Weekend Events for February 4th – 6th

Friday:
Lots of Malbec – Bacchus Wine Market - 4:00pm – 8:30pm
http://www.bacchuswinemarket.com/events.html

Dunn Cabernet Vertical Tasting – Alternative Wines – 6:30pm – 8:00pm
http://www.alt-wines.com/index.htm

Prix Fixe 3-Course Menu and Wine Flights – Wine Vault & Bistro – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
http://www.winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html

Cali Blends Tasting – La Costa Wine Company – 5:00pm – 8:30pm
http://lacostawineco.com/store/content/12/Tasting-Events/

Saturday:
Just Malbec – Bacchus Wine Market - 2:00pm – 8:30pm
http://www.bacchuswinemarket.com/events.html

Wine Dinner – Orfilia Winery – 6:00pm – 8:00pm
http://www.terrasd.com/pdf/specialeventflyer.pdf

100 Mile Dinner 2011 Fund Raiser for Temecula Slow Foods – 6:00pm – 10:00 pm
http://www.temeculavalleyslowfood.org/

Chef’s 5-Course Tasting Menu and Paired Wine Flight – Wine Vault & Bistro – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
http://www.winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html

Sunday:
Super Sunday – Salerno’s – 12:00pm – 6:00pm
http://www.salernowinery.com/index.htm

Valentine’s Wine & Food Tasting Tour – La Jolla Wine Tours – 3:00pm – 6:00pm
http://www.lajollawinetours.com/

Shrimp with Chili Garlic Sauce

This is not for the weak, these shrimp pack some heat. Serve these up for the big game!

1/4 cup chili garlic sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
cilantro, chopped for garnish

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients (chili garlic sauce through sesame oil). Whisk together until mixed completely. Add shrimp and place in the refrigerator and marinate for about an hour.

Heat a large non-stick sauté pan over medium-high heat.

Once sauté pan is hot, place shrimp (do not add sauce). Shrimp will cook quickly, so you will need to keep an eye out so you do not overcook the shrimp. During the last couple of minutes (right before shrimp are done), add the sauce and mix together.

Serve shrimp and sauce garnished with cilantro.

Enjoy!!

Wine pairing.....Pinot Gris.

Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Think Super Bowl!! Super easy and would be great as a snack for the big game.

tortilla chips (I used Gluten free chips from Trader Joes)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper for seasoning
olive oil for drizzling on the chicken
3/4 cup buffalo sauce (store bought or homemade)
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (I used a combo of cheddar, jack and pepper jack cheeses)
3 green onions, sliced/diced
1 jalapeno, finely diced (remove seeds if you want less heat)
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro
1 avocado, diced
salsa for serving

Preheat grill. Season chicken with salt, pepper and drizzle with olive oil and buffalo sauce (about half of the buffalo sauce).

Grill chicken until cooked completely through. Wrap grilled chicken in foil and allow resting for about 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375. Spread a layer of tortilla chips on a sheet pan and then top with half of the cheese.

Chop cooked chicken and place in a bowl. Pour the rest of the buffalo sauce on the chicken and mix well.

Top tortilla chips with chicken, the remaining amount of cheese and jalapeno.

Place in the oven and bake until cheese is melted (about 10 minutes or so, but keep an eye on it because you do not want to burn the tortilla chips).

Remove from oven and top with cilantro, green onions and avocado.

Serve with salsa and ENJOY!

Wine pairing......Chardonnay or a nice cold Mexican beer or even throw together a quick Margarita.

Weekend in the Desert - January 29th, 2011

Hogs, camels, and jeeps.....ohh my!
Artful rust....

Welcome to the Borrego Springs zoo!

This is a must see.  We were delighted to find these hidden treasures.  Although, they were not exactly hidden, you just need to keep your eyes open and you are sure to see them. 

http://www.galletameadows.com/

All of this sight seeing made us thirsty and a bit hungry.  We came up on a busy Mexican restaurant called El Borrego.  The outdoor patio was filled with more of these free standing art statues.  We knew we had to check this out.  Ordered a margarita for each of us and some taquitos to share.  I have to say, they serve a pretty darn good margarita and the taquitos were great too. 

Back to Vallecito Stage Coach (where we were calling home for the weekend). 

The Desert is so beautiful this time of year.  Weather was perfect, mid 70's.  Check out some of the sights we enjoyed during our weekend in the Desert.