Friday, April 26, 2013

Lighter Flavors and Fare a Perfect Fit at Figue

With the desert summer swelter arriving ahead of schedule, lighter flavors and dishes recently sampled at Figue Mediterranean in La Quinta represented a welcome palate shift.
A limoncello lavender champagne cocktail kicked things off nicely.
The crisp steely flavors of this refreshing Vouvray paired well with a delectable slice of fresh salmon atop a hunter's salad.
The saffron carrot sauce that complemented these melt-in-your-mouth seared diver sea scallops was the perfect foil for a strawberry-like, floral Rose.
That same Rose also seemed destined to meet up with this flavorful Provencal stew of scallops, mussels, and clams in a saffron orange broth. Easily one of the best seafood dishes I've had in a long time.
With the heat here to stay, I'm sure I'll be back for more champagne, and soon...
Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/VinoChick75
Special thanks to:
http://www.eatfigue.com/

Monday, April 1, 2013

Food & Wine Fest An Experiment in Flavor Combos

Pan roasted pork belly & shrimp crab cake with Yuzu-Wasabi sauce and Meyer lemon pickled onions...
Sizzling Scottish salmon drizzled in olive oil and dusted with salt and pepper...
Yummy bites and novel flavor combinations were the order of the day at the Palm Desert Food & Wine Fest. Chef Joane Garcia-Colson of DISH-Creative Cuisine in Cathedral City matched up some of her decadent eats with a variety of Iron Horse Vineyards champagnes.
Chef Art Vasquez of Babe's Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse whipped up some hickory smoked/BBQ braised Chicken Osso Bucco with a summer slaw that included California Cherries soaked in my very own Gypsy Red wine.
 And before my departure...a flowery, perfumey blend of Cab, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Zin, Chardonnay, and Sauv Blanc from Tess Winery. I closed my eyes and tasted strawberry and watermelon. The perfect refreshing end to a heady day.
Special thanks to:
 
 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Have Wine, Will Pair

Since the recent launch of Gypsy Red, my very own private label red blend produced by talented winemaker Allen Kreutzer of Drytown Cellars, I've enjoyed some amazing food pairings. My winter crock pot beef roast atop sweet potato mash was no exception.
Gypsy Red is a smooth, silky, medium bodied marriage of Merlot and Zinfandel that hails from the Eastern Sierra Foothills, and she was born for barbecue. No one does that sort of thing better than Babe's Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse at The River in Rancho Mirage. That's me with my first born vintage, which holds a spot on their newly retooled wine list :)
Here's Gypsy pictured with "The Big Pig," a big ole bite of smoky brisket that is to die for when matched with the red cherry and baking spice in the wine.
Never one to eat lightly (just ask Mom), I also partook in a boneless beef short rib sampler that was accompanied by a mouth-watering date coleslaw. I'm proud to say that the talented Chef Art will be bringing Gypsy with him to this weekend's Palm Desert Food & Wine Fest, where he'll rehydrate some dried California cherries in a special wine sauce for that slaw. You won't wanna miss it!!
www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com
www.babesbbque.com
Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/VinoChick75