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Fortuitous Foodies

Food + Travel Blog | Dallas Bloggers

Dallas, Recipes, Wine

Ladies Healthy Picnic Luncheon

August 13, 2015

We had the pleasure of getting together with Christina from Fashion & Frills and Stephanie Drenka for a fabulous and healthy picnic recently and we had such a blast! They’re both some of the sweetest ladies around and it’s always so much fun when we’re able to get together!

The theme for our picnic was blue and white and the goal was to keep the recipes healthy and light. Given the 100+ Texas heat, we found a nice spot in the shade at Arlington Hall at Lee Park in Uptown Dallas to set up our fantastic picnic spread.

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The following are a few essentials to pack when you are planning a picnic:

  • a big comfortable blanket – we love this one from Target
  • a large basket. We found this colorful one at Target for only $14.99
  • plates and bowls
  • utensils
  • cups
  • napkins
  • flowers
  • water
  • pitcher for a fun beverage – this one comes with a lid and fruit infuser
  • a yard game such as croquette, cornhole, or bocce ball (we found a set at Target for just $15.99)

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Fresh flowers and picnic-ware in fun prints and colors brighten up the spread and take the picnic to a whole new level.

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Now, for the most important part of the picnic – the food! We brought a mix of homemade dishes and a few pre-made dishes we picked up from Eatzi’s across the street from the park. Although we usually prefer to make everything from scratch so we know what all is going into a dish, it’s totally fine to mix it up with a few quality pre-made options to save time.

Picnic Menu:

  • Watermelon feta salad (recipe below)
  • Edamame hummus with tortilla chips
  • Shredded chicken avocado salad
  • Mixed olives
  • Pesto pasta salad
  • Charcuterie mix of meats and cheeses
  • Chocolate strawberries (recipe below)
  • Christina’s delicious sugar free champagne spritzers (recipe available here).

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Barbara’s watermelon feta salad is so crisp and refreshing, and best of all it’s e-a-s-y to throw together! It only has three ingredients!

Watermelon Feta Salad

Simply chop up and toss together one watermelon (preferably seedless), feta, and mint. No dressing necessary, but if you must have dressing you can whip up a light dressing by whisking together lemon juice, e.v.o.o., salt & pepper, a squeeze of agave nectar (optional), and champagne vinaigrette.

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Then, simply serve and enjoy!

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We loved Christina’s Low Sugar Citrus-Berry Champagne Spritzers, so delish, you can find the recipe on her blog.

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Don’t forget to bring something sweet to have at the end of your picnic! Emily made the most amazing and simple dark chocolate strawberries, such a classic combo! These little bites of heaven are perfect year-round as an easy dessert to bring to parties or for special occasions, like Valentine’s Day or anniversaries, and they have 100 calories or less!

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Print
Yum
Dark Chocolate Filled Strawberries

Dark Chocolate Filled Strawberries

Ingredients

  • 10-15 Large Strawberries
  • 1 bag Dark Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Cut the stems off your clean strawberries and carefully scoop out the top of the berry. The deeper you scoop the more chocolate it will hold.
  2. Pour the entire bag of chocolate chips in a glass bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 second intervals. Make sure to take your bowl out every 30 seconds to stir the chips. Continue until all chips are melted. It’s very important that you don’t burn the chocolate!
  3. Place your strawberries in a container and try to find one that will help them sit up straight. Now either spoon the chocolate into the strawberries or use a piping bag.
  4. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until the chocolate hardens – it doesn’t take long at all. Enjoy!
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fashion-and-frills

 

 

Happy picnicking everyone!

Cheers,

Emily & Barbara

 


by Emily Stafford 
2 Comments
Dallas, Date spot, Restaurant Reviews, Wine

Restaurant Review: Clark Food & Wine Co.

August 10, 2015

Clark Food & Wine Co. is the perfect spot for a weeknight girls dinner or for a casual date. “Modern Texas Dining” is the style of cuisine here and the menu features many shared plates, as well as larger entree portions. For drinks, pick a wine from their well-curated list or opt for a craft beer or cocktail. Their happy hour is from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday featuring great deals on both beverages and food and they also have brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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We recently took our mom here for a girls dinner when she was visiting for the weekend. We were excited to see the Kali Hart Pinot Noir on the wine list because we recently had the opportunity to visit the Talbott Vineyards and thoroughly enjoyed all of the wine we tried. After ordering a bottle of the Kali Hart, we perused the appetizers and decided to try the Balsamic Glazed Brisket Meatballs with Blue Cheese and the Crispy Artichoke Hearts with Green Goddess Dressing and Parmesan. Both appetizers were phenomenal and we definitely recommend them!

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For our entrees, Barbara ordered the Pappardelle with Pulled Chicken, Spring Peas, Mint, Thyme, Chicken Jus, and Shaved Parmesan. This dish was so flavorful and extremely satisfying. Emily ordered the Veal Bolognese that came with Casarecce Pasta, Whipped Ricotta, and Basil. Although the Bolognese was good, it was not the best we’ve ever had and could have done without the micro greens piled on top (full disclosure, we are self-proclaimed Bolognese connoisseurs).

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Our mom ordered the Texas Chopper salad as her entree. It came with Chopped Brisket, White Cheddar, Iceberg, Cabbage, Roasted Corn, Avocado, Black Beans, Cilantro, Radish, Jalapeño, Green Goddess, and Pepitas. The salad was pretty good and definitely large enough to be an entree. The brisket was truly the star of this dish.

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Overall, we give Clark Food & Wine Co. a thumbs-up and will definitely be back! We look forward to trying some of their seafood dishes and house-made meats. Also, this would be the perfect place for a pizza and wine night – we hear their Brick Oven Flatbreads are pretty awesome!

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Cheers,

 

Emily & Barbara

by Emily Stafford 
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Road Trips, Texas Travel, Travel, Wine

Perissos Vineyard & Winery

July 9, 2015

Perissos Winery

We visited Perissos Winery on a recent girls trip to Lake LBJ.  We were blown away by the caliber of wines we found at Perissos, it is truly a hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country and a must visit for any wine lover living in Texas or traveling through!  It is a family-run vineyard and boutique winery that produces their wine using 100% Texas grown grapes.  \

Their land is beautiful and boasts sixteen acres of vines brimming with ripe and juicy grapes, as seen below.  Perissos grows the following varietals commercially: Aglianico, Tempranillo, Viognier, Syrah and Petite Sirah.  They also have a 1.3 acre “Library Test Block” that has several other Italian, French, Portuguese, and Argentinian varietals.

Perissos-Vineyards

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Perissos-Vineyards

Their grounds are idyllic and are the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine after sampling in their sleek and welcoming tasting room.  This is the perfect place to visit on a girls weekend or even to bring the whole family.  They generally have live music on Saturdays outside on the patio too.

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The weekend was extremely special because we were celebrating our good friend Erin’s recent engagement!  We are going to be her bridesmaids and Perissos was the perfect location to celebrate all the upcoming festivities.  The vineyard is also available for rental for weddings and other special occasions.

Perissos-Vineyards

We started off with a full tasting and a cheese plate in their light and airy tasting room.  To say we were blown away by their wines is an understatement.  Usually when we do a tasting, there are several wines we simply do not like, but that was not the case with Perissos!  Each wine we tried was very enjoyable.  We generally consider ourselves to be more red drinkers, but found the whites to be truly delightful, especially their Viognier, as well as the reds.

Perissos-Vineyards

After tasting, we decided to buy a bottle to share outside so we could enjoy the live music and keep the celebration going!  It was hard to pick which bottle to get, given that they were all fantastic!  But we settled on the Bellisima, a unique red blend that is light and jammy and perfect for sipping on a warm summer day.

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The tasting room hours are Thursday through Monday from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Although it is a bit out of the way compared to the wineries in the Fredericksburg area, it is definitely worth the extra mileage.  And why not make a weekend out of it and stay on Lake LBJ?  The Log Country Cove is a great place to stay or there are also many rental houses located on the lake.  We highly recommend this winery, seriously, GO!

Cheers,

Barbara & Emily

 

by Emily Stafford 
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Libations, Travel, Wine

Best Woodinville Wineries

June 30, 2015

Novelty-Hill-Januik-Washington

Woodinville Wine Country

On our recent family trip to Washington, we spent a few days in Woodinville exploring several wineries and indulging in the wines of the region and delicious culinary offerings.  If you enjoy winery hopping, then Woodinville is definitely a must visit location in the Pacific Northwest!  Most of the wineries are within close proximity to each other, making it extremely easy to hit several all in one day.

Also, Willow’s Lodge, where we had the pleasure of staying, offers a shuttle on Saturday’s that takes guests to several wineries so you don’t have to worry about driving. Woodinville also has “Winery Walks” on the first and third Thursdays each month from April through October.

JM Cellars

Out of the four wineries we visited, JM Cellars was our absolute favorite. The tasting experience at JM was much more intimate and less main-stream than at some of the other wineries. It is tucked away on a heavily wooded hillside and boasts beautiful grounds, complete with a bocce ball court and fire pit. This family owned winery has been around since 1998 and focuses on crafting high quality limited-release wines using sustainable methods.

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We enjoyed all of the wines we tasted, but we especially loved the Bramble Bump. The Bramble Bump is a red blend that is JM’s red table wine. It’s perfect for sipping by itself or savoring with dinner.

JM Cellars

JM-Cellars

Chateau Ste Michelle 

Chateau Ste Michelle is Washington’s oldest winery.  The winery sits on 105 acres and boasts beautiful french architecture and manicured grounds, there’s even a resident peacock!  It produces some top-notch wines and has a rich history, which we loved learning more about.  The winery also hosts a wide variety of events, including summer concerts at its chateau amphitheater. We enjoyed Chateau Ste Michelle very much, but it definitely has more of a commercial feel reminiscent of some of the large production wineries in Napa.

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Novelty Hill | Januik 

We definitely recommend stopping by Novelty Hill Januik and enjoying their delicious award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons! The winery’s sleek, modern design is visually appealing and makes a nice backdrop for an afternoon tasting. We especially enjoyed sipping a glass of Cab on their posh patio and unwinding after a long day of tasting.

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Novelty-Hill-Januik

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Columbia Winery 

After spending the morning in Seattle, we ventured backed to Woodinville and squeezed in a tasting at Columbia Winery. This winery offers several great fruit-forward wines at reasonable price points. Although it has been around for over fifty years, the winery itself  is very approachable and has a laid back vibe.

Columbia-Winery

Columbia-Winery

Columbia Winery also offered a selection of Pacific Northwest inspired appetizers and seasonal flatbreads to be savored alongside the wines. We enjoyed several of the flat breads and the elevated crabmeat deviled eggs out on the patio with a bottle of the Syrah. They also had live music, which was a nice end to our Woodinville experience!

Columbia-Winery-Food

PIN FOR LATER

Woodinville Wine Country

Cheers!

Emily & Barbara

by Emily Stafford 
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Fine Dining, Restaurant Reviews, Travel, Wine

The Herbfarm

June 20, 2015

Bison-Tartare

We were lucky enough to obtain coveted reservations to The Herbfarm’s 9-Course dinner “Salmon Nation.”  This experience is on the same level as dining at The French Laundry for us and it proved to be one of the best culinary experiences we’ve had thus far. We decided to take our experience to the next level by staying at the Willow’s Lodge next-door, which was absolutely lovely.

We share the same mindset as the Herbfarm in that they believe no dish can be better than its ingredients. They also believe that the best ingredients are often times those that are local. Location of the ingredients are expressed in the taste of the food – sometimes subtly and sometimes more profoundly.

The Herbfarm knows that chefs who cook with local ingredients – season by season, year after year- develop a more complete understanding of the foods than chefs who do not. This understanding creates greater expressions of the food, it’s preparation, and enjoyment. The Herbfarm celebrates local farmers, foragers, cheesemakers, wineries and fisherman who all help preserve the beauty of all things local.

Salmon Nation // 9-Course Dinner

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Salmon-Appetizer

The Herb Farm

Roe On

Smoked Quinault River Steelhead Salmon Caviar Tart, Marble Onions, Scrambled Egg, Dill Sauce. // Paired with 2011 Argyle Oregon Brut

The-Herb-Farm

Pea Break

Garden Pea Soup with Fava Bean-Green Garlic beignet. Pea Salad with Cured Ham, Lemon Thyme, Nasturtium. // Paired with 2013 Cristom Estate Viognier, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon

The-HerbFarm

The-Herbfarm

Sockeye Shrimp

Slow Roasted Copper River Sockeye Salmon, Puget Sound Spot Prawn Sauce, Tarragon. // Paired with 2012 Trisaetum Ribbon Ridge Estate Riesling, Off Dry

Bison-Tartare

The Devil’s Fire

Oregon Bison Tartare, Fire-Roasted Bannock Bread, Powdered Devil’s Club, Sea Beans, Radishes, Seeds, Wild Huckleberry condiment. // Paired with 2010 Facelli Winery Sangiovese, Sagemoor Vineyard

The-Herbfarm

Copper on Coals

Binchotan-Grilled Copper River King Salmon, Fermented Garlic-Lardo Emulsion, Grilled Yakima asparagus, Rosemary Red Bliss New Potatoes. // Paired with 2013 W.T. Vinter’s Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre

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Toasting with Dom Perignon Rose 2003

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Morel Story

Braised Morels, Warmed Fresh Black-Sheep-Creamery Sheep Cheese, Birch Syrup, Puffed Wild Rice, Parsley.

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Sweet & Sour

Rhubarb-Angelica Shrub, Today’s Strawberries with Elderflower.

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Penny Buns & Honey

Porcini Ice Cream, Hazelnut Financier, Burnt Honey Meringue, Tart Cherry, Sage.

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The Kitchen in Action!

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The-Herbfarm

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“What is Paradise? But a garden, an orchard of trees, and herbs, full of pleasure, and nothing there but delights.” – The Herbfarm

by Emily Stafford 
6 Comments
Restaurant Reviews, Wine

Cork Wine Bar

April 16, 2013

Cork is one of our favorite wine bars in Dallas. It is conveniently located in West Village and offers an innovative and unique way enjoy your wine. They have computer touchscreens that allow you to read about and select the type of wine you want to try, then you have the option of having a one ounce taste, a half glass, or a full glass. They offer 48 different wines for you to savor and they change on a monthly basis, which is good news for regulars like us!

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They also have an array of delicious cheese plates, tapas and chocolate to pair perfectly with your wine.

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We ended up buying the bottle of Douro on our way out, it blew us away!

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The staff at Cork are very knowledgeable about all things wine and always are spot on in their suggestions of what to try.

For more information on Cork, click here.

by Emily Stafford 
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Hi! We’re Emily & Barbie, sisters who love all things food and luxury travel! Fortuitous Foodies is all about sharing our adventures in the kitchen, delicious restaurant reviews and loads of fun & exciting travel content! Follow us for city guides, recipes & honest reviews!

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