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Berryessa Gap Winery Paella Cook-off. |
It’s become a November tradition: Paella. More specifically, lots of paella and at the Berryessa Gap Winery Paella Cook-off.
This year we got fancy and rented a limo to haul 12 friends from Sacramento to Winters. That’s a lot of party for one automobile, let me tell you.
But the most entertaining part was me going “fishing” in four-inch patent leather heels. Scroll through the photos to see what I mean…
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Limo time! |
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Me and Mr. T |
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At least Steven was paying attention! |
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Maybe I’m getting old, but that stretch truck limo thing was not a comfortable ride. Still a blast though. |
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How I wish this was a door prize! |
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The contest featured 12 or so local chefs. We arrived during the mass application of shell fish. |
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A traditional Spanish rice dish, paella features some veggies and little bits of meat (chicken, sausage, rabbit) and seafood (shrimp, mussels, scallops, calamari). I favor dishes with lots and lots of saffron. |
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And I “share” all of my mussels with T. Blech. |
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Sangria contest and wine tasting. |
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We strategize and send people to each corner of the room so we can get a bite of every dish. |
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Like so. About 8 or 9 paellas. Could barely tell them apart! |
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Theresa putting the moves on Deb. |
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While her husband, John, tries to move in on T. |
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A new addition this year: A couple fish-thrower guys from Pike Place Fish Market, which supplies some seafood for the event. |
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They tossed a codfish around the audience. |
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And promoted their new cookbook. |
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So I thought maybe I should try going fishing. |
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I got a minute of instruction. He asked, “You wouldn’t let a baby drop, would you?” |
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The key is NOT to hug the fish close to your body once you catch it. |
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Slimy, slimy victory. |
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Someone throws a fish at me and my response is love, not violence. (HA.) |
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Naturally. |
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Yay, me. |
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Corinne and Dan Martinez, winery owners and event hosts, honoring the paella champ who used squid ink and calamari to make black rice. Quite tasty! |
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Craig and Diane. |
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Steven and Lisa. |
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Deb, Tom and Father Jerry. |
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Annnd my codfish. |
xoxo,
shawna
National Blog Posting Month:
Day 1- National Blog Posting Month on BlogHer: I’m in
Day 2- Project Green Thumbs Season 5, winter edition!
Day 3- Things I’d rather do instead of “killing my darlings”
Day 4- A grateful heart: A man who understands writing deadlines
Day 5- Velveting: The secret to restaurant quality Chinese chicken
Day 6- Note: “Tea bagger” is NOT the same as “tea party”
Day 7- A moment in travel
Day 8- Fall in the desert
Day 9- The world’s best salted caramel brownies