All About Caviar

29 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Caviar, Special Information, Wine and Food

Caviar! That mysterious, fishy treat from the Caspian Sea. “Too expensive for me!” “I hate fish.” Maybe this article from About (dot) com will help to dispel some of the “bad rap” that caviar gets. Bet you never knew it was served in the saloons of the Old West, did you? Hmmm. Rough, tough cowboys eating caviar. Wonder if Billy The Kid or Kit Carson or Wyatt Earp ever ate caviar?

All About Caviar
By Brett Moore, About.com Guide

Caviar was once served as an appetizer in saloons of the Old West. In another time it was considered extremely valuable and only suitable to be served to royalty and the upper class. But what exactly is caviar? Why is it so highly prized and so expensive? Here are the facts on where caviar comes from and what all the fuss is about. Definition
Caviar refers to the salted eggs (roe) of the fish species, sturgeon. Caviar comes from the Persian word Khaviar which means “bearing eggs”. Some eggs from other species ( such as salmon, paddlefish, whitefish, and lumpfish) may be labeled caviar if the name of the fish is included. The three main types of caviar beluga, sevruga, and osetra, refer to the sturgeon species the caviar comes from. …

To read the rest of the article, look at Caviar Facts. It is really an interesting article and one worth reading. Cheers!

Party Time!

29 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

Quite often we are at a loss as to what to bring to a New Year’s Eve Party. And too, we are often asked to bring some champagne or other sparkling wine. Here are some suggestions: (1) Crispy Udon Noodles with Nori Salt paired with a NV Jacques Lassaigne Les Vignes de Montgeux Blanc de Blancs, (2) Hush Puppies with Remoulade served with a NV Alfred Gratien Blanc de Blancs Brut or (3) Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon, Caviar and Dill Cream served with a well-structured, Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne: Lamiable Grand Cru Brut.

All of these recipes, photos and champagne suggestions, and more, can be found at Food and Wine Champagne Parings. Have fun with these treats, drink responsibly and be safe.

Have A
Happy New Year Party
and a
Great 2011!

Wine Club Dinner At "The Buzz"

15 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

≈ Leave a comment

On December 14, 2010 we attended the Wine Club Dinner at The Buzz in Boise. The theme tonight was Gewurztraminer and Carmenere.

Cristi informed us that these dinners will continue next year, 2011. The yearly theme will be the Small Family Owned Wineries and she will start with Indian Creek Winery from Kuna, Idaho. The price per person for the full dinner (see photos below) and 6 to 9 wines will remain the same at $15.00. WOW! Reservations are encouraged. With the cost of this meal and the wines served, it would be the polite thing to do – Make Reservations. You can contact the Buzz to make your reservations at Their Website, by phone at (208) 344-4321 or by email at Buzz Wine E-Mail.

The menu for tonight was awesome. Spicy, yet sweet. Along with the dishes prepared by Debbie, I will also list the wine that was served with the dish and the score (20). Enjoy and see you at the next Wine Dinner in January 2011. Have a great Holiday Season!

Firecracker Chicken and Fiery Vegetable Bites
2009 Chateau St Michelle Gewurztraminer, 12.5% alc, (19), $10.00

Blossom Cups with Shrimp
2009 Sawtooth Winery Gewurztraminer, alc 13.0%, (15), $10.00

Red Pepper and Fennel Soup

(This was an awesome soup!)
2009 Nbed 2gether Carmenere, alc 13.5%, (19), $10.00
(We bought 1 bottle!)

Spicy Chopped Salad
2007 Trimbach Gewurztraminer, alc 14.0%, (20) $22.00
(This is a benchmark wine and we bought 2 bottles! Spend the money.)

Ropa Viejo with Santa Fe Vegetables
2009 Santa Rita Carmenere, alc 13.5%, (17), $1`0.00

Chocolate Sybil Cake
2005 Korta Carmenere, alc 13.5%, (15), $10.00

So there you have the ingredients for the last of the 2010 Wine Club Dinners! We are looking forward to the wine dinners at the Buzz in 2011! Cheers! And don’t forget to make reservations.

Beaujolais Nouveau Party

19 Friday Nov 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

“Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” And that it did at the Le Café de Paris in Boise last night! It’s been a while since we’ve been to the restaurant and it was great to get back. And what a night. But whats all the fuss about a wine? Well, here is some information for you. Enjoy!

“Beaujolais nouveau (French pronunciation: [boʒɔlɛ nuvo]) is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks then officially released for sale on the third Thursday of November. This “Beaujolais Day”, or “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” sees heavy marketing from the producers, with races to get the first bottles of the vintage to different markets … Beaujolais Nouveau is intended for immediate drinking, and in general should not be kept for more than a year. On the other hand, it usually benefits from being left a few weeks to recover from the effects of bottle-shock – and in the Northern Hemisphere the weather is more suited to Beaujolais drinking in Spring than in the chill of November. However, this rather misses the point of Beaujolais Nouveau’s “immediacy”, and patient drinkers can buy standard Beaujolais AOC wines released the following year at lower prices without the Nouveau hype. The wines show definite variation between vintages, at worst the wines start to decline after Christmas; wines from a very good year might still be drinking well 12 months later … In the United States, it is promoted as a drink for Thanksgiving, which falls a week after the wine is released. Duboeuf remains the biggest producer of Beaujolais Nouveau; unlike the “flower” labels of his other wines, his Nouveau features a colourful abstract design that changes every year. Duboeuf has silk ties made each year with the label’s abstract design, and releases them through select wholesalers and distributors.” (Wikipedia)

Here are some photos of the dinner we had. Cheers!

Pâté Paysanne
Roasted Brioche, Cornichon, Dijon

Salade Paysanne
Field Greens, Tomato Confit, Poached Egg, Bacon Lardons, Mustard Vinaigrette

Elk Bourguignon
Chantrelle Mushrooms, Cippolini Onions

Sole Meunière
Truffled Risotto, Brussel Sprouts

Crème Caramel

And the really surprising thing was ….. The Beaujolais Nouveau went extremely well with everything. Yes, even the Brussel Sprouts, which, by the way, were awesome! Steamed and then tossed in a butter/horseradish sauce. Yum-O! The elk was so tender, it melted in your mouth. And the pâté was delicious. It was all extremely good. An awesome evening out with Robin. We’ll do it again next year!

Dinner With Wes Malvini

12 Friday Nov 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Food Prep, Local Harvests, Photos By: Bob Young, Rabbit, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Special Dinners, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

Last night we had a delightful dinner with Wes Malvini, among other things, now working for Idaho’s Bounty. Wes has been marketing director for Holesinsky Winery and Davis Creek Winery (both wineries in Idaho), film maker, writer, author, wine maker and vineyard manager. He has been busy! It was great to have Wes over for dinner and to talk to him about his achievements and future endeavors. Here is what we had for dinner. The photo to the left is the table setting Robin created. Enjoy!

Prepping the Grissini.

Grissini

Frying sage leaves.

Cheese Crisps with Fried Sage

——————————
Rabbit Dinner
with
Wes Malvini

The Menu

Appetizer
Virginia Prosciutto and Figs/Grissini

Entrée
Lapin a la Moutarde
(Rabbit In Mustard Sauce)

Tarragon Carrots

Wild Rice

Salad
Lemon Cucumber and Fennel Salad

Bread
Fresh Baked Sourdough Baguettes

Dessert
Goat Cheese and Apple Slices

The Wine List
2006 Parma Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay

2004 Fat Bastard Chardonnay

2000 Haight Vineyard Chardonnay
(The winner for tonight! What a surprise.)

1978 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Blanc

——————————

Appetizer
Virginia Prosciutto and Figs

Entrée
Lapin a la Moutarde

Dessert
Goat Cheese and Apple Slices
——————————

So there you have our wonderful dinner with friends from last night. Enjoy the photos!

Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling at "the Buzz"

10 Wednesday Nov 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos By: Bob Young, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

≈ Leave a comment

Another great Wine Club Dinner at the Buzz last night, 09 November. Really good food and some exceptional wine to go along with the dinner. And Cristi had her helper with her, as shown here. (I’m not allowed to say who this is. Can you guess?) If you missed this one, here are some more to look forward to. Mark these on your calendar! (1) On 18 November is the Beaujolais Nouveau from 6:30. No scheduled dinner, but Bistro type foods will be available. (2) 05 December the Quarterly Wine Dinner. This is a special dinner with surprise wines picked to accompany the dinner. There is a very nominal charge for the Wine Dinner. (3) 14 and 15 December the monthly Wine Club Dinner and Tasting of Carmenere and Gewurztraminer. $15.00 per person for a 5 to 6 course full dinner and 6 to 8 wines. Reservations are strongly suggested!! Look in the sidebar for a link to the Buzz. Here are some photos from last nights dinner. Enjoy the photos; We enjoyed the dinner! Thank-You Debbie, Chisti and Tom for a great evening and dinner. My point ratings are in (20). 20 is the highest rating.

I must apologize: I missed a photo of the Spaghetti Squash that Debbie made. And it was good!! I was too busy eating it and talking!

Empty

Apple-Rosemary Blue Cheese Bites
2009 Chateau St. Michelle Riesling 12% alc. (20) $10.00

Chicken Florentine
(I though this was awesome. Just a hint of curry made this a real treat and a surprise ingredient to this Florentine.)
2006 Grafign Cabernet (Argentina) 14% alc (18) $12.00

The Original Caesar
2007 Blue River Riesling 9.5% alc (18) $12.00

Beef Bourguignon
2008 Louis Martini Cabernet 13.9% alc (18) $17.00

Banana Split Brownie Pizza
2006 Kestrel Cabernet 13.9% alc (19) $21.00

The 2008 Winter Scene Riesling 10% alc (18) $14.00 went with the Spaghetti Squash.

Hope you enjoyed the photos as much as we enjoyed the Wine Dinner. See you there next time? Hope so. Just make reservations. Cheers!

Pasta With Portanesca Sauce

06 Saturday Nov 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Recipes, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

A good tasting at the Boise Coop Wine Shop of Port wines with Christian Lamotte of New West Wines. Here are the ports that we tasted.

Robin and Christian discuss the ports.

The wines we tasted.

But then, when you have tasted all of these wines and bought two bottles, now what? How about Pasta with Portanesca Sauce. Yup! You guessed it. A pasta sauce with port wine and coffee. Here is the recipe. Enjoy.

Pasta with Portanesca Sauce

Source: Robin and Bob Young
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
4 c Pasta Shells
1 c White Port wine
1 c Water, used to soak the dried mushrooms
1 c strong Coffee, espresso
3 T Butter
3 T All-Purpose flour
½ c dried Mushrooms, reconstituted in the 1 c Water
4 T Pecorino Romano Cheese, ground
½ T Pomegranate Molasses
1½ T Hazelnuts, ground
¾ c Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 T Olive Oil
4 whole Figs
Shaved Pecorino for garnish

Directions:
Cook the pasta until done. Rinse. Add the 1 T olive oil and toss to keep from sticking. Set aside.

Cut each fig in half lengthwise. Set aside.

Soak the mushrooms for 2 hours in 1 cup of water. After 1 hour, replace the water with 1 c Port. Reserve the water.

Reduce the coffee by ½. Add the reserved water and the port wine from the mushrooms. Reduce by ½. Keep warm.

Large dice the mushrooms. Set aside.

Add the butter to a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until it is nut brown. Do not burn! Add the flour and whisk to blend. Add the reduced coffee mixture and stir to blend. Add the ground hazelnuts, the cheese and the pomegranate molasses. Add the optional diced chicken. Stir all to blend. Let the sauce thicken.

When the sauce is thick, add the pasta. Stir to mix. Heat throughout.

Plate with two figs cut in half on a plate. Top the pasta with the shaved pecorino.

——————————

As we used to say in the dance classes we were teaching, “Your turn!” Good luck.

First Annaul Harvest Under The Stars

25 Monday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Buy Idaho, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Special Events, Special Information, Things To Do, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

It is just great when a community comes together to support a local, but far reaching, organization. A New Beginning Adoption Agency in Boise is one such organization. On October 23, Boise came together, under the direction of Wes Malvini,to support this organization with the First Annual Harvest Under The Stars. As Wes said it,

“With our delicious array of harvest foods and hot beverages (Hot apple cider, butternut squash soup, cocoa, coffee, beer, wine, beef stew, plus lamb chicken and vegan sliders), a rockin’ concert by Finn Riggins, Quartertons Boise, comedian Heath Harmison, and magician Weseley Hanna– October 23rd at 6:00 p.m will be the only place to be (rain or shine)!

Bring a jacket and enjoy our GIGANTIC covered tent and heaters!

A New Beginning Adoption Agency (and meet who you’re supporting):
208-939-3865
9703 W Ustick Rd, Ste 101
Boise, Idaho
A New Beginning“

If you would like to know more about A New Beginning, their phone number, web site and mailing address are listed. They would be more than happy to talk to you about their services. Everyone was told to wear a costume if they wished to. Some of us did. Others came as themselves. Here are some photos from the event. Hope to see you there next year. This is a family oriented event and during the day there are some “Kid Approved” events and activities.

With “A Wink and a Smile” Wes Malvini leads the evening as MC

Robin in costume.

Cristi and Debbie from the Buzz Bistro in Boise.

Here are some of the food items supplied by the Buzz Bistro

Lamb Patties
Oat Patties
Butternut Squash Soup
Chicken Skewers with Fresh Vegetables

The food dishes prepared and distributed by the Buzz Bistro were made from all Idaho products.

Idaho’s Bounty vegetable display

One of the several bands and acts that performed.

Some other participants in the evening were Davis Creek Cellars, Woodriver Cellars, the Boise Coop and Ballard Cheeses. All of their help and products were greatly appreciated. Thank-You.

Wine Dinner at "the Buzz Bistro"

13 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

12 October – Another fabulous Wine Dinner at the Buzz Bistro! This was, by far, one of the best dinners that Debbie has prepared for us. Everything went so very well with the wines. Cristi also did a great job selecting the wines
and doing the education program. Look at the photos of the course plates and the wines that were served with them. My scores are in (20), twenty being the highest. Scores this month were generally pretty high and to pick a “winner” was a challenge. If you are going to attend one of these dinners, please call the Buzz Bistro for reservations and for $15.00 per person, you can’t beat this night out. Hope to see you at the next dinner. Keep checking this blog for updates. Cheers!
There are several programs coming up during the next several months, so I will post them here as they are sent to me. And don’t forget too, on Saturdays, or on Game Day, the BSU Broncos are on Tom’s Big Screen!

Involtini di Vitello
(Veal Rolls)

2008 Rocca di Montemassi Le Focale Sangiovese
13.4% alc, (19), $16.00

Pomodori Ripieni
(Stuffed Tomatoes)

2009 Zonin Pinot Grigio
12% alc, (19), $10.00

Pasta all’Amatriciana
(Roman pasta sauce – Traditional)

2009 Bella Sera Chianti
13.0% alc, (18), $10.00

Insalata di Arance
(Orange Salad)

2009 Kris Pinot Grigio
12.5% alc, (19), $14.00

Main Plate
Herbed Pork
Patate con Rosmarino
(Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic)
Carote al Marsala
(Carrots In Marsala)
Funghi trifolati
(Truffle -Style Mushrooms)

2007 Mannina Sangiovese
14.5% alc, (19), $23.00

Zuppa Inglesa
(Italian Custard)

2008 Luma Pinot Grigio
14.5% alc, (20), $14.00

Gameday At "The Buzz"

26 Sunday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Bistro, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

It was a beautiful fall day/evening in Boise, except for the Oregon State fans. Even the sky reflected its support of BSU. Look at those colors! BSU won the football game 37 – 24. But it was a hard fought game for both sides. BSU is now 3 – 0 on the season. Normally, we would watch the game at home. But the hype started at 7:00am here in Boise and went right through 9:00pm. ESPN had the Gameday Program here. So, we decided to watch the game at one of the local bistros.