2008 Viognier has arrived!

Everyone’s been waiting, some more patiently then others. This 2008 Viognier is so good. Slightly sweet with a long lingering finish of melon and pear. Perfect with Thai food. mmmmm Pad Thai, hot and sour shrimp soup. How about Vietnamese pork and shrimp salad rolls with lime chili dipping sauce?

Get some for Thanksgiving and wow your family and friends. The structure of this wine will stand up to all the day’s staples and then some. My mantra on Thanksgiving is “thou shall not consider gravy a beverage” but I very often do! This year my beverage of choice will be this Viognier…fer sure fer sure!

Got Poll?

Broccoli Slaw recipe from Peeps Party 9/20/08

Our Peeps party was held on September 20th. Many asked for the recipe for the Broccoli Slaw that we served with the BBQ’d Chicken and Baked Beans. Here it is….

 

2 cups broccoli Florettes cut very small

2 cups broccoli stems, thinly julienned

1/2 cup green cabbage, finely shredded

1/2 cup red cabbage, finely shredded

1/2 cup carrot, finely shredded

1/4 cup red onion, finely shaved

1/2 cup crisp crumbled bacon (optional)

Dressing;

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 tsp Creole mustard

1 tsp horseradish

1/2 cup homemade mayonnaise or top quality store bought

2 Tbl sour cream

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground

1. bring one quart of lightly salted water to a boil

2. cook broccoli for 45 seconds drain immediately and shock in an ice water bath and dry thoroughly.

3. combine all the vegetables in a mixing bowl 

4. In a small stainless steel saucepan, combine the sugar and the vinegar. Simmer slowly until the mixture forms a thick syrup

5. While the mixture is cooking, combine the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend well

6. Slowly drizzle the vinegar mixture into the mayonnaise mixture.

7. Add the dressing to the vegetable mixture and blend well, refrigerate until ready to serve.

Today…

Well, it certainly has been an eventful September and early August. Not all of it good. Ever have the experience of “friends” turning out not to be so nice? Seems I learn the hard way…Oh well, their loss…not mine! Right? Right! Health wise seems I’m half life-ing. Like a car turning 30,000.00 miles or something like that. Getting old sucks! But I’m all back on track now and with the cooler weather approaching business has been exceptional! That alone is enough to make all of us here at Bantam Cellars feel better. Certainly the bank is happier.

Mid week business has been great and approaching a year and a half since opening we’ve done a terrific job of marketing our selves, our wine, and Amador in general. Our wine club is holding steady even with all the media hype of economical gloom and doom. Sometimes I wish I could stick my hand through the television and make them shut-up! It’s just like any storm that approaches we’ve got the weather person telling folks to stay away from the foothills…geez. Economical down turn, my ass…tell that to all the limo companies who are driving up here every weekend. Last weekend alone we saw 6 limos. Big Crush weekend we saw at least a dozen.

I’m just glad people are keeping their heads and not giving up the one luxury that really truly is a necessity! VINO! Just stay at home and cook fabulous food instead of going out to eat and open a delicious bottle of Bantam. Save your money for the important things in life even if it means wearing last years fashions. 

Hope everyone is happy, healthy and wise!

–Jonna07-thanks-for-the-memories

In my South…Gala Dinner November 14th

As I write this Blog entry I only have Ten seats left for this dinner. It’s selling really, really fast….I’m really excited about this one. Even toying with the idea of expanding  the seating for another 8 people. I need to measure the room and see if one more five foot round table will fit. Ya’ll contact me quick like ifen you want to be part of this incredible dinner.

 

In My South….Gala Dinner November 14^th 2008

Inspired with many thanks to Robert St John, Cliff Taylor and Dusty Friarson, The Gods of the Purple Parrot Café’, Crescent City Grill and Mahogany Bar in Hattiesburg Mississippi.

 

Starter Course: Shrimp Remoulade

Fresh Jumbo Shrimp with a homemade spicy Creole mayonnaise

 

Appetizer Course: Grits and Grillades

Garlic and Sharp Cheddar Grits topped with flavorful sautéed Top Round strips New Orleans style.

 

Soup Course: Purple Parrot Corn and Crab Bisque

Delightful staple of the Purple Parrot Café’, so Southern, so good. Fresh corn and Lump Crabmeat, talk about sweet!

 

Salad Course: Purple Parrot Sensation Salad

A simple blend of iceberg, romaine, and spinach leaves with Romano and bleu cheeses tossed with a garlic, lemon Vinaigrette.

 

Main Course: Real Southern Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Spinach and Steamed Green Beans. (Thinking this one speaks for itself.)

 

Dessert Course: Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

Decadent layers of rich chocolate custard and fresh Croissants.

Peeps Party Scheduled for September 20th.

The Peeps Party is Scheduled for September 20th. This will be our third club party since our opening in April of 2007. BBQ and homemade sides will be the menu basics along with a few suprises.

Lots of Rockin’ tunes will fill the air and hopefully everyone will shake a tail feather or two!

I’ve had lots of new sign ups so I’ll be sending out another email via Vertical Response this week.

Can’t wait to see all my Peeps!

The Wine Space

-

Visit and sign up, it’s good reading and fun! A real wine community. Join in and become my friend….my wine space name is JonnaBantamGal….See ya there!

Wine and Jazz Jubilee

Wine and Jazz Party

On May 18th Bantam Cellars participated in an Amador Vintners sponsored event that was to promote the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. We had Cats and Jammers on the porch playing some cool Jazz tunes. I made turkey Avocado Wraps and Meatball Subs. And of course the wine was flowing freely…We had fun once again. Does this business ever suck? No! 

Go to the slide show to see some nice pictures of the event!

Slide Show of Peeps Party…May 3rd 2008