What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD) For many years, Kari and I have served a beef tenderloin for Christmas dinner, which is easy to prepare, cook, and carve, especially for a large gathering. This year, we decided to depart from tradition and serve beef bourguignon, for the weather outside had been cold and snowy for so long that this hearty dish seemed appropriate for our dinner celebration. To craft this single pot dish, Kari adapted a recipe from Ina Garden, which by all accounts follows a classic method of preparation. This meal has become a huge hit with friends...

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Posted by Thad W. at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD) Although the weather in Seattle these last few days suggested Fall had already arrived, it wasn't until today that the season officially started. It didn't take an equinox to get me in the mood for heartier food and wines, for the cold and rainy weekend weather had already prepared us for some Fall meals. So it was fitting on this official start of Fall that Kari prepared a rich dish of Italian sausage and tomatoes on top of a bowl of soft polenta. Along with the main course, Kari made a fennel and...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reininger Winery is located about 6 miles west of Walla Walla on Highway 12. This winery is housed in two former potato sheds, which were renovated into a nice facility with a comfortable tasting room. On the Monday I visited in early April, the new tasting room was nearly finished, providing a much larger expanse with beautiful pine flooring reclaimed from the old potatoe sheds. This new addition, which will offer a view of acres of wheat fields, will serve as a nice spot to try Reininger wines, including those under their other label, Helix. The tasting room features some...

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Posted by Thad W. at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)