SIPS . . . The Pumpkin Martini
.png)
The pumpkin martini has long been a favorite cocktail for fall and there are a number of ways to make one. This is a simple recipe based on the vanilla vodka martini and it's a quick, delicious way to get your pumpkin cocktail fix. Vanilla vodka forms the base for this pumpkin martini. It sets the drink up with a smooth, sweet foundation for the cream and pumpkin liqueurs. Adding the whipped cream on top makes it more like you're drinking a pumpkin pie and that cinnamon stick garnish will infuse just a hint of extra flavor into the cocktail as you enjoy each sip. Gather the ingredients. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka and cream liqueur. 3. Shake well.
Add the pumpkin liqueur and shake again. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with a teaspoon of whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve and enjoy!
Tips - There are a number of pumpkin liqueurs available that rotate in and out seasonally. If you cannot find one, use a pumpkin spice syrup (available with coffee sweeteners) or a pumpkin puree as a substitute.
- For the cream liqueur, go with Irish cream or RumChata.
__________________________________________________________________ FLASH FROM THE PAST GRAND VELAS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL FEATURES FINE CHOCOLATE & WINE By Bonnie Carroll .JPG)
Que Bol Chocolate Presentation Guests Que Bol Chocolate Presentation who where at the Grand Velas Resort Puerto Vallarta were treated to a beyond sweet experience during the hotel's Festival Del Chocolate, featuring the star of Mexican Chocolatier's Jose Ramon Castillo, founder of Que Bol Chocolateria Mexicana Evolutiva, who delighted guests with a sensational tasting of his unique one-of-a-kind Que Bol chocolates, paired with exceptional wines selected by Grand Velas Sommelier Kritzia Barrientos Eggers. Jose Ramon Castillo's deep knowledge of modern cuisine combined with artisanal techniques produces some of the most amazing and pleasurable flavors and taste sensations I've experienced as a chocolate judge. These chocolates are original, colorful, sometimes whimsical and totally exciting. The wines selected for pairing included Fragolino La Gioiosa (Fragola Grape) (Red Wine Semi-Sparkling), Muga Blanco (Viura Grape) (White Wine), Famille Castel Cuvée Rose Brut (8 Grapes Blend) (Sparkling Dry Rosé) and Mezcal Amores Blanco by Agave Espadín. .JPG)
Fragolino La Gioiosa (Fragola Grape) (Red Wine Semi-Sparkling), Muga Blanco (Viura Grape) (White Wine) Famille Castel Cuvée Rose Brut (8 Grapes Blend) (Sparkling Dry Rosé) and Mezcal Amores Blanco by Agave Espadín The result of Castillo's maintaining his faith in domestic ingredients without the use of fillings containing creams, butters or sugars is a simple explanation for his title of Master Chocolatier of the Americas along with many other awards worldwide. My personal favorites were made with orange blossom, and banana, but the one that exploded in my mouth was a chocolate made with cardamon – so delicious! .JPG)
Executive Sous Chef Isaac Esparza, Sommelier Kritzia Barrientos Eggers, Executive Chef Guillaume Morance, Chocalatier Jose Ramon Castillo Grand Velas Executive Chef Guillaume Morance participated in the tasting along with Isaac Esparza, Executive Sous Chef. Pilar Perciavalle, Managing Director of Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit acted as host and did introductions and welcomed guests at the event. Visit www.grandvelas.com to find next year's dates or to make reservations. ___________________________________________________________________ The foundation was designed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crash causing widespread layoffs, especially for workers in the restaurant and hospitality industries. “I received a phone call from a friend who had been laid off for over a week, and as a single dad supporting two young boys, he was genuinely worried about having money for groceries and to pay rent, and had nowhere to turn,” says United Sommeliers Foundation Co-Founder and Treasurer Chris Blanchard. “Most people might not understand that despite the connotation of luxury, sommeliers are not salaried and instead work hourly, for tips.” The reality of the situation is dire for most restaurant industry workers, but often can present extra challenges for sommeliers. Sommeliers are typically the first to be laid off in a restaurant crisis, and the last to be hired back, and there is no existing industry support group for sommeliers. In designing the United Sommeliers Foundation, Blanchard, along with fellow sommelier and United Sommeliers Foundation President and Co-Founder, Cristie Norman, devised an immediate action plan with the launch of a public GoFundMe and the creation of an application for the distribution of support funds. Applications are reviewed by the executive board and disbursements are approved and prioritized based on severity of need. The board is composed of three Master Sommeliers, a Master of Wine, and other industry experts with over 100+ years of collective experience in the wine industry. To date, over 100 applications have been received with an initial benchmark of $7,000 in fundraising already surpassed. “Many sommeliers live paycheck to paycheck and do not have health insurance or backup resources to help support themselves and their families,” says Norman. “We as a community are establishing this charitable organization with the intent of helping as many sommeliers as possible through the current crisis and also to establish a permanent resource and infrastructure for those impacted by future events which might cause sommeliers to lose employment through no fault of their own.” The foundation is currently working to develop a wine auction to directly benefit those affected by the crisis and is taking donations from both private and corporate benefactors during their initial launch.
To apply for aid, donate, or learn more, please visit www.unitedsommeliersfoundation.org __________________________________________________________________ New “Rooted” Wine & Food Pairing, Created by James Beard Award-Winning Chefs Charlie Palmer & Nate Appleman, Debuts at Bricoleur Vineyards on October 21st
Bricoleur Vineyards is excited to announce that James Beard Award-winning chefs Charlie Palmer and Nate Appleman have partnered with the winery’s in-house culinary team to create a new six-course pairing menu called “Rooted,” that debuts on October 21st and marries Bricoleur’s wines with inventive dishes made from ingredients grown on the estate. Chef Palmer and Chef Appleman joined Bricoleur Vineyards as Culinary Advisors earlier this summer.
The Hanson family, who owns Bricoleur Vineyards, laid down roots in Sonoma County in the 1800’s when co-founder Elizabeth Hanson’s great grandfather became the original oenologist for Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. The Hanson’s extended family is now five generations deep in Sonoma County winemaking, and this new tasting menu, “Rooted,” is an ode to the generations who led the way. “Partnering with Chef Palmer and Chef Appleman has been a joy for our culinary team,” said Bricoleur Vineyards’ co-founder & CEO, Mark Hanson. “Our family is rooted in Sonoma County and this new tasting menu is rooted in our love of farming, elegant wines, fine food and the Sonoma community. Our family invites everyone to gather at our table to revel in these exciting new pairings.” Bricoleur’s wines are the star of this wine-forward “plant-to-plate” offering, accompanied by an inspiring ensemble of dishes comprised of ingredients plucked fresh from the winery’s culinary garden. By taking a wine-first approach, the culinary advisors Chef Palmer and Chef Appleman have worked with Bricoleur’s in-house culinary team to craft dishes that bring out the best characteristics in each of Bricoleur’s wines. “We look at Bricoleur Vineyards as a whole. We take things that are primitive in nature and elevate them to fit this beautiful environment and experience,” said Appleman. “There’s an intriguing dialogue between the wine and food teams. Bricoleur’s Hospitality Director, Chris Richard, knows food really well and talks about things that are tangible for chefs.” That collaboration has produced the new Rooted tasting menu, a distinctive exploration of wine & food pairings. For Bricoleur’s 2020 Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, the wine’s minerality inspired the chefs to incorporate fresh oysters in the Green Goddess Dressing that accompanies Roasted Cauliflower and Romanesco. The chefs turned to Bricoleur’s garden for Fresno Chilies to create a non-traditional recipe for Grilled Jamaican Jerk Marinated Carrots and a Spiced Carrot Purée to pair with Bricoleur’s 2019 Kick Ranch Viognier. An uncommon herb grown at Bricoleur Vineyards, Nepitella, has been folded into the dough of handmade Manicotti with Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms to pair with Bricoleur’s 2018 Estate Pinot Noir. The full Rooted menu can be found here and it will be refreshed every two months to capture the best flavors of the season in the culinary garden. “Bricoleur Vineyards has such an energetic, dynamic in-house culinary team and the chefs work hand-in-hand with the winery’s farmer, so it’s ideal,” said Palmer. “It’s inspiring to bounce ideas back and forth. Our partnership is thriving, and each pairing in the new Rooted tasting menu is in harmony.” Bricoleur Vineyards opened in the Sonoma County town of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg, last spring in the midst of the pandemic and in a short time has already earned recognition from San Francisco Bay Area press as the region’s “Best New Emerging Winery” and “Most Romantic Winery.” It’s a 40-acre picturesque destination with 21 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards that have produced critically-acclaimed, award-winning wines. In addition to culinary gardens, the sustainably-farmed estate also has fruit trees, olive groves, chickens, and honeybees. Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. The new Rooted tasting is $95 per person. Bricoleur Vineyards is close to the Santa Rosa airport, which accommodates both commercial and private planes, and it’s only an hour north of San Francisco. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards. Here is a link that includes photos of Chef Palmer, Chef Appleman, Mark Hanson, Sarah Hanson Citron, the new “Rooted” dishes, and beauty shots of Bricoleur Vineyards. About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards, which launched its first vintage in 2017 and opened its tasting room in 2020, is tucked away in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley – just south of Healdsburg. Founded by the Hanson family, Bricoleur Vineyards can be found at the end of a winding road in the charming, bucolic town of Windsor, only an hour north of San Francisco – and very close to the Santa Rosa airport. The distinctive name, “Bricoleur,” is French for one who starts building something with no clear plan, adding bits here and there, cobbling together a whole while flying by the seat of their pants. The Bricoleur Vineyards estate produces two families of critically-acclaimed, award-winning wines – “Bricoleur” and “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants.” Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are crafted under the “Bricoleur” label, while Rosé of Grenache and Brut are produced under the humorous, irreverent “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants” label. The wines are crafted by charismatic veteran Winemaker Cary Gott and Assistant Winemaker Tom Pierson. In addition to Bricoleur Vineyards, the Hanson family also owns Kick Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Fountaingrove District AVA. The Hanson family’s roots run deep in Sonoma County. Mark Hanson was born in Santa Rosa, and Beth Wall Hanson’s great grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, was the original oenologist for Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. Rossi revolutionized California winemaking in the 19th century and under his direction, the Italian Swiss Colony became one of America’s leading wineries. Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards.
|
