Tonight’s supper on a warm evening out on our patio was yet another Crab-stuffed avocado salad (they are always enjoyable for a warm evening supper). This time, after last night’s spicy catfish, I used relatively non-spicy seasonings, in the crab-mayonnaise mix I used onion powder, chervil, tarragon, lemon peel, celery seed, and a little garlic. The greens were a mix of arugula and various red & green lettuces, dressed with a mustard-champagne vinaigrette - dry mustard, onion powder, lemon peel, chervil. tarragon, Kosher salt, & celery seed; in a mix of Meyer Lemon Olive Oil and Champagne Vinegar. We also had a few slices of Carollee’s stuffed cucumbers to start. All was very enjoyable with one of the best rosés of the past couple years - 2008 Mas de la Dame Rosé de Mas, from Les Baux de Provence (50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cinsault) - plastic cork, on the lighter end of rosé colors; bright nose & flavors of spicy cherries, berries, & cassis; good acidity to pair with the food; and a long spicy, light berry/cassis finish. It was a good match with both the cucumbers and the salad.
Then to finish, while watching the first episode of the new Top Chef - Las Vegas and Grand Prix of Europe Qualifying at Valencia (via TiVo), we had a lovely 1994 Grgich Hills Zinfandel Sonoma County - fill less than a cm below the cork, bright garnet in color; rich nose & flavors of spicy red and black berries; balanced mid-palate with no discernable tannins; and a long berry finish - very nice with the cheeses, a very ripe Epoisse, Drunken Goat, and a semi-hard goat cheese (with no label left) and TJ’s Jumbo Raisin Medley and Whole Foods deluxe mixed nuts.
Another great Santa Fe evening, even though it was a bit warm.