The title of this post was going to be “A Weekend of Eating” but I thought that pretty much recaps every weekend… Nonetheless, this was a particularly good, company-filled, wine drinking, eating weekend. I actually even planned ahead so that the preparations were not too bad.
I managed to prep both Friday and Saturday mostly at the same time. Friday night was an easy dinner with my parents over to enjoy.
One of the highlights for me, in addition to the mini salmon cakes (which also made an appearance as an hors d’oerve on Saturday night) were the chicken wings. I love chicken wings in many different sauces and preparations. I made these with a mango, pineapple and honey glaze and roasted them in the oven. Delish.
The other Friday night highlight was dessert. I am usually a firm believer in the idea that all desserts must be chocolate, and if they are not, there needs to be another dessert that is chocolate. But I went out on a limb here and made some very tasty lemon bars. In fact, they are so good, they are going to have to be added into the permanent rotation. Stat.
Saturday we drove north to meet FKGuy’s cousin who we hadn’t seen in way too long. A lunch at the Mellow Mushroom in Delray Beach is always a treat.
That evening, some of our wine geek friends came over. The wine lineup looked like this:
- 2007 Morey-Blanc Saint-Aubin 1er Cru – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru
This is always a nice, easy drinking start to an evening. - 2010 Bethel Heights Grüner Veltliner – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
This was a mystery wine brought by our friend. He hinted that it was from a well known region, but an odd varietal for it. I went through the list of every white varietal I could think of and eliminated them all.Finally someone figured it out so we could go on to other, moreimportant things… like eating. - 1995 Château Dauzac – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux. Very enjoyable.
- 2003 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This was a pretty light wine, especially for a CdP. Also had some raisin-y qualities that I would not expect here. That being said, it was a bit better the next night with fettucine and lamb ragu. - 2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
I love this wine. I know it has a long life ahead and will still be drinking well in another ten years, but it is really, really good now. - 2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley
Nice and balnced Napa cab. - 2001 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta – Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
I love this wine. I have really enjoyed it every time I have had it (which hopefully will be again soon.) - 2002 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
I have only had syrah from Betz before. Note to self: enjoy more Betz wine. - 1994 Quinta do Crasto Porto Vintage – Portugal, Douro, Porto
Very, very nice. A bit lighter than one would expect from a nearly twenty year old port.
But what did we eat? Salmon cakes and caponata started the evening, followed by sliders with siracha slaw and pickles. Then we had a
salad with roasted asparagus and lentils, and mustard vinaigrette. The main course was chicken breast with lemon, garlic and capers, braised lamb shanks with rosemary, orzo salad with pesto dressing and roasted broccoli and cauliflower. Not that anyone had room for dessert, but we enjoyed the leftover lemon bars as well as a chocolate pecan bourbon cake.
The diet starts now.
