Fighting Boredom with Healthy Food + Creative Living
I love pancakes, but Insead of feeling fueled for the day after a shortstack, I feel as if I’ve been hit by a truck! Not OK! The empty carb-fest also makes me feel incredibly guilty. I really try to prepare meals that are high in nutrition,…
Father’s Day 2016 is right around the corner! Here’s some gift ideas that are for Dad, but maybe just an eensy teensy bit for you too, Mom. These are all practical gift ideas and things that Dad will really use an appreciate. First up, an…
After all, what are we going to do with all this paella???? (For my Seinfeld Fans).
If you aren’t familiar with paella, it’s a dish that originated in Spain, with origins dating back to the eighteenth century. It’s a rice based dish that is typically saffron infused (giving the rice its signature yellow color) and has a variety of meats, shellfish and veggies. However, this particular Paella & Wine Festival is based around a very serious competition of over 60 chefs cooking up their interpretation of paella from traditional to vegan. Some Chefs were from California, but many had traveled from Mexico to bring their ‘A’ game. Judges came prepared with the best qualification ever: the ability to eat a lot of paella.
I arrived at the event early in order to scope out the grounds and get a feel for how the day would go. All of the paella competitors were assigned staggered serving times, so some had already started cooking. Others were holding off until later in the day. This allows an ongoing ‘flow’ of paella tasting, as this event goes from noon to 6:00pm!
Paella Judge Mitchell Thompson, Director at the Otay Water District, said that as a public service official he had to be fair and intended on tasting ALL of the entries. Vaya con Dios, Mitchell! That’s a lot of entries!
Here’s some early contestants getting their paella’s started. It was interesting to see so many different variations, even from the start.
This was the largest paella dish being prepared and is said to feed thousands! The pan was the size of a hot tub and had 4 to 5 cooks working on it at all times. Amazing!
Everyone was all smiles!
San Diego Local Chef – LaDuque66@yahoo.com
As noon approached, the line for attendees started to queue up outside of the event. The sun also decided to make a debut in full force, and it got hot very quickly! Thankfully there was no shortage of beer, wines and tequila to cool down with. We made our way over to some vintners to test out some wines from San Diego, Spain and Baja California. Some of my favorites were:
San Diego’s Vinavanti Urban Winery – The La Zingara White Wine was refreshing and crisp. All grapes are grown organically in San Diego County.
The Spanish Cune Rioja – a brightly colored Rosé made from Tempranillo grapes. Typically bright or dark colored Rosés have a lot of sugar content, but this was surprisingly dry with great floral notes. This is a Spanish Rosé I will be sure to hunt down!
Finally, mi favorito for the day was Puente de Rus Savignon Blanc. Crisp with pineapple and herb notes, light and paired perfectly with paella. This is one of those Spanish wines that you would find while traveling, not pay a ton for it, but then after your trip you’ll dwell about what a good value it was. You may find this wine locally in San Diego at Old Town Liquors. I did taste a lot of great reds by the way, however I’m a traditionalist; Whites and Rosés on a hot day, Reds at night.
Guests started to pour into the event, and the air filled with spice and smoke. Some of the paella chefs were starting to put the final decorative touches on their paella pan creations. Festival attendees circled around the booths, and a hush fell over the crowd as the judges stepped up with clipboards in hand. Nervous faces looked on as this was serious paella business!
After the judges left with their secret notes, it was time to serve up the paella and eat! Here’s some of the finished paella presentations. They were all so beautiful!
Paella by Los Chatos
Paella by Los Gregorianos
Paella by El Arte En Paella
One of the most surprising paella entires of the day was the vegan option by Awake the Great! The rice had great texture and the flavors were citrusy and smoky from the crunchy coconut toppings. I was so impressed with what they did!
After guests had paella and drinks in their bellies, things started to get muy divertida or fun. Hey, it’s a party!
Paella Man danced around the party and posted for pictures with guests as the mariachi band played on stage.
I have to say my MOST favorite part of the event, other than the amazing food, was in the VIP section (consider this upgrade for next year’s event). While judges were still tasting and deliberating, there was what I can only describe as a Sing Off. Chefs, guests and other VIPS would step up and belt out a song one after the other. Here’s an example:
My brain was trying to absorb everything at once, and my stomach was telling me to go take a nap. “Wow, these chefs can cook AND sing??” There was some serious talent at this event. Note to self: Step up my chef game and start singing while cooking.
The San Diego Paella & Wine event was a huge success, and I’m not proud to admit that it’s been a whole day after the event and I’m still full. I ate THAT much.
Can’t wait for this event next year, and here’s my tips if you’re planning on attending in 2017:
1. You are allowed to bring chairs and a picnic blanket. Take advantage of this and do it!
2. Wear a hat & bring sunscreen. Despite the threat of rain, in true San Diego fashion, we ended up with gorgeous weather.
3. If you are with a friend, I recommend splitting up into different lines. Most of the servings are rather large, so you can share and taste more of the offerings.
4. Drink water throughout the day. Stay hydrated and pace yourself, like these judges (below)…they did have to taste ALL of those entries after all!
¡Ay, Carumba! Only 32 more paellas to taste!
Until next year! For more information on this event, please visit: Paella & Wine Festival Congrats to the The San Diego Culinary Arts School for taking first prize!
Thank you to the Paella & Wine Festival for hosting me and my fabulous photographer for the day.
Want Bored Mom to come to your event and blog about it? Contact me here!
Some people relax by doing yoga, others prefer a hot cup of camomile tea. Personally, I like to vacuum. You see, I’m a serial vacuumer. Is that even a thing? I’m not entirely sure how much vacuuming is considered NORMAL, but I do vacuum every…
This 1963 out of print book aptly titled I Can’t Boil Water by Corinne Griffith, is a ‘treasury of exquisite specialties from some of the finest restaurants in the United States…’ I call it a retro-food trainwreck. Some of the recipes are so absurd that…
If you’re wondering why Mom would want this at all, please see the previous article as to why Mom’s Hate Mother’s Day Brunch Out..
Continuing on with Gestures as Gifts for Mother’s Day, this concept creates an area of peace and quiet for Mom inside the house away from any noise and distractions.
Using a room that Mom may use all by herself (at least for an hour!), set her up with some juicy reading, a snuggly blanket, slippers and a glowing candle. I recommend the The Splendor Santa Barbara candle* because it’s clean burning and non-scented. Although scented candles are nice for well-ventilated areas, they aren’t all that great for smaller spaces. As you are creating a space for Mom, this means you may have to shut the door and you don’t want her getting an gaggy overdose of scent. The handcrafted Splendor Santa Barbara Candle is made of pure beeswax and coconut oil. These oils are not only air ionizing, but the oils are so pure that Mom can apply the candle to her skin for moisturizing! (What is ionizing? See below) The golden wax produces a barely-there scent of beeswax, keeping the air clean and purified. It will also outlast her hour of bliss with a 40 hour burn time.
This handpoured sustainable candle actually emits negative ions. Here comes the science.. Stay with me..this is actually pretty cool. Pollen, dust, dirt and pollutants all carry a positive charge. The negative ions released from burning beeswax negate the positive charge of air contaminants. The neutralized ions are sucked back into the burning candle or fall to the ground. Many air purifiers and water filters harness the same negative ion technology.
For Mom’s Indoor Nook of Peace, make sure to include a beverage of her liking! I think a glass of pinot noir pairs nicely with quiet. What do you think?
Splendor Santa Barbara Ionic Illumination candle $19.99 and Free Ship on Amazon Prime + Fun Books & Magazines $10 + Bottle of 2007 Edenvale Pinot Noir $30 – Total cost for awesome Nook of Peace $60.
* I received this glorious product at a discount in exchange for an honest review.
As a Mother, I can tell you that going out to Mother’s Day Brunch at a crowded restaurant is mundane cattle-call torture. It’s not intimate and it feels forced. Long lines, poorly prepared food and tables jammed in together like sardines is not a peaceful…
If your produce is dying in the refridgerator in a wilty sad demise, then check out these storage tips! I receive a Vegetable and Fruit CSA delivery every other week and often the produce is damp. Between trial and error and some research, I have…
Here are my standout favorites from the event. As a winemaker so astutely pointed out to me once, “The best wine is the wine that you like.” Everyone has their preferences, so just like sizing in clothing, wine fits everyone in a different way. As a disclosure, I do not like heavy fruit bombs. All of the wines I have highlighted are therefore lighter, smoother and more flavorful than some of the big kahunas that exist out there.
The Farm Vineyard from Paso Robles
This Adelaida region winery is not open to the public, so I made a beeline over to their booth upon arrival. Tasting their wines is a priviledge and based on the crowd around the winemaker’s table, the secret was out. This winemaker couple (along with an Argentinian partner) work the farm themselves and cultivate their wines from start to finish. My favorite was the 2012 Touchy- Feely. Bright, rich fruit but it remains fresh with a hint of mineral with a smooth finish. There are only 294 cases produced of this 77% Grenache and 23% Syrah blend. Azmina explained to me that they decant the wine and use blowers to ‘blow off the alcohol’ before further processing. This wine takes a lot of work, and it shows. It is only available through their website and you must register to be a member (free membership) to get the emails of availability. Getting an email notice from them is like getting a secret message from Batman in the sky – you don’t want to pass this one up, or else you’re a Joker.
Tablas creates French style wines in the Paso region which is a departure from many of the other wineries in the area that typically go big. My favorite from Tablas is the dry style Espirit de Blanc, which is bright in citrus, but solid minerality with low sugar. 2013 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is a blend of three estate-grown varietals, propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate (Yes – it’s actually a FRENCH vineyard in California!) Roussanne provides the core richness, minerality, and flavors of honey and spice, while Grenache Blanc adds green apple and anise flavors, a lush mouthfeel and bright acids. Picpoul Blanc completes the blend, adding a saline minerality and tropical notes. This wine would pair well with any rich foods or seafood and is consistently one of my favorites year after year. In fact, I’ll be ordering some online.
The 2015 Patelin de Tablas Rosé was also a happy surprise. The beautiful pale peach colored Rosé is bright grapefruit but also low sugar which is why it’s another standout winner. The wine is produced from four red Rhône varietals: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Syrah . Often Rosés are too sweet and winemakers will label them as being great summer wines (a.k.a Patio Pounders). Why? I don’t need Kool-aid in the heat! Keep it light, refreshing and full of flavor. Love Tablas Creek.
So happy to stumble onto this team yesterday. The logo reminded us of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is our former alma mater. Lo and behold, there is a Cal Poly connection! After doing the secret Cal Poly handshake, we talked wine. This Paso Winery is relatively new, and it’s clear great things are coming for them. Their 2013 Estate Grown Cabernet is delicious and a value at $25/bottle.
They also have a beautiful private inn, so if you’re looking to make a Paso Robles trip, check them out.
Located in the Howell Mountain appellation, Ladera focuses their attention on Cabernet Sauvignon production. I sampled the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Cabernets. Sadly I didn’t jot down WHICH 2012 vineyard version I tasted, as they do offer several. However, I did like the 2012 ‘Mystery’ Cabernet best. The Cab exuded blackberries and spice, but a very nice smooth finish. This is the type of wine that you pour of glass of and need nothing with it other than a nice blanket and a fireplace.
I have to be honest here. I think I liked every single wine this guy (Michael Keenan) produces, which was sort of exasperating. Really? Can’t you have just one dud? Keenan Winery is located in the Spring Mountain District of Napa, which is north of Cain…another winery that is not so shabby. So combine sacred wine terroir and outstanding effort, and well you get Keenan Winery. I bet if I visited their property, I would hear angels singing up the drive-way. If I had my wine arm twisted, I would say that my favorite was the 2012 Cabernet Franc. The wine has berry, acid and a great smooth texture. It retails for $68, and as there were only 480 cases produced I can see this selling out soon. Given the price point, some may buy and hold for special occassion. You can sit on this wine, but seriously it’s so good that $68 is a bargarin – buy this and bring it to dinner at a restaurant and pay the damn corkage fee.
Located in the aptly named Howell Moutain AVA, Howell Mountain Vineyard also sits on a blessed mother land perfect for wine growing. I’m not usually a huge fan of Zinfandels because they can be too sweet, but Howell Mountain has produced some winners. Their 2013 Old Vine Zin (from 101 year old vines) was a pleasant drinker. It is balanced, with spice and chocolate and has a nice long finish. My favorite however was the 2013 Primitivo Clone Zinfandel. Also with elements of spice, the flavor was bright and light and not heavy on my tastebuds. It’s $45 retail and can sit for a bit, although it’s very drinkable now. It’s one Clone that can attack my wine fridge anytime! Sorry for the Star Wars reference – told you I was a geek!
Formerly in the entertainment industry, the owner of Collier Falls winery now spends his days tending the glorious acres of his beautiful Dry Creek Valley vineyard near Healdsburg. Collier Falls produces sustainably farmed Zinfadel, Primotivo, Syrah, Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite was the 2012 Cabernet Savignon. Very smooth berry with hints of clove. The retail price is $45, so bring this crowd pleaser to a friend’s house to share. By the way, there really is an actual Collier Falls on the property which is said to be 30 feet high. Given the recent rains, it must have an impressive flow right now! However, only the farmer and wine grapes will get to watch the water show. Should you wish to sample Collier Falls Wines you may visit their beautiful tasting room in Healdsburg, which would be equally impressive.
Soujourn Cellars came to the event with their no-nonsense A game. If you’re a Pinot Noir fan, then look no further. The 2014 Pinor Noir is already racking up some nice notoriety from Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator and more. This flavorful pinot has powerful fruit with an earthy layer that screams out, “Hey, I’m a Pinot – and I’m fabulous!” It’s priced at $39 which to me is a super deal. A bottle of this Pinot and a nice cheese plate from Marin County, and we’re good to go.
What a great day! Look for these wines in restaurants, or check them out online. Better yet, visit them if you can. I’ll be making a trip to the Sonoma area in late April so I can’t wait to check a few of these out in person. Finally, to the guy who actually asked a winesmaker where ‘Healdsburg’ was, please don’t come next year. 🙂
Cheers!
BoredMom
As the weather warms up, I look forward to taking short weekend trips and so appreciate not having to pack bulky clothing.
Thanks to Sili-Mitt Oven Mitts for the opportunity to review their comfortable, safe oven mitts! If you’re like me, you need a longer oven mitt. The Sili-Mitt Silicone Mitts are perfect for baking or canning. Check out my review on Youtube, and then get the…
I whipped up some easy Shea Body Butter today and my skin is already feeling much better. All ingredients are readily available on Amazon Prime, so you too can whip some of this up in a pinch. I used small jelly jars, but any glass container would be a good choice.
