We had an eclectic group over for dinner tonight – no two Cab Francs are the same!
Our guests included our new friends, Sara and Juan, who will be renting our house next (!), Eileen and her husband, and John, who is a blog reader and Twitter friend refugee from Virginia Beach here in Cville escaping the storm. After he came to Great Harvest for two lunches in a row, we deemed him a true foodie and therefore, a friend : )
Another reason to celebrate: 3 Jefferson Vineyards wines for the fall wine club! Which means..a new recipe to make.
We started the evening with a triple Cab Franc tasting – the 2009, which we had on our wine rack, plus the 2007 and the 2007 Reserve, both for my freelance recipe work this quarter
The 2009 was young and slightly jammy – it had a little bitterness on the side of the tongue that I suspect was its youthfulness
The 2007 was much more complex with peppery spice and raspberry fruit
And the 2007 Reserve was the most complex, most spiced and most Cab-Franc-ish (you know what “cab-fran-ish” means if you live in Virginia!)
My favorite was the middle of the road – the 2007!
For dinner I whipped up a gumbo-ish dish made with Andouille Sausage, peppers, okra and spices served atop a pillow of Cajun-spiced millet. I love using millet in place of grits! And this is so not shrimp + grits, but I like to blend all of my deep south favorites into one dish ; )
The sausage was rich and fantastic – and perfect pairing with the spiced wine!
On the side we enjoyed Eileen’s zucchini stir-fry and Sara’s figgy goat cheese summer salad.
For dessert, we popped open the 2009 Johannisburg Riesling and paired that with a Pear Dark Chocolate that Sara brought that I melted on top of some of the Attune New Morning graham crackers [from the Healthy Living Summit] sprinkled with coconut. 5 minutes in a 400* oven was all it took to get the “S’mores” melty.
If only I had marshmallow!!!
LOVED this invention and can’t wait to do it again! I think I had 4 squares – melted chocolate is the best!
The Riesling was gone way too fast, but we all enjoyed the taste.
So fun to hang out tonight. Thanks to Matt for doing all the dishes!
Julie @ Wearing Mascara says
Love that s’more dessert idea! Nothing better than graham crackers and chocolate 🙂
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
Wine AND s’mores… you are a girl after my own heart 🙂 YUM!
The healthy hipster says
Looks spectacular! How do you prepare your sausage? Cut it up or cook it whole? I’m always a lil skeptical of my sausage cooking technique. 🙂
KathEats says
I sliced it, browned it, removed it and then added the veggies. Added back the sausage at the end
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
WIne AND smores! Life is good on your side of the states! 🙂 ….Glad you had such a great night, those melted chocolate smores are looking pretty heavenly with the coconut on top!!! 🙂
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I really like those graham crackers! I made a s’mores peanut butter out of them- it was divine 🙂
Anna says
I love melted chocolate too- I don’t mind if my chocolate bar hangs out in my warm pocket a while before I eat it 🙂
Baking N Books says
He did the dishes? Does he do them at the bakery too?
Nice dessert. I have a “Smores” muffin recipe that actually has no marshmallows either – but tastes just like smores!
Anna says
I’m interested in that muffin recipe…
Baking N Books says
SO GOOD! It’s on my blog here: http://bakingnbooks.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/graham-cracker-chocolate-chip-smores-muffins/
And it is low-sugar and can be GF if you use GF graham crackers (I didn’t though).
Anna says
Thanks! Yum 🙂
Bee Goes Bananas says
Delicious! I’ve been craving s’mores for so long, but we haven’t had a campfire. I guess we can just make them in the oven!
Sana says
What a fun party 🙂 You and Matt are fab hosts!
Brittany says
Sounds like such a fun evening! We had people over as well but dinner was candle lit due to Irene!
Are you and Matt moving?
Brittany says
Nevermind, just saw your recent post about house hunting! 🙂
lynn @ the actor's diet says
sounds like fun! isn’t it funny you the peeps you meet via the blog?
emily says
I had “S’mores” in my post title as well tonight! Great minds and all… 😀
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I love s’mores! We recently had an outing with some friends that ended with marshmallow roasting and s’mores over a fire we built in their firepit. It was great 🙂
Jackie says
My husband and I are starting to take our wines more seriously…I’m curious, how do you know so much about wine? Any tips for a newbie?
KathEats says
We’ve been going to wine tastings since we were in college – from small ones at our local grocery store to big ones in Sonoma and wine festivals. The more you taste, the more you learn!
Chloe (In Fine Feather) says
Looks like a great mix of people! And that gumbo looks good too – where did you get the sausage?
KathEats says
Whole Foods (I asked if it was humanely raised and she said yes)
[email protected] says
Very gourmet 🙂
Khushboo says
Grown-up version of s’mores…I like it 🙂
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled says
What a great way to spend your Saturday night!
That dinner looks fantastic. If you ever read my blog, you’ll see that most of my meals are eaten out of a bowl. I find it so comforting and you totally can’t go wrong with sausage and pepper anything!
Lynda @ healthy hoboken girl says
I make oven s’mores all the time…great quick & easy dessert! yours look great!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
If I lived by you I’d probably stop in your bakery for lunch every day, lol!
The sausage + millet dish looks fab. Love your dessert. Very creative 🙂
Lorin says
I hear ya with the melted chocolate. I seriously have no control when a chocolate fountain is around. My high school had it at the prom, so good! I’m also in Fair Trade Club and we set up chocolate fountains for some events with fair trade chocolate! So good with strawberries, marshmellows, graham crackers, bananas!
Hannah says
Gumbo and millet! I doubt the first creators of gumbo ever imagine it could be served with that 😀
Aine @ Something to Chew Over says
Yum! It all looks great.
I had such a gorgeous wine last night – 2007 Rioja. All gone now 🙂
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
I could’ve sworn that was dark chocolate dreams on those graham crackers haha
Haleigh says
Figgy goat cheese salad sounds divine. It looks like you had a fabulous Saturday evening. Enjoy the rest of your weekend 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
I have a recipe coming out tomorrow that you would love…I am finishing editing the pics but it has to do with grahams, chocolate, and baking things. And I managed to add marshmallows to it, too 🙂
The whole post has me drooling..the wine, the food, the time with friends….awesome!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
That is a really good dessert idea! Simple and amazing haha 🙂
Cait's Plate says
Gah! Everything looks so good!!! Pear chocolate sounds like pretty much the best thing ever – add graham crackers and toasted coconut to that and I’m sold.
Glad you had a fun night – I was worried your power might have gone out (like ours literally just did!!)
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says
I like how EASY the dessert looks….just right for this rookie chef! Marshmallows would have put it over the top!
Katie Robinson says
I was searching for healthy lifestyle blogs and stumbled on your blog. I have a passion for food and cooking but this has lead me into a not so healthy lifestyle. I am taking my first steps towards health and I find your blog an inspiration. I really do want to strike a healthy balance between my passion for food and a healthy lifestyle. I hope it is ok if I add you to my blog role as I can’t wait to continue reading.
KathEats says
Welcome Katie! Yep, I’d be honored to be added
Living, Learning, Eating says
I love how the dish looks plated! I want to work on artful presentation. 😉
Fallon says
Yup you definitely need marshmallows but other then that they look delicious.
Jil @ Big City, Lil' Kitchen says
Yum – that meal looks delicious.
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
If you wanted to try it with marshmallows, maybe add a couple mini ones on top and let them melt on top as well?
Abby says
I love that ‘art’ above your fireplace!! Where did you get it? I always love your home from all angles! Can’t wait till you move 🙂
KathEats says
I think it’s from Pier 1 like 5 years ago
KathEats says
(And thanks!)
Hillary says
Everything about that meal looks delightful. And what a fun twist on S’mores! Gonna have to try that.
Rachel says
What a brilliant s’mores idea! I have marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate so I might just have to try this for dessert tonight. Yum!
Angel7 says
Love the graham crackers and chocolate idea! I never think to do that, because when you think of graham crackers and chocolate, campfires come to mind 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Katie @ Plates and Paste says
Mmm I’ve never had a Cab Franc! Your dinner and dessert looks fantastic.
Charise says
Looks like another great meal with good wines and friends. I really like Cab Francs, yet another reason to go visit VA. 🙂
John says
Ya! Had a wonderful night with you guys….food/wines/company were all fab! Thanks for being such a great host.
Eileen says
thanks again for having us over! everything was delicious! and I’m glad I got to see your cute place before you move out 🙂