Table Talk.
November, wine value picks: EOS 2005 Petite Sirah, Vina Robles 2007 Roseum
2008-11-20 22:12:35 ID=181:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
We asked Linda Cooks, manager of the Paso Robles Albertsons wine department for a couple of wine "value" recommendations.
The rules were simple, we asked for two food friendly wines, a Red and a White (or Rose) from local wineries and a cost of under $18.00 a bottle.
November's Fall recipes
2008-11-06 20:17:13 ID=179:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
With November's cooler temperatures brings the thoughts of more "tummy-warming" meals and the start of holiday get-togethers. With that in mind, we'll start showcasing some of our favorite dishes that can be served for any occasion.
Let’s Explore Some Wine Country Together
2008-08-13 09:01:49 ID=52:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
Home to over four hundred world class wineries and some of the best high quality produce growing areas in the world, California Central Coast covers a big area of remarkably different Terroirs, from cool Pacific Ocean influences to high mountains, to hot almost desert like inland areas. Let's discover together how this marriage of tastes makes the California Central Coast so unique and wonderful!
October's featured recipes round-out the Summer and kick off the Fall!
2008-11-06 22:31:07 ID=145:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
Now that the days are getting cooler, and the nights crisp we can start making some of our favorite Fall recipes.
Lefort's Organic Farm.
2008-10-08 01:00:17 ID=135:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
Lefort's Organic Farm, located along the bank of the Huer Huero Creek is a grower of organic specialty crops.
John Cardinale and Jean Higgins of Di Raimondo's Italian Market and Cheese Shop.
2008-10-08 01:01:00 ID=126:1
© 2008 The Romantic Table
Husband and wife team John Cardinale and Jean Higgins of Di Raimondo's Italian Market and Cheese Shop talk with The Romantic Table.
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This week's featured recipe
Rock Cornish Game Hens Balsamico
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
This is an absolutely divine way to serve Rock Cornish Game Hens!—It’s quite unusual and has a taste and dramatic presentation that will make your dinner guests crave for more. If you use Rock Cornish Game Hens, get yourself a couple cooking bricks to press the hens flat. I use a weighted bacon press. They're available at kitchen stores up and down the California Central Coast.
If you're cooking for more than four, I like to use chicken thighs for this –thighs are not too fatty but have lots of meat and more importantly they stay moist.. --With thighs there's no need for a weighted brick.
Serve this with roasted potatoes with onions or brown rice (the sauce is delicious!) and a green vegetable such as peas or green beans and a salad and you’re set to impress!
This reheats tasting almost better than the first time around—so it’s smart to make extra for a “leftover supper.”
What's in the Market.
Farmers Market Report November 15, 2008
2008-11-19 19:39:37 ID=193:3
© 2008 The Romantic Table
Winter is approaching bringing with it the season of winter greens, pomegranates and persimmons.
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Around the Table
Polyphenol compounds in Red wine give protection against Alzheimer's2008-11-20 17:11:15 ID=197:2
www.upi.com
More evidence that moderate red wine consumption is beneficial to your health.
Try a Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving Dinner.
2008-11-20 17:07:13 ID=196:2
www.sanluisobispo.com
Pinot Noirs are very versatile wines, many consider it the best wine of all. While we would go quite that far, it will pair well with traditional Thanksgiving foods.
Evidence that Piperine, an alkaloid in Black Pepper dramatically increase nutrient absorption.
2008-11-20 17:00:20 ID=195:2
www.naturalnews.com
Piperine, the main alkaloid in Black Pepper has demonstrated the property of dramatically increasing the absorption of nutrients, and increasing the effectiveness of natural cancer fighting substances. As the article mentions, given today's cost of food and supplements, getting the most of your food dollar is critical.
Any the great thing about Black Pepper is that it is relatively inexpensive and tasty!
Ways to avoiding GMO (genetically modified organisms) foods
2008-11-20 16:49:13 ID=194:2
www.naturalnews.com
Here is an article on ways to avoid GMO foods. Basically follow the advice you read on this web site.
With all the great food available from local farmers in farmers' markets, buying locally not only supports your local economy, but safe-guards your health at the same time - What a Deal!
Organic Wineries are finally getting respect
2008-11-16 12:56:26 ID=192:2
©2008 The Romantic Table
Until recently "Organic" on the wine label brought to mind images of "tofu" and weird inedible foods combination. Now that "Organic" has gone mainstream, wineries are brushing up their organic credentials.
Millennials Embrace Champagne & Sparkling Wines.
2008-11-16 12:47:16 ID=191:2
winebusiness.com
Millennials (young adults between the ages of 21 and 31) are discovering Sparkling Wines. Sparkling Wines are not that large a segment of the Central Coast wine market, but is interesting and fortunate for us, that the Millennials seem to refer the lighter and sweeter brands from Spain and the US rather than the true French Champagne.
WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, the "working man and woman's Ag-tourism.
2008-11-16 12:40:57 ID=190:2
www.naturalnews.com
Years ago to travel "free" you would hire on as a hand on a tramp freighter. On the Central Coast the same concept has been adapted by farmers, especially organic farmers who need a lot of hand labor.
If you have time, and are not afraid of physical work, it is not a bad way to visit really get to know the Central Coast.
Syrah taking hold in Paso Robles
2008-11-13 21:04:27 ID=187:2
www.sanluisobispo.com
You could say that in Paso Robles the Rhône Flows into the Salinas so to speak. Rhône varietals and blends are definitely taking hold here.
Syrah in particular is doing well. But Syrah is not new, some reports indicate that it was certainly present in Napa in the mid to late 1800's.
What is happening is Paso Robles and the Central Coast in general are trying to find their niche, and it looks like Rhône varietals are going to predominate the scene (for a while anyway).
What wines Americans really drink.
2008-11-13 20:56:48 ID=186:2
www.vinography.com
Alder Yarro ponders the selections of the average American wine drink. The top 10 list is still resplendent with white wines and white Zinfandel of course - wines mostly under $10.00 a bottle retail.
Of course what you pay at a restaurant is another matter which is probably why the list is so skewed in the first place - no one is going to take a risk on a bottle of wine that is twice the cost of the average entree on the menu.
Drinking wine may give protection against dementia.
2008-11-09 15:14:35 ID=185:2
www.decanter.com
Remember back in the 60's and 70's when it was popular for a certain segment of the population to claim wine (meaning "legal" alcohol) causes massive brain cell death. Well, we wine drinkers have the last laugh - at least we can remember the 60's and 70's!
Once again, flavonoids found in red wine (which other research indicates offer heart protection) are the likely agents of protection.
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