Wordless: Winking Owl Merlot

While we were in Asheville we were introduced to Winking Owl wine. It has an interesting label. You can find Winking Owl wines at ALDI….the discount grocery chain

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New Years Eve, 2010

My husband and I and a few friends visited Asheville, North Carolina for New Year’s.

We toured Biltmore Estate and our home away from home while we were in Asheville was a wonderful bed and breakfast called Aberdeen Inn.

Our host at the inn became our chef for New Year’s Eve dinner and prepared a wonderful meal for us.

Here I am on my way down to join the others for appetizers in the common area of the house.

Appetizers included a vegetable platter with dip and a couple of cheese balls with crackers. We had plenty of red wine for sipping along with other beverages.

Our final appetizer....Marinated Shrimp sauteed and served with Sun Dried Tomato Sauce was prepared and served table-side.


The table setting included lots of gold and silver. Each place setting had a gold charger with a white napkin wrapped in some type of gold fabric and tied with gold cord. The fabric was different at each place setting. It made for a nice touch.

The wine glasses had a beautiful gold design around the rim.

The centerpiece included gold candles in simple silver holders.

Each place setting included a shrimp fork...

....and plenty of other silver for the meal.

Chief Tom preparing our shrimp...

Miss Tweetie....

Hubby taking some video of me...

Our shrimp is served.....

As we enjoyed our shrimp, Chef Tom began preparing our Caesar Salad.....a bonfide one with the anchovies in the dressing. Tom advised us if we could taste the anchovies then he had done something wrong. I couldn't taste the anchovies at all.

Waiting on my salad.

Another sip of wine will do....

Our wonderful ceasar salad.

The main course....Stuffed Beef Tenderloin Stuffed with Port Salut Cheese and Crabmeat served with Bernaise Sauce.

Our sides included Garlic Mashed potatos (served on a side saucer), Steamed Asparagus with Lemon Buere Sauce, and fresh baked rolls.

A meal as it should be......leisure conversation and eating.....allowing the candles to burn low.

Our desert included a wonderful Cream Brulee....topped with raspberries.

Our entire group with Chef Tom

After playing cards for awhile the New Year was at hand and we reassembled in the common area for champagne and Tiramasu.

Didn't it look wonderful? It was a great way to bring in the New Year!

TRUe Friends Meeting

I hosted my ladies' Bible study this past Thursday night. We began a new study using actual episodes of the old Andy Griffith shows.

After Christmas I like to go very casual and basic.....but I still keep my dining table set. It keeps us from trashing it up with mail, school papers, and just "stuff".

My iron cake stand inverts and turns into a server for appetizers. I fashioned a centerpiece with it using small apples and grapes.

I had bought the gold dishes before Thanksgiving, but liked them so much I went back and got them in the red color as well, so I could mix and match them.

After I cleaned off all the Christmas decor and garland I changed the look of the buffets as well....I bought smaller lamps. The tall vases were a Christmas present from Dear Daughter. The picture in the stand was taken on a trip to Savannah....it's a boardwalk extended out over a marsh.

The picture on this buffet was taken at my father's place.....it's my great grandfather's old tractor with the lake in the background. The tractor has just been left in the same place for years and years. We wouldn't think of moving it.

Tonight's menu included slices of cheesecake....

Tortilla chips with artichoke-spinach dip....

Pasta salad....

Savorings....philo dough filled with spinach and cheese. In front of the pasta salad bowl are crackers with pinapple-pecan dip

Mixed fruit with a choice of chocolate dip or cream cheese dip....

Yep, there I am.....

Donna and Antonette chowing down....

Katie....out newest member

and finally, there's Barbara....Look, she has a plate. She's eating something. :)

The Bistro at Biltmore Estate

Over the New Year holiday I had a chance to eat at The Bistro….at the Winery on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Oh my!

The Potato, Bacon, and Leek Soup....pictured above.... with a glass of Chardonnay was the perfect light lunch before heading off to a seminar regarding chocolate and wine as well as an hour of wine tasting.

Because of the generosity of my dining companions I also sampled the Baked French Onion Soup, the White Cheddar Pimento Cheese, and the Low Country Shrimp and Grits (with Tasso Gravy and Grape Tomatos. The Tasso Gravy was so good….I’m looking for a recipe, so I can experiment with it soon.

The Bistro menu can be found here and more information about the restaurant can be found here

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