Saturday, March 12 - Wine Tasting Dinner at Deer Hill

We'd perfected the recipes and paired them with wines. So we had a few people over for a dinner and blind tasting. The theme: France vs. California. May the best wines win.

Nick was advocating French wines, I swear by Califorias. We began arguing before our guests arrived.

Nick lost that round so he pouts and makes some final adjustments to the table.

These are my antique French budvase placecard holders. I relish every opportunity I have to use them.

The champagne is on ice as we await the arrival of our wine taster friends.

Adil prepared these elegant hors d'ouvres to go with the Champagne. He studied culinary in France and his gastronomic savoir-faire is quite remarkable.

Here are the glasses. Let the tasting begin.

Our first course was crab timbales serve with two different whites. A Joel Gott Savignon Blanc and a Louis Latour Chablis. All of us felt that the Savignon Blanc stood up to and complimented the multiple layers of flavor in this complexed dish. One point for California.

The red wines a 2003 California Red Zinfandel again by Joel Gott and a 1998 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape were then served, expertly, by Katia.

Adil prepared lovely dinner plates. Filet Mignon in Blackberry Port Wine Reduction Sauce served with herb roasted potatoes and carrots.

Everyone tasted and tasted...and everyone agreed that the Chateauneuf was by far the better choice for this rich and refined dish. My California was a by far simpler wine ...but all things considered a very good one...anyway, it's my farvorite wine. So deal with it Nick.

These red wines were enjoyed by everyone.

Our cheese course was from Artisanal, arguably the best purveyor of extraordinary cheeses in the US. Their on-line shop is excellent.

We had after dinner drinks...many of them...in the parlor

The next day, there were my antique french place card holders with their pretty purple and gold tulips

...and lots of other tulips all around the house.

Saturday, February 26 - Future Food Network Stars at work!

We spent the entire day on the production of the first episode of our cooking show, The Tabouli Twin's Middle Eastern Adventure. As the name implies, this show will be dedicated to the cuisine and culture of the Middle East.

Due to a low production budget we have to do our own hair and make-up...what a drag.

Our mezze table glows in the afternoon sun.

Cat adds one final touch to the tablescape.

Amine prepares to film the final sequence.

After the filming...we enjoyed the fruits of our labors with cast and crew.

Adil, Amine, Mehdi and Sana

Forget about the pita chips this is best way to eat houmous! Guess we drank too much Arak with that dinner.