Eva's Wine Cellar

Eva, dear, can I have a glass of your new Cabernet?

I think that was I who was snoring: I fell asleep reading a long article.

Cabernet, did you say?

Yes, Osso. Please join Francis and me for a glass, won't you? (It's not French, I hope he'll forgive me.) What do the two of you think of this one?

Well, their recent wines are amusing... and I haven't tried any of the less recent...

I do so like the little Coppola cafe in San Francisco...

Good memories of Jo and the others at the Coppola Cafe in San Francisco. What a good time we had. SF is one of my favorite cities.

Before I forget, may I join you in a glass while we sit and discuss the problems France faces in the European Union? Not too serious, just some worry on my part that France may pay a high price in order to maintain its quality of life and quality of food--the hand made cheeses, wines, breads, so much that is wonderful about food has been improved in France or introduced by Frenchmen and women.

I have been reading Goose in Toulouse by Mort (?)for the life of me I can't remember his last name. He interviews many of the top chefs along with local butchers and bread makers about maintaining business in France with the European Union's demand by many of its members to invest mainly in technology rather than in farming. The author's love of France comes through in every word. I highly reccommend it for those of you who haven't already read it.

Now for some light conversation and more wine--lovely Eva, even if it isn't French.

Is it a crime to mention Frito pie here in the cellar? Just kidding...unless you also have a supply of good Mexican beer.

Hahaha! No, Diane, no Frito pie here at Eva's! We can do better than that.

Here, since we're discussing things French, let's have a slice of Sophie's Tarte Tatin...



On second thought, let's have the whole thing.

I can't imagine France ever giving up its love of fine food, EU or no. It's life to them.

It's their cheeses I worry about, and Italy's, the raw milk ones hung in caves, whatever...

HA! I am laughing at the very thought of Italians being willing to compromise ANYTHING about their foods! <LOL>

thought you were going to bed??

Eva, let's hope they don't change, but but beauocracy has a way of slowly sapping the flavor out of reality and out of the most brilliant dreams.
OK, enough of my sobbing about what hasn't happened.

Those last five pieces of the tart are mine, all mine. (Sophie has another one coming out of the oven right now.)

Lucky for you, Diane! I would have fought you for the last piece.
<stares menacingly>

Tarte tatin sated goddesses lounge about...
osso tries to get the carmelized sugar out of her hair..



First sleep.
Then...
perhaps a wee sip of calvados..

It's HOT CHOCOLATE NIGHT at Eva's.

Come on in. There's a roaring fire in the fireplace, and Sophie's in the kitchen working on handmade marshmallows.

How do you like your hot chocolate?

I thought I had been 86'd from Eva's

Never, cowboy!

As some of you may know, I just returned from a cruise on the Med with Jewel Winery of Lodi, California. It was the 1st Annual European Cruise with Jewel Winery. When we first arrived to our stateroom, we had eight bottles of wine sitting on the table. My roommate, Bill, and I purchased nine other bottles from our winery visits in Barcelona and Taormina. We didn't drink all that wine by ourselves, but invited people we met on the ship to share our wine. It was still a lot of wine! We had the three winery tastings, in addition to the three wine tastings sponsored by Jewel Winery during the cruise. That was a lot of wine on a ten day cruise.

How many bottles made it home, c.i.?

And what kind of hot chocolate would you like to try?

One bottle of Cavas from Freixenet Winery of Spain, and a half bottle that the woman gave me when I purchase the three bottle box of white wine in Civitavecchio.

Wow! That's a lot of drinking!

So...how much do you actually remember about that cruise?!

Anyone want some hot chocolate? Do I have to drink all of this by myself?