Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #8

[BetteDavisEyes]

Tonight is the first of three TasteMaker dinners in 2026 at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. We invited our young friends who recently returned from a trip to Thailand to join us as we're eager to hear all about their trip. We enjoy these special dinners that offer samplings of different wine with each course. Here's the menu:

THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY TASTEMAKER DINNER
Discover bold, boundary-pushing wines from The Prisoner Wine Company, perfectly paired with four chef-crafted courses.
This dinner is designed for guests to enjoy great food, wine, and conversation in a welcoming, shared dining setting.

The Menu

First Taste: served upon seating​

The Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay

FIRST COURSE​

Blackened Sea Scallop​

corn maque choux, cajun hollandaise

The Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir

SECOND COURSE​

Wild Mushroom Ragout​

seared polenta cake, roasted pepper pesto, scallions

The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon

ENTRÉE COURSE​

Center-cut filet​

beer battered onion rings, sundried tomato aioli and truffle mashed potatoes

The Prisoner Wine Company Red Blend

DESSERT COURSE​

Strawberry Cheesecake​

macerated strawberries, chocolate almond sticks, raspberry sauce & whipped vanilla cream

Coffee & Tea

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

^ In case you're wondering, the various wine pours are only 2-3 ounces, with coffee or tea offered when dessert is served. I'm sure Ruth's Chris management doesn't want patrons of these wine tasting dinners to become tipsy and incapable of driving safely. It's much different at the Wine Maker's dinners that we've attended on cruise ships. Sommeliers and/or waitstaff keep pouring until guests have basically had enoughThe pours tend to be more than 2-3 ounces, as well. There are usually 5 or 6 courses instead of the 4 at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. No one has to drive anywhere, so it doesn't matter how much everyone drinks

We're expecting severe storms later, so I hope our friends have a safe trip. They're meeting us at the restaurant that is farther for them than it is for us.

 

[slowpoke]

Tonight is the first of three TasteMaker dinners in 2026 at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. We invited our young friends who recently returned from a trip to Thailand to join us as we're eager to hear all about their trip. We enjoy these special dinners that offer samplings of different wine with each course. Here's the menu:

THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY TASTEMAKER DINNER
Discover bold, boundary-pushing wines from The Prisoner Wine Company, perfectly paired with four chef-crafted courses.
This dinner is designed for guests to enjoy great food, wine, and conversation in a welcoming, shared dining setting.

The Menu

First Taste: served upon seating​

The Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay

FIRST COURSE​

Blackened Sea Scallop​

corn maque choux, cajun hollandaise

The Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir

SECOND COURSE​

Wild Mushroom Ragout​

seared polenta cake, roasted pepper pesto, scallions

The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon

ENTRÉE COURSE​

Center-cut filet​

beer battered onion rings, sundried tomato aioli and truffle mashed potatoes

The Prisoner Wine Company Red Blend

DESSERT COURSE​

Strawberry Cheesecake​

macerated strawberries, chocolate almond sticks, raspberry sauce & whipped vanilla cream

Coffee & Tea

Enjoy your evening with friends and that fantastic-sounding meal!
Sounds fabulous.

 

[Puzzles8]

That

Tonight is the first of three TasteMaker dinners in 2026 at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. We invited our young friends who recently returned from a trip to Thailand to join us as we're eager to hear all about their trip. We enjoy these special dinners that offer samplings of different wine with each course. Here's the menu:

THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY TASTEMAKER DINNER
Discover bold, boundary-pushing wines from The Prisoner Wine Company, perfectly paired with four chef-crafted courses.
This dinner is designed for guests to enjoy great food, wine, and conversation in a welcoming, shared dining setting.

The Menu

First Taste: served upon seating​

The Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay

FIRST COURSE​

Blackened Sea Scallop​

corn maque choux, cajun hollandaise

The Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir

SECOND COURSE​

Wild Mushroom Ragout​

seared polenta cake, roasted pepper pesto, scallions

The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon

ENTRÉE COURSE​

Center-cut filet​

beer battered onion rings, sundried tomato aioli and truffle mashed potatoes

The Prisoner Wine Company Red Blend

DESSERT COURSE​

Strawberry Cheesecake​

macerated strawberries, chocolate almond sticks, raspberry sauce & whipped vanilla cream

Coffee & Tea

That sounds amazing! I'm glad you clarified on the size of the wine pours!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The Tastemaker dinner was magical, and we enjoyed the evening with friends. For the third time in as many dinners, we won a $75 gift card. Obviously, they want us to keep coming back A fourth wine dinner will be added this year; date TBA via email. Wine offerings will be from the Orin Swift Winery with which we are not familiar. Looking forward to tasting some new wines.

Orin Swift Cellars and Winery

Orin Swift Cellars and Tasting Room is conveniently located in downtown St. Helena, CA

www.orinswift.com

 

[Catmommy]

The Tastemaker dinner was magical, and we enjoyed the evening with friends. For the third time in as many dinners, we won a $75 gift card. Obviously, they want us to keep coming back A fourth wine dinner will be added this year; date TBA via email. Wine offerings will be from the Orin Swift Winery with which we are not familiar. Looking forward to tasting some new wines.

Orin Swift Cellars and Winery

Orin Swift Cellars and Tasting Room is conveniently located in downtown St. Helena, CA

www.orinswift.com

This experience sounds like the coolest thing ever. I'd do it in a heart beat but we have no Ruth's Chris's here. Closest would be Birmingham or Atlanta, where we've had several EXCELLENT meals. I love their lobster bisque.

 

[slowpoke]

Tonkatsu with curry sauce, brown rice, shredded cabbage with broccoli, cucumber and tomato.

If not familiar, tonkatsu is panko-breaded pork, pretty much like schnitzel! But Japanese-style.

 

[IceIce9]

For breakfast today I made Toad in the Hole with basted eggs, sourdough bread, snipped green onions, and fresh grated parmesan reggiano.

I like to use Eggland’s Best eggs if I can’t get farm fresh. My friend’s chickens have stopped laying so I have to buy eggs from the store now. I like Eggland’s Best because the yolks are always high and firm, and excellent for Toad in the Hole.

 

[slowpoke]

For breakfast today I made Toad in the Hole with basted eggs, sourdough bread, snipped green onions, and fresh grated parmesan reggiano.

I like to use Eggland’s Best eggs if I can’t get farm fresh. My friend’s chickens have stopped laying so I have to buy eggs from the store now. I like Eggland’s Best because the yolks are always high and firm, and excellent for Toad in the Hole.View attachment 655328

Beautiful plating, and looks delicious, @IceIce9 ! I love your blue plate, too.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Tonkatsu with curry sauce, brown rice, shredded cabbage with broccoli, cucumber and tomato.

If not familiar, tonkatsu is panko-breaded pork, pretty much like schnitzel! But Japanese-style.

View attachment 655242

Love your presentation!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

For breakfast today I made Toad in the Hole with basted eggs, sourdough bread, snipped green onions, and fresh grated parmesan reggiano.

I like to use Eggland’s Best eggs if I can’t get farm fresh. My friend’s chickens have stopped laying so I have to buy eggs from the store now. I like Eggland’s Best because the yolks are always high and firm, and excellent for Toad in the Hole.View attachment 655328

Gorgeous presentation! Eggland's Best fans here, too. Have you had the brown eggs? The yolks are almost orange

 

[IceIce9]

Gorgeous presentation! Eggland's Best fans here, too. Have you had the brown eggs? The yolks are almost orange

Thank you!

I’ll have to try the brown eggs. I love the white ones.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

This experience sounds like the coolest thing ever. I'd do it in a heart beat but we have no Ruth's Chris's here. Closest would be Birmingham or Atlanta, where we've had several EXCELLENT meals. I love their lobster bisque.

We've always enjoyed wine-tasting events in our travels and on cruises, but we were not aware of the annual series of wine dinners offered at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. We only go there for special occasions (birthdays, anniversary) when we're at home and only learned about the TasteMaker dinners last June when we planned to go to dinner at RCS for our anniversary. The wine tasting dinner happened to be that day (June 25), and DH was surprised that there were no reservations available at our usual dining time when he tried to book on Open Table. He called the restaurant directly and was told about the special event on that date. He thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for a fine wine and dining experience and booked a table for us. We're now hooked and hope to attend these dinners regularly. Now that we are getting older and will likely limit travel, the TasteMaker dinners are a great opportunity to enjoy good food and wine as we have always done when we visit new places near and far.

 

[slowpoke]

Kung pao chicken tonight. My husband did the cooking. It came out very good. He’s made it several times but it never tastes the same twice!

Along with the chicken is red bell pepper, celery, broccoli, zucchini, onion, jalapeño, and peanuts. Ate with brown rice. Topped with some sriracha sauce.

 

[Seni]

This evening Mediterranean salad:

Smooth purple and green leaves, finely sliced purple onion, raw mushrooms finely sliced, rugula, sliced black olives, and added cooked cooled prawns left in lemon juice and olive oil. Add a bit of balsamic vinegar. Lots of black pepper.

With good bread

 

[Knox]

This evening Mediterranean salad:

Smooth purple and green leaves, finely sliced purple onion, raw mushrooms finely sliced, rugula, sliced black olives, and added cooked cooled prawns left in lemon juice and olive oil. Add a bit of balsamic vinegar. Lots of black pepper.

With good bread

YUM!!!

 

[IceIce9]

If you like sourdough bread, my favorite is Stone House Bread from Traverse City, Michigan. It has few ingredients and is the best I’ve ever had. It makes excellent toast, grilled cheese, garlic bread, croutons for salad, and sandwiches.

I buy it when I’m working in Michigan, other times I have ordered directly from the bakery to be shipped to my home. I have introduced my friends to it so when I go to Michigan or order for delivery I have a large order.

Many Meijer stores in Michigan and northern Indiana carry it in their bakery departments.

Stone House Bread – stonehousebread.com

stonehousebread.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

We like these breads that are also available at Meijer: https://goldminerbakery.com/sourdough-breads

Will try Stone House sometime soon. We love sour dough breads for toast

 

[snooptroop88]

Holy cow, look at this: (source Mountaineer)

A huge shipment of Nestle's crunchy KitKat chocolate bars was stolen in Europe, the brand said, warning that the heist risked causing shortages in stores right before Easter...KitKat, owned by Swiss food giant Nestle, confirmed in a statement sent to AFP on Saturday that "a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe"...The shipment, weighing around 12 tonnes, disappeared last week while heading between production and distribution locations, it said.

Whoa.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]