When we were in the throes of a Gordon Ramsey YouTube bender a while back we happened across this video:
We don’t eat Beef very often. Mostly we just can’t afford it since really good Beef is significantly more expensive than really good Chicken (and we deserve the best, goldurnit!). Thus, more often than not – and in spite of multi-million dollar ad campaigns to the contrary – its actually Chicken that’s “what’s for dinner” in our house (sorry, Beef). Read more »
This is yet another divine vehicle for what can only be described as The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette in the World. This also happens to be one of the most eclectically delicious salads Julie has ever cobbled together. Read more »
Being a member of a CSA is a little like being invited to a stranger’s house for dinner and then being told that you have to cook it with whatever they have on hand. Since you never know for sure what you’re going to get it’s hard to know what you’re going to make. That can be both a curse (Goody! Kale and 50 pounds of tomatoes again…) or a blessing – as it was in this case. Read more »
We know that you think that we, being glitzy upright citizens of the shiny kingdom of FoodBloggery, spend our days in all manner of uppercrust hobnobbing, jetsetting, and elbowrubbing followed by luxurious evenings of sumptuous dining on Champagne, Caviar, and Filet Mignon.
But, in our humdrum reality as mere mortals, sometimes a Wednesday is just a Wednesday (or a Thursday or a *gasp* Monday) and we are naught but common folk much like yourselves. As such we are as fond of the basics as anyone: simple salads, easy sides, and one-pot pasta dishes like this one. Read more »
I was running (well, speedwalking anyway – safety first!) through Roth’s the other day. Julie and I were well on our way to being late to an hors d’oeurves party organized in her honor and we still had yet to make any vittles or find something to drink.
So, with my priorities clearly in mind I headed toward the refrigerator case in search of a bottle of bubbles. I almost sailed right past a wine tasting in progress! (I know! Can you believe it?)
Fortunately my years of training have left me cool-headed in such situations and I dug down deep to find the wherewithal to stop for a sip. On offer was a Malbec and a something-or-other and a $7.99 Chardonnay from Snoqualmie Vineyards.
It’s a very un-Chardonnay-like Chardonnay in my experience. Extremely light oak and heavy in the apricot and peach flavors with just a hint of apple. And it smells like summer fruits and flowers. If a wine can be both light and rich then this it.
In fact, it’s more like a Viognier than a Chard – probably because its got a bit o’ Viognier blended in there. I loved it instantly. I had to buy it.
I’ve been a huge fan of certain Viogniers for a few years now. Particularly the ones like Spangler’s that have all the big warm fruit flavors that I so love. They are scrumptious, irresistible, and I am a puddle in their wake. Viognier has become my favorite un-bubbly White Wine, followed distantly by un-oaked Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t I sound discerning…
Flagrant theft of website content to follow:
“Tropical fruit aromas combined with hints of sweet oak follow through on the palate with full luscious flavors.”
- Joy Andersen, Winemake
If you’re tastes tend to lean toward the sweeter side of white winedom I encourage you to give this one a go. It’s got a lovely balance of flavors and it may help break you out of that Reisling/Gewurtztraminer rut you’ve been in…you know who you are.