Chocolate-Red Wine Cake

Chocolate-Zinfindel Port Cake

About a year ago, I clipped this recipe

out of

 Food & Wine Magazine 

I was meeting my friends

for a birthday dinner

at our favorite winery

San Martino

I was assigned dessert

so I decided to try this recipe

I wanted to use something from the winery

So, I used this Zin Port

since it goes well with chocolate

Wow!

What a kick 



The recipes says to sprinkle with powdered sugar
but
I thought it needed this chocolate glaze

San Martino Winery - Paella Night

The winery has Paella night several times a year

My friend, Misty and I have been wanting to go forever

Finally...

Misty and I (with M's friend, Melissa) were able to check it out earlier this month

This is the winery

It is located off Hwy 205

Just outside the Rockwall City Limits

Here is the paella

(rice with artichokes, peas, roasted red pepper, mushroom, squid, scallops, shrimp, pork, chicken, chorizo, mussels, clams, etc)

The paella was awesome especially paired with

their Tempranillo Reserve

They ended the meal with this Zin Port

...served

 ... in this chocolate cup

Yum

Click here to get a list of events at the winery

Chocolate Cheesecake

No, I didn't bake this.

This is the only picture I took at the winery on Saturday night.

This cheesecake comes from a local place called Cheesecake Royale.

Check it out.

This cheesecake rocked!

Birthday Almost Here

My birthday is tomorrow 

We are going to my favorite Texas winery 

San Martino in Rockwall 

There is something wrong with this picture

Saturday, March 20th (gerber daisy day)

my birthday

the 1st day of Spring

&

the high is 48 degrees

with 80% of rain

even talk of potential sleet

c'mon

this is TEXAS

it's going to be 73 degrees today

can it just wait one more day???

It can be cold on Sunday

I'll be sleeping in

because I will have fun

no matter how cold it is

San Martino Winery

I just love our little winery over here in Rockwall. Many people do not know about it, and it's very unfortunate, because I've been going there for about 3 or 4 years now, and I have an awesome time every TIME! Last night, they prepared a dinner for the members. It was $10.00 per person. We had a salad, couscous, chicken and New Zealand lamb. Apparently, where you get your lamb from makes a big different on taste. I am not a big "lamb" fan, but this lamb was fabulous. The wine was also fabulous. We had the Pinot Gris and the Sangiovese. The Sangiovese rocks!

First Wine Delivery - Ever

Being car-less, I was unable to pick up my quarterly wine "shipment" at San Martino in Rockwall in December. So, I requested to have my shipment actually "shipped" to me. Well, it arrived today. I received an automated call from UPS early this morning stating that I had a delivery and someone had to sign for it so please be available between 8am and 7pm. Good thing I'm not going anywhere. The Flyer that explains the wine!
This cracks me up. Please note the 3rd instruction : "No delivery to an intoxicated person permitted"
For some reason, this really strikes me funny. Do you think the UPS guy/girl ever comes across this? What happens if the intoxicated person gets belligerent because they can't get their fix? Do they have to call the cops?

I think this is so cool. I am saving this packing so the next time I'm transporting 2 bottles of wine, I can make sure it arrives safely to my destination.

WA-LAAAA!!! My wine... finally..... only 2 more weeks until the next quarterly shipment. So, I better get drinkin'!