Weekend Wine Friday In Key West

Luck had it that I went down the wine isle at Publix yesterday after I picked up about 3 lbs. of King Crab Legs. While going down the wine isle, which I always do just in case something new has arrived, I spotted a bottle of 2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris with a little coupon necklace that gave you $2.00 off any seafood purchase. Pinot Gris, that sounds good with crab legs, so into the basket it went. We were totally surprised when we opened this bottle of wine at how good it was. Crisp, like the type when you bite into green apples and the wine filled up your mouth with good earthy fruit, like melon. It was a wonderful wine for under $15.00 ! It went so well with the crab legs with melted butter. Another successful spring wine evening!! No better way to start the end of your day!

Cheers!

Mr. Mondavi's Wine In Key West

Yes, Mr. Mondavi graced our taste buds last night. We had a Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Pinot Grigio. I must honestly say though, it was a nice somewhat fruity and floral wine but a little thin. It was great though for a nice sipping before dinner wine, especially chilled nicely. If I had to serve it with dinner, the dish would have to be something light - maybe a nice white fish.

OK - it's Friday and time for weekend wine in Key West. Not sure what will be on the menu for tonight, but I will have the scoop for you tomorrow.

Peanut Butter Cookies !!!! Just like grandma used to make in that wonderful farmhouse kitchen in the hills of Kentucky. While these cookies were baking I could shut my eyes and see myself with her back in that kitchen many years ago. Ahh, memories of smells are the greatest. Sometimes they are better than photos.

Cheers!

Wine and Soup In Key West

Ever have one of those days where you visit someones site and their food makes you hungry? I had one of those day's yesterday. So I got my lazy butt up and made a big pot of Pasta E Fagioli. I make mine with 2 or 3 different kinds of dried beans, garlic, onions, celery, carrots, lots of different spices, beef broth or for the veggie folks I sometimes use vegetable stock and tiny pasta. I let this simmer all morning because the beans need to cook. When it is ready I add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese on top. So satisfying and good for you because it has a ton of fiber in it. And I believe anything that simmers on the stove with everyone in the house passing thru asking, "Yum, what is cooking?" is a winner.

The wine I choose was a Fetzer 2005 Valley Oaks Sauvignon Blanc. It is so crisp and clean with hints of lemon. You could pair this wine with the soup, but I had it for my evening wine. I really enjoy this wine as it is a nice way to start the end of your day!

Cheers!

Scallops With White Wine In Key West

Sauted Pancetta Wrapped Scallops With A Fennel, Grapefruit & Avocado Salad is a Spring dish just waiting to be devoured ! A a nice crisp chilled white wine that has a hint of grapefruit and enough acidity to hold up to the salad and you have one happy person! These scallops were made to melt in your mouth and then chased down to your tummy with the Louis Jadot Chapelle Aux Loup Saint-Veran wine following right behind. This was our last dish served on Friday at our tapas, weekend wine in Key West event. Ahhh!

Last night we made our grilled lamb again because it was such a big hit on Friday. We marinated the lamb in garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, basil, marjoram and a little lemon juice. Threaded it on skewers and popped those guys on a nice hot grill. I chose a nice inexpensive zinfandel "Dancing Bull", which is one of my favorites, to go along with the lamb. We accompanied this with a simple potato salad and grilled bread. The "Dancing Bull" 2004 Zin is produced by Rancho Zabaco Winery in Healdsburg, Ca. It is a great wine full of black cherry's, with a hint of spice which pairs well with all kinds of spicy or full flavored dishes. It is really great with pizza (another day). Perfect evening!

Cheers:)

More Tapas Night With Wine In Key West

Smoked Salmon Potato Cake topped with mustard cream, smoked salmon, capers and a fresh dill sprig. We served this yumtious (is that a word?) plate of goodies with the Louis Jadot 2004 Chapelle Aux Loups Saint-Veran. This crisp, slightly acidic wine went down very well with the potato cakes. Remember the grilled lamb I told you about yesterday? Well we are making this our main course tonight as it was sooo good! I think I will pair it with a zinfandel tonight. More on that later !

Lamb With Greg Norman's Wine In Key West

Let's celebrate Spring! As I stated yesterday, here is the grilled lamb with a tzatziki sauce and grilled onions. The tzatziki sauce is a mixture of plain yogurt, cucumber, mint, parsley, red wine, garlic, salt and pepper and it compliments the lamb so well. We had the Greg Norman "Shark" red wine with this tapas. With the smooth tannins, plum and dark cherry flavors, it was a big hit with the grilled lamb.

A few tapas and a couple of good bottles of wine is a great way to celebrate Spring!

Cheers:)

Greg Norman Wine In Key West

Our second wine that we choose to accompany our tapas and wine evening was Greg Norman's Australian Estates 2004 Limestone Coast "Shark" Shiraz. UMM - this was a really nice shiraz with a mouth full of plums and cherry's. The tannins were so soft and smooth, not a bang as they sometimes can be. This was great with the grilled lamb that I will talk about tomorrow.

Hope you are having a relaxing weekend!

Cheers!