Island Bocadillos (Bites) at the Gilbert's house

We'd just come back from Isla Mujeres and were crazy about their Tikinxic! This local recipe for fish is amazing. Obviously I couldn't quit match it, but I gave it my best shot.

Aperitivos:
Guacamole
Shrimp Salsa
Tortilla Chips
Mango and Pineapple with Chili Powder

Cena:
Tikinxic Fish Street Tacos and Spicy Mango Slaw
Sliced Mango

Dulces:
Paletas

The wine was a Malbec. I don't remember who brought what, but the 2012 Kaiken Ultra won, The 2012 Lambert Bridge came in second and the 2015 Layer Cake came in third. It just goes to show you that Argentina knows how to make malbec!

Shetler's; Cold International Supper

I'm late on posting for the Wine Tribe! This dinner party was at the Gilbert cabin, but it was the Shetler's turn. The temps are usually high in the summer, so Mark planned a cold, refreshing meal. Of course that meant it was cool that weekend.

Appetizers (Italy)
Crostini with three spreads
~Olive and Caper
~Almond Tomato Parmesan
~Fig Rosemary

Gazpacho (Spain)

Carrot Slaw (Asia)

Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich (India)

Frozen Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Banana Loaf

They called for a red blend. We won with a Calaveras 2014 Blend from Allegorie, The Wades came in second with a 2015 Seven Deadly Red, the Shetlers came in third with a 2014 blend by Brandlin called Prince & Pedro. Over the weekend we polished off a few bottles.

For the Love of Friends

This is a great title for our gathering at the Wades. For many years now we have fellowshipped around food once a month, and I absolutely never grow tired of it. This time they called for a Cabernet Sauvignon. When I saw the food I understood why!

Appetizers
Savory Sausage Meatballs
Garlic Roasted Mushrooms

Crostini & Cheese with Rombauer Chardonnay-Soaked Raisins

Salad
Wedge Salad with Bacon, Point Reyes Blue Cheese and Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Main Course
Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola Butter
Creamed Spinach
Bacon Potato Rosettes

Dessert
Snickers Brownie Truffle

Wine Competition Winners...
Gilberts take home first place with a Palisandro 2011 Cab,
Wades came in second with Justin 2014 Cab,
Shetlers came in third with C.G. Arie 2011 Cab 

French Food, California Style

French recipes are my favorite to prepare for some reason. I think it's the savory flavors... I love Allspice, Herbes de Provence, and lavender. This time I prepared a repeat dish, Tourtiere. The meal just seemed so old-fashioned and elegant, I dug out my wedding china from the eighties. It fit just right.

HORS D'OEUVRES
California Caviar (Sturgeon)
Creme Fraiche

Baked Brie
et Craquelins

SALADE
Spiralized Zucchini, Carrots, and
Tomatoes with Olives Oil Spritz
and Truffle Salt.

SOUPE
Sherry Tomato

PLAT PRINCIPAL
Tourtiere with Sauce Aux
Champignons (Mushrooms)
Puree de Pomme de Terre
(Creamed Potatoes)

DESSERT
Glace a la Vanille Avec
Puree de Mangue (Mango)

Valentines at the Shetler's

These people crack me up! The dinner was thrown together because they were short on time... Check out this menu! It would take me months to come up with food like this (3 to be exact) and it wouldn't taste as good :)

Let's start by saying the wine competition was white wine. White wine? Mark said the food was too light to pair with red, so white it was.

APPETIZERS

Salmon Dip on Hearts of Celery,
Cheddar Pennies,
Shrimp Cakes (I'm allergic to shellfish) with Red Pepper Spread,

SALAD

I don't know what it's called, but it was yummy

MAIN COURSE

Corn Crab Chowder (and Shrimp Chowder for me) with Avocado Chunks and Cilantro Puree, 
Sourdough Garlic Bread,

DESSERT

Lemon Mousse with Raspberries










WINES

1st Wades with Tamber Bay, Chardonnay, 2014

2nd Shetlers with Lambert Bridge, Viognier, 2014

3rd Gilberts with Rombauer, Chardonnay, 2015

Un Assaggio di Toscana at the Wade's

Look at this beautiful Tuscany table setting! The Wades produced a lovely night of delicious wine and food paired with friendship. They called for an Italian wine for the competition. Check out this menu!

ANTIPASTI
Assortimento di salume e formaggi con i cracker
Olive e peperoni
Pate' di fegato Toscano con bruschetta

PRIMO PIATTI
Pappa al pomodoro

SECONDO PIATTI
Ragu' di manzo brasato con pappardelle

CONTORNO
Insalata di arancia e finocchio

DOLCE
Biscotti al cioccolato con pistacchi
Biscotti arancia e ricotta
Ricciarelli
Vinsaanto
Cappuccino
Amaretto

We finally won the competition! It's been a long time. Joe and I brought a Sicilian wine--Mario Ercolino, Saserello, 2013. Second was Renieri, Brunello di Montalcino, 2011. Third was Modus, Ruffino, 2012

California Dinner (Celebrating Cheese)

It always takes me forever to post our own dinner party, especially if we lost the wine competition... which we did :(  But it was still a blast! Joe and I had been gone for a month down in Puerto Escondido (check out my travel blog: http://dashingboldadventure.blogspot.com/), and our dinner was scheduled for the Friday after we got home. Less than a week! So that's my excuse for making my fall-back spaghetti. I called for Zinfandel.

Snacks:
Cheese Drizzled with Olive Oil
Black Finger-Olives
Crunchy Parmesan Wafers
Marcona Almonds & Dates

First Course:
Caprese Salad

Main Course:
Roasted Carrots,
Spaghetti with Spicy Meatballs,
Olive Cheese Bread

Dessert:
New York Style Cheesecake with Kona/Caramel Sauce and Berries

Wine competition:
Wades 1st place with Opolo, Mountain Zin, 2014 (Paso Robles)
Gilberts 2nd with Dobra Zemla, Zin, 2014 (Amador)
Shetlers 3rd with the prettiest bottle of Poizin, Zin 2013 (Sonoma)