Midday Meal Provides 'Green' Goodness

I'm an avowed meat lover, so I was shocked at just how much I enjoyed Trio Restaurant's stacked veggie burger at a recent lunch there.

This delightful creation consists of roasted red pepper and portobello, eggplant, caramelized onion, basil pesto and goat cheese, all served on an brioche bun with a side of chips.

The burger was so delicious, it has tempted me to give up my carniverous ways, if only at lunchtime repasts such as this. The warm goat cheese and sweetly grilled veggies paired perfectly with a vanilla-inflected berry-filled Trinity Oaks Pinot, one of Trio's house wines, and served for $3 a glass at lunchtime.

Besides the fact that Trinity tastes great for the price point, the winery plants a tree for each bottle sold. Now that's a green meal if I've ever eaten one.

 

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Coachella Wine Fest Yields a Surprise Pairing

On a beautiful sunny desert Sunday...

at the Coachella Wine Festival....

I learned that nachos aren't just for beer anymore.

These 'wine' nachos, courtesy of the culinary minds at Indian Wells Country Club, are perfect when paired with the fruity and perfumy Grenache from Temecula's Leonesse Cellars.

Chef Rudy gave me the low down on the ingredients:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fd6j4NeyVo&feature=youtu.be
The Grand Tasting was a adventurous discovery of new wines and eclectic food finds, like blu Ember Restaurant's booze-fired strawberries with dark chocolate shavings, pistaschio, mint, and balsamic vinegar.

There was also an element of romance, as the brain behind Kristian Story Wines showcased his latest Bordeaux blend.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un6PrIF4jGQ&feature=youtu.be

 The duo also pairs with rock musicians to create a series of blends called Artist Wine.

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