Wining and dining updates all around Dallas and Fort Worth

This Week: a Fort Worth wine tasting at the New Centennial, a Stag's Leap Wine Dinner in Dallas, and a tasty salad recipe from Paula Lambert at the Mozzarella Company make this week's installment from Jim White particularly tasty.

The brand-spanking new Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits in Fort Worth has a grand opening on Friday September 25th and Saturday September 26th. Enjoy a tasting of some special wines on Friday including Etoile Rosé, Newton “Red Label” Chard, Newton Claret and Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. On Saturday, "The KRLD Dinner Club with Jim White" gang will be on hand to taste some great wines, sign you up for the Dinner Club (and to win some great prizes), and to bring you details on the next special event for Dinner Club members. More details on forthcoming on these events. Be sure to check out the "KRLD Dinner Club with Jim White" website for more details upcoming. The new Centennial is located at 6006 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth 76116. The store is located at Camp Bowie and Bryant Irvin Road.

Pappas Brothers Steak House has a Stag's Leap Wine Cellars dinner on Friday September 25th featuring four courses paired with some exceptional Stag's Leap selections. Price is $175 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call 214-366-2000 for reservations.

Avner Samuell's September cooking class at Aurora is happening on Saturday September 26th beginning at 10. the hands-on session includes a four-course lunch and wine with the maestro of the kitchen. Reserve a space for $95 by calling 214-528-9400 or emailing auroradallas@sbcglobal.net.

Celebrating 30 years of fine dining in Fort Worth, Louise Lamensdorf and Bistro Louise have added their most successful "Restaurant Week" sellers to the menu:

Appetizers:
Sweet Onion Tart with Red Wine Onions & Apple Smoked Bacon, $8.50
Lobster Newberg Risotto with Mushrooms, Red Bell Peppers, Fennel & Leek, $8.75

Entrees:
Roasted Chicken Provencal En Croute, S21.50
Black Angus Braised Short Rib with Creamy Polenta & Crispy Onion Rings, $23.50
Whaler Soft Shell Crab with Crispy Spinach & Creamy Corn Potato Risotto, $35
Magret of Duck with Baked Grapes, Rose Wine Glaze & French Bleu Tart, $32

And be sure and join Louise for her "Aquitaine Wine Dinner" on Thursday October 1st. See the menu below.

Bordeaux is the largest wine growing region in the world. The mission of Aquitaine Wines is to provide hand-crafted, discovery, VALUE wines from Bordeaux seeking a special partnership suitable to the quaility of their wines.

Four wines, four different regions of Bordeaux and a four-course tasting menu.

Menu

First Course:
Chef's Surprise

Second Course:
Bacon, Leek & Lobster Cake with Saffron Beurre Blanc

Third Course:
Double-Cut Colorado Lamb Chop with Bordeaux Daube Sauce

Fourth Course:
Bleu Cheese Souffle Tart with Grilled Fig & Red Wine Syrup

Lara Mancini, of Bordeaux, will narrate.

**Reservations Required $75 per person plus gratuity and tax. Call 817-922-9244.

Here's a great tasting end of summer salad from our favorite lady of taste: Paula Lambert and the Mozzarella Company. Enjoy. And get more great treats from Paula's website: mozzco.com.

Chicken Salad with Grapes, Toasted Almonds and Deep Ellum Blue

2 split chicken breast halves, 1 lb total
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup slivered almonds, about 2 ounces
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh minced tarragon
1 1/2 cups (8 oz) halved seedless green grapes
1/4 cup (4 oz) crumbled Deep Ellum Blue
1 head Bibb lettuce

Place chicken breasts in a medium-sized saucepan and cover with cold water. Add the salt, pepper and garlic. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn over the breasts and continue to simmer for 10 additional minutes. Remove from the heat and leave the breasts to cool to room temperature in their poaching liquid.

Preheat the oven to 350f. Place the almonds on a small baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, until the almonds are golden brown. Remove from the oven to a cake rack to cool.

Remove the breasts from the poaching liquid and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes. Combine the chicken breasts with the onion, mayonnaise, sour cream and tarragon in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Add the grapes and Deep Ellum Blue and stir gently until all ingredients are well coated. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or longer before serving time.

Gently break off the leaves of the lettuce from the head, wash, spin and pat them dry using a cup towel. Arrange three or four lettuce leaves on each of six individual plates to form bowls to hold the salad. Mound the chicken salad on top of the leaves and sprinkle the almonds on top. Serves 6

Copyright Paula Lambert, 2009, all rights reserved

That's it for this week. Let me know how you liked the recipe or it you are able to attend any of the dinners. Cheers! Jim