Well we went to the wine & appetizer event at a nearby winery. We went last year too - that time they had a professional caterer do the food (and I think I whined about it here).
One of the gal's that works there in the tasting room has a son who is a "professional chef" and he was doing the appetizers tonight with assistance from his fiance, someone else, and his mother.
All I can say is that I have got to get off my butt! The first appy was a date stuffed with what was billed as "blue cheese" wrapped in bacon, broiled and served with a honey sauce. I'd have killed for some pepper jelly, balsamic glaze or anything but the honey sauce.
Second was a smoked salmon "crudite" - a cracker, a slice of cucumber, and a squiggle of some kind of gluey sweet "smoked salmon" stuff.
Next we had (after waiting in line for 30 minutes) lovely giant prawns "poached in a chili lime broth". Salting the "broth" (?????) might have helped. The cocktail sauce was from a bottle and ran out long before the prawns.
Next in line were the "meatballs in Maderia wine sauce". Okay, Costco meatballs (been known to use them myself) in a nice sauce - the meatballs were dumped into the hotel pan, the sauce was dumped on top and a half hearted attempt was made to stir them. They were served in a chafing dish with a sterno can - and they were COLD.
The final "course" was supposed to be fillet on a baguette with a garlic sauce. Didn't happen.
An hour before the event ended someone ran out and got some frozen pizzas and some crackers that they squirted some more of the salmon on.
The wines were wonderful - but not matched to anything. By the time we got to the food table we'd moved from the Chardonnay and Riesling (both wonderful wines - details later) and were drinking Zin. The fillet was supposed to go with a wonderful Temperanillo but the people pouring were just pouring. We never got to try the pinot noir, but the Syrah was very good.
Jean, someone, kick me in the tail. (Passed the "pre-test" for my ServSafe the other day now I just have to find a proctor and take the final test! Then a business license and liability insurance and I'm gonna be on my way.
Sorry for the rant - but at 30 bucks for the two of us it was a sorry deal, and I'm afraid they knew it - they started offering discounts on top of discounts.
One of the gal's that works there in the tasting room has a son who is a "professional chef" and he was doing the appetizers tonight with assistance from his fiance, someone else, and his mother.
All I can say is that I have got to get off my butt! The first appy was a date stuffed with what was billed as "blue cheese" wrapped in bacon, broiled and served with a honey sauce. I'd have killed for some pepper jelly, balsamic glaze or anything but the honey sauce.
Second was a smoked salmon "crudite" - a cracker, a slice of cucumber, and a squiggle of some kind of gluey sweet "smoked salmon" stuff.
Next we had (after waiting in line for 30 minutes) lovely giant prawns "poached in a chili lime broth". Salting the "broth" (?????) might have helped. The cocktail sauce was from a bottle and ran out long before the prawns.
Next in line were the "meatballs in Maderia wine sauce". Okay, Costco meatballs (been known to use them myself) in a nice sauce - the meatballs were dumped into the hotel pan, the sauce was dumped on top and a half hearted attempt was made to stir them. They were served in a chafing dish with a sterno can - and they were COLD.
The final "course" was supposed to be fillet on a baguette with a garlic sauce. Didn't happen.
An hour before the event ended someone ran out and got some frozen pizzas and some crackers that they squirted some more of the salmon on.
The wines were wonderful - but not matched to anything. By the time we got to the food table we'd moved from the Chardonnay and Riesling (both wonderful wines - details later) and were drinking Zin. The fillet was supposed to go with a wonderful Temperanillo but the people pouring were just pouring. We never got to try the pinot noir, but the Syrah was very good.
Jean, someone, kick me in the tail. (Passed the "pre-test" for my ServSafe the other day now I just have to find a proctor and take the final test! Then a business license and liability insurance and I'm gonna be on my way.
Sorry for the rant - but at 30 bucks for the two of us it was a sorry deal, and I'm afraid they knew it - they started offering discounts on top of discounts.
You only live once . . . but if you do it right once should be enough!