Passion for Pinot

For those of you that are of age to drink, I have just the thing for you to bring to your significant other’s Thanksgiving dinner or even your own. And if you’re family is as crazy as most peoples, listen up.
This month is a great time to try a new wine, or wine in general if you are not that familiar.

Pinot Noir is the wine of the month, say it with me, PEE-noh nwahr. Very good!
According to The Wine Club, A Month-by-Month Guide To Learning About Wine With Friends by Maureen Christian Petrosky, November is a great time to try Pinot Noir because of all the great food that goes along with Thanksgiving.

Pinot Noir is often called the “noble grape of Burgundy” because it is the red grape from this world-famous winegrowing area in France. So, if the wine is red and it says it’s from Burgundy (or Bourgogne in French) then the grape is most likely Pinot Noir.

This wine is very special because it may take awhile to really appreciate its unique aroma and flavor.
It is said to have the aroma of a barnyard, so Petrosky says. I know, I know it doesn’t sound that appetizing but the juice beneath the aroma, especially ones from France, can be the best you’ve ever tasted. It just may take a couple of tries.
Anything worth having is worth the wait right?

To help you properly taste the wine, Miguel Garza, host of winetasterstv.com can be found on you tube.com and is waiting to give you the tips you need to have the best wine tasting experience yet.


For most wine you can usually just use a basic red wine glass or white wine glass (yes they are different) and it won’t matter that much. This is not as true for Pinot Noir.
A Pinot Noir glass is larger than other red-wine glasses, with a bulbous shape that allows more flavor and aroma to develop. If all you have is an all-purpose red-wine glass, no worries it’ll be just fine.
To get the “bang for your buck” Petrosky suggests Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2003, Carneros California; $10. It holds strong flavors such as black cherry and vanilla with the aromas of mocha, cedar and spice- all for just $10!

Pinot-Noir is a “true food-loving wine” says Petrosky, because it is made to enjoy with food.
Here is a delicious, and no bake, twist on a Thanksgiving favorite that will go fabulous with a glass of Pinot Noir.
Leftover Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
1 leftover 8 or 9 inch pumpkin pie
2 cups sour cream
¼ cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons orange juice
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 cups whipped cream
¾ cup crumbled graham crackers

1. Remove pumpkin filling from piecrust; discard the crust.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together sour cream, maple syrup, orange juice and pumpkin pie spice.
3. In the bottom of 10 small parfait glasses (or bowls) place 2 or 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie filling. Add a layer of the sour cream mixture to each.
4. Top with a layer of whipped cream and crumbled graham cracker.

Bon appetite!

Boring "American Cooking" Anyone?

When someone asks you what your favorite kind of food is, you normally give examples like Italian, Japanese or Mexican. Not once have I ever heard someone say American Cooking. What does that even mean?

That is how Malabar, a Natomas based restaurant, describes itself.
So, what does “American Cooking” mean to them?
It means that they specialize in many different kinds of food. I guess they are trying to say that their menu is very diverse, just like America.

There are Asian, Mexican and Italian references and tastes for almost anyone’s craving.
Unfortunately the first thing that I thought when I saw so many different dishes was, “Can they possibly do them all well?”

Upon arriving the outside of the restaurant was huge and seemed as though it was a business casual place, although I showed up late in jeans and a t-shirt and fit right in.
The front door however had the appearance of a back door that might lead to the dumpsters and did not give you the “Come on in!” appeal.

The dining area and especially the bar was surrounded by big flat screen televisions that were set to the presidential election coverage and football. Very pro-American.
The lights were dim and it had a very cozy feel along with the booth that comfortably fit five people.

The waitress came to the table with a sincere smile ready to take our orders.
It didn’t take long before there was a glass of chardonnay and colorful plate of rare ahi tuna sitting in front of me. Along side the tuna came a balance of hot and sweet cilantro-wasabi vinaigrette and a soy glaze.
As I looked around for chop sticks I realized I was not in a Japanese restaurant where I might normally order this, so I ate it with a fork instead.

After taking my time to eat and enjoy the company of my fellow classmates, some of us decided to order dessert.
After salivating over the classic cheesecake description, I decide to order it and share it among the others at the table.
It was a classic cheesecake with a drizzle, emphasis on drizzle, of raspberry sauce.
When it was placed in front of me the cheesecake looked amazing but the “drizzle” of raspberry sauce was a couple of little swirls on the plate.

It was after seeing this that the waitress explained that it is more of a garnish, but that wasn’t going to cut it for me and I decided to order a side of raspberry sauce to pour on top.
The cheesecake was light with a slight vanilla bean flavor and was not too rich as some have a tendency to be.

When it came time to get the check the waitress didn’t hesitate to get us all separate checks.
All in all it was a good dinner, although very mundane. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible, it just was.
It looked, acted and tasted like every other chain restaurant I’ve been to. There were no sparks or unique flare that stuck out, just a forgetful face in the crowd.

Rules for Dining on a First Date

　
So, you’re on a first date and everything is going great.
He brings you flowers, she laughs at all of your jokes and you have so much in common that time is flying by and before you know it, 10 p.m. turns into 2 a.m.

The last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you have something stuck in your teeth or if your breath smells bad, right?
We can fix this little problem.

The first date is all about making a great first impression and hopefully getting that wonderful goodnight kiss or something more if you're lucky.

There are certain rules to follow when your first date involves food.

Rule number one, do not order pesto pasta or spaghetti.
The little green pieces of pesto will get stuck in your teeth and you‘ll be chatting away about your annoying roommate with green all in your teeth. It‘s not a good look.
Spaghetti was cute for the dogs in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, but it is too messy for a date.
If you have to keep putting the napkin up to your face and you are even a little bit worried about the spaghetti sauce splattering everywhere then don’t order it.

Rule number two, do not order something with a lot of garlic, or a medium amount for that matter.
If you’re not sure just ask the waiter. Your date will greatly appreciate this and hopefully get the hint too.

Rule number three, do not order anything that might upset your stomach even a little bit.
If your date wants to go to a new Indian place and you want to get lucky at the end of the night, I’d suggest Chili’s.

Some of these rules may seem like no brainers but sometimes we are so comfortable with ourselves and used to what we like, we forget to think of how it will affect other people.
You need to be able to eat and carry on a conversation because that is the whole purpose of a date, whether it‘s the first one with a really hot girl or a family member.
Here are some more helpful hints to help you lock in the make out session at the end of the night.

Try to eat more protein and less bread.

We all get nervous sometimes and eat way too many chips with salsa or bread sticks because we don’t know what else to do but bread along with the rest of your entrée will feel too heavy and protein will give you energy for whatever it is you will be doing after dinner. Wink, wink!

Like I said, we all get nervous on first dates and along with eating or fidgeting with everything around us, we tend to drink a lot more alcohol than we normally would.
This can be a very bad decision if you cannot hold your liquor.
You could end up talking about things that you will regret the next day and possibly not even remember.
Depending on your size and weight, you should probably only have two drinks maximum.

If you think the end of the night could be a little more than just kissing, there are some foods that can work in your favor.

According to Foxnews.com, protein is a good energy source and it also provides an increase in stamina.
You can find protein in foods besides meat like beef or chicken, there is also a lot of protein in pine nuts.
Asparagus contains foliate which is necessary for histamine production and histamine is necessary for both males and females to reach orgasm.
Oysters are a well-known aphrodisiac and contain zinc which increases libido.

Last, but certainly not least is dessert!
Chocolate is known to release serotonin, which can provide a calming effect in your brain and helps get you in the mood.

Good luck! And remember, just be yourself (unless you love garlic like I do and tone it down a notch).