Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Sage

Gnocchi is a very old form of pasta, with some saying that it originated during the Roman Empire.  However, the first written recipe for gnocchi dates back to the fourteenth century.  It comes from a cookbook written in the Tuscan dialect.  "Se vuoi i gnocchi, logli lo cascio fresco e pestalo; poscia toglia la farina et intridi con tourla d'uova a modo di migliacci."  Or, as we would say, "if you want gnocchi, take some cheese and mash it, then take some flour and mix it with egg yolks as if you are making flour."  Hundreds of years later, that still remains the basic recipe for gnocchi, with one noteworthy exception.

The "keystone ingredient" can be something other than cheese.  Indeed, the most well known type of gnocchi is potato.  This type of gnocchi is popular in the Italian regions of Lazio and Abruzzo, where potatoes are common.  Other Italian regions have their own version of gnocchi, such as Malloredus, which is a Sardinian dumpling made only with semolina.

Gnocchi are traditionally a prima or first course. These dumplings can be served with a variety of sauces, such as a traditional red sauce, an Amatriciana sauce, a ragu or a brown butter sauce.  For this recipe, which comes from Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita, the gnocchi are served in a brown butter sauce and garnished with pieces of proscuitto. 

GNOCCHI WITH PROSCUITTO AND SAGE

Recipe from Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita at p. 119

Serves 6

Ingredients:
3 Russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 Yukon Gold potatoes (about 8 ounces)
2 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh ground white pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg
9 tablespoons of unsalted butter
About three cups of all-purpose flour
3 large egg yolks
12 medium sage leaves
6 thin slices of Proscuitto di Parma, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated.

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake until tender for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Let cook slightly.

2.  Bring a pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil.

3.  When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them and place the warm (not hot) potatoes in a ricer.  Add the salt, pepper, a grating of nutmeg, 3 tablespoons of butter and a handful of flour and press through the ricer onto a large cutting board or marble pastry board,  Make sure the potato is not too hot, because it will cook the egg yolks.   Using a fork, begin working in the egg yolks and remaining flour (you want an approximately equal volume of flour and potatoes).  Using a pastry scraper or spatula to gradually incorporate the flour into the potato mixture.  The gentler you are during this phase, the lighter the gnochhi will be.

4.  Melt 2 more tablespoons of butter in a large saute pan and keep warm over low heat.

5.  Divide the gnocchi dough into several pieces.  Roll each one into a long 1/4 inch thick rope and cut into 1 inch pieces.  Press each piece with the back of a fork to create ridges.  Once they are all shaped, cook the gnocchi about 15 at a time.  Drop them into the boiling water and then once they float to the surface, 30 seconds or so, remove them with a slotted spoon or skimmer and transfer them to the pan of melted butter.  When all of the gnocchi are cooked and tossed in the melted butter, transfer them to a platter. (You can save the gnocchi to serve later by transferring the cooked gnocchi to an ice bath to cool rapidly and then place on a baking sheet and cover.  Set aside for several hours at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.

6.  Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter (or 6 tablespoons if you cooked the gnocchi ahead) to the saute pan and cook over medium heat until it melts and takes on a rich brown color, and gives off a nutty aroma.  Add the gnocchi to the pan, add the sage, and toss to coat and heat through.

7.  Serve the gnocchi on a warm plate, garnished with proscuitto and a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano.

ENJOY!

For more about the history of gnocchi, check out Anna Maria's Open Kitchen.

Black Ankle Vineyards Slate (NV)

Recently, my beautiful Angel, Clare, met a couple of longtime friends for a wine tasting at a vineyard ... in Maryland.  I have heard about wineries in the Free State, but, I know very little about them.  Clare got to learn about one particular vineyard, Black Ankle Vineyards, which is located in Frederick County, Maryland.

Black Ankle Vineyards has been in business for about three years.  It is growing an impressive array of grapes.  The red grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  The white grapes include Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner and Viognier.  This is pretty impressive for a vineyard that is located in Maryland, rather than in California, Oregon or Washington State.

Black Ankle's winemaking process is also rather interesting.  The winery uses once-used or brand new barrels for aging.  Lighter reds are aged for months in once-used barrels, while heavier reds are aged in new barrels.  The winery ages its wines between sixteen to eighteen months in the barrels.  After her wine tasting, Clare bought a bottle of Black Ankle Vineyard's Slate, a blend of six different grapes.

The Slate is made with grapes grown on a hillside of decomposing slate with veins of quartz. The wine is made with 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Syrah, 22% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. This wine does not have a vintage because it is made primarily from grapes picked during the 2007 and 2008 harvests, along with grapes from the 2010 harvest.

The wine pours a bright crimson red, with tones much fuller than other wines that I have tried.  The aroma is full of red berries, like ripe cherries, strawberries and blackberry.  The winemaker suggests dried plum, blackberry, currant and a little cracked black pepper.   Those berries carry over to the taste, but there they are joined by some other flavors such as black pepper or white pepper.  There is also a hint of minerality. 

Black Ankle produced only six hundred cases of the Slate.  The wine has an ABV of 13.9%.  The bottle is available at the vineyard's tasting room and a bottle sells for $45.00.  

ENJOY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am continuing what I hope will be a tradition on this blog for Thanksgiving.  No recipes, just thanks.  I want to take this opportunity to thank my family and my friends.  Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to cook for many of you, and, everyone has been very supportive (even when I am unsure of the final results). You have also been very supportive of my efforts to experiment with tastes and flavors, along with my work to learn about beer and wines.  I have to say that whenever I am blogging, I do not feel like I am typing for myself, because I know that somewhere there are people who are taking the time to read the blog posts.  And, when one of you tells me that you saw my post about a particular recipe or a wine or beer.  Your support gives me the confidence to continue my adventures through cooking and beer/wine.  I am thankful for each and everyone of you.

I should also say that I am thankful for all of those out there who visit my blog without even knowing who I am.  As you can see from the little rotating globe about halfway down the page (on the right), a lot of people have visited this blog.  In fact, the "Top Ten List" for visitors to this blog are (1) the United States; (2) Canada; (3) the United Kingdom; (4) Australia; (5) Italy; (6) the Netherlands; (7) Belgium; (8) India; (9) Germany; and (10) the Philippines.  In all, people from 114 countries have visited my blog.  And all of this since March of this year!   I never would have thought that people would be visiting my blog from around the world.  I am thankful for all of you as well.  

Well, I'd better go.  I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!  Until next time ...

ENJOY!

Bergström Winery's Dr. Bergström Riesling (2007)

The Riesling wine is said to have originated in Germany, in the Rhein and Mosel river valleys.   The Riesling is a white grape variety that is known for producing fruity and floral wines that can differ based on the terroir.  And there are a lot of terroirs.  Riesling grapes are planted around the world, not only in Germany but also in Austria, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, northern Italy, New Zealand, and the United States (including California, New York and the Pacific Northwest).

Riesling production in the Pacific Northwest is growing in Washington State, but on the decline in Oregon.  Still, there are vineyards and wineries in Oregon's Willamette valley that continue to produce this style of wine.  One of those vineyards is Bergström Wines. I've previously reviewed Bergström's Shea Valley Pinot Noir.  In addition to the Pinot Noir, Bergström also produces the Dr. Bergström Riesling.  When Clare and I visited the Bergström tasting room during our honeymoon, we purchased a bottle of the 2007 vintage.  

The Dr. Bergström Riesling is produced with grapes from four different vineyards: Hyland, Chehalem Mountain, Cherry Grove and the Territorial Vineyard.  The grapes from these vineyards enable Bergström to create a wine that, in its view, mirrors the Rieslings of Germany.  The wine is fermented for five months in stainless steel vats before being bottled.

The Dr. Bergström pours a color that is reminiscent of apple juice or white gold.  Little bubbles dot the sides of the glass, shining like stars through the wine. The wine has aromas of starfruit, kiwi and pears, along with a faint sense of apples and minerality.  As for the taste, the wine has the bright, crisp apple flavor that is one often finds with a Riesling.  Other fruits can be found in this wine, such as a hint of pear and melon.  There is also surprisingly a hint of lemon in this wine.  The wine has a high acidity and crispness to it, which makes it very enjoyable to drink. 

This vintage is probably not available now, but later vintages may be available.  We purchased this wine at the Bergström tasting room in Willamette Valley.

ENJOY!

Parmesan Soufflé with White Wine Butter Sauce

I am not the only one who cooks in our family.  My beautiful wife, Clare, is also a great cook and a great baker.  Every once in a while, I ask my Angel to provide a guest blog post so that I can share some of the amazing and delicious things that she makes for family, friends and, of course, me.  She has already provided guest blog posts about Cuban Bread, Loyalist Bread, Salmon Burgers and Peach Cobbler.  So, without further ado,

A Guest Blog Post by Clare ...

As you may know, both Keith and I hosted a dinner for a Wine Club.  We both decided to cook a four-course meal using recipes from Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita.  Frank Stitt is a well known chef who owns a few restaurants in and around Birmingham, Alabama.  My parents took Keith and myself to one of those restaurants, Bottega, for dinner during the weekend that Keith met them for the first time.  Perhaps the most memorable moment of that dinner, apart from spending time with my parents and with Keith, was the Parmesan Soufflé that we had as an appetizer.

This dish was amazing ... as one can expect when Frank Stitt describes it as a "cloud-like" pudding.  The eggs, cream and garlic make for a rather light soufflé.  This lightness is contrasted with the richness of the white wine butter sauce.  The wine, vinegar, cream and butter are combined together in the sauce, which is then infused into the mushrooms.  The dish is completed with a garnish of a few strips of prosciutto. 

Looking back, this is a recipe that was easier than what I thought.  One bit of advice that I have learned from making this dish.  When you are baking the soufflés, you should make sure that the sides of the pan or baking dish are not that much higher than the sides of the ramekins.  I found that the best dish for baking the soufflés is a pyrex glass baking dish.  The soufflés seemed to set better in the pyrex dish than the other dishes that I used, such as a roasting pan.

PARMESAN SOUFFLE WITH WHITE WINE BUTTER SAUCE

Recipe from Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita at p. 40

Serves 6

Ingredients (for the Souffle):
8 large eggs
3 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon roasted garlic puree
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
Dash of Tabasco Sauce

Ingredients (for the White Wine Butter Sauce):
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely minced
1 thyme sprig
1 1/2 teaspoons heavy white cream
1/2 pound of unsalted butter
Kosher salt
Freshly ground white pepper
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
Tabasco sauce

Ingredients (to add to the White Wine Butter Sauce):
1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
2 cups quartered or thickly sliced cremini, oyster or button
     mushrooms or a mix of mushrooms
1 shallot, minced
2 thyme sprigs, leaves only
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
4 thin slices of Prosciutto di Parma, sliced julienne

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.  Butter six 6 ounce ramekins and place them in a large shallow baking dish or pan.

2.  Combine all souffle ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined.  Fill the ramekins almost to the top (use 5.5 ounces in each ramekin).  Fill the baking dish with enough water to come up to about three-quarters the side of the ramekins.

3.  Cover the pan with foil and bake for 1 hour.  Uncover and bake until the souffles are slightly puffed, set and golden, about fifteen minutes more.

4.  Meanwhile, shortly before the souffles are done, prepare the butter sauce.  Combine the wine, vinegar, shallot, and thyme in a small heavy non-reactive pan, bringing it to a boil over high heat to reduce to a syrupy glaze.  This should take about twelve minutes.  Then remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cream.  Return it to a simmer and simmer for about 1 minute.  reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter bit by bit, adding more only after each previous addition has been incorporated.  Regulate the heat so that the sauce stays warm but does not get too hot (otherwise it will separate).  Add the salt, pepper, lemon juice and hot sauce.  Taste and add a little more vinegar or hot sauce is needed.  Strain the sauce. Keep the sauce warm while you saute the mushrooms.

5.  Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat, and add the butter.  When the butter is melted, add the mushrooms and saute until the edges are golden, about 3 minutes.  Add the shallot and saute for one 1 minute.  Season with the thyme leaves and add the salt and pepper and toss for about 30 seconds.  Set aside, covered to keep warm.

6.  Unmold the souffles onto warm plates and ladle the butter sauce around.  Scatter some of the sauteed mushrooms and sliced prosciutto around each one and serve.

And, as Keith would say,

ENJOY!

Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

California has over one hundred American Viticultural Areas.  If I had to choose one as my favorite, it would be the Paso Robles AVA.  Located in San Obispo County, the Paso Robles AVA has a long history of winemaking.  Around 1797, missionaries brought vines to the Mission San Miguel Arcangel.  For more than three hundred years, people have been cultivating those vines.  

The primary grape of the Paso Robles AVA is Zinfandel.  While Paso Robles Zinfandel wines are very good, I find that some of the other grapes grown in Paso Robles produce far better wines for their particular styles.  I have previously reviewed These grapes date back to the 1950s and 1960s. During that time, vineyards began to plant Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne.   Vineyards also grow Petite Sirah, producing wines like the San Simeon, which I have previously reviewed.  In recent years, winemakers have taken these grapes to create some interesting blends.  These blends have helped to increase the image of the AVA.  

 

Forgoing the blends, I bought a bottle of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  The wine was produced by Hope Family Wines.  The Hope family has been producing wines in the Paso Robles AVA for more than thirty years on land that was formerly apple orchards.  The Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested and fermented by individual lots.  The wine is then aged in French and American oak barrels for twelve months, during which time it is racked twice.

The Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon pours a cranberry red.  The aroma of this wine is suggests cherries, blackberries, along with a hint of vanilla.  The flavors of this wine have multiple layers.  In the front, there are full, ripe berries.  Cherries and a little strawberry.  However, some darker fruits begin to appear later in the taste and in the finish.  Fruits such as plum, a little cranberry. The wine has a medium body and, while the tannins are fairly pronounced, they do not overwhelm the drinker.

I found this wine at a local Whole Foods Market and it should be avialable at other grocery stores or wine stores. 

ENJOY!

For more about the Paso Robles AVA, check out Wikipedia.

Wine Club ... An Evening at Frank Stitt's Bottega

Picture from www.dailysalt.org

Both Clare and I will be hosting our first wine dinner this month.  One couple cooks a four course meal, another couple pairs wines for each course, and everyone gets to enjoy the food and wine.  For this month, we get to play host.  The first question we faced was what will we cook?

The answer was easy ... an Italian meal.  I immediately began scouring my cookbooks and the Internet, looking to make a meal based upon the cuisine of a particular Italian region.  Tuscany, Abruzzo, Sicily, Emilia-Romagna, Sardinia ....  While I found a lot of recipes, I could not decide upon four courses from any of the regions.

Clare and I then turned our attention to where we have had some great Italian food.  One such place was Frank Stitt's Bottega Restaurant, which is located in the Magic City of Birmingham, Alabama. Frank Stitt decided to become a chef after meeting Alice Waters (of Chez Panisse fame).  Stitt opened Bottega in an Italian-style mansion in Birmingham with the goal of experimenting with the flavors of Italy, as well as Spain and Greece. 

I remember our dinner at Bottega very well.  We went there on my first trip to Birmingham, when, while Clare and I were dating, I met Clare's parents for the first time.   Her parents knew that I loved to cook and that my focus was Italian cuisine. We had an amazing meal that night and, as a wedding shower gift, we received Frank Stitt's cookbook, Bottega Favorita.

For this months wine club, Clare and I will be recreating some of Frank Stitt's dishes from that cookbook.   Typically, the structure of an Italian meal typically consists of five courses: the antipasta, prima, secondo, contorno and dolce.  We have created a four course dinner, beginning with the antipasta, followed by the prima and secondo, and concluding with the dolce.

Antipasta: Parmesan Soufflé.  
The antipasta, or appetizer, will be Parmesan Soufflé, which draws its inspiration from the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Frank Stitt describes his soufflé dish is a "cloud-like pudding," which is made with eggs, cream and one of the region's most iconic foods, Parmigiano Reggiano.  After the soufflé is baked in a mold, we will garnish the dish with another icon of the region's cooking -- prosciutto -- along with mushrooms and, of course, a lot more grated Parmigiano Reggiano.   

Prima: Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Sage. 
The prima or first course of an Italian meal is usually a soup, salad or pasta.  We have chosen to make Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Sage.  While the use of prosciutto ties the prima with the antipasta, this dish draws its inspiration from the Italian regions of Lazio and Abruzzo.  We intend to prepare the gnocchi or potato dumplings by hand.  The gnocchi will be served with a brown butter sauce, garnished with the prosciutto and sage.  

Secondo: Lamb Spiedini with Sicilian Couscous and Yogurt Sauce.
The secondo or second dish is usually a heavier dish consisting of meat or lamb.  We have selected Lamb Spiedini and, with the couscous, this dish draws its inspiration from Sicily.  The lamb will be marinated overnight in olive oil, basil, rosemary, salt and black pepper.  Threaded on skewers, the lamb will be cooked to medium and served over couscous prepared in a Sicilian style with a mint yogurt sauce.

Dolce: Warm Cream Cheese Tart with Cinnamon and Almonds.
For our final course, the dolce or dessert, we draw inspiration from northern Italy with a Warm Cream Cheese Tart with Cinnamon and Almonds.  Frank Stitt describes this dish as having the "right balance" of a buttery crust, creamy filling, and a sweet and spicy topping.  We will garnish the dessert with sliced almonds.

We hope that everyone will enjoy this meal. Until then ...

ENJOY!

Rinkuškiai Werewolf

Having reviewed a beer named after a Vampire, I thought it was necessary to review a beer named Werewolf.  A few months back, my father picked up a beer called "Werewolf" from Brewery Rinkuškiai.  The brewery was established in 1991.  It is located in the "beer country" of Lithuania.  When one thinks of "beer country," thoughts turn to Germany, England, or the Czech Republic.  One does not think of the region around Biržai, Lithuania.

Biržai is a city in northern Lithuania, along the border with Latvia, that dates back centuries.  While the city has a long beer history, the history between the two World Wars.  According to one source, the Red Army approached in 1944 and took the town of Biržai without much resistance.  The commanders ordered the troops to chase after the Nazis.  Meanwhile, the commanders and the remaining soldiers got drunk at Biržai's breweries.  When the Nazis counter-attacked, the Red Army was forced to retreat.  Eventually, the Red Army recaptured the city, but two-thirds of the city had been destroyed. 

It was very hard to find anything on the Internet about Brewery Rinkuškiai and its Werewolf beer, apart from reviews on websites such as RateBeer and BeerAdvocate. 

The Werewolf pours a reddish copper in color, which is a little unexpected.  The malts give this beer its aroma, wrapped in alcohol.  (The beer has an ABV of 8.2%.)  There really is not much more to the aroma of this beer. 

The label of the Werewolf cautions, "you must be sure you want to taste it."  Well, given I am writing a review of the beer, I guess I am sure that I want to taste the beer.  The malts lend a certain sweetness to the beer, reminiscent of a Belgian beer or a barleywine.  The beer is sort of a simplistic version of either style, focusing primarily on alcohol content with less emphasis on developing taste.  Still, the beer has a flavor that is reminiscent of ripe fruit.

I have seen this beer in several beer and wine stores in the area for about $5.00 to $6.00 a bottle.

ENJOY!

Mahi-Mahi "Mojo" with Aleppo Pepper

The word, mahimahi, means "very strong" in Hawaiian. On the eastern coast of the United States, Americans use mahimahi --or  Mahi-Mahi -- to refer to the common dolphinfish.  A slightly odd looking fish, with a big head and long dorsal fin that runs the length of its body.  The oddness of the fish is lost in the beauty of its colors.  The body is an iridescent blue green, with golden fins and a forked tail.  The fish is a favorite amongst sport fishermen, who often look for floating debris or fish buoys, because such locations are often good spots to find these fish.

The dolphinfish is a sustainable fish, especially if caught in the Atlantic ocean.  Fishermen use troll and pole and line to catch dolphinfish along the east coast.  In addition, according to Seafood Watch, there is strict regulation when it comes to dolphinfish, thereby helping to keep the catch within manageable limits.  Add the fact that dolphinfish are fast growing and fast maturing fish, they are able to maintain their populations better than other fish.  Mahi-Mahi is also a good alternative along the western coast of the United States, as well as in Hawaii, but the regulations are not as strict as in the east.

This recipe starts with my own version of a "mojo," a Cuban marinade.  Typically, a mojo is made with sour orange juice, but I like using a combination of citrus, such as oranges, lemons and limes.  I have used a mojo marinade in the past, when I made Atun Mojo (or Tuna Mojo).  The marinade time is important because, if you let it marinate for too long, you will have ceviche.  For this recipe, I just wanted a hint of citrus in the flesh of the dolphinfish.  I let it marinate for about fifteen minutes.  It could marinate for a little longer, but I would not marinate the fish for longer than thirty minutes total. 

MAHI-MAHI "MOJO" WITH ALEPPO PEPPER

A Chef Bolek Original

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 pound of Mahi-Mahi, sliced into 2 fillets
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 orange, zested and juiced
1/2 avocado sliced
1/2 teaspoon of Aleppo pepper
7 tablespoons of canola oil
3 cloves of garlic, diced
Several springs of thyme
Salt, to taste
Ground pepper, to taste

Directions:
1.  Marinate the mahi-mahi.  Salt and pepper the Mahi-Mahi.  Add four tablespoons of canola oil, lemon juice, lime juice and orange juice to a Ziploc bag.  Add the fish and let it marinate for about fifteen minutes.  Preheat the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.  Saute the fish.  Pour the remaining oil into an oven-proof pan.  Heat on medium high heat.  Remove the fish from the marinade and pat dry.  Add the fish, skin side down.  Cook for about five minutes.  Cook each of the remaining sides for about a minute or two per side.  Return the fish to skin side down.

3.  Cook the fish.  Place the pan in the oven for at least five minutes.  Check the fish for firmness.  If the fish is firm to the touch, it is finished.  If it is not, cook it for a few minutes more. 

4.  Plate the dish.  Set the fish on top of the couscous.  Top the fish with slices of avocado and the zest from the lemon, lime and orange. Sprinkle the Aleppo pepper over the fish and couscous.

ENJOY!

J.V. Fleury Côtes du Rhône (2010)

The Côtes du Rhône is a fairly well known Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) along the Rhône River.  The AOC is divided into two sections  The first section is the Northern Rhône, which is also known as the Rhône septentrional.  There are eight appellations in the Northern Rhône, such as Condrieu and Château-Grillet, both of which produce white wines with the Viognier grape.  The other section is the Southern Rhône, which is referred to as Rhône méridional.  The Southern Rhône has sixteen appellations, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Vacqueyras AOC.

Most of the wines carry the Côtes du Rhône name, although wines may also carry the names of the AOCs within the Côtes du Rhône AOC, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  The Côtes du Rhône wines span the spectrum of red, white and rose wines.  The principal grapes of the Côtes du Rhône region are Grenache and Grenache Blanc.  However, vineyards cultivate a wide range of grapes from Bourboulenc to Viognier.  Like any AOC, the Côtes du Rhône AOC has certain rules that govern the cultivation of grapes and the production of wines.  When it comes to whites, the wine must have a minimum of 80% of the main grapes, such as Grenache Blanc, Viognier and/or Clairette Blanche.

Once again, I had a difficult time trying to find information about J.V. Fleury, because I could not locate any vineyard website or other website.  However, the label provided some information.  J.V. Fleury was established in 1781 in the northern part of the Rhône valley, making it one of the longest operating winery in the valley.  This Côtes du Rhône is made with 100% Vigonier grapes.

The J.V. Fleury Côtes du Rhône pours straw in color, somewhat reminiscent of apple juice.  The wine has aromas of apricot, grass and some flowers.  The body of the wine is light.  The taste of the wine is apricot, with some flowers in the finish.  That finish is somewhat dry.  The dryness mimics the astringency of the tannins of some red wines. 

Clare and I found this wine at Corridor Wine, a local wine store.  This wine is probably available at other wine stores and maybe some grocery stores. 

ENJOY!

For more about the Côtes du Rhône  and Rhône wine , check out Wikipedia.

Mole Ole Wings

Every Sunday, during the National Football League season, I have a ritual of making buffalo wings to enjoy either before or during the game.  I try to make a different sauce each week.  I have to admit that some sauces are pre-made (everyone deserves a break once in a while), while others are made by scratch and/or using recipes.  This recipe falls in the latter category.  I followed a recipe from a book called Wings, which has more than fifty different recipes for chicken wings.  

This recipe appealed to me because of my growing interest in moles, the amazing sauces from various states in Mexico.  Much like the Mole Verde Zacatecano, this recipe is based upon a simplified version of the sauces.   If you wanted to vary this recipe, you could use different ground chiles -- such as ground ancho, chipotle, hatch or other peppers -- for the cayenne pepper.  You could also substitute those ground peppers for the chili pepper.

MOLE OLE WINGS

Recipe from Debbie Moose, Wings, at p. 68

Makes 24 pieces

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of chili powder
2 teaspoons of cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
12 wings cut in half at joints, wing tips
     (or twenty-four individual buffalo wings)
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

1.  Prepare the rub.  In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, cumin and garlic powder.

2.  Marinate the wings.  Place the wings in a resealable plastic bag.  Pour in the olive oil and shake to coat the wings.  Pour in the rub mix and shake again to coat the wings.  Let sit for fifteen to twenty minutes.

3.  Cook the wings.  Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.  Place the wings on the baking sheet and cook for 20 to 25 minute or until done, turnign the wings about halfway through the cooking time.

ENJOY!

Oysters with Champagne, Anjou Pear and Pink Peppercorns

This recipe is still a work in progress.  It was a last minute recipe that I thought of while staring at a bin full of ice ... and Chincoteague oysters.  I have previously posted recipes for mignonettes, which are generally a "sauce" of vinegar and shallots with additional ingredients.  In the place of vinegar, I used Champagne.  Rather than shallots, I thought of pairing an Anjou pear and a little spice kick with pink peppercorns.

Champagne and pepper pair well with oysters.  Pears are a little more of a stretch.  However, it was still worth the experiment.  As it turns out, the pear gets a little lost in the taste of the oysters. The Champagne and peppercorns work well, providing some tartness and spice to the briny flavor of the oysters. A little experimentation with flavors that worked well, but not as well as some of the mignonettes that I have done in the past.

Even though the recipe was not a complete success, I decided to still post it so that I can go back and work on it a little more.

OYSTERS WITH CHAMPAGNE, ANJOU PEAR

AND PINK PEPPERCORNS

A Chef Bolek Original

Serves 2

Ingredients:
12 oysters, shucked
1/2 Anjou pear, skinned, de-seeded and diced
1/2 cup of Champagne
Reunion Pink Peppercorns

Directions:

1.  Prepare the mignonette.  Add the pear and the champagne to a bowl.  Let the pear sit in the champagne for about ten or fifteen minutes.  

2.  Plate the dish.  Spoon a little of the pear and champagne over the oysters.  Add a couple pink peppercorns.  Serve immediately.

ENJOY!

De Proef Brouwerij and Terrapin Beer Company Monstre Rouge

Over the past year, I have reviewed a couple of collaboration beers, such as the El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale and the Saison du Buff.   These beers involved the collaboration of American craft brewers, who banded together to test the limits of craft brewing and to produce a beer that has not been seen before. 

This time, the collaboration goes international, with brewer Brian "Spike" Buckowski from Terrapin Beer Company in Athens, Georgia and Dirk Naudts from De Proef Brouwerij in Locristi, Belgium.  These brewers decided to test the limits of not just any beer style, but the Flanders Red Ale.

The Flanders Red Ale is a Belgian sour ale from West Flanders.  The beer is aged for up to two years in oak barrels, where the resident bacteria work their magic to "sour" the beer.  In the past, it was common for Belgian brewers to blend in some younger beer with the old beer to balance the acidity and sourness.

The Monstre Rouge -- or Red Monster -- is an Imperial Flanders Red Ale.  According to the label, the Monstre Rouge is based off of Terrapin's Big Hoppy Monster recipe.  This particular beer also uses Spike's favorite ingredient (rye malt), along with a lot of crystal and Munich malts, and a Brettanomyces yeast strain.  After the brewing process, the beer is aged with toasted American oak. 

Both the aroma and the taste of this beer prominently feature cherries and dark cherries.  The taste of the beer also heavily emphasizes the alcohol and, as the beer warms, it hearkens to wines or liqueur.  In terms of the taste, this Flanders Red Ale is very similar to a barleywine.  Only the sourness provides a casual reminder that one is drinking a Flanders Red Ale rather than a British barleywine.

I found this beer at a local wine and beer store. Beers from Terrapin and de Proef are a little hard to find around where I live, but, if you like trying different beers, it may be worth the search.

ENJOY! 

Pisano Rio de los Pajaros Cabarnet Sauvignon Reserve (2009)

When one thinks of wine producing countries in the New World, thoughts immediately turn first to the United States, and then to Argentina and Chile. The real challenge is to reach beyond these three countries and name another country where there is a wine producing industry.  The answer ... at least one other country ... is Uruguay.

People have been cultivating grapevines in Uruguay for more than 250 years, although commercial production of wines has been taking place for less than 100 years.  The quintessential Uruguayan grape is Tannat, which was originally grown in southwestern France.  The grape made its way to Uruguay with Basque immigrants in the 19th century.  Tannat is not the only grape grown in Uruguay.  Vineyards also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewurztraminer.  

Recently, I purchased a bottle of the Pisano Rio de Los Pajaros Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (2009).   According to the label, Pisano belongs to a small group of family vignerons who produce wines that are in line with the character of the land and the people.  Pisano began producing wines in 1870 when the Pisano family settled in Uruguay.  

The Pisano Rio de los Pajaros Cabarnet Sauvignon pours a dark cherry red.  The aromatic elements of this Cabernet Sauvignon include ripe cherries and strawberries.  The winemaker suggests there are aromas of nuts, hazelnuts and green pepper.  Although I do not sense the nuts or hazelnuts, I could smell some hint of green pepper or black pepper.  There is also a hint of minerality in the aroma.  

The taste of the wine is full of strawberries.  Yet, this rather light, fruity taste stood in stark contrast with the body of the wine.  The Rio de los Pajaros has a medium body and, with each sip, the wine grips the edges of the tongue with its astringency and tannins.  The fruity tastes of the strawberries quickly give way to a dry finish.   For me, these qualities -- the astringency and tannins -- are something that I expect more from a Zinfandel than a Cabernet Sauvignon. 

When it comes to food pairing, the winemaker suggests pasta with cream store, blood sausages and hard pork sausages.  Also, rabbit, duck and other small game.  The winemaker further suggests cheeses like brie, Camembert, Roquefort, and hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano.  As for me, I paired it with the national dish of Uruguay, Chivitos al Pan.

I found this wine at a local wine store that has a large selection of international wines.  Otherwise, it may be difficult to find, because I do not think that Uruguayan wines are not widely distributed in this area.  

ENJOY!

Around the World in 80 Dishes: Uruguay

After a great meal of Camarao Mozambique and Matata, I depart from Mozambique to the location of my next challenge ... the country of Uruguay.  A relatively small country in South America that has long coastlines and only one land border, which it shares with Brazil.  The indigenous people of Uruguay (i.e., before Spain's colonization of the area) are the Charrúa people.  Although the Charrúa settled in Uruguay, the Guaraní ultimately provided the country with its name.  "Uruguay" is named after Uruguay River; however, the word "Uruguay" means "River of Painted Birds" in the Guaraní language.  

Uruguay's location has greatly influenced its cuisine.  Most notably, the country's proximity to Argentina and Brazil may very likely be the reason why Uruguayan cuisine is very beef-centric.  Brazil has also contributed other ingredients to Uruguayan cooking, such as beans, coconut, rice and manic.  In addition, the country's history as a Spanish colony has also left its mark on the dishes and cooking techniques of the Uruguayan people.  The Spanish are not the only Europeans to have influenced Uruguayan cuisine. Waves of immigrants -- from Portugal, France, Italy, England and Germany -- have contributed in various ways to the food, beer and wine that are enjoyed both in homes and restaurants.

During my research for this challenge, I narrowed down the potential main courses to two iconic Uruguayan dishes:  Steak Milanesa and Chivitos al Pan.  Steak Milanesa is akin to country fried steak ... a rather thin cut of beef, breaded and fried to a delicious golden brown.  The dish is very popular in Uruguay, as well as in Argentina.  By contrast, Chivitos al Pan is uniquely Uruguayan.  It is more than simply a steak dish.  It is an gastronomic experience ... slices of filet mignon, bacon, and ham piled on top of each other, along with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, hard boiled egg, olive tapenade and red peppers.  All of these ingredients are held into place with a generous slathering of mayonnaise and bookended with a big roll.  This dish is so popular in Uruguay that it is sometimes referred to as the "national dish."  With such a pedigree, how could I turn down the challenge to make my own Chivitos.

MAIN COURSE

So, for this challenge, I am making Chivitos al Pan, the sandwich version of the dish.  (Chivitos al plato is a more "formal" version with all of the ingredients served on a dish).  The story behind the Chivito takes on almost a legendary quality.  On day, more than fifty years ago, a woman walked into a restaurant called "El Mejillon" in Punta del Este, which is a famous summer resort.  The woman went to the owner and asked, something like "quiero comer la carne de chivito" or "I would like to eat some baby goat meat."  The owner did not have any goat meat to serve.  Instead, he prepared a sandwich with a list of ingredients that resemble the shopping list for an average family.  The owner called the dish "Chivito" or "baby goat."

The first time I heard about Chivitos was while I watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.  Tony and his brother visited Chiviteria Marcos to try what Tony called a "mind-scrambling sandwichness," and "the gift that keeps on giving."  Here is a clip from that episode:

Having watched Tony devour what can only be described as a carnivore's dream, I wanted to create my own truly Uruguayan Chivitos experience.  Rather than hop the first flight to Montevideo, I decided that I would incorporate it into my Around the World in 80 Dishes challenge.  I did a lot of research to focus on the ingredients that are critical to making a Chivito.  I scoured recipes, many of which seemed rather conservative compared to what I saw on No Reservations.  As you watch the clip, you did not see one slice of ham or one slice of cheese.  Instead, you saw slices of meats and cheeses, with toppings added.

A couple of notes about this recipe.  Filet mignon is cut in small pieces.  In order to make the beef "wide" enough for the sandwich, I suggest that you slice the beef in quarter inch slices.  Place one slice between two sheets of plastic wrap and, using a rolling pin, gently begin to "roll" the meat.  Use the rolling pin once, turn the meat 90 degrees, and use the rolling pin again.  Repeat until the slice of filet mignon is thin and even.  Then repeat this process with each of the remaining slices.  In addition, I just wanted to note that the olive tapenade can be either green or black olives, or a combination of the two.  I used a spicy tapenade made by the Louisiana Sisters, which was given to me as a gift by Clare's parents.  

CHIVITOS AL PAN

Recipe adapted from Uruguayanfood.com

Serves 1

Ingredients:
1 large sandwich bun, like a ciabatta roll
2 thin slices of filet mignon
2 slices of ham
2 slices of mozzarella cheese
3 slices of bacon
1/2 cup of sliced onions
1-2 slices of tomato
1-2 slices of lettuce
2 tablespoons of diced olives or olive tapanade
1 egg, fried or hard boiled
4 slices of red pepper
A good amount of mayonnaise

Directions:
1.  Prepare the hot toppings (bacon and onions).  Fry the bacon in a pan until crisp.  Remove the bacon from the pan and add the onions and fry then onions until golden brown.  Heat the broiler.

2.  Saute the filet mignon.  In a clean pan, saute the filet mignon for about one minute and then flip.  Remove and set aside.

3.  Construct the Chivito.  Place the steal on the lower bun.  Add the ham, bacon, onions, bacon, tomato, red peppers, lettuce, cheese, tapenade and egg.  (In the alternative, you can place everything under the cheese.)  Place the sandwich under the broiler until the cheese begins melt. Once the cheese begins to melt, remove the sandwich from the broiler.  Slather the top of the bun with mayonnaise and place it on top of the sandwich. Serve immediately.

Before this challenge, my favorite sandwich was the Philly cheesesteak.  After this challenge, my favorite sandwich is the Chivito. Although a cardiologist may recommend that I only have one Chivito per year, the wait is truly worth it.

In the end, I only made the main course as part of this challenge.  I did not make an appetizer, soup, salad or even a drink.  I am fine with that because the main course included all of the food groups  and doubled down on the meat group.  Well, until next time ...

ENJOY!