Weekend Events for February 11th - 13th

 Friday:
Valentine’s Prix Fixe Dinner – Meritage Restaurant/Callaway Winery – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.callawaywinery.com/callaway-restaurant-specials.html

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

My Bloody Valentine by Alesmith Event – The Cask Room – 6:30pm – 7:30pm
http://www.caskroom.com/when.html

Valentine’s 4 Course Dinner and Wine Paring – Bistro 39 – 4:30pm – 10:00pm
http://www.bistro39sandiego.com/2011/01/valentines-4-course-menu/

4th Annual Cupid is Stupid Wine Tasting Party – Bacchus – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.bacchuswinemarket.com/events.html

Valentine’s Opaque Dining in the Dark – Opaque US Grant – 5:30pm – 11:30pm
http://sd.darkdining.com/

Bottle of Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries – The Cask Room – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.caskroom.com/when.html

3 or 5 Course Valentine Dining Paired with Wine – La Valencia Hotel – 5:30pm – 11:00pm
http://www.lavalencia.com/documents/events/valentines-2011.pdf

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

Wine & Craft Beer Tasting and/or Cheese & Chocolate Pairings – WineStyles Coronado – 5:30pm – 8:00pm
http://www.winestyles.net/impdates.asp?page=1&id=128428

3 Course Menu and Wine Paring – Wine Vault & Bistro – 5:30pm – 10:00pm
http://www.winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html

Valentine Weekend Pairing – Country Cellars – 11:00am – 4:00pm
http://www.countrycellars.com/events.php

Saturday:
Vino d’Amore Valentine’s Dinner – Callaway Winery – 6:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.callawaywinery.com/callaway-winery-events.html

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

Valentine’s 4 Course Dinner and Wine Paring – Bistro 39 – 4:30pm – 10:00pm
http://www.bistro39sandiego.com/2011/01/valentines-4-course-menu/

Valentine’s Opaque Dining in the Dark – Opaque US Grant – 5:30pm – 11:30pm
http://sd.darkdining.com/

Bottle of Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries – The Cask Room – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.caskroom.com/when.html

3 or 5 Course Valentine Dining paired with Wine – La Valencia Hotel – 5:30pm – 11:00pm
http://www.lavalencia.com/documents/events/valentines-2011.pdf

Valentine Weekend Pairing – Country Cellars – 11:00am – 4:00pm
http://www.countrycellars.com/events.php

The World of Wine 101 – La Costa Wine Co. – 3:30pm – 5:00pm
http://lacostawineco.com/store/content/12/Tasting-Events/

Bubbly, Port & Chocolate – Bacchus – 2:00 – 8:30pm
http://www.bacchuswinemarket.com/events.html

5 Course Valentine’s Day Dinner paired with Wine – Wine Vault & Bistro – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
http://www.winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html

For the Love of Chocolate and SweetArt Festival – Escondido Grand Avenue – 1:00pm – 5:00pm
http://www.downtownescondido.com/chocolate.html

A Valentine’s Wine Tasting with Russel Joyce of Joyce Vineyards – The Wine Lover – 4:00pm – 6:00pm
http://www.thewinelover.us/

Gondola Wine Tasting Cruise (Coronado) – The Gondola Company – 6:30pm – 7:45pm
http://www.gondolacompany.com/

Wine & Craft Beer Tasting and/or Cheese & Chocolate Pairings – WineStyles Coronado – 5:30pm – 8:00pm
http://www.winestyles.net/impdates.asp?page=1&id=128428

Sunday:
Romantic Rose Wine Tasting – Callaway Winery – 11:00am – 4:00pm
http://www.callawaywinery.com/callaway-winery-events.html

Valentine’s 4 Course Dinner and Wine Paring – Bistro 39 – 4:30pm – 10:00pm
http://www.bistro39sandiego.com/2011/01/valentines-4-course-menu/

Valentine’s Opaque Dining in the Dark – Opaque US Grant – 5:30pm – 11:30pm
http://sd.darkdining.com/

Bottle of Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries – The Cask Room – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
http://www.caskroom.com/when.html

3 or 5 Course Valentine Dining paired with Wine – La Valencia Hotel – 5:30pm – 11:00pm
http://www.lavalencia.com/documents/events/valentines-2011.pdf

Valentine Weekend Pairing – Country Cellars – 11:00am – 4:00pm
http://www.countrycellars.com/events.php

Valentine’s Brunch – The Westgate Hotel – 10:00am – 2:30pm
http://www.westgatehotel.com/public/files/Westgt_Valentine'sDayBrunchMenu'11.pdf

5 Course Valentine’s Day Dinner paired with Wine – Wine Vault & Bistro – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
http://www.winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html

Gondola Wine Tasting Cruise (Coronado) – The Gondola Company – 6:30pm – 7:45pm
http://www.gondolacompany.com/

Sweet and Spicy Salmon

This is great served with roasted potatoes, bell peppers and onions. Or for a lower carb option, serve with just roasted bell peppers and onions (minus the potatoes). Paired with a salad would be great too.

2 tbsp cajon seasoning
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp orange marmalade
1 tsp lime juice
salt and pepper for seasoning
olive oil
salmon filets, skinless

Preheat oven to 375.

Mix cajon seasoning, brown sugar, orange marmalade and lime juice together.

Place salmon in an oven proof baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Cover salmon with cajon marmalade mixture. Drizzle with some olive oil.

Place in the oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then increase oven to broil and allow salmon to get a nice and browned crust, for about 5 minutes.

Serve and ENJOY!!

Wine pairing......Sauvignon Blanc

Chicken Piccata

This recipe was made with lemons from Carolyn and Scott's lemon tree. Thank you to the both of you, they cooked up nicely in this recipe. I love using fresh ingredients from family and friends. I cannot wait until spring is here so I can get my garden planted and in progress. Serve this with some asparagus.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, butter flied and then cut in half
salt and pepper for seasoning
all-purpose flour, for dredging
2 tbsp unsalted butter
olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chicken stock/broth
1/4 cup white wine
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup brined capers, drained and rinsed
parsley, chopped for garnish

Season chicken both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in the flour, shaking to remove excess flour.

Drizzle a large non-stick sauté pan with olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Place flour dredged chicken in the sauté pan and brown to a crisp on both sides. Remove chicken and place on a plate covered with foil to keep warm. Add garlic and wine. Slightly brown garlic and cook until wine is almost evaporated. Add chicken stock/broth and butter. Melt butter completely. Arrange lemon slices on the bottom of the sauté pan in a single layer. Add chicken back to the pan. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, turning chicken occasionally to coat. Add capers and cook for a couple of minutes just until they are warmed.

On a plate, lay chicken down and drizzle the top with caper lemon sauce and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!!!

Wine Pairing....Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or Pinot Gris.

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.