We recently celebrated my grandmother's Gigi's birthday. Our family and close friends gathered together on this special day. The dinner consisted of her favorites, scallops and fish with white wine, fresh corn, tomatoes & basil all wrapped up in individual pouches and roasted over Charley's grill. Simple crab cakes were made with jumbo lump Chesapeake Bay Crab, lemon, mayo, salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce, a few bread crumbs and egg. A green salad and fresh cucumbers from the garden completed the meal. Isabelle's perfect chocolate caramel cake topped it all off. We raised a few glasses of 'Gigi' Red Blend, laughed and told stories. Gigi said it was her best birthday party ever.
For a recent review of the 2012 'Gigi' Red Blend and a great description of the new Adventure Farm Tasting Room & Farm Shop, check out Richard Leahy's blog from July 22, 2014.
click here for Richard Leahy's Wine Report
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
Asado June 7, 2014
June 7 turned out to be a perfect night for our first Asado. The evening felt like the first official night of summer. Family and friends gathered in and around our new Tasting Room & Farm Shop, alongside the cool, clear pond, celebrating the season and our time together.
Daniel and crew treated us to an authentic Argentine feast. They set up their fire next to the lake and proceeded to build up an impressive bed of coals. With patient care and timely maneuvers, our Adventure Farm beef was cooked to perfection. The menu included a delicious green salad with a mustard vinaigrette, fresh baguettes and beef cuts from our farm such as Sirloin, Flank, NY Strip, Rib Eye, Filet Mignon and Short Ribs. The slow cooking process rendered deliciously tender and juicy meat, and when accompanied by the Chimichurii sauce elicited "oohs" and "aahs" from the participants.
Adventure Wine flowed with favorites being the 2013 Viognier, a creamy vintage with hints of honey, peach and white flowers and the 2012 Red Blend "Gigi", whose snappy and piquant notes layered well with the effusive and flowing high tones.
Jim Waive and the New Divorcees played familiar tunes which Charley and I could not help dancing to as the night progressed, with favorites being 'Old Dominion Girl', 'Hey Good Lookin' and 'I'll Fly Away'.
It was hard to walk away and put out the lanterns and the fires as the night wore on. We could have stayed all night. It was the time together, new friends, old friends, family moments, that we will hold on to and plans for the next Asado will keep us until we meet again.
Daniel and crew treated us to an authentic Argentine feast. They set up their fire next to the lake and proceeded to build up an impressive bed of coals. With patient care and timely maneuvers, our Adventure Farm beef was cooked to perfection. The menu included a delicious green salad with a mustard vinaigrette, fresh baguettes and beef cuts from our farm such as Sirloin, Flank, NY Strip, Rib Eye, Filet Mignon and Short Ribs. The slow cooking process rendered deliciously tender and juicy meat, and when accompanied by the Chimichurii sauce elicited "oohs" and "aahs" from the participants.
Adventure Wine flowed with favorites being the 2013 Viognier, a creamy vintage with hints of honey, peach and white flowers and the 2012 Red Blend "Gigi", whose snappy and piquant notes layered well with the effusive and flowing high tones.
Jim Waive and the New Divorcees played familiar tunes which Charley and I could not help dancing to as the night progressed, with favorites being 'Old Dominion Girl', 'Hey Good Lookin' and 'I'll Fly Away'.
It was hard to walk away and put out the lanterns and the fires as the night wore on. We could have stayed all night. It was the time together, new friends, old friends, family moments, that we will hold on to and plans for the next Asado will keep us until we meet again.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
FAMILY MEALS
As my extended family gathered together this past weekend, we all agreed that our memories together revolved around food. For all of my life, I have looked forward to our reunions at Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer cookouts, weddings and even funerals. Our plates were always overflowing with southern, home-cooked meals and hearts were full of the bonds only a family knows.
As adults, we now appreciate the hours of work that stands behind a family meal. It was all invisible to us as children. The joy of eating around the table, laughing together and sharing stories was the thread that wove our web of family love together.
Around the farm, we work hard to make it all happen. Daily chores and special occasions ebb and flow like the seasons. We do our work with pride and gallant effort, trying not to tire or complain. We know the short term and long term value in what we create.
So this past Memorial weekend, our family came from near and far to celebrate the life of my Aunt. We raised a glass (or two) of Adventure Farm wine, ate mouth watering burgers off the grill and Charley's Chilli made with Adventure Farm Beef, cleaned the lettuce from the garden and tossed together the most delicious meal ever. We cherished the reunion, enjoying the present, sharing our lives, recalling the past and planning our next gathering.
All of our 6 children will be home for the Asado at Adventure Farm on June 7th and we expect a fair showing of our Virginia family and some cousins from Kentucky. We are looking forward to another family meal on the farm and most of all, excited to share it with our friends and the local community. To join us, reserve your space now with the advance purchase of a ticket (so we have enough grilled Adventure Farm beef and other meats for everyone!). Come enjoy the tradition of a family meal with Adventure Farm wine and local beer, Jim Waive and the New Divorcees will play music and memories will be created.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
JOIN US AT ADVENTURE FARM, JUNE 7th FOR AN ARGENTINE ASADO!!
What is an Asado?
If you were to enter almost any house on a Sunday afternoon in Argentina overwhelming aromas of meat would greet you at the door, directing you to the asado. Large slabs of meat, seasoned only with salt, roasting slowly over wood embers while hungry guests wait patiently.
An asado is essentially a South American barbeque, slow cooking vast quantities of meat over an open fire. This style of grilling is based on the traditions of the gauchos, or cattle herders who once roamed the grasslands of Argentina.
But, an asado is more than a meal to the Argentine people. When generations of families or groups of friends get together, the meat may be the centerpiece, but the camaraderie is the most important part.
An asado is not only the beef, but also the company. So please come and join us at Adeventure Farm June 7th. Everyone is welcome! Invite your loved ones, friends & anyone else!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
Follow us on Instagram to see pictures of the gorgeous farm just north of Charlottesville, our user name is adventurefarmva.
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