High Apple Pie In The Sky Hopes

If you were blindfolded there'd be no mistaking the smell permeating from the kitchen from this dish.

That there is shrimp and fish fra diavolo, or so we'll call it. And it was loaded with garlic. 6 cloves worth. And other stuff, but you'd smell garlic.

Anyway, I've been wanting to try this bottle I picked up back in February from Hi Times:

Almirez 2008 Teso de la Monja ($29.95)

The full description said, "Be patient here-this wine is super-powered with a mix of boysenberry, cassis, red licorice, Asian spices and heady floral notes. We used the word, "exotic" three times..." Exotic three time, eh?

Hey-oh!

Hoo-uh

What was George up to anyway? 25 years later, I'm still confused and finally comfortable admitting it. 

Anyway, we decided to whip up this pasta dish with some rappini, or as the fine folks of South Jersey and Philly call it for no reason, Broccoli Rabe. 

The dish gets an A. Easy. If that rolled out at Mama D's, or Villa Nova, or even Joe's Maplewood in beautiful downtown Hammonton, NJ, it still gets an A. Really good stuff. 

Thankfully the wine worked. Not much worse than something being billed as exotic, only for it to not be...exotic. Plus, red sauce is tough to pair with. This worked. Really, really well. Especially with food  but it also also did not disappoint on its own. 

Grade: B+

Beth's Grade: B+

Drinking In The Name Of

One of my employers' commitments is to "focus on the whole child." This weekend, Beth and I made the selfless decision to extend that belief to our weekend activities. We supported a former co-worker's son and his lacrosse team's fundraiser at Eagle Glen Golf Club. 

Go Corona Cavaliers! 

Us, for the kids

Oh, the fundraising event just happened to be a wine tasting event. But, for the kids. Focusing on the whole child.

Of all nights to forget my phone & camera. I wasn't trying to make Beth look like she was auditioning for an Alicia Keys video. THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE! It was after this pic I stopped taking pics. From here out, you'll just have to take my word for it. 

The wines were from people who work for Young's Market Company. They're a distributor of pretty much everything I see when I stroll the wine aisle at Albertson's not distributed by Gallo. I mean, look at this LIST! The wines being poured last night, 40 in all, ranged from Castle Rock, Bogle, Menage A Trois, Sebastiani, 4 Vines, and Hess. 

Technically we did "taste," but it was more of an open wine bar / social scene and I mean that in a good way. I didn't see anyone spitting in the bucket or writing tasting notes. 

Overall, a great night out. And to get to drink for the kids made it even better! Go Cavs!