what the hell _does_ a vegan eat anyway?

Stuart Cellars Wine Tasting 4/26 @ Riverside Wine and Imports

(with post tasting food notes)

1. Callista (Greeting Wine): Basil and Tomato Soy Cream Cheese on Olive Flatbread

(the small dice tomatoes held up very nicely on the base of soy cream chese and the flatbread held its shape throughout the evening)

2. Viognier: Mixed Greens salad in Phyllo "bowls" w/ Caramelized Pears and a Creamy Garlic dressing.

(I tried to put the dressing on the salads and the little bits of garlic kept getting stuck in the squeeze bottle -- so I just spooned it on...)

3. Chardonnay: Fettuccini Alfredo (served on a fork w/ black olives)

(it's tricky keeping small bits of pasta warm between kitchen and service)

4. Cabernet Franc: Sushi with wasabi

(wooo! -- two types -- deep fried tempeh w/ wasabi as well as avacado w/ wasabi and wasabi peas on the side)

5. Merlot: Hearty White Bean Stew

(a.k.a. white bean cassoulet, w/ soyrizo)

6. Tatria: Roasted Vegetable Lasagna "Pinwheels" on a bed of caramelized leeks

(roasted veg -- zucchini, eggplant and red pepper turned out good, the lasagna dried out a bit waiting for service -- see above)

7. Vintage Zinfandel Port: Chocolate Olive Oil Cake w/fresh berries

(served w/ blueberries -- Liz made this, a big hit w/ the unfiltered port)