Wine With Lisa

Wine with Lisa Hosts A Saturday Evening Spanish Culinary and Wine Adventure for a Party of 6!

pa·el·la (pä-l, pä-lyä, -yä) A saffron-flavored Spanish dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken and seafood;also referring to the large flat frying pan in which a paella is cooked.

For as long as I can remember,I have always had a fascination and passion for cooking Paella. Maybe it was the Cajun-Creole culinary influences growing up in Louisiana and eating all of the different versions of authentic Jambalaya-for Jambalaya IS Louisiana’s version of Paella,after all! (at least it is to me). Or,maybe it’s the thought of leisurely enjoying Paella and little bites of Tapas with a fantastic glass of Rioja while sitting in a little Tapas Bar in Madrid. I have never been to Spain although it’s on my bucket list! I bought my first Paella Pan about 15 years ago and have been perfecting my Paella recipe ever since. The first recipe that inspired me was from a “Cooking with Wine” cookbook. The first challenge-especially 15 years ago in Nashville-was finding the correct ingredients;the second challenge was figuring out how to cook it even though I had never actually had an authentic paella! 15 years or so later and the improved availability of authentic ingredients and happily eating my share of many versions of this Spanish culinary marvel on many foodie adventures has made for many delightful events entertaining friends at my home from Texas to Tennessee. A large pan of delicious and authentic Paella,Tapas and Wine and lovely friends…. It’s about as good as it gets!

This is my large 18.5 inch Paella Pan and Bomba Rice-the ONLY rice for making great Paella.. The Paella is large enough to produce a Paella big enough to feed 10 people easily. Buying this pan at a FARADAY’S KITCHEN STORE in Austin,Texas was the best purchase I have ever made. You can also purchase any and all authentic Spanish ingredients at www.latienda.com.

THE PARTY!!!!!
I love to entertain! Hosting themed parties is fun and sharing my cooking skills and wine knowledge is what I enjoy doing! This past Saturday night,I hosted a Paella Party featuring Paella Mixta,Tapas and dessert all paired with fantastic Spanish wines for different regions of Spain.

Randy Duke and Tony Disher opened up their grand home for an evening of dining on Paella and Spanish Wines. M.J. and Amanda Garrett along with Justin and Andrea Allender were just the perfect guests for enjoying the Spanish-themed evening.

HANDSOME !
The Tapas (appetizer) Table included two Spanish Cheeses Mahon and Manchego,Blood Orange and Lemon Marinated Olives with toasted cumin and Sherry Vinegar. Spanish Marcona Almonds and Quicos,which are Spanish Corn nuts, were also served.

Red Wine-Braised Chorizo Sausage served warm was another delicious tapas and the crusty pan grilled bread was used to soak up all of the delicious juices!

The evening began with a toast along with a bubbly glass filled with Domaine de Tharsys CAVA, the sparkling wine from the Cataluna Region of Spain.

Along with the Tapas,everyone sampled 2 other White Spanish Wines: Vina 24 2009 Albarino from Costers del Segre Region and an especially fabulous White Rioja( Rioja Blanca) 2009 Ostatu from the Rioja Region.

The Table is exquisitely set for dinner!

While the guests where enjoying the Tapas,wine and conversation,I was prepping the Paella. BOMBA Rice is the ONLY rice for Paella which is grown in Valencia,Spain.

There are many recipes and styles of Paella,depending on what area of Spain it comes from. PAELLA MIXTA is the Paella of the evening. This is a mixture of seafood including mussels,clams,shrimp,calamari as well as marinated chicken pieces and smoked pork richly seasoned with a saffron and a homemade sofrito.

  This cool,refreshing Green Salad with Asparagus,Sweet Red Oranges and Red Onion with Fresh Tarragon & Basil Buttermilk Dressing was a nice contrast to the spicy meal. Everyone loved it!

Spain produces many high quality affordable wines. Here are the red wines that I selected to pair with the rest of the meal. Protocolo 2009 is delicious and intense 100% Tempranillo from Central Spain and the spicy, fruit-driven 2009 Garnatxa (Garnacha) Joan d’Anguera from the Catalonia Region were the perfect choices for this evening. Iroquois Wine and Spirits in Nashville,TN is a great source of Spain Wines. Ernie Paquette,owner and wine expert has a fabulous selection of Spanish Wines as well many other unique wines for you!

A Discussion and Sampling of the Spanish Wines

Presenting and serving the Paella Mixta

Flan is a popular dessert very similar to creme brûlée. It is a baked custard with a caramel at the bottom of the pan. I used authentic FLAN pans. When you invert the cooled custard onto a plate,the rich caramel flows over custard and makes a beautiful presentation as well as a delicious ending to a rich meal. The pans are available at www.latienda.com

The dessert pairing wine is the classic Spanish Sherry Pedro Ximenez Alvear 1927 from the region of Montilla-Moriles.
This sherry is made with the SOLERA method. To put this simply, a little of each barrel of the young sherry is blended with the older sherry for quality and consistency. In each bottle,there is a little of the 1927 vintage. The complex flavors include caramel,prunes,raisins,molasses,hints of chocolate and coffee as well as spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg,orange and lemon. PX is an intensely sweet dessert wine with complex flavors pairing well with many desserts. Serve chilled.

Wanting to experience A Spanish Evening in your home? Find someone who loves to make Paella and is passionate about wine PLUS a gathering of your close friends to share the event!
 
Wishing they had been invited!
 

CHEERS and Buenas noches!

GROCERY STORE WINE BAR IN TENNESSEE

A WINE BAR in Whole Foods in Tennessee? Yes. Really. Believe it! 1799 & Vine Wine Bar on McEwen in Franklin,TN JUST opened Friday for business.
The shelves are stocked with a perfectly selected variety of wines and you can order cheese and charcuterie plates, savory olives and a variety of crunchy, Spanish corn nuts, Marcona almonds and other mixed nuts.

Since our move back to Tennessee from Texas, I have witnessed the exponential growth in Nashville’s unique Foodie experience and availability of an abundance of unique wines and opportunities to try them FINALLY at in-store wine tastings, once taboo in the state of Tennessee.
Having lived in another area of the country in a town that is defined by its unique and local food scene and the availability of quality wines, I finally feel like we are on the edge of defining our own uniqueness that can be compared to other hip towns around the country.

HISTORY
1799 & Vine Wine Bar at Whole Foods. Wondering about the name? Franklin was established as a city in 1799, said Michael Martin, Marketing Team Leader of Whole Foods. The mission of the store is to keep that home town feeling and local ties to the community. Whole Foods has been planning this wine bar before the store even opened. It’s the first in Tennessee and is a test store of sorts.
Thinking back to my fun times in Texas, I would often meet my friends at Whole Foods for a glass of delicious wine and cheese at the food counters. I am happy to say I can finally do this in Tennessee!

BY THE BOTTLE OR BY THE GLASS
You can sit at the bar and choose from a nice variety of carefully selected luscious wines by the glass or you can buy a bottle of wine at the counter to share with your friends at the bar. Be sure to order a plate or two of the cheese and charcuterie plates to share!

CAVA. One of my all time favorite sparklings. It’s a great way to start off a meal or celebration. Codorniu Cava is a delightly crisp Spanish bubbly made from the Spanish grapes Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo. The refreshing crispness pairs well with the ample cheese plate selections of the nutty Robusto Gouda from Holland,Double Cream Brie,Drunken Goat and fig jam.

Southern Rhone Wines are some of my all time favorites. Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre (with a touch of Cincault) blends from this area of the world cannot be duplicated anywhere else although many have tried.

ERMITAGE DU PIC ST LOUP ROSE’ was my next selection and I was pleased! This luscious Kermit Lynch Southern Rhone Rose’ fills the glass with juicy raspberries and strawberries with a hint of floral notes. I enjoyed every drop with my charcuterie plate layered with a variety of salami,prosciutto and roasted tomatoes.

Stop by and say HI to Alison and Neil, the managers of 1799 & Vine. Let them assist you with your wine and noshing selections. Be sure ask Neil about the Manual Coffee Bar on Sundays featuring Chemex-style drip brewed coffee. This is sure to be a hit!

LADIES NIGHT OUT
Meeting out for a glass of wine and laughter, this fun group of ladies shared a bottle of wine and a cheese plate before heading over to BRICKTOPS for dinner.

HOURS OF OPERATION

They will be open at 11a daily and the last glass will be poured at 9:30pm since the store closes at 10pm.

In questions? Call Whole Foods in Franklin,TN: 615-550-5660

Thanks to Brent at Best Brands,INC for providing a lovely selection of wines for our enjoyment!

Local Artisan BANG CANDY Company  has helped make Nashville just a little sweeter!

Not only have they cornered the market with their unique varieties of melt-in-your mouth pillows of hand-made marshmallows such as Toasted Coconut,Chocolate Chile and Expresso Chocolate, Sarah has managed to create another delicious product. Sarah Souther, the creator of this magical company, makes naturally flavored syrups to enhance the flavor of tea,lemonade,dessert and SPARKLING WINE! Lavender Rose,Ginger Rose,Hibiscus Orange Flower and Habanero Lime are just a few of the unique,fresh syrups she has to offer. Her secret? She uses fresh ingredients steeped in a concoction of simple syrup and bottles it for our enjoyment!

I discovered this delicious product during the Local Artisan Cheese Event. We all got a chance to sample Prosecco (Italian Sparkling Wine) with the Lavender Rose Syrup.
Prosecco and Cava (Spanish Sparkling Wine) are both dry,crisp and citrusy often with honey and floral aromas. The Lavender Rose Syrup is pleasantly sweet, fresh and floral.
It reminds me of the intoxicating aroma lavender fields at Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, Texas where the rows of vines often have a beautiful rose bush at the front.

Just a tablespoon or so is all it takes. It adds a new dimension to the already refreshing glass of bubbly. The delightfully fresh and floral components enhance the crispness and citrus flavors of the Cava or Prosecco.

I often welcome my friends into my house for a gathering with a tall glass of Sparkling Cava or Prosecco with a splash of BANG SYRUPS. They love it! TOAST!

To purchase the syrups, check out the website BANG CANDY COMPANY in Nashville,Tn.

AND, don’t forget about the marshmallows!!!!! They are AWESOME!

CIAO for NOW!!!!!

Livi and I have recovered from our Florida culinary adventures and decided to invite our friends for a small gathering in my backyard. The weather was pleasant for an outdoor evening meal and we both were inspired by our trip to prepare Tapas and Cava de Sangria. I am lucky to have so many foodie friends that are great in the kitchen as well!

One of the best Sangrias I have ever had was at The Columbia, a Spanish Restaurant located in Celebration, Florida. Cava de Sangria is a White Sangria made with Cava, Brandy and Orange Liquor with lots of fresh fruit.

It’s made table side at the restaurant and I couldn’t wait to make it as soon as I returned home.

Recipe for Sangria de Cava

2 bottles chilled Aria Cava : refreshing bubbles and acidity balanced with flavors of lime,white peach and melon flavors and aromas

Torres 10 Gran Reserva Brandy: This highly regarded topaz-colored Spanish Brandy is rich,intense and luscious with notes of cinnamon and vanilla.

Orange Liqueur: I wanted to use Torres Orange Liqueur but I could not find it. Luckily, there are several brands available. I used Gran Gala which is a triple orange liqueur but Cointreau would also be another great choice. I am not a huge fan of Triple Sec. Its too sweet with no depth of flavor.

Cut two small oranges,limes and lemons into small pieces and place in a large pitcher. For an hour or so before you serve, macerate the fruit with the brandy and orange liqueur. I also threw in fresh cherries that I happened to have but Maraschino cherries work great! I used less than a half cup of each. Remember, these are high alcohol!

When you are ready to serve, pour both Cava bottles into the mix. Stir, add ice to glass, pour and enjoy!

Now for the Tapas!

Here are three of our Tapas dishes we enjoyed:

Marinated Olives: a variety of olives from the Whole Foods Olive Bar marinated with sherry vinegar,olive oil,lemon and lime slices,fresh garlic,rosemary,slices of the sweet Peppadew pepper,red pepper flakes and seasonings.

Steamed Mussels,Shrimp and Chorizo tossed with steamed potatoes,olive oil,lemon juice,dried thyme,oregano,garlic,cumin and green onions served room temperature.

You need lots of crusty bread to soak up the juices!

Caramelized Onion Tart on puff pastry with champagne grapes,figs and bacon!

You don’t need to go any further than your backyard for a night of Tapas and Sangria.
Just add friends to a pleasant summer evening with The San Raphael Trio playing in the background.

And, the night just happens.

Ciao for now!