Cookin' in the 'Cuse

Wine, Cheese and Good Food for a Good Cause

Gary Decker is kissing this bottle good bye for a good cause.

Grace Church, Syracuse hosts a Wine and Food Benefit--Friday, March 26, 6-8 pm

Back in December, just days before Christmas, the copper downspouts were stolen from the exterior of our historic sanctuary.  In response, one of our friends in the community, Gary Decker of Vinomania wine shop, offered to host a fund raiser to help us replace them. 

So on Friday, March 26, from 6-8pm Grace Church is hosting a wine tasting and silent auction featuring some incredible wines, gourmet foods made by some of our local culinary stars, and a silent auction.  Tickets are $25.  Far from being just cheese and crackers, we will be serving some incredible food, tasting international artisanal cheeses, and generally having a great time. 

Some of the silent auction items include a magnum of Raymond Cellars 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, gift certificates from area eateries including bc restaurant in Armory Square, and a gourmet dinner prepared by Steve Kern, director of the Everson Museum and his wife, Josephine.

Please join us for what is sure to be a fun evening. 

To buy a ticket contact Nancy Radke at 491-3211 or [email protected]
Grace Church is located at 819 Madison Street, Syracuse, NY
www.gracesyracuse.org

If you see my Moleskine...

Photo courtesey of Molecover.

Or my black checkbook/wallet for that matter--please let me know.

I love the 'Cuse, and I know these are tough times, but I'm getting weary of things being stolen from my church.  Back in December it was our copper-lined downspouts (I'll be posting about a fund raiser we're having to help replace those, later).  But tonight, it was more personal.  My wallet was taken--I canceled all my cards, and will take a loss on the receipts, the work-related expenses for which I now won't be able to get reimbursement.

But it's my Moleskine that is making me cry.  It was covered in a leather cover like this one and it contained my training log, prayers, poems, and other bits of inspiration.  I was never without it. 

I'm assuming that it is utterly useless to the thief (unless they want to sit down and pray and read about what I've been eating for the past few months).  If they toss it somewhere around the University neighborhood--and you find it--please drop me a comment and let me know.  Or drop it off at Grace Church at the corner of University and Madison.  I'll be forever grateful to the person who can reunite me with my beloved journal.

Syracuse Delivers

First the Orange clinch the Big East title (we're talking basketball) and now this!  Remember how I said I wanted one of these for the 'Cuse?  Well thank our guy Chris Fowler and the great work he's doing with Syracuse First.  Way to go Chris--and thanks! 

I got mine at Sparkytown.  Now get yours!

Just drizzle the decadence

In my  last post about menu planning I mentioned that I would be serving a buttermilk lemon cake with a bittersweet chocolate sauce for dessert.  The cake recipe actually calls for a lemon glaze topping.  I've made it that way and can attest to its deliciousness.  But this time around I wanted to see if the subtle lemon flavors in this lightly-textured cake could complement the more complex flavors of passionfruit and dark chocolate.  With a jar of Renee Suzette's bittersweet seduction chocolate sauce on hand I thought I'd give it a try. 

Well, why did I wonder?  Truthfully this sauce, which I defy anyone from taking spoonfuls directly from jar to mouth, would go beautifully with any pound cake recipe.  I can even envision it served atop banana bread (instead of baking chocolate chips in the banana bread, for example). And though arguments can be made for going for "full cake coverage" I think that a restrained drizzle provides all the decadence you need.  It isn't that it would be too sweet (this is not like the cloyingly sweet chocolate syrups you'll find in the supermarket aisle--this is basically ganache in a jar).  But because it is basically ganache in a jar, I'm inclined to take it easy.  Love, love, love this!

See...this is what I'm talking about!

Renee Suzette's Chocolates are available online from her website and at select wineries and shops.

Statement of disclosure:  This jar was given to me by Renee Suzette Daldry with no request or expectation of a review or endorsement.