A La Carte
"Chew on These"
We’ve learned that Rebecca Masson, formerly pastry chef at 17, has moved to Ibiza. She will be making desserts at both Catalan and Ibiza. “We’ll keep the bread pudding and tres leches that our customers love so much at Ibiza and add a few new things step by step,” she told us. “Catalan will be my playground for new and different desserts,” she noted, but wouldn’t divulge just yet what she has in mind.
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is now accepting applications for the 2008 Grants Awards Program in which up to $25,000 will be awarded to any Texan for innovative programs or projects in the culinary and viticulture arts.
- The program was created in 2005 with the intention of providing an annual source of funds for educational and innovative projects in wine and food. Applications will be available at the Wine & Food Foundation website www.winefoodfoundation.org through February 15, 2008.
- Any Texas business, resident, or organization involved with an educational project or program in wine or food is eligible to apply. The winners of the grants will be announced by May 1st.
Dan Redman has left WineRight Inc. to start his own wine brokerage company called Mosaic Wine Group. The official launch of the new endeavor will be January 1, 2008. Mosaic will serve Texas and the Southwest. Redman is highly focused on supporting wine producers who practice biodynamic, organic and sustainable viticulture. Beth Boman, formerly representing Rodney Strong Vineyards, will support Mosaic in Texas and Louisiana.
The Grove (1611 Lamar/www.TheGroveHouston.com) will open its doors on December 10, 2007, for a private party benefiting the Discovery Green Conservancy, and will debut to the public for dinner on December 14, 2007.
- At the helm will be chef Ryan Pera, formerly of 17 in the Alden Hotel. The Grove is part of the Schiller Del Grande group and will be a 10,000 square foot, bi-level, upscale restaurant and bar in downtown Houston in the new urban park Discovery Green.
- The restaurant will feature American Rustic cuisine such as rotisserie specialties and the open-air bar, The Treehouse, will be located on the upstairs deck.
Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Houston has been named The Best Steakhouse in Houston by The Houston Press and one of the 38 Best Steakhouses in Texas by Texas Monthly. Established in 1993, Bob’s has other locations in Dallas, Plano and San Francisco. For more information, call 713-877-8325.
Trevisio Restaurant in the Texas Medical Center is continuing its “guest chef” series in January. In keeping with the restaurant’s Italian theme, each month a notable TMC staffer is featured as guest chef, providing a personal recipe for a favorite Italian dish.
- Dr. Jay H. Stein, MD, executive VP and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine, will present his featured dish at a happy hour celebration on Wednesday, January 16, 2008, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Live jazz, wine and cocktail specials, and a complimentary tasting of his signature dish will highlight the evening.
- Trevision is located at 6550 Bertner in the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons. For more information, call 713-749-0400 or visit www.Trevisiorestaurant.com.
Culinary Calendar
"Add these to your iPod"
Would you like to learn how to make tamales? Sylvia Casares-Copeland, chef and owner of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen (12636 Westheimer) will offer several cooking classes on Saturdays and Tuesdays during December which will cover traditional pork and sweet tamales. The classes are demonstration and hands-on. The price of $65 includes a full meal. For more information and the schedule, call 281-679-8300 or visit www.SylviasEnchiladaKitchen.com.
“Citrus Fest” runs December 8th until December 15th at Urban Harvest’s Bayour City Farmers’ Market. The market is located at 3000 Richmond in the back parking lot. In addition to great citrus, you’ll be able to meet local vendors such as Animal Farm, Belly Rub Bakery, and Gundermann’s Peachland Farm. The market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to noon, respectively.
The Alden Houston Hotel (1117 Prairie Street at San Jacinto) will offer a unique New Year’s party at the stroke of midnight on December 31.
- Guests may chose from a cocktail party and dancing on the veranda ($75 per person if reservations made before 12/15/07, or $85 afterwards or at the door) and/or a five-course dinner at the hotel’s restaurant 17 with seatings at 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ($120 per person, reservations required).
- Taxes, gratuity and valet parking are additional. For reservations and more information, call 832-200-8800 or visit www.aldenhotels.com.
The second “Celebration of Australia” will be held in Houston from January 26 to February 2, 2008. Several art, wine, food, cultural, and seminar events will be held during the week-long festivities.
- Highlighting the events will be the “Australia Day Gala” on Februrary 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Intercontinental Hotel. The black tie evening will feature an Australian gourmet dinner accompanied by Australian fine wines under the leadership of Executive Chef Chris Taylor from Frasers Restaurant in Perth, Australia. Also featured will be Chef Peter Laufer from the Intercontinental Hotel.
- Offerings of Australian music and culture, and a silent auction to raise funds for the Texas charity, Project Joy & Hope (a not-for-profit organization that supports children with life-limiting illnesses and their families) will fill out the evening. For more information, contact Lynn Ellis at 281-844-6613.
My Recipe
"Basil Stuffed Chicken & Cavatappi Pasta"
Serves 4
Chicken
4 four oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz. Feta cheese
¼ c. fresh basil chiffonade (thinly sliced)
1 clove crushed garlic
Rinse chicken breasts and pound thin. Mix Feta, basil and garlic. Place about one T. of cheese mixture in the breast and roll. Secure with toothpick. Lightly salt and pepper.
Bake for 20 minutes @ 350 degrees, until firm to touch and juices run clear. Reserve any drippings of the cheese mixture from the chicken to season the pasta.
Cavatappi Pasta
½ lb. Cavatappi pasta (Ed. note: a short S-shaped pasta tube that resembles a small corkscrew)
Lightly salted & drained
1 cup diced fresh Roma tomatoes
1 T. garlic, peeled, quartered & crushed slightly
½ cup Parmesan cheese grated finely
3 T. fresh basil chiffonade (more to taste)
Salt & pepper to taste
While chicken is baking, boil and drain pasta. In a skillet, with 2 T. extra virgin olive oil, saute the garlic and remove the garlic (before it browns). While the garlic infused oil is hot, place the tomatoes in the skillet and gently saute. Pour in any drippings from the chicken and season all with Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, (additional, if necessary) salt and pepper.
From the Wine List
"Celebrate the Holidays at a Texas Winery"
A unique and interesting opportunity for holiday celebrations is to visit a Texas winery and taste some of their made-with-loving-care products. Two wineries near Houston are Haak Vineyard and Winery in Santa Fe (about a 25 mile drive south of Houston) and Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan (about a 90 mile drive from Houston).
Raymond and Gladys Haak, daughters Bridget Haak and Cecilia Haak Gabba, Chef David Reiss, and several staffers offer more than a simple tasting room experience. Raymond began growing grapes in 1969 and in the mid-1990s plant three acres of wine grapes and later built a pretty Mediterranean-style winery that reminds me of a Spanish mission. The facility is located at 6310 Avenue T in Santa Fe (77510), about 1.8 miles south of State Highway 6. A beautiful tasting room filled with wine accessories complements tours of the winery and vineyards. The Haak Kitchen also provides numerous delicious food items for your enjoyment.
- Every week there is something to see and do at Haak Winery, including a Caribbean Wine Cruise coming up January 3-7, 2008. Food, wine and music events abound. And special for December, the winery is offering “Christmas Shopping Day Two” (Dec. 9, 2-5 p.m.) where you can avoid the big crowds, yet leisurely shop for gifts while enjoying cooking demonstrations, Haak wines, music, and activities for the kids. For more information and hours, visit www.haakwine.com or call 409-925-1401.
At Messina Hof, you’ll also find more than just a winery. You’ll find one of Texas’s two wine resorts, with a beautiful tasting room, acres of vineyards, a lake, an excellent restaurant, a conference center, and The Villa, a very romantic bed & breakfast. Other highlights include the Lakeside Room overlooking the pastoral lake scene, the Vintage House Barrel Room, and a one-year old beautiful Wine Bar featuring wines by the glass and bottle plus a great selection of tapas and some very tasty dessert.
- Started in 1977 by Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, Messina Hof was named after their respective ancestral homeland: Messina, Sicily for Paul, and Hof, Germany for Merrill. It’s hard to believe, but they are celebrating the 30th year of business this year.
- I highly recommend a stop at the Wine Bar which I describe as “simple elegance,” and definitely shows Merrill’s touch in interior decorating. Some of Paul’s prized rugs adorn the room. Wine by the glass prices are reasonable, ranging from $4 to $12 for some of Messina Hof’s most prestigious and award-winning wines. For those that don’t want wine, several non-alcoholic beverages are available including sparkling grape juice.
- If all this was not enough, consider attending one of Messina Hof’s special holiday celebrations. Perhaps you’d like to attend the Holiday Desserts cooking party with the resort’s executive chef on Thursday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. The chef will share recipes for and present a tasting of four delicious desserts including Orange-Caramel Flan and Ivory Zabaglione with fruit and berries. Each course will be paired with Messina Hof wines.$65 per person plus tax and gratuity (++).
- Or you might want to attend the Murder Mystery Dinner on Saturday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. Titled “I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus,” the show includes dinner and wines. $69.95 per person ++.
- Maybe you’d prefer the “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure on Monday, December 31. Do you dare board the pirate ship of Messina Hof and risk walking the plank when ordered to do so by Captain Blackbeard Bonarrigo? Wear your favorite pirate costume and join in the fun. Enjoy a feast fit for captain and crew and ring in the New Year at the lagoon. Good music, dancing, and a casino will be featured so you can try your hand at a chance at some treasures. Cost is $219.95 ++ per couple if reservations are made by December 15; $269.95 ++ per couple for reservations after December 15.
- For information and reservations, call 800-736-9463, ext. 34, or visit the website at www.messinahof.com. Messina Hof is located at 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan, TX 77808. From the Houston area, take Highway 290 West to Highway 6 North to Bryan. Exit at MLK/Old Reliance Road. Turn right and follow the signs to the resort.
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