Fundraiser for Casie and Laura - Dallas, Texas

Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Dallas, Texas

Sunset Lounge
3030 Ross Ave
Dallas, Texas 75206
214-566-4834

Cost: $10


What: A fundraiser to help Casie and Laura who lost everything they owned in a fire at their apartment Complex right before Christmas last year.

Why: Casie and Laura are working to rebuild and rent a place in Dallas to be near family and friends, ie; their support group. They need just about everything since they lost even the clothing off their backs.

When: January 17th, 6:00-10:00pm

Where: Sunset Lounge, 3030 Ross Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Entertainment: Burlesque show times are 7pm and 8pm. A raffle at $5 a ticket for donated items from Artwith Designs, Texas Frightmare Weekend and more. Winners will be announced and presented with their prizes at 9:15pm

Cost: $10 cover at the door which includes one drink coupon. Additional drink coupons may be purchased at the door. All of the cash proceeds will be donated to help Casie and Laura. All proceeds from raffle tickets will be donated to Casey and Laura. Additional donations can be made as well.

If you have any questions please email Nico Ponce: nicoponce@sunset-lounge.com

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Beer vs. Wine Smackdown - Dallas, Texas

Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Dallas, Texas

Scardello Artisan Cheese
3511 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219
214-219-1300

Cost: $30

Which is truly the better pair with cheese? Will wine lovers shake their stems in the agony of defeat? Will beer lovers mourn by crying into their, well, beer? Even if you know the answers to these vexing questions, who wouldn't love the experience of putting these two elixirs to the test? We will pair a number of cheeses with several wines and beers while talking about pairing in general and specific impressions of each pair.

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Wine Dinner at Bull Asian Bistro with CrossRoads Frisco Wines - Frisco, Texas

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Frisco, Texas

Bull Asian Bistro
5454 W. Main St. Suite 150
Frisco, Texas 75033
214-618-6360

Cost: $45 per person

Wine pairings with Bull's finest dishes. Call Bull for more information or reservations. 214-618-6360 or email info@bullbistro.com

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Barley Wine Wednesdays at Meddlesome Moth - Dallas, Texas

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 5:00 PM - 11:45 PM

Dallas, Texas

Meddlesome Moth
1621 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75207
214-628-7900

Cost: no admission, beer and food prices vary


Meddlesome Moth will be tapping special barley wines on Wednesdays in January. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, the featured brew will be BrewDog Mikkeller Divine Rebel 2011.

Upcoming Barley Wine Wednesdays will feature the following brews:

Jan. 23: Real Ale Sisyphus

Jan. 30: North Coast Old Stock 2010

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Chili with Beans Using a Slow Cooker

If there is one meal I really enjoy, it is chili.

Here is a chili recipe that uses a slow cooker to turn out a great bowl of red.


INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 3/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans tomato puree
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans with liquid
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the beef in a skillet over medium heat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain grease.
2. Place the beef in a slow cooker, and mix in onion, celery, green bell pepper, garlic, tomato puree, kidney beans, and cannellini beans. Season with chili powder, parsley, salt, basil, oregano, black pepper, and hot pepper sauce.
3. Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low.

Chicken Spaghetti

You do not have to serve the same old spaghetti night after night. Try out this change to a classic.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 pound processed cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 cup chopped green onion
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - boiled, cut into bite size pieces

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Heat soup in a large saucepan over low heat. Add cheese and melt, stirring. When cheese is almost melted, stir in tomatoes with green chile peppers and green onion. Simmer over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring.
3. Add spaghetti and mix well, then stir in chicken. Heat through and serve.

7th Annual Jo's Chili Cook-Off - Austin, Texas

Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Austin, Texas

Jo’s Coffee
1300 South Congress
Austin, Texas 78704
512-444-3800

Cost: See below.


The 7th Annual Jo’s Chili Cook-Off will kick-off with a dance competition and chili tasting at 12:00pm on Sunday, January 27. All proceeds will benefit People’s Community, which is Austin's only independent clinic offering comprehensive health and wellness care to improve the health of our uninsured neighbors.

Join the South Congress celebration to enjoy dancing and eating all in the name of a good cause. The cost to enter the dance competition is $10 and the chili tasting is $20.

Prizes include trophies, a free night at Hotel San Jose, Hotel San Jose Lounge gift cards and Jo’s Coffee gift cards. Live music provided by Jeff Hughes & Chapparal as well as Jo’s House Band.

Click here for more information.

Beef and Vegetable Soup Using a Slow Cooker

When you come home from work, the last thing you want to do is start cooking especially with the shorter winter days.

Try this recipe for a delicious beef and vegetable soup prepared in a slow cooker.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 (29 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can mixed vegetables, drained
• 2 quarts beef broth
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6 ounces dry fusilli pasta

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the beef in a skillet over medium heat. Mix in garlic, onion, and green bell pepper. Cook and stir until beef is evenly brown and vegetables are tender. Drain grease, and transfer to a slow cooker.
2. Mix celery, Italian-style stewed tomatoes, and mixed vegetables into the slow cooker. Pour in beef broth, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover, and cook 7 hours on High. Mix pasta into the slow cooker during the last 15 minutes of cook time.

Simple and Easy Chicken Soup

A great soup on a cold winter's day is always a delicious meal. Here is a simple and easy recipe for chicken soup.


INGREDIENTS

• 1 boneless chicken breast half, cooked
• and diced
• 2 cups water
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon chicken broth base

DIRECTIONS

1. Put cooked chicken meat and water in a large pot and bring to a boil.
2. Add the carrots, zucchini and garlic and simmer all together for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add the chicken broth and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Serve.

St. Supery Wine Maker dinner at The Bird and The Bear Bistro - Houston, Texas

Monday, January 14, 2013 from 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Houston, Texas

The Bird and The Bear Bistro
2810 Westheimer
Houston, Texas 77098
713-528-2473

Cost: $75.00

Meet St. Supery wine maker Michael Scholz & enjoy a 5 course dinner with St. Supery 2011 Sauvignon Blanc served with passed appetizers of Fried Oysters & Spicey Tuna Tartar Taco Cups.  2011 Virtu paired with Arancini - Panko crusted Risotto ball filled with Pancetta & English Peas . 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon OR 2011 Virtu served Sea Bass with Crab meat with a Louisiana style Crawfish sauce with Carmelized Brussel Sprouts & SauteedKkale. 2008 Elu served wiht Chanterelle Mushroom filled Natural Beef Tenderloin with a Morel Mushroom Sauce and Herb Mashed Potatoes and white Asparagus. Moscato served with a dessert sampler of Italian Lemoncello Panicotta, French Creme Brule & Latin Sopapillas.

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Bernhardt Winery Shake Russell & Michael Herne Concert - Plantersville, Texas

Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Plantersville, Texas

Bernhardt Winery
9043 County Rd. 204
Plantersville, Texas 773663
936-894-9829

Cost: $32 plus tax and gratuity

Enjoy the evening with great music and wine featururing Shake Russell and Michael Hearne, two of the greatest ballad writers and singers. The evening will begin at 4:00 with a 30 minute reception meet and greet with appetizers. The muic will start at 4:30-5:30. We will stop at 5:30 and have a 30 minute dinner break (so bring a picnic dinner) we will serve dessert at this time and do a sunset toat. The music will start back up at 6:00 and we will conclude the evening at 7:00. We have limited seating so we are requiring reservations. Please call 936-894-9829 to make your reservation.

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California vs. Washington State Wine Tasting - Houston, Texas

Friday, January 11, 2013 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Houston, Texas

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
5839 Westheimer
Houston, Texas 77057
713-780-7352

Cost: $65 per guest, plus tax

Join us for a side by side comparison of reds between these two West Coast neighbors. California wine growing regions have already established a premier international reputation. Although the state of Washington has been producing wine since the 1800’s like California, recently there has been an unprecedented 10 year boom of high quality wines and new wineries. Both states have vast amounts of summer sunshine in common, but their differences in geology and micro-climate result in distinctly unique expressions. The first half of the tasting will be conducted as a “side by side blind“, after which we will reveal the wines on each table. Can you tell the difference between a California and Washington wine? How do they contrast and why? Which ones will you prefer most? A lively discussion is sure to be had over these benchmark wines from each state.

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Texas vs. The World | Featuring Inwood Estates Vineyards - Fort Worth, Texas

Monday, January 14, 2013 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Fort Worth, Texas

The Fort Worth Club
306 West 7th Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
800-561-4811

Cost: $50

TEXAS vs. THE WORLD

A VARIETAL SHOWDOWN

January: Tempranillo
Featuring: Inwood Estates Vineyards- A Pioneer in Texas Tempranillo

When you ask the average Texan ‘what do you think of Texas wine?’ you almost always, without exception get one of two responses back. Either they haven’t had any Texas wine worth remembering or they don’t even see it as an option when there is so much “better” wine out there.

The Texas v. The World Tasting is a series that meets every 1st Wednesday and is a head-to-head varietal comparison of wines made in Texas, by Texas grown fruit compared to the same varietal in a wine from another world-class growing area.

Each tasting has a featured winery to co-host each tasting along side of GUSTO. The producer is there to shed light, lead discussions and answer questions about making wine in Texas. GUSTO Sommeliers are there to lead discussion and answer questions on the other world-class wines in the tasting. This tasting is intended be relaxed, social and fun; as well as being great for networking with other wine enthusiasts and professionals.
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TICKET INFORMATION

$50 In Advance
$60 At the door if there is space

Ticket price is inclusive of all the tastings and light food fare for each table.
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This tasting series is produced in partnership with the Texas Wine and Food Consortium(TXWFC); who’s mission is to promote the Texas wine industry through trade collaboration, events, education  and outreach. Join us and support   the Texas wine industry. It’s going to open your eyes about the world-class wines being produced right here in our own background.
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WINE FLIGHTS

Flight 1: Ribera del Duero
1. Fuentespina, Ribera del Duero, ‘Roble’, Joven, Tempranillo, 2009
2. Fuentespina, Ribera del Duero, Seleccion, Tempranillo, 2007
3. Fuentespina, Ribera del Duero, Reserva, Tempranillo, 2005

Flight 2: La Rioja
1. Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja, Crianza, Tempranillo, 2008
2. Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja, Reserva, Tempranillo, 2005
3. Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja, Gran Reserva, Tempranillo, 2004

Flight 3 & 4: Texas Tempranillo
1. Haak Winery, Texas, Reddy Vineyards, Tempranillo, 2012
2. Cap Rock Winery, Texas High Plains, Tempranillo, 2010
3. Hilmy Cellars, Texas High Plains, Tempranillo, 2011
4. Solaro Estate, Texas, Reserve, Tempranillo, 2010
5. Llano Estacado, Texas High Plains, Newsom Vineyard, Cellar Reserve, Tempranillo, 2010
6. Becker Vineyards, Texas High Plains, Reserve, Tempranillo, 2011

Flight 5: Inwood Estates Vineyards
1. Inwood Estates Vineyards, ‘Cornelious’, Tempranillo, 2005
2. Inwood Estates Vineyards, ‘Cornelious’, Tempranillo, 2008
3. Inwood Estates Vineyards, ‘Cornelious’ Reserve, Tempranillo, 2008
4. Inwood Estates Vineyards, ‘Cornelious’, Tempranillo, 2009
5. Inwood Estates Vineyards, ‘Magnus’, 67% Tempranillo/33% Cabernet, 2011 – Barrel Sample -

*WINE FLIGHTS SUBJECT TO CHANGES BASED ON WINE AVAILABILITY

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