gulfporter

A Mexican Zinfandel from Baja, Valle de Guadalupe. Good strong wine.

Grilled Salmon Nicoise Salad. Unfortunately most of the good stuff is hidden by the salmon. Lots of creamy little white potatoes, locally grown green beans, excellent cured black olives from Spain.

I stopped at Walmart in Tucson this week. Eggs were plentiful; dozen large were $4.97.

Bucatini with hot Italian sausage ragú.

Open a pouch and pour onto a paper plate and look for bugs, dead or alive. If none, bake.

Spanish Red. Didn't see that it was a Tempranillo until I read back label when uncorking. Very very nice wine for 180 pesos (under 9 bucks including tax).

I had to look up what Benedictine was on a sandwich. My original thought was that it was spiked with Benedictine brandy/liqueur 🍹

We're hitting 80 daily now, so time to switch to cold sides with our proteins. Grilled and blackened salmon with a quick mango salad.

It paired very well with grilled and blackened salmon.

This is an odd white, at least to me. A Chilean blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere. I associate Carmenere with reds as it's a pretty standard red sold here and stocked at many restaurants as the house red.

Tempranillo is my go-to red in Mexico as they are easy to come by and run between 200-300 pesos. This one is from Toledo, one of the first cities we visited in Spain back in the 1980s. Almost drove down a flight of stairs thinking the road continued on. Yes it's a tourist town, but like most tourist towns, once the day trippers leave, it's magical.

Pappardelle with rosemary, shallot, guanciale and bleu cheese.

For the record, the pinotage paired very well with the paella which in addition to seafood contained chicken and Mexican chorizo). The paella was delivered from one of our favorite chefs here. His father is French (immigrated here after his classical training in France) and his mother is Mexican. He worked side by side with his father at a Country Club here. When the pandemic closed the dining room, his father and mother retired back in France. The son began cooking out of his home while restaurants were closed. After the pandemic he decided he preferred being at-home with his wife and young kids. He has an interesting concept that works for us He publishes his menu for the entire upcoming week at his FB page. He normally has 2 meals per day. Some favorites are repeated often (his French dishes are our faves), and he'll also offer up some new ones. I've been following him for 2+ years and never saw paella before this week. His portions are huge; we share one dish when we order; prices reasonable, the paella was 260 pesos, under $13 USD including all taxes (though we tip the deliverer). He's always been on time with deliveries.

I had it 'straight' last night, not with a meal. I judge wines by how they go with food. Tonight's Valentine's dinner is a delivery of paella, so I'll drink the pinotage with it. I have had this wine in the past (I remembered the name/label). I shop at a small liquor store near my home in Ajijic. Mexicans' interest in wines is on the rise, but this store is 75% tequilas and other hard liquors. This is true of all nearby liquor stores. Years ago it was 95% liquors to wine. Many only stocked 1 red, 1 white behind the cash register. Specific wines come and go but kudos to the owners for always having a nice mix of EU, South American, Mexican and others (this pinotage is South African).

Starting to get a complex here as the only one opening a new bottle every other day. I stepped up my Wine Game due to mi esposo's fractured femur in late December; he is only 30% weight-bearing at the 2 month mark so all meals are at home, though many via delivery or carryout. What we are saving on restaurant wine prices I am adding to my liquor store budget. Cheers! 😀🍷 This is a South African Pinotage. Strong but with fruity tones, plum in particular.