Tag Archive for: food and wine pairing

Chocolate & Wine Weekend in Salado 2017

Salado invites you to its annual “Chocolate & Wine Weekend.” For those who believe the four basic food groups consist of white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and truffles… the “Chocolate & Wine Weekend” is the event not to be missed. The event will take place throughout the Village of Salado. It’s seven great events in one fun-filled weekend!

The three-day chocolate weekend promises to satisfy all the senses with chocolate, wine tastings, music, a gourmet chocolate lunch, chocolate trail throughout the village and Saturday night “Chocolate & Music.”

Friday evening, September 22nd “Evening of Chocolate & Wine” from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Salado Winery Company. Premier Salado wines will be paired with decadent chocolates. 21 & over. Reservations must be made in advance, as this event sells out. Seating is limited to 50 people. This is a ticketed event for $44.95 per person and tickets can be purchased through EventBrite.com or at the door if they haven’t sold out online.

Saturday, September 23rd – 3 Course Lunch at Alexander’s Distillery from noon – 3:00PM. Smoked Chicken Stuffed Jalapenos with Oaxaca Mole Sauce. Ancho Cocoa Rubbed Brisket with Dark Chocolate BBQ Sauce served with Refried Beans, Cilantro Rice and Grilled Flour Tortillas. Chambord Chocolate Mousse Martini with Fresh Berries. Tickets are $25.00 and must be purchased online.

The event continues Saturday, when you take part in our “Chocolate & Wine Trail” from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM throughout the Village of Salado. Use your Passport and follow the signs to guide you and ride the trolley to follow around this “trail of sweet chocolate dreams” featuring multiple stops around the Village. Some stops feature wine and other stops featuer a fun chocolate experience. When you arrive in Salado, your first stop will be the Visitor Center to check in and receive your “Chocolate & Wine Trail Passport” and complimentary wine glass. It is very important that you pick up your Passport, wine glass, and wine tickets before the event starts. Your Passport is your entry into each of the locations. 21 & over. Tickets are $29.95 per person and must be purchased in advance at EventBrite.com. Dress Code: Dress comfortable. Our downtown area is a mile long so you will probably want to wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking to each location. There is plenty of parking along the downtown area for those who are driving instead of walking.

Enjoy “Death By Chocolate Contest” presented by the Friends of the Salado Public Library. This will be held at the Salado Public Library, Saturday from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Enter your favorite chocolate recipe and you might win! Entries available at the library. For more information please call 254-947-9191.

End your day dining at The Range at the Barton House for a special “Chocolate and Music” dinner featuring wine from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Guests should arrive and be seated by 7pm for a prompt start at 7pm. The four-course menu is sure to please every palate beginning with the first course of cauliflower puree, chocolate nibs and white chocolate crema. The second course features frissee, cocoa smoked beef tenderloin, manchego and butter toasted hazelnut vinaigrette. The third course consists of grilled quail mole, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. The final course of sweet endings includes options of cinnamon chocolate espresso cheesecake and tart cherry sauce. This is a ticketed event, limited to 32 guests at $59.00 per guest. Tickets must be purchased in advance at EventBrite.com.

On Sunday, September 24th, before you make your way home after this unique event, make plans to enjoy a fabulous Brunch at Alexander’s Distillery. 10:30am – 2pm. Charcuterie Platter. Peking Duck Carpaccio with Cocoa Nibs. Ancho Cocoa Rubbed Barbecue Brisket Hash with Eggs. Chambord Chocolate Mousse. $25 per guest. Purchase tickets online.

For information or assistance on where to stay or planning your weekend, contact the Chamber and Tourism Bureau at 254-947-5040 or email [email protected].  Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/salado-chocolate-wine-weekend-2017-tickets-37242270634

 

Halloween Candy and Wine Pairing

Such gracious hosts! A pleasure to sit down and talk about wine and candy with

Such gracious hosts! A pleasure to sit down and talk about wine and candy with

I am feeling a little more famous!  Today I was a guest on KWTX News 10 at 3, the afternoon program with Marlena Hamilton and Nathan Gogo.  I was invited to share my favorite candy and wine pairings and I was happy to share my thoughts.

This was my plan, going in…

Night Flight (chardonnay) pair with caramel due to apple notes in chardonnay

Diamond Back (cab merlot blend) dark chocolate

Big Bully (malbec tempranillo from Temple, tX) Kit Kat bar

William Select Solera Blanca (Sherry) Reese’s peanut butter
cup

William Select Solera Tinto (port) tootsie roll

Sweet Tweet (muscato) tart and fruity candy such as smarties, starbursts

Rootin’ Tootin’ (sweet red) candy corn

So how did I do?  The video is here:  http://www.kwtx.com/video?videoid=3320385

FOOD + WINE pairing along with ART, July 2nd

oak testing

which wine is best? come find out July 2nd, 6-9 pm

The other day I got together with Chef Brandon to get some feedback on some wines I have been working on.  I wanted his opinion on how I should oak the wines we are currently ageing.  (See here for more details on where we are with making 2014 wines).  I poured him a couple versions of our dry sangiovese rose, a couple versions of 3 Texan cabernet sauvignon, and a couple versions of 2014 Diamond Back.  He helped me to think about which oak flavors married well with which wines.  And he gave me feedback on the rose.

Brandon works for Classic Events Catering and from this wine tasting he put together a terrific wine pairing menu.  This food and wine pairing will be available for $24.95 during the Art Opening Reception for John Davis, on Thursday, July 2nd, 6-9 pm.  Tickets for the food and wine are available on eventbrite.

The menu includes a NEW debut, 2014 Salado Vineyard Sangiovese Rose which will be released at this event. This light summer rose wine has an orange citrus note and will be paired with Corn Cake sous vide pork belly, slow-poached quail egg, green tomato marmalade, and topped with American caviar

From the BARREL, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from 3 Texans Vineyard will be previewed. Taste this wine before it is bottled and tell us what you think. If you enjoy it, we might even offer it to you at a special pre-bottling price. It will be served with Masa Tostado ‘churrasco style’ double cooked brisket, pickled red onion, avocado kewpie mayo, & kimchi Brussel sprout. The 3 Texans Vineyard is located west of the Temple Airport.

Sweet Tweet muscato will be chilled and presented with Tart grilled peach, goat cheese-mascarpone ‘cheese whiz’, clover honey, and oregano.

For an additional $5, folks can partake in the food and wine pairing described above, and participate in a special tasting of 2014 Tempranillo and 2014 Malbec grown in the 3 Texans Vineyard at 6 pm. This tasting will lead by winemaker, June Ritterbusch and will demonstrate the differences in aging a wine in various oaks.

Finally, the gnomadic fashion truck will be on hand. What is gnomadic Fashion? An online store + Fashion Truck! Their treasures include handmade, fair trade, and socially responsible goods.