This is in my backyard?

I heard about a contest that Carraba’s is doing and thought you all might be interested in uncorking your passion and creativity for wine this summer.

 I’ve eaten at Carraba’s and have really enjoyed it. They have the open kitchen so you can see them cooking, as well as a lot of different choices to choose from for dinner. See the info below to learn more about the contest.

Ruffino is producing a limited-edition baby Super Tuscan available only at Carrabba’s this fall.  The wine is almost ready to be bottled in Italy, and the only thing missing is a name.  Consumers are invited to submit suggestions through July 31, 2008, for the chance to win a $1,500 epicurean prize package, including:  a case of the exclusive Ruffino wine, a 2008 holiday dining experience for 12 by Carrabba’s at winner’s home, and a year’s worth of Carrabba’s dinners in 2009.  

Limited-Edition Wine Series Debuts with Acclaimed Il Borro Winery
The Ruffino blend is part of a limited-edition wine series that Carrabba’s initiated to reward its best customers and wine lovers with seasonal additions to its award-winning wine list.  The program kicks off late summer with a special red wine blend from acclaimed winery Il Borro, owned by fashion icon Salvatore Ferragamo.  The debut wine “Qualcosa di Speciale, Grace’s Blend,” is a tribute to Grace Mandola, the 92-year old matriarch of the Carrabba’s family and creator of many of the recipes on the menu today.  

The name “Qualcosa di Speciale” means “something special” in Italian and reflects Carrabba’s desire to give back to its best patrons through the new wine program.   The IGT Toscana by Il Borro is a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, and will be released late summer.  Due to their limited production, wines in the new series are available to members of Carrabba’s Amici Club, the restaurant’s free customer appreciation program.  

“We have a philosophy that everyone deserves to enjoy wine with dinner that is both delicious and affordable,” said Shelly Hurley, director of beverage for Carrabba’s Italian Grill.  “All of our restaurants have a wine list that is designed to suit local tastes and offers a number of excellent bottles of wine starting at $27.  Our new exclusive wines will add unique variety to the list for our frequent guests and wine enthusiasts.”

Entering Carrabba’s “Uncorking Creativity” Contest
Consumers can visit www.Carrabbas.comfrom now through July 31, 2008 to enter Carrabba’s “Uncorking Creativity” Contest and submit their suggested name for the new Ruffino blend.  All submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Overall uniqueness of name
Appropriateness for the wine blend
Match with the Carrabba’s Italian Grill brand (e.g., heritage, atmosphere, food)
Brief description of name inspiration (100 words or less)

For complete rules, prize package details and more information on Carrabba’s, visit www.carrabbas.com.  Consumers also can sign up for free membership in the Amici Club online or at their local Carrabba’s.

Saturday was the big day! A tradition up north is a thing called a Rock Bake, when they were describing it to me I automatically compared it to a pig pickin, but it’s so much more than that. The day starts at 6:00am for the lighting of the fire (well actually it started when they dug a hole and put 2 tons of rock in it) but anyway I didn’t get up for the lighting of the fire (a props and thank you to everyone who did) but we did make it there at noon when they were brushing the ash and dirt off the rocks and getting ready for the food. Hopefully the pictures will be able to tell most of the story, but I will try to describe the step by step.

First they cleared the ash and leftover woods off the rocks with Cedar limbs. It was extremely hot so they were constantly being hoosed off and watering down the ash.

They they lay down a wire fence  to lay the food on.

Then they put down seaweed and corn husks as a buffer between the food and the hot rocks.

Then comes the good stuff, they put down the yams, potatoes, clams, and chicken!

Next they cover with Aluminum foil  and a canvas to seal in the heat while it cooks.

Next they cover the edges with dirt so no heat gets out and let it sit like that for 1 and a half to 2 hours!

Then they uncover it and start putting all the food into seperate baskets to take to the tables.

Then it was time to enjoy the food, and that I did! Three bags of Clams (12 in each bag) later I was happy and stuffed, and so was the rest of the family!

This past weekend I traveled up North for my mom’s side of the family, family reunion. Many of them I had not met before or hadn’t seen in awhile so it was a lot of fun getting to see everyone. One thing about a family reunion with a Polish Family is you know there is going to be a lot of food! We had our first get together Friday night for the meet and greet and then Saturday was the big reunion. I want to touch on the first night and Polish food we ate in this blog and then will follow up with the Rock Bake we had!!

The night of the meet and greet we had every type of food you can imagine and it was all delicious! Most of it was homemade except for the Sushi which came from a locally owned restaurant. When having a party or get together food from a locally owned restaurant is always good, but there is nothing better than home made food! We had Polish Sausage and Periogies, wings, crab stuffed mushrooms, artichoke dips, crab salad, and so much more. It was a great time of eating, talking, and laughing!

Last Thursday, July 10th, McCormick and Schmicks opened at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh. It’s a chain restaurant, but I had a great experience when I was there and wanted to let you all know what I thought. I was able to eat there last Monday with 3 of my colleagues for lunch. Between the 4 of us we had 2 appetizers, 4 salads, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. We had the calamari and crab-cakes for our appetizers, both of which were good, but nothing to different from anywhere else you go. Next we had our entrees, Jennifer and I both had their Salmon (which came with Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes) which was served on a cedar plank and was pretty tasty. Nancy had the Crabmelt sandwich which she really liked. I’m not a huge fan of mayonnaise, in fact I hate it, so I didn’t really like the sandwich, but everyone else seemed to. Then came Doug…Doug had the shrimp and scallop Macaroni and Cheese. When I first read the item on the menu I was like seafood in Mac and Cheese, I’m not so sure about that, but it was amazing! The sauce was really light and the shrimp and scallops were so good. Something you probably want to share because it was huge and very filling, but delicious none the less.

Then came the best part of all….dessert! We ordered the Tiramisu Cheesecake and the Chocolate bag. The Tiramisu Cheesecake was really good, but next to the Chocolate bag, nothing compares. I have never seen a dessert like this. They melt down dark chocolate, put it into a bag, freeze it and then use the frozen chocolate as a bag. They then fill it with white chocolate mouse and fresh berries! I was so stuffed by the time we got dessert. I literally couldn’t stop eating it. If anything go there to see and try this dessert!

One of my favorite parts about Spring, Summer and Fall is getting to sit outside and eat dinner, whether it’s grilling out and eating on your porch or going out to eat and sitting on their porch. My sister and I also have a dog so we love to go places where we can eat outside. You can se my sister, her dog, and my best friend in the picture, we were eating at one of our favorite restuarants in Charleston. We love Red’s because the food is good, the atmosphere is super relaxed, and you can bring your dogs!

I know of some places in Raleigh where you can take your dog: Stone Wolf Coffee, Moonlight Pizza, Tavolla Rossa on Sunday nights, and… That’s my question to you all. Where in the triangle can you take your dog, sit on the porch, enjoy the day/night and have great food!?!?!

Looking forward to hearing from everyone and trying some of these places out!