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Central Coast Food & Wine Journal

Learn about the latest food and wine happenings, as well as our recommendations for dining, wine-tasting, and relaxing.


Chef Mary Ann’s Red Lentil Salad

Following our blog posts you will have heard of Chef Mary Ann and her wonderful food. Today’s entry is Chef Mary Ann’s Red Lentil Salad. I have never before tasted the variety of spices come together with an oil and vinegar base to create something otherworldly and most difficult to describe:Other than delicious!

red lentil salad
Red Lentil Salad

If you don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by the assortment of spices, the salad is super easy to make. Here we go:

INGREDIENTS:
(This is the dressing)
3/4 Cup of olive oil
1/2 Cup of wine vinegar
2 TBS sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp pepper
2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp mace
1/2 tsp cardamon
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon

LENTILS:
Be very careful – you do not want to overcook your lentils. Red lentils cook up very quickly in 4-5 minutes:
1 lb. of red lentils (cook lightly until just crunchy)

ADDITIONS:
Some good additions to try are:
capers
chopped red onion
currants
chopped dried fruit

This salad is so versatile. I haven’t met a single person who has tasted this red lentil salad and not loved it. It’s not “spicy”, just wonderfully flavorful. Use it as a side salad for picnics during the summer, and add it to your sides for the upcoming Holidays. Mary Ann’s red lentil salad will not disappoint.

I hope you enjoy Chef Mary Ann’s Red Lentil Salad!

Laura

Wine Pairing with Popular Comfort Food

Wine Pairing for Popular Comfort Food

We all have that one dish that can just instantly turn our day around. Indeed, there’s nothing better than having a hearty serving of your comfort food of choice after a long and tiring day. If you want to make this experience even better, why not pair your dish of choice with a great glass of wine. However, by now, most of you know that some wines pair better with specific types of food and flavor profiles. This is why we’ve put together a quick guide of the best wine to pair with popular comfort food.

Instant Ramen and Lambrusco

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CREDIT: Dominik Schwind under CC BY 2.0

Many of you will probably reminisce about your days in college when you have a bowl of instant ramen. There’s just something about the warm and salty broth that reminds you of simpler times. And while you could opt for a bottle of your soda of choice when eating instant ramen, we suggest going for something a little more refined. Lambrusco wine will be perfect to compliment the saltiness and beefiness of the instant ramen broth, as the wine’s bubbliness and sweetness should be extra refreshing in between mouthfuls of noodles and broth.

What’s great about instant ramen is that it’s incredibly easy to make. As you’ll only need to boil some water and then mix in the seasonings and oil that come with the noodles. We suggest eating the noodles right away as you wouldn’t want them to get too soggy.

Fried Rice and Riesling

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CREDIT: chomjong under CC BY 2.0

If you’ve never had a serving of fried rice after a long day, then you are definitely missing out. It takes different elements of great dishes and combines it into one. You’ll get veggies, protein, and carbs all in one flavor-packed dish. One way to balance out all the flavors is to cut through with acidity. This is why we recommend using a nice Riesling. The Riesling is fruity and acidic without being overtly sweet, which means it won’t end up overpowering the dish completely.

What’s great about fried rice is that you can make it at home with relative ease. With a small rice cooker, it’s so easy to cook up a small batch for two. Just gather any vegetables that you may want to throw into it, as well as your meat of choice. You can even use leftover meat from other dishes that you’ve cooked for the week, as there is no limit to what you can make fried rice out of. One tip we can give you when making fried rice is to avoid using freshly cooked rice. You’ll want the rice to be completely dried out so we suggest cooking rice and letting it cool in the fridge overnight. From there, you’ll just need to combine all the ingredients in a pan along with some soy sauce and oyster sauce. Finish the entire thing with a dollop of butter to add a little richness.

Fried Chicken and Cave

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CREDIT: BrokenSphere under CC BY-SA 3.0

Fried chicken is one of the most common comfort food in the world. In fact, just about every country and culture has their own version of the fried chicken dish. Now, similar to instant ramen, fried chicken pairs well with bubbly wine. A good choice would be Cava, as its floral aromatics and citrusy flavor also pairs well with the saltiness and oiliness of the fried chicken. Unlike the Lambrusco, Cava is far less sweet with a bitter finish.

Fried chicken is also a breeze to make. Now, we won’t bore you with the specifics as all there is to it is brining your chicken in some buttermilk, dredging it in flour, and then frying it in oil. We will, however, impart a tip to help you make better fried chicken. Using a deep cast iron pan will help you cook the chicken more evenly, as the pan holds heat better than regular pans. This will help you cook fried chicken that’s crunchy on the outside without completely drying it out.

Written for centralcoastfoodtours.com by Gigi Waters 

Paso Robles’ Zinfandel Festival

Join us for Paso Robles’ Zinfandel Festival. Every March we harken Spring with our appreciation for our heritage grape: ZinfandelPeachy Canyon

Zinfandel is one of those grapes which either holds you heart, body and soul, or you dislike with a passion. It’s one of those singular relationships – a lot like the one we have with cilantro: there’s no middle ground.

So when I say zinfandel, what do you think of? I think of FRUIT. Up until fairly recently Zinfandels have been characterized as something we call “juice bombs” – jammy, thick wines. A lot of people like this style of zinfandel. Though lately, we are seeing wine makers producing a leaner wine with less alcohol and more subtle notes. In fact, it’s sort of fun to see the full spectrum of Zin’s here in Paso Robles vary from the jammiest of jammy to a light, almost austere, rendering of the grape.

This is why I so look forward to Paso Robles’ Zinfandel Festival each Spring. In 2020, the festival will take place over the weekend of the 20th of March. A great resource to help you plan your day is www.pasowine.com where you can find a listing of all that is happening.

So, with that said, two of my favorite Zin houses are Turley and Peachy Canyon. Both are located conveniently off 46 West. Peachy Canyon is right on the highway with a huge adirondack chair in front of the tasting room. Turley is located off Vineyard on the South side of the highway. If you are a Zin fan, I encourage you to visit these two winners – you can’t go wrong!

Cheers!

Laura

 

Paso Robles’ Rava Wines for Bubbly

Paso Robles’ Rava Wines for Bubbly.

For years I have been asked where to go in Paso Robles for sparkling wine.

Bottling at Rava
Bottling at Rava

Paso Robles’ Rava Wines is the place for bubbly. While only still a newcomer to Paso Robles, Rava is quickly establishing a fine reputation for their sparkling wines. While many of our wineries may offer a bottle of bubbly as part of their overall wine program, Rava is dedicated to this segment and usually offers 5 or so different bottles on the tasting menu.

Commonly people think champagne is only made from pinot noir grapes or chardonnay, but here you’ll see these sparkling wines made of everything from Albarino to Gruner Veltliner, and more. Rava is located on Paso Robles’ East side. You’ll find the tasting room nestled in amount the vines with plenty of room for picnicking , tasting or just going out to buy a bottle and enjoy their beautiful location.

In the spirit of buying and tasting a sparkling wine, enjoy Wine Spectators video on the proper way to open a bottle.

Let’s pop the cork and get to it!

Laura

Valentine’s Special Beet Risotto

Valentine’s Special Beet Risotto

Every year this time I’m get crazy looking for Valentine’s Day recipes.

Beet Risotto
Beet Risotto

This year Chef Mary Ann provided me with her Valentine’s Special:Beet Risotto. What?! A beet risotto seems like an assault to the normal risotto treatment with mushrooms or other light and savory vegetables.

Let’s face it, beets are big, bold, screaming red vegetables. Their taste is like no other. People either love them or hate them. I’ve always been the latter.

Then one day I married a Russian man. The Russians’ are famous for their borsch and love of beets. With that marital union I found I would come to love many of my husband’s homeland foods, and most were items I had refused to eat in the past. Out of ignorance came ecstasy – for beets, and their spicy carrot salad, their unusual potato salad and alas…caviar.

So, I encourage you to put all your beet-related fears aside and try this lovely and colorful risotto. It is wonderful paired with scallops and also with a nice pork roast. It is it’s own thing and will likely do well with most proteins.

Here is the recipe for  Valentine’s special; Beet Risotto. I hope you will try it and enjoy it.

3     Large beets

5     Cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)

1     Large onion – chopped

3     Cloves of garlic minced

3     TBS butter

2     C of rice – Arborio preferred

3/4 C if white wine

1      T Balsamic vinegar

1       t of salt

1       t of pepper

1/4  c of fresh dill

1/2  c of goat cheese for top (if desired)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Wrap beats individually in foil and roast for 90 minutes at 425 degrees. Cool and rub off skin. Grate into a bowl.

Heat broth.

Heat butter in a large fry pan. Add onions and garlic and sauce until soft.

Add rice. Cook and stir one minute.

Add wine and stir.

Add hot broth in small batches and keep stirring

Taste after 25 minutes to make sure the rice has softened – if not, add more broth and keep stirring.

When rice is soft add the grated beets, balsamic vinegar and taste for salt and pepper.

When serving add crumbled goat cheese

Makes about 24 servings and freezes and reheats well.

Thanks Chef Mary Ann! I hope all the rest of you get to taste this risotto – so yummy!

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Laura

 

Buona Tavola Restaurant in Paso Robles

If you have yet to enjoy the food from Buona Tavola in Paso Robles, it’s time to give it a try.

Buona Tavola
Buona Tavola Salami Plate

Many of our wine and food tour guests ask us for ideas for their dinner meal. We have several restaurants in Paso Robles that are very good. And new restaurants seem to be popping up all the time.

My first question is “What type of food do you enjoy?” And based on their answer, I’m ready to oblige with my recommendations.

The other issue that always makes a difference in my response is whether you want to be set with reservations, or take a chance. Particularly with groups over 4, I highly recommend reservations for Friday and Saturday dinner.

Let’s start with the number one cuisine I am asked about: Italian. In Paso Robles we have several very good Italian restaurants; the top two would be Buona Tavola and Il Cortile. I had several meals at both and never been disappointed. My personal favorite, however, is Buona Tavola.

Why you ask? The Chef and his staff are passionate about the quality of their food and service. The professionalism of the Manager, Andre, and his waitstaff is a standard to which all others should aspire. The Chef is always innovating, adding seasonal cuisine and new products. In fact, I’ve been so impressed that I recently added Buona Tavola to our Food Tour in Paso Robles. Among the other 4 stops, we now stop at Buona Tavola restaurant in Paso Robles for our appetizer course. Andre has the staff put together a wonderfully tasty platter of their own home cured salami, cheese dripped with chestnut honey, homemade focaccia, country bread and breadsticks, their lovely olive tapenade, and two other house-made spreads for your salami and bread. Above is a platter served on a recent food tour.

Their main course plates are just as attractive and delicious – you seriously can’t go wrong. Their salads are similarly outstanding and delicious. I encourage you to give them a try – and the bonus is that they do take reservations! The are booked full on weekend nights, so be sure to get a reservation. They are open for lunch from 11:30 – 2:00 pm Monday – Friday.

Located on the corner of 10th and Spring st., you’ll find parking along 10th and a limited bit on Spring.

If you haven’t figured it out “Buona Tavola” means “Good Table” and that is what you’ll find a table filled with the goodness of Buona Tavola’s delicious food. Visit http://www.btslo.com

Enjoy,

Laura

Plan Your Winter Wine Tasting

Winter is a fabulous time to avoid the crowds, traffic and overloaded restaurants of Paso Robles; Now is the time to plan your winter wine tasting!

Gail Todaro
Pasolivo – Gail Todaro

Yes, rarely we do get rain…but when it arrives, oh how I love sipping wine around the fireplace in a smartly selected winery. The area has an eerie beauty with the vines dormant, and the rolling hills revealed for all they are.

Our weather can be rather enjoyable during winter. It is the end of January and the weather forecast is for several days of 70+ degree days! The air is clear, clean and fresh and a wonderful escape from the daily grind. And why not try an indoor olive oil tasting with Pasolivo.

Another advantage to touring in the Winter are off-peak hotel prices. I’ve noticed that many hotels are advertising special rates on Groupon and Social Living. If you’re a value buyer like me, be sure to check out these sites as what you do to plan your winter wine tasting. I know that our (almost) 5 star hotel the Allegretto is having special deals through winter and into spring.

While the temperatures vary, whether it is chilly or warm, with over 200 Paso Robles wineries you are sure to find the perfect hotel, great spots for great food, and smaller groups on your tours. It’s a winning combination.

Consider calling Laura at Central Coast Food and Wine Tours to plan your winter wine tasting! Laura would enjoy helping to book your tour, plan your place to stay and recommend dining options.

Welcome winter in Paso Robles!

Laura Gurreau

Try Central Coast Food Tours Hourly Tours

A great way to personalize your wine touring in Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo is to try Central Coast Food Tours hourly tours. What are hourly tours?

Tasting at EPOCH

They are private tours where you pay only for our footwork in scheduling your desired wine stops and the transportation to pick you up, tour, and drop you off. For this service we charge $50/hr, plus our regular gratuity of 20%. This rate serves up to seven people. For groups over 7 we have a daily surcharge of $125 – still a great deal! Does this intrigue you to try Central Coast Food Tours hourly tours? One of our favorite places to take people is the ultra-premium winery EPOCH. Read more about EPOCH at www.EPOCHestatewines.com

These hourly tours have a minimum of 4 hours, and we start and finish the day according to your plans for the day. As I mentioned above, I am happy to recommend wineries based on your group’s preferences, make the necessary reservations for tastings, put in your order for sandwiches and pick them up! The only thing we don’t cover on Central Coast Food Tours hourly tours are the tasting fees and tips to your servers at the wineries.

This new option on our menu of services gives you a convenient way to pull together a group for tasting and have the knowledge of a local to help you plan your day! Please give Laura a call if you would like to explore this option further. We would be happy to share our information and ideas to make your day special. Visit us at www.Centralcoastfoodtours.com or call Laura at 805.400.9054.

Cheers!

Laura

Top 5 Food and Wine Pairings for the Season

Top 5 Food and Wine Pairings For This Festive Season

Delicious food can make any occasion memorable. Add wine to this taste, and moments become no less than perfect. There are some food and wine combinations out there that nothing else can beat. With the festive season on its way, the need for tasty food becomes even bigger.

If you are one of those people who are big on the food during your holidays, then you have come to the right place. This post brings you the top five food and wine pairings that you can try this festive season. Check them out below.

1. Banana Bread and Chardonnay

banana bread
banana bread

Banana bread and a glass of white wine like Chardonnay may seem like an odd combination to read, but when you taste them together, they make for an unbeatable combination. The sweetness of the banana bread calls for an even sweeter wine that will not hide behind the dessert’s taste. Chardonnay does exactly that by bringing its sweet flavor in the mix.

Chardonnay and a freshly baked banana bread go very well together. The smell and taste of the banana bread mix with that of Chardonnay to create a mouth-watering blend. It makes for a perfect meal on your table on a late evening.

2. Chicken and Wine

Another combination that is worth having on your plates in this festive season is the white wine and chicken. The best part of this combination is that there are not many preparations required to come up with it. Another advantage is that if you are not a white wine person, then a glass of red wine also goes along with it pretty well. You may go for crispy chicken or a hot grilled piece, a light red wine will leave you asking for more of it.

If you go out to have wine and grilled chicken for an outing, you wouldn’t have to wait for your order for long as the dish takes no time to prepare. Luckily, almost every restaurant around you is certain to have at least this dish and a delicious wine there, so you don’t have to search a lot of places to find this pairing if you move out to eat.

Wines with a stronger aroma compared to the regular wines make a well-prepared chicken taste even better. For crispy chicken, wines add more juice to the combination, balancing each other out to create an inviting pairing.

3. White Chocolate and Dry Red Wine

Wines and chocolates are a classic pair that you would love to enjoy with your loved ones. Dry red wine and white chocolate melt together in your mouth, making a rich amalgamation of flavors.

People consider chocolates and wines as a romantic pairing, and if you are looking for an appealing combination on a dinner date or as a gift for your partner, then chocolates and wines may just be the answer that you are looking for.

It helps if these chocolates are freshly prepared and not kept frozen for long. Choosing white chocolate brownies, truffles, or even a cake will go just right with a dry red wine. Some people also prefer to have a crunchy white chocolate element along with their dry wines; you can try out if you want to experience a new taste for your dining.

4. Beef Steak and Red Burgundy

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If you are unsure of what to prepare for your family visiting you during these holidays, then the beef sticks and red burgundy should be the first choice you should consider.

Nothing can go wrong with red wine and red meat together. People absolutely love the combination of the two on their tables as it is not only savory but also makes for a complete meal. With the right balance of proteins

A hot and spicy beef steak along with a heavenly Red Burgundy is a divine pairing for the main course during a family gathering. Preparing the beef steak will take you time, but barbequing it in your garden with your friends and family while enjoying your vacation makes it worth it.

5. Mac and Cheese with Pinot Grigio

Mac and cheese, along with white wine, is a combination that hardly anyone would refuse. Like most of the pairings in this list, this dish, too, does not take much time or effort to prepare. With Pinot Grigio and its high acidity, a regular plate of mac and cheese gets the kind of enhancement in its deliciousness that you would love to eat regularly. It is not just a combo to try in only festive times, but one it could be enjoyed on any occasion.

Moments with friends and family are always to be cherished. With great food, these become even better. So, get the best out of this season with the amazing wine and food pairings in our list.

Developed by guest blogger Heidi Jones.

Reference:

What Wines To Pair With Chocolate?

Who Needs a Gift Certificate?

With the holidays here, people are busy shopping for all manner of gifts for their loved ones. But I want to ask, “Who needs a gift certificate?”

gift certificate
Gift Certificate

From my personal experience there are certain people who really would prefer a gift certificate to a prepackaged gift. Who are these people you might ask. Here’s my take on folks that really might prefer a gift certificate to an experience:

  • The person who has everything, and what s/he doesn’t have has the money to purchase it.
  • The crowd in that 25 -35 age range seems to really prefer experiences over material objects. One of our tours would make a perfect gift!
  • Wine lovers, those wanting to learn more about wine, and foodies in general will be thrilled with a gift of a wine or food tour.
  • Celebrating a special event such as an anniversary, a job retirement, or a renewal of vows all present unique special occasions for gifting a special experience.
  • Someone already planning a trip to San Luis Obispo County? Make it a special experience by gifting a food tour to learn about the area’s restaurants and things to do.
  • Someone got wedding bells on the mind and looking for the perfect venue to propose? Our private wine tour is the perfect way to set the stage for the words, “I DO”.
  • Families are always looking for ways to get the tribe together on a mutually enjoyable experience – you’ve found it here! Get your certificates and use them when the kids come to visit; it’s a family affair!
  • Finally, you’ve waited to the last minute to shop and you need something now! Our gift certificates are downloaded immediately upon purchase.