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!

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 

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)