may wine list!
from april wine pop-up, and cookbook clubs!
This month I hosted my first cookbook club with the University Heights Women’s Walk group. I joined the leadership team once we moved into the neighborhood, and it’s been so fun to be apart of the community in this way. Meeting so many wonderful ladies from all walks of life, and it was a dream to be able to bring a sliver of them all together at a long table in my home to share a meal.
For our first book, we cooked out of Sohla El-Waylly’s book Start Here.
The recipes selected were:
Chickpea & Swiss Chard Stew
Bisteeya-Inspired Phyllo Chicken Pie
Seared & Braised Chicken Thighs w/ Zucchini + Salsa Verde
Crisped kale salad with candied pecans and maple dressing
Watermelon Chaat
Za'atar Manakeesh
Tahdig Rice
Blistered carrots with carrot top Salsa verde
Hot & tingly smashed cucumber salad
Bravas Potato Salad
Almond Toffee popcorn
Lemon Thyme Posset with Honey & Strawberries (I made the lemon thyme possets, and served them in little lemon boats.)
My top favorites of the night where the Bisteeya-Inspired Phyllo Chicken Pie— Such good texture and loaded with fun flavors!— and the Bravas Potato Salad— foresee making a lot of that this summer!
The second cookbook club I had this month was hosted by Carynn (Home Ec.) and Kath (Best Bud) in their new Kensington space! It was so beautiful and the energy was so much fun. It was also my first San Diego wine curation menu event!
The cookbook of choice was celebrating the launch of Hailee Catalano’s debut cookbook: By Heart. I’ve been cooking out of this book since it came out to get a feel of what wines to pair, and every recipe has been a 10/10.
Here is what I selected:
Dorcha Pét Nat Sauvignon Blanc
A Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia, Lower Styria (Štajerska). Bright citrus and tropical fruits with the perfect amount of fizz. An ideal Spring pet nat to share with friends!
Caruso & Minini, Arancino, Bianco Macerato
A blend of Catarratto and Inzolia from Sicily, Italy. Super lush, complex, and refreshing! Notes of dried apricot, orange peel, and honey mingle with delicate floral and spice undertones. A textured, tannin-kissed palate leads to a dry, lingering finish with vibrant acidity. This was the first to run out. An orange wine lovers fave!
Martha Stoumen “Post Flirtation” Red
62% Zinfandel, 38% Carignan from Sebastopol, CA. Flirty, playful, exciting, refreshing. Brightens the palate with a great balance of body and acidity, making it an easy red to pair with all kinds of foods. This had guests coming back for more!
NON1 Salted Raspberry & Chamomile
A non-alcoholic bubbly from Australia. Whole raspberries, chamomile, Murray River salt, organic cane sugar, verjus, water. This was a hit for so many at the event, for the drinkers and non-drinkers. Lots left on the hunt to go find some bottles of their own!
If you’re in San Diego, I sourced all the wines from Clos in University Heights, and the NON from Summer’s Liquor, just down the block.
