), 2008 we visited the Page Springs Cellars third annual Harvest Festival.
Being a very wet summer, we found rain again on this outing. I have to say, though, it was very pleasant at this outdoor event because it was a very light rain and just enough to cool things down.
We arrived a little bit early hoping to take some pictures of the vines for the magazine (we're always looking for that special "cover shot"). With the clouds it was a bit difficult and the ripened vines were covered in bird netting (placed over the top of the vines near harvest-time when the grapes become dinner for animals in the area!). I did, though, crawl under one of the nets and I think we have a winner for our winter cover! We'll see!
We met up with Fabian Grandoli the vineyard manager for Arizona Stronghold, Page Springs' sister vineyard. And also with Sam Pillsbury of Pillsbury Wine Co. When the festivities began we ordered a bottle of the Vino de Familia, one of my favorite Page Springs wines. A nice fruity yet bold red - I believe it's mostly Syrah. Eric is a master at blends!
We went down to the entertainment and enjoyed Fabian's son singing for the first time to the group that had arrived. He did a wonderful job! Not only was it his first time singing in public, it was his sixteenth birthday! Bravo, Thomas!!!! I think we'll be seeing this guy in the record stores in the future (oh, just dated myself). . . on MTV in the future!
Then we were treated to Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai - formerly of City Folk in the Santa Cruz area of California. When Eric was a winemaker in that area he met Keith and we are happy he did! The band was energetic and everyone was up dancing! It was a family affair!
Next up was Po' Girl from New Orleans! Wow - they were fabulous! Their lead singer has so much energy and a beautiful voice! I was truly amazed.
For food we enjoyed burgers, dogs and veggie burgers! Staffed by volunteers, I was so impressed by how smooth everything was. All smiles and a fun time!
Being a very wet summer, we found rain again on this outing. I have to say, though, it was very pleasant at this outdoor event because it was a very light rain and just enough to cool things down.
We arrived a little bit early hoping to take some pictures of the vines for the magazine (we're always looking for that special "cover shot"). With the clouds it was a bit difficult and the ripened vines were covered in bird netting (placed over the top of the vines near harvest-time when the grapes become dinner for animals in the area!). I did, though, crawl under one of the nets and I think we have a winner for our winter cover! We'll see!
We met up with Fabian Grandoli the vineyard manager for Arizona Stronghold, Page Springs' sister vineyard. And also with Sam Pillsbury of Pillsbury Wine Co. When the festivities began we ordered a bottle of the Vino de Familia, one of my favorite Page Springs wines. A nice fruity yet bold red - I believe it's mostly Syrah. Eric is a master at blends!
We went down to the entertainment and enjoyed Fabian's son singing for the first time to the group that had arrived. He did a wonderful job! Not only was it his first time singing in public, it was his sixteenth birthday! Bravo, Thomas!!!! I think we'll be seeing this guy in the record stores in the future (oh, just dated myself). . . on MTV in the future!
Then we were treated to Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai - formerly of City Folk in the Santa Cruz area of California. When Eric was a winemaker in that area he met Keith and we are happy he did! The band was energetic and everyone was up dancing! It was a family affair!
Next up was Po' Girl from New Orleans! Wow - they were fabulous! Their lead singer has so much energy and a beautiful voice! I was truly amazed.
For food we enjoyed burgers, dogs and veggie burgers! Staffed by volunteers, I was so impressed by how smooth everything was. All smiles and a fun time!
Verde Canyon Railroad Grape Train Escape
OK - Here's entry number two of the day! August 15th, 2008 we joined two other couples to enjoy the Verde Canyon Railroad's "Grape Train Escape" featuring wines from the Verde Valley! We were already excited just to be able to hang out with our friends and the local wines were icing on the cake. I was the only one who had been on a train trip with the Verde Canyon Railroad in the past and in all honesty I didn't have high expectations. I learned that the time of year and the company you're with can make all the difference in the world. We all had a great time.
They have you arrive a bit earlier than necessary. We had all just driven up from Phoenix, checked into our rooms at the Quality Inn and then ventured on over. I think the wait was a bit over an hour - so you may want to verify the time the train leaves before getting there that early. While we were waiting in line the DUST STORM OF ALL TIME blew through! It actually hurt as it passed by - me and the other gals had our legs blasted but in a way it signified the start to a great adventure. In the distance we could see dark clouds and lightning. Hmmmm . . . what were we getting ourselves into . . .
When we arrived we were presented with menus for our trip. The Grape Train Escapes all occur in first class and they have a full bar available. This was an unexpected treat for the cocktail drinkers of the group. The appetizers weren't much more than a "lunchable" spread but the atmosphere and wine made up for it. As the train departed it started to rain and we were concerned that we wouldn't be able to take any pictures. Well, the rain cleared up and we could actually take pictures from inside the train! The terrain was just gorgeous. Most of the train follows the Verde River and Josh told us all stories from his childhood growing up in Cornville! The guy has some great stories! The weather was your typical monsoon storm - variable lightning, rain and sunshine!
There was a nice variety of wines for us to taste. We started with a taste of 2006 Pinot Grigio from Alcantara Vineyards. This is one of my favorite winery locations in the state. It has beautiful views from the Italian-style villa that Barbara and Bob Predmore built! The wine was nice but a bit sweet for my tastes. Jen loved it and ordered a glass!
Then they poured a Chardonnay from Page Springs Cellars (the menu says Arizona Stronghold but I'm thinking that they may have sourced the grapes from Arizona Stronghold - the only wine released from this vineyard has been the Tazi, as far as I know). This was a dry, citrusy (is that a word?!) wine that I pleasantly enjoyed. One thing to know - they don't serve the tastes in a wine glass - you drink from what appears to be a shot glass.
At this point we decided to order some drinks as the tastes just weren't enough! As I mentioned earlier, some ordered the Pinot Grigio and others the Chardonnay (or a cocktail). The next wine served was the 2006 Oak Creek Vineyard Merlot. A fruity flavored wine that appealed to my friend Jen (she loved the Pinot Grigio, too!)
Next was my favorite - the Javelina Leap Zinfandel. This was really nice. I wrote about the barrel tasting I did at this vineyard in a previous post. This truly was my favorite and it was nice to save the best for last! Fruity yet bold! Great depth of flavor!
Our final taste wasn't local but was a nice finishing touch. They served chocolate covered strawberries with a taste of Frexienet Cordon Negro. A perfect palate quencher!
Afterward we went to the Recovery Room restaurant in Cottonwood (right across from the hotel we were staying at). Although it appeared they were closing, the bartender was nice enough to stay open for us to have a bit more wine. We tried another local wine that was a new release (to me) - Freitas Vineyard's Syrah. It was a bit sweet for me, but again, Jen thought it was fabulous. That's the thing about wine . . . just because it doesn't suit one, doesn't mean it's not a great wine! Josh and I enjoyed a bottle of Caduceus Chupacabra! This is one of my favorite wines (how many favorites can I have?!). It's my understanding that he (Maynard James Keenan) will be releasing some new wines in the fall and that the Chupacabra may have a different blend. Well, I hope it retains most of this great flavor!
Anyway, we really enjoyed the outing and I would recommend it to others. They only offer the local wine train once a year - but the Grape Train Escape events are held throughout the summer and fall - showcasing different wines and liquors (the previous one had been a Tequila Train!). If you are passing through this area - be sure to visit the Recovery Room restaurant (their food is great, too - we had breakfast there the next day - Southwest Eggs Benedict with Chipotle Hollandaise and corn bread - YUMMMMM) and also the Asylum restaurant in Jerome (both owned by Paula Woolsley).
They have you arrive a bit earlier than necessary. We had all just driven up from Phoenix, checked into our rooms at the Quality Inn and then ventured on over. I think the wait was a bit over an hour - so you may want to verify the time the train leaves before getting there that early. While we were waiting in line the DUST STORM OF ALL TIME blew through! It actually hurt as it passed by - me and the other gals had our legs blasted but in a way it signified the start to a great adventure. In the distance we could see dark clouds and lightning. Hmmmm . . . what were we getting ourselves into . . .
When we arrived we were presented with menus for our trip. The Grape Train Escapes all occur in first class and they have a full bar available. This was an unexpected treat for the cocktail drinkers of the group. The appetizers weren't much more than a "lunchable" spread but the atmosphere and wine made up for it. As the train departed it started to rain and we were concerned that we wouldn't be able to take any pictures. Well, the rain cleared up and we could actually take pictures from inside the train! The terrain was just gorgeous. Most of the train follows the Verde River and Josh told us all stories from his childhood growing up in Cornville! The guy has some great stories! The weather was your typical monsoon storm - variable lightning, rain and sunshine!
There was a nice variety of wines for us to taste. We started with a taste of 2006 Pinot Grigio from Alcantara Vineyards. This is one of my favorite winery locations in the state. It has beautiful views from the Italian-style villa that Barbara and Bob Predmore built! The wine was nice but a bit sweet for my tastes. Jen loved it and ordered a glass!
Then they poured a Chardonnay from Page Springs Cellars (the menu says Arizona Stronghold but I'm thinking that they may have sourced the grapes from Arizona Stronghold - the only wine released from this vineyard has been the Tazi, as far as I know). This was a dry, citrusy (is that a word?!) wine that I pleasantly enjoyed. One thing to know - they don't serve the tastes in a wine glass - you drink from what appears to be a shot glass.
At this point we decided to order some drinks as the tastes just weren't enough! As I mentioned earlier, some ordered the Pinot Grigio and others the Chardonnay (or a cocktail). The next wine served was the 2006 Oak Creek Vineyard Merlot. A fruity flavored wine that appealed to my friend Jen (she loved the Pinot Grigio, too!)
Next was my favorite - the Javelina Leap Zinfandel. This was really nice. I wrote about the barrel tasting I did at this vineyard in a previous post. This truly was my favorite and it was nice to save the best for last! Fruity yet bold! Great depth of flavor!
Our final taste wasn't local but was a nice finishing touch. They served chocolate covered strawberries with a taste of Frexienet Cordon Negro. A perfect palate quencher!
Afterward we went to the Recovery Room restaurant in Cottonwood (right across from the hotel we were staying at). Although it appeared they were closing, the bartender was nice enough to stay open for us to have a bit more wine. We tried another local wine that was a new release (to me) - Freitas Vineyard's Syrah. It was a bit sweet for me, but again, Jen thought it was fabulous. That's the thing about wine . . . just because it doesn't suit one, doesn't mean it's not a great wine! Josh and I enjoyed a bottle of Caduceus Chupacabra! This is one of my favorite wines (how many favorites can I have?!). It's my understanding that he (Maynard James Keenan) will be releasing some new wines in the fall and that the Chupacabra may have a different blend. Well, I hope it retains most of this great flavor!
Anyway, we really enjoyed the outing and I would recommend it to others. They only offer the local wine train once a year - but the Grape Train Escape events are held throughout the summer and fall - showcasing different wines and liquors (the previous one had been a Tequila Train!). If you are passing through this area - be sure to visit the Recovery Room restaurant (their food is great, too - we had breakfast there the next day - Southwest Eggs Benedict with Chipotle Hollandaise and corn bread - YUMMMMM) and also the Asylum restaurant in Jerome (both owned by Paula Woolsley).
Barrel tasting at Canelo Hills Vineyard & Winery
First of all, I have to apologize for taking so long to write this post! It has been a very busy time getting the next magazine issue ready for print! We have been attending many fun wine related events so I will be posting a few posts today - be sure to read them all!
August 2nd, 2008 Josh and I attended a barrel tasting at Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery on Saturday night after we left AugustFest in Sonoita. We got there just in time for the tasting. We were able to start with a sample of their current bottling before the barrel tasting began.
Tim and Joan Mueller are great people who are working very hard to create GREAT wine. They established their vineyard in 2003. They have 10 acres and work as a team. Joan grows the grapes while Tim makes the wine. They have been sourcing their grapes from sources in Southern Arizona until their grapes were ready to produce wine - and they are almost there! Well, their grapes are there - they are just waiting to be unveiled from their barrels! Two of the tastes we had were from their estate and they were very good!
As always, here's my disclaimer . . . I am in no way an expert on wine tasting. These are my unrefined opinions and we brought in some from the other folks who participated with us. Please be sure to taste the wines on your own and find your favorites - they may be completely different from ours!
We started with a Sangiovese, Clone 2, from Sweet Sunrise Vineyard in Willcox, AZ. It was light & peppery. I thought it was very nice. Next we tried a Sangiovese from Sweet Sunrise but it was a Brunello Clone . . . this was a traditional fruity Sangiovese with a bit of earthiness. I liked the other Sangiovese better, but Josh liked this one the best!
Then we tried a Syrah (also Sweet Sunrise) that had been aged in three-year-old neutral American oak. You could really taste the oak in this one. If you ever get a chance to "barrel taste" with the winemaker - do it! You learn so much about the winemaker - and you also get a chance to learn how different types of aging affect the flavor of the wine! It's truly amazing. One of the gals that had been to the barrel tasting the week before said that she could really tell that the wines were coming of age - even with just one week more in the barrel.
The Zinfandel (Sweet Sunrise) was aged in a new American oak barrel. This one was oaky and jammy and tasted like chocolate when eaten with the cheddar cheese! Josh found it to be a bit tart.
Now we were in for a treat! The two estate wines we tasted were really something else. They were both aged in new European oak barrels and have us so excited that we pre-ordered some before their release! The first was a Tempranillo. Honestly, I don't normally care that much for Tempranillo - however, this one was much more bold than the ones I've had in the past. Its depth came out in the end with a fruit flavor and a bit of caramel. Very red! The second estate wine we tasted was a Syrah that had a floral nose and tasted a bit like vanilla. We tasted a slight tannic flavor to both - but not in a bad way! We really loved these two wines!
All around, it was a great time with a nice small group of people. Tim was able to share stories of the wines and answered our questions. If you get a chance to join them for future events - be sure to do so! www.canelohillswinery.com
August 2nd, 2008 Josh and I attended a barrel tasting at Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery on Saturday night after we left AugustFest in Sonoita. We got there just in time for the tasting. We were able to start with a sample of their current bottling before the barrel tasting began.
Tim and Joan Mueller are great people who are working very hard to create GREAT wine. They established their vineyard in 2003. They have 10 acres and work as a team. Joan grows the grapes while Tim makes the wine. They have been sourcing their grapes from sources in Southern Arizona until their grapes were ready to produce wine - and they are almost there! Well, their grapes are there - they are just waiting to be unveiled from their barrels! Two of the tastes we had were from their estate and they were very good!
As always, here's my disclaimer . . . I am in no way an expert on wine tasting. These are my unrefined opinions and we brought in some from the other folks who participated with us. Please be sure to taste the wines on your own and find your favorites - they may be completely different from ours!
We started with a Sangiovese, Clone 2, from Sweet Sunrise Vineyard in Willcox, AZ. It was light & peppery. I thought it was very nice. Next we tried a Sangiovese from Sweet Sunrise but it was a Brunello Clone . . . this was a traditional fruity Sangiovese with a bit of earthiness. I liked the other Sangiovese better, but Josh liked this one the best!
Then we tried a Syrah (also Sweet Sunrise) that had been aged in three-year-old neutral American oak. You could really taste the oak in this one. If you ever get a chance to "barrel taste" with the winemaker - do it! You learn so much about the winemaker - and you also get a chance to learn how different types of aging affect the flavor of the wine! It's truly amazing. One of the gals that had been to the barrel tasting the week before said that she could really tell that the wines were coming of age - even with just one week more in the barrel.
The Zinfandel (Sweet Sunrise) was aged in a new American oak barrel. This one was oaky and jammy and tasted like chocolate when eaten with the cheddar cheese! Josh found it to be a bit tart.
Now we were in for a treat! The two estate wines we tasted were really something else. They were both aged in new European oak barrels and have us so excited that we pre-ordered some before their release! The first was a Tempranillo. Honestly, I don't normally care that much for Tempranillo - however, this one was much more bold than the ones I've had in the past. Its depth came out in the end with a fruit flavor and a bit of caramel. Very red! The second estate wine we tasted was a Syrah that had a floral nose and tasted a bit like vanilla. We tasted a slight tannic flavor to both - but not in a bad way! We really loved these two wines!
All around, it was a great time with a nice small group of people. Tim was able to share stories of the wines and answered our questions. If you get a chance to join them for future events - be sure to do so! www.canelohillswinery.com
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Locavore III at Tapino
Yes, it's been a busy two weeks!
August 5th, 2008. Tapino hosted its third Locavore Extravaganza! We attended the first of two nights devoted to local farmers, ranchers, winemakers and artisans. Although the reservation for our party of six was mistakenly reduced to two . . . Wendy and crew immediately fixed the problem and had us seated in a jiffy! We joined a table that included Greg and Tina from Grape Escapes. They offer wine tours to Sedona's wine country on a comfortable motorcoach - nicknamed the "Wine-a-bago".
We were also seated at a table next to the featured winemaker for the evening . . . Todd Bostock (with his beautiful wife Kelly and their new baby, Griffin). I'm glad to say that the sound system worked great and it wasn't as difficult to hear the speakers as it had been in the past. Chef James Porter was joined by Guest Chef Payton Curry of Digestif fame. They're partnership created a synergistic effect that amplified the quality of the dinner that night!
We started with an amuse of cheese, basil oil and micro and licorice basil. Both Josh and I noticed the distinct licorice flavor and thought it might be anise - but no, first time for LICORICE BASIL! Yummy.
The first course was a McClendon Farms sweet red campari tomato poached in queen creek olive oil - paired with Dos Cabezas Pink 2007. I told Josh that I could eat this all the time. It was so tasty! I'm also becoming quite a fan of Arizona Roses. Between Pillsbury Rose and DC Pink - I'm getting spoiled!
The second course was, I think, my favorite. Our guest is a Chowhound and knows her food! She had warned us that Chef Payton Curry was a master of charcuterie . . . and she didn't lie! I'm getting more adventurous with my food choices and I have to say that my favorite item on the plate was the head cheese. I know it sounds yucky . . . but it was fabulous! The plate also included a country pate, a stuffed Padron pepper and warm sausage. The two chefs joked about being the "Two Chefs and a Pig". They literally had a whole pig delivered to them and then created our meal! Fresh, fresh, fresh! This was paired with the "DC White" 2006, a nice light wine that paired nicely.
The third course was a chilled lemon cucumber and tomato martini. I have to admit that I wasn't a fan - however, A BIG HOWEVER, everyone else at the table loved it. It's a texture thing for me, I guess. The celery salt rim (I think) was a great feature.
The fourth course, the entree, was an Arizona pecan wood roasted Visser Farm leg of lamb with Ash Creek Ranch beef cannelloni and native tepary bean ragout. A mouthful but very yummy. This was paired with Dos Cabezas "Toscano" - 2006. I think this was our favorite wine pairing of the night. The food brought out the spiciness of the wine. We all loved it!
Lastly, our dessert of Duck Egg and Fossil Creek goat cheese chocolate flan with Sphinx date ranch caramel. This was great, of course, too! This was paired with Dos Cabezas "El Norte" - 2006. I don't know if this pairing worked the best for me but I loved each of the items individually. Fossil Creek goat cheese is becoming one of my favorite dessert ingredients. I think that Chef Porter has showcased this in all of his locavore dinners - and I hope that he doesn't stop!
I can't tell you how great these events are. I really hope that you attend as many of them as you can. I'm going to try to work on getting some of the other restaurants around the state to start producing the Locavore-themed dinners. Helping the local farmers and getting a chance to enjoy incredible food - I can't think of a better cause! If you are interested in attending a Locavore dinner but don't live in the Phoenix area - talk to your favorite restaurant and see if they are interested in producing this type of meal. Chef Porter said he'd be happy to help any restaurant interested in utilizing this concept!
There's another one set for October - you won't want to miss it! We won't!
August 5th, 2008. Tapino hosted its third Locavore Extravaganza! We attended the first of two nights devoted to local farmers, ranchers, winemakers and artisans. Although the reservation for our party of six was mistakenly reduced to two . . . Wendy and crew immediately fixed the problem and had us seated in a jiffy! We joined a table that included Greg and Tina from Grape Escapes. They offer wine tours to Sedona's wine country on a comfortable motorcoach - nicknamed the "Wine-a-bago".
We were also seated at a table next to the featured winemaker for the evening . . . Todd Bostock (with his beautiful wife Kelly and their new baby, Griffin). I'm glad to say that the sound system worked great and it wasn't as difficult to hear the speakers as it had been in the past. Chef James Porter was joined by Guest Chef Payton Curry of Digestif fame. They're partnership created a synergistic effect that amplified the quality of the dinner that night!
We started with an amuse of cheese, basil oil and micro and licorice basil. Both Josh and I noticed the distinct licorice flavor and thought it might be anise - but no, first time for LICORICE BASIL! Yummy.
The first course was a McClendon Farms sweet red campari tomato poached in queen creek olive oil - paired with Dos Cabezas Pink 2007. I told Josh that I could eat this all the time. It was so tasty! I'm also becoming quite a fan of Arizona Roses. Between Pillsbury Rose and DC Pink - I'm getting spoiled!
The second course was, I think, my favorite. Our guest is a Chowhound and knows her food! She had warned us that Chef Payton Curry was a master of charcuterie . . . and she didn't lie! I'm getting more adventurous with my food choices and I have to say that my favorite item on the plate was the head cheese. I know it sounds yucky . . . but it was fabulous! The plate also included a country pate, a stuffed Padron pepper and warm sausage. The two chefs joked about being the "Two Chefs and a Pig". They literally had a whole pig delivered to them and then created our meal! Fresh, fresh, fresh! This was paired with the "DC White" 2006, a nice light wine that paired nicely.
The third course was a chilled lemon cucumber and tomato martini. I have to admit that I wasn't a fan - however, A BIG HOWEVER, everyone else at the table loved it. It's a texture thing for me, I guess. The celery salt rim (I think) was a great feature.
The fourth course, the entree, was an Arizona pecan wood roasted Visser Farm leg of lamb with Ash Creek Ranch beef cannelloni and native tepary bean ragout. A mouthful but very yummy. This was paired with Dos Cabezas "Toscano" - 2006. I think this was our favorite wine pairing of the night. The food brought out the spiciness of the wine. We all loved it!
Lastly, our dessert of Duck Egg and Fossil Creek goat cheese chocolate flan with Sphinx date ranch caramel. This was great, of course, too! This was paired with Dos Cabezas "El Norte" - 2006. I don't know if this pairing worked the best for me but I loved each of the items individually. Fossil Creek goat cheese is becoming one of my favorite dessert ingredients. I think that Chef Porter has showcased this in all of his locavore dinners - and I hope that he doesn't stop!
I can't tell you how great these events are. I really hope that you attend as many of them as you can. I'm going to try to work on getting some of the other restaurants around the state to start producing the Locavore-themed dinners. Helping the local farmers and getting a chance to enjoy incredible food - I can't think of a better cause! If you are interested in attending a Locavore dinner but don't live in the Phoenix area - talk to your favorite restaurant and see if they are interested in producing this type of meal. Chef Porter said he'd be happy to help any restaurant interested in utilizing this concept!
There's another one set for October - you won't want to miss it! We won't!
Sonoita Vineyard AugustFest Weekend
August 2nd & 3rd, 2008.
Josh and I headed down to Sonoita to attend Sonoita Vineyard's annual AugustFest! We arrived Friday night and stayed at the Sonoita Inn at the crossroads of Hwys 82 & 83. I believe it is one of the largest lodging establishments in Sonoita with ten rooms. We stayed in the Babacamari Ranch Room. (An appropriate venue for this venture - Dr. Gordon Dutt established his first experiemental vineyard on the Ignacio de Babocomari Ranch in Southern Arizona back in 1973). This place really has old west charm! You feel like you're staying at a ranch house (without the smell of the horses!). We were happy to find out that our internet worked in the room. I think we would've appreciated a small refrigerator or central A/C but it's quite possible that some of the charm would've been lost. We slept with the windows open and enjoyed the nice cool night air.
Sonoita Inn offers traditional continental breakfast fare with fresh fruit, various bread items, yogurt and fresh juice and coffee. From here we headed to Sonoita Vineyards. At the end of the "Wine Trail", it is really a beautiful setting. Rolling hills, blue skies and green grass. Gorgeous! A highlight of my morning was meeting Dr. Gordon Dutt. I guess you could say he's Arizona's "Robert Mondavi". At the forefront of the wine industry, Dr. Dutt, a retired soil scientist from the University of Arizona, and A Blake Brophy planted an experimental vineyard in 1973 and found that Arizona soils can produce wines "with brilliant color and acidity". The elevation of Sonoita along with the terra rosa soil (the red dirt) produces a similar climate to Burgundy, France. With the experimental success, Dr. Dutt planted Arizona's first commercial vineyard in 1979 and opened the winery in 1983. He considers the many wineries that dot the countryside throughout Arizona "his babies". He is a very passionate man and shows great pleasure in talking about his success. Thanks Dr. Dutt for getting things started!
This two day event featured vineyard tours on a tractor-trailer that was full from open to close! Megan and Mike shared how the grapes are grown at Sonoita Vineyards as we ventured into the vineyard. If you're interested - Sonoita is always looking for extra help at harvest time. Megan explained that the different varietals are harvested at different times so it's not as daunting of a task as it appears! Fran Lightly, Sonoita Vineyard's winemaker, was also giving winery tours, sharing how the the grape goes through it's transition from mere fruit to beautiful nectar. I think one of the highlights of the day, though, was the Grape Stomp. At 1:30 (both days) everyone got involved in stomping grapes. Don't worry, some guy's toe nail won't be in your wine . . . it's purely for fun, Sonoita Vineyards invites its guests to stomp grapes and gives a prize to the crowd favorite! From all the hootin' and hollerin' there was no doubt that everyone was having fun. Of course, there was wine to taste as well as some nice food to eat. SteakOut Restaurant served BBQ right off the grill. Cafe Sonoita and Gathering Grounds also served some tasty morsels to the hungry revelers.
Although it got a bit windy at the end of the day, everyone really enjoyed hanging out in the sun, drinking a glass of wine on the grass and spending the day with loved ones. Although the gang working the event couldn't have all been biological family, they sure came together as a social family. They really ensured that everyone had a great time and received anything they needed! With the economy and gas prices the crowd wasn't as large as previous years, however, we all sure had a great time and I'll definitely be back again!
The Steakout Restaurant served us a great dinner on Saturday night. One of few restaurants in Sonoita, they were busy as could be! We waited for an hour for our table but it was worth the wait. Everyone was so nice that was working that night (although they were completely slammed!). We enjoyed a beer at the bar while we waited and then mosied out to the patio to enjoy the monsoon storms passing us by. We had two filets that were cooked perfectly (as always) and enjoyed a bottle of Callaghan Buena Suerte. This is a "no frills" experience - but the food quality has been top notch every time we've dined here. Although they were out by the time we were seated, Josh's favorite prime rib dinner is served at the SteakOut. Don't miss it on your next visit to Sonoita!
Josh and I headed down to Sonoita to attend Sonoita Vineyard's annual AugustFest! We arrived Friday night and stayed at the Sonoita Inn at the crossroads of Hwys 82 & 83. I believe it is one of the largest lodging establishments in Sonoita with ten rooms. We stayed in the Babacamari Ranch Room. (An appropriate venue for this venture - Dr. Gordon Dutt established his first experiemental vineyard on the Ignacio de Babocomari Ranch in Southern Arizona back in 1973). This place really has old west charm! You feel like you're staying at a ranch house (without the smell of the horses!). We were happy to find out that our internet worked in the room. I think we would've appreciated a small refrigerator or central A/C but it's quite possible that some of the charm would've been lost. We slept with the windows open and enjoyed the nice cool night air.
Sonoita Inn offers traditional continental breakfast fare with fresh fruit, various bread items, yogurt and fresh juice and coffee. From here we headed to Sonoita Vineyards. At the end of the "Wine Trail", it is really a beautiful setting. Rolling hills, blue skies and green grass. Gorgeous! A highlight of my morning was meeting Dr. Gordon Dutt. I guess you could say he's Arizona's "Robert Mondavi". At the forefront of the wine industry, Dr. Dutt, a retired soil scientist from the University of Arizona, and A Blake Brophy planted an experimental vineyard in 1973 and found that Arizona soils can produce wines "with brilliant color and acidity". The elevation of Sonoita along with the terra rosa soil (the red dirt) produces a similar climate to Burgundy, France. With the experimental success, Dr. Dutt planted Arizona's first commercial vineyard in 1979 and opened the winery in 1983. He considers the many wineries that dot the countryside throughout Arizona "his babies". He is a very passionate man and shows great pleasure in talking about his success. Thanks Dr. Dutt for getting things started!
This two day event featured vineyard tours on a tractor-trailer that was full from open to close! Megan and Mike shared how the grapes are grown at Sonoita Vineyards as we ventured into the vineyard. If you're interested - Sonoita is always looking for extra help at harvest time. Megan explained that the different varietals are harvested at different times so it's not as daunting of a task as it appears! Fran Lightly, Sonoita Vineyard's winemaker, was also giving winery tours, sharing how the the grape goes through it's transition from mere fruit to beautiful nectar. I think one of the highlights of the day, though, was the Grape Stomp. At 1:30 (both days) everyone got involved in stomping grapes. Don't worry, some guy's toe nail won't be in your wine . . . it's purely for fun, Sonoita Vineyards invites its guests to stomp grapes and gives a prize to the crowd favorite! From all the hootin' and hollerin' there was no doubt that everyone was having fun. Of course, there was wine to taste as well as some nice food to eat. SteakOut Restaurant served BBQ right off the grill. Cafe Sonoita and Gathering Grounds also served some tasty morsels to the hungry revelers.
Although it got a bit windy at the end of the day, everyone really enjoyed hanging out in the sun, drinking a glass of wine on the grass and spending the day with loved ones. Although the gang working the event couldn't have all been biological family, they sure came together as a social family. They really ensured that everyone had a great time and received anything they needed! With the economy and gas prices the crowd wasn't as large as previous years, however, we all sure had a great time and I'll definitely be back again!
The Steakout Restaurant served us a great dinner on Saturday night. One of few restaurants in Sonoita, they were busy as could be! We waited for an hour for our table but it was worth the wait. Everyone was so nice that was working that night (although they were completely slammed!). We enjoyed a beer at the bar while we waited and then mosied out to the patio to enjoy the monsoon storms passing us by. We had two filets that were cooked perfectly (as always) and enjoyed a bottle of Callaghan Buena Suerte. This is a "no frills" experience - but the food quality has been top notch every time we've dined here. Although they were out by the time we were seated, Josh's favorite prime rib dinner is served at the SteakOut. Don't miss it on your next visit to Sonoita!
Kokopelli Wine Maker Dinner at Whole Foods Chandler
July 31st, 2008 - Whole Foods in Chandler hosted a Wine Maker Dinner featuring Kokopelli wines. The cost was $49.99 and included five courses with five wine pairings.
Although I've had Kokopelli wines in the past I was looking forward to enjoying some wines that I hadn't tried before and finding out how they paired with the food. We arrived promptly at 6:30 and found about ten to fifteen guests had already arrived. We joined another couple that we had not met before. They were great! Chris and Dionne (sorry if I mispell names) were great conversationalists and we enjoyed discussing wine with them. Jim, Whole Food's Cellar Master, is always a delight and his knowledge is always appreciated!
Our first course was a Proscuitto wrapped sea scallop with Kokopelli Pinot Grigio bur blanc - paired with (not surprisingly) Kokopelli Pinot Grigio. The plate consisted of two sea scallops that were prepared perfectly! Lately it seems that the scallops I'm served are overcooked and tough. Not these!!! Wow! Cooked perfectly and the flavor was fabulous - just the right amount of caramelization! The wine was paired appropriately, although I found the Pinot Grigio to be a bit sweet for my taste.
The salad course featured organic mixed greens pesto vinaigrette featuring local Black Mesa goat cheese produced in Arizona's White Mountains. Josh and I have enjoyed the Black Mesa cheese before and this time didn't disappoint. I'm going to have to attempt to make a pesto vinaigrette now! The chardonnay was also paired accordingly. The Kokopelli Private Reserve Chardonnay seemed to almost have a "tropical" flavor. I would enjoy this wine on a hot summer day while lounging out by the pool. Especially if I was trying to pretend I was in the Caribbean!
We had an enjoyable intermezzo - Ciao Bella raspberry sorbet with Kokopelli Imperial Kir Sparkling Wine. Normally an intermezzo is a really small "bite" of sorbet - well, this was a "super"mezzo! The bottom of the martini glass had two frozen raspberries and it was topped with two to three large balls of the fabulous sorbet! The sparkling wine was paired PERFECTLY with this. The sorbet really played off the bubbles in the wine and Chris said it tasted like "Pop Rocks". Josh whole heartedly agreed! I don't normally like raspberries that much but this was wonderful - very light on the seeds!
When the entrees arrived we were speechless! For starters we were told that the chef was transferring to Hawaii and that this would be his last event for Whole Foods in Chandler. Well, Hawaii watch out . . . your gain is our loss! The chef really went out with a bang. Our crab and truffle encrusted New York strip was HUGE!!!! I'm talking 14-16 oz of perfectly marbled meat! I really wished I could've eaten it all but it was just too much! The flavor was spectacular. Again, the chef combined the wine with the meal by making a Meritage demi-glaze and served it with whipped chive mashed potatoes and rapini with roasted garlic (big, fat roasted garlic cloves!). I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed the meal. I tried to save it for the next day but we were heading out of town. If this meal was any indication of Whole Foods events, they really give you your money's worth - in quantity and quality! The Meritaqe was light which paired nicely with the crust of the steak and it didn't overpower the sides.
Now, we had no room left but you know how it goes . . . somehow there's always room for dessert. The Chocolate Lava Cake was served with a Kokopelli dessert wine - Kokopelli Ratafia. This was a white port style wine that was showcased nicely by the Lava Cake - which I could only eat a couple of bites of!
I, without reservation, give a BIG OL' SHOUT OUT to Whole Foods for a great meal! Jim, great job on wine pairing, and chef, you are leaving a gaping hole in your wake - but I have confidence that Whole Foods has a great replacement for you! We'll definitely be back for another event!
Although I've had Kokopelli wines in the past I was looking forward to enjoying some wines that I hadn't tried before and finding out how they paired with the food. We arrived promptly at 6:30 and found about ten to fifteen guests had already arrived. We joined another couple that we had not met before. They were great! Chris and Dionne (sorry if I mispell names) were great conversationalists and we enjoyed discussing wine with them. Jim, Whole Food's Cellar Master, is always a delight and his knowledge is always appreciated!
Our first course was a Proscuitto wrapped sea scallop with Kokopelli Pinot Grigio bur blanc - paired with (not surprisingly) Kokopelli Pinot Grigio. The plate consisted of two sea scallops that were prepared perfectly! Lately it seems that the scallops I'm served are overcooked and tough. Not these!!! Wow! Cooked perfectly and the flavor was fabulous - just the right amount of caramelization! The wine was paired appropriately, although I found the Pinot Grigio to be a bit sweet for my taste.
The salad course featured organic mixed greens pesto vinaigrette featuring local Black Mesa goat cheese produced in Arizona's White Mountains. Josh and I have enjoyed the Black Mesa cheese before and this time didn't disappoint. I'm going to have to attempt to make a pesto vinaigrette now! The chardonnay was also paired accordingly. The Kokopelli Private Reserve Chardonnay seemed to almost have a "tropical" flavor. I would enjoy this wine on a hot summer day while lounging out by the pool. Especially if I was trying to pretend I was in the Caribbean!
We had an enjoyable intermezzo - Ciao Bella raspberry sorbet with Kokopelli Imperial Kir Sparkling Wine. Normally an intermezzo is a really small "bite" of sorbet - well, this was a "super"mezzo! The bottom of the martini glass had two frozen raspberries and it was topped with two to three large balls of the fabulous sorbet! The sparkling wine was paired PERFECTLY with this. The sorbet really played off the bubbles in the wine and Chris said it tasted like "Pop Rocks". Josh whole heartedly agreed! I don't normally like raspberries that much but this was wonderful - very light on the seeds!
When the entrees arrived we were speechless! For starters we were told that the chef was transferring to Hawaii and that this would be his last event for Whole Foods in Chandler. Well, Hawaii watch out . . . your gain is our loss! The chef really went out with a bang. Our crab and truffle encrusted New York strip was HUGE!!!! I'm talking 14-16 oz of perfectly marbled meat! I really wished I could've eaten it all but it was just too much! The flavor was spectacular. Again, the chef combined the wine with the meal by making a Meritage demi-glaze and served it with whipped chive mashed potatoes and rapini with roasted garlic (big, fat roasted garlic cloves!). I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed the meal. I tried to save it for the next day but we were heading out of town. If this meal was any indication of Whole Foods events, they really give you your money's worth - in quantity and quality! The Meritaqe was light which paired nicely with the crust of the steak and it didn't overpower the sides.
Now, we had no room left but you know how it goes . . . somehow there's always room for dessert. The Chocolate Lava Cake was served with a Kokopelli dessert wine - Kokopelli Ratafia. This was a white port style wine that was showcased nicely by the Lava Cake - which I could only eat a couple of bites of!
I, without reservation, give a BIG OL' SHOUT OUT to Whole Foods for a great meal! Jim, great job on wine pairing, and chef, you are leaving a gaping hole in your wake - but I have confidence that Whole Foods has a great replacement for you! We'll definitely be back for another event!
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