A La Carte
"Heard over coffee and scones..."
You may recall our article on the Sweet Tomatoes restaurant’s kids coloring contest. Well, the winner is seven-year old Courtney Gruller of Katy. Not only did she win 10 complimentary dining passes, but Sweet Tomatoes is going to make a $2,500 donation to her selected charity, Special Kinds, Incorporated. Good going, Courtney! There are four Sweet Tomatoes locations in the greater Houston area. Call 888-374-8358 for more information on locations.
Jumpin’ jiminy! We hear that “chapulines” are now on the menu at Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer. These crunchy grasshoppers are pan-sauteed and served with salsa, guacamole and tortillas. Considered a delicacy by many Mexicans, the name derives from the Nahuatl language and the dish celebrates regional Mexican cuisine. For reservations and information call 713-524-7744.
Are you a woman and a light to moderate wine drinker? If so, you may be improving your cognitive ability in addition to the other well-publicized benefits of moderate wine consumption. According to Wine Spectator, “The pleasure of drinking a glass or two of wine in the evening may also provide an additional brain gain, according to a team of researchers at Columbia University. They claim that light to moderate alcohol consumption—regardless of type—provides a beneficial effect on cognition.” The researchers’ previous study found that “moderate alcohol consumption was associated with better cognitive performance in women.”
Culinary Calendar
"Jot These Down Now"
If you have a mailbox, you can help the community. On Saturday, May 12, more than 4,300 Houston letter carriers will be collecting nonperishable foods to help the Houston Food Bank. They will be participating as part of a country-wide effort by the National Association of Letter Carriers. You are requested to place nonperishable foods (canned meat, tuna, soup, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, rice, beans, pasta, etc.) near your mailbox. The letter carriers will pick them up on their regular delivery routes. For more information on the types of food and other essentials needed by the Houston Food Bank, visit www.HoustonFoodBank.org.
Sometimes feel like popping your cork? Well, you can join others in doing so at the Tour de Champagne Houston on Friday, June 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hotel Derek. The event will feature over 20 brands of Champagne (yep, the real stuff) and cuisine from some of Houston’s best chefs. A silent auction benefiting Angel Flight will occur during the event as well as a raffle for a pair of tickets to Paris on Air France. Angel Flight helps people in need of free air transportation for medical and humanitarian purposes.
- Dress is cocktail attire with black tie optional. General admission tickets are $100 by May 18 ($115 after) and limited VIP tickets are $135 by May 18 ($150 after). VIP tickets include access to the hospitality suite, complimentary valet parking, a pre-event reception hosted by the Consul General of France, a special gift bag and the “fin de soiree”—a tasting of cognacs, more Champagne, and crepes and desserts from Bistro Moderne. General admission guests may finish their evening with specially priced cognacs and cocktails. You must be 21 or older to attend. For more information email information@tourdechampagne.com and to purchase tickets go to www.tourdechampagne.com
Coming up in September is Ronn Wiegand’s Sommelier Inspired Palate (SIP) Championship in beautiful Sonoma County. (Wiegand is a Master of Wine and a Master Sommelier.) This is a food and wine pairing competition presented by Chalk Hill Estates Vineyard & Winery with a $10,000 prize. Certain food/wine sales and service personnel are eligible to enter. Registrations are due May 15, 2007. Log on to www.sommelierguide.com or contact Denise Roach at droach@chalkhill.com for more information or to enter.
For more events, check the latest Calendar of Culinary Events from My Table by clicking on Calendar
My Recipe
"Organic Field Greens with Granny Smith Apples"
ORGANIC FIELD GREENS WITH GRANNY SMITH APPLES, SUN DRIED CRANBERRIES AND WALNUT VINAIGRETTE
Serves 4-6
Walnut Vinaigrette
1 tsp Dijon mustard
4 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or other white wine vinegar
2 pinches sugar
1/2 cup walnut oil
Salad
1 lb. mesclun greens (about 10 cups lightly packed)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup macerated dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
For dressing:
Whisk mustard, vinegar, and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in oil until mixture thickens slightly. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. (Dressing can be prepared several days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Whisk before using.)
For salad:
Toss greens, apples, cranberries, and 1/4 cup walnuts in large bowl to combine. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Divide salad equally among plates. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts and serve.
From the Wine List
"Valpolicella and Its Cousins"
Looking for a light, red wine for spring and summertime drinking? Tired of look-alike, generic Beaujolais and its imitators? Want something a bit more challenging than white zin? Then consider Valpolicella from southeast of Lake Garda in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy.
Basic Valpolicella is light and fruity and best when drunk young. It is made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes that are indigenous to the area. The soft cherry and herb flavors go well with light meats and appetizers.
For more gusto, consider Amarone, a cousin made from semi-dried grapes that are fully fermented. This wine is full-flavored and rich, yet dry with a bit of bitterness. Alcohol content is usually 14-15 percent. Enjoy with your favorite Italian dish.
For sweeter wine lovers, another cousin is Recioto della Valpolicella which is also made from semi-dried grapes, but is not fully fermented. The result is a red wine with a definite sweetness. Try with BBQ laced with a sweet and smoky sauce.
Some producers of these wines often found in the Houston market include Allegrini, Bolla, Masi, Tommasi, and Zenato.
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Disclaimer
Copyright My Table magazine, 2008
Protected by U.S. Copyright Law {Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2319}: Infringements can be punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
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