Pizza, Donuts & Wine

 Image Credit: Pizza Vinoteca

 I know my posts have been few and far between in the last couple of months. But, I just got married!! This means my month-long detox of no desserts and no alcohol is finally O-V-E-R. The wedding was absolutely amazing and everything I ever dreamed of, but now it's back to the swing of normal life. Fortunately, this includes the extremely tough job of trying new wine bars when they open a few blocks away.

 

`Wine Spot: Pizza Vinoteca 
Neighborhood: Ballston 

The Wines: They have a fantastic selection of wines by the glass, and I am absolutely delighted to say they do 3 & 5 oz pours (and bottles of course)! This means I can taste many of the different wines and I'm not stuck drinking a full glass of something I'm not that in love with. 
 
My two favorites are the Nebbiolo Brut Rose from Piedmont, Italy ($5 for 3oz./$8 for a 5oz.) and the Anjou "La Cerisaie" Domaine de la Bergerie, 2011 from Loire, France ($5 for 3oz./$7.5 for a 5oz.) . The Anjou is one of the best reds I've had in a long time. It's silky and light but not too light with an incredible finish.

The Food: I'm not someone who generally likes pizza. The Nduja Meatball Pizza ($9.50 for a 13" x 5") however, has a light and crispy crust made with a "whole wheat, red wine-leavened" dough and  tasty toppings (meatballs, kale pesto, fontina and tomato). The Grilled Shrimp ($12) with cannelini beans and calabrian chili is also excellent.

The Dessert: Bomboloni are Tuscan-style donuts and they are too-die-for. I dont even know how to explain how good they are. They are $2/each and neccessary for any dessert lover in Arlington to try.

                                                                                                  Pictured: Grilled Shrimp & Nduja Meatball Pizza

                                          Pictured: Tuscan-style donuts, Mexican Chocolate and Dulce de Leche

Another plus...they also have espresso! I'm in love. Cheers!

Middleburg Christmas Trees & Wineries

A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Middleburg to find a Christmas Tree and visit a winery!

We also visited a fantastic restaurant downtown. Scroll down for more of our epic evergreen escapades.

First Stop:

Second Stop:

The French Hound

This is a fantastic and classic Middleburg restaurant. Everyone was friendly and the food was scrumptious.

My selection:

 

Boudin Blanc: Grilled white sausage (chicken, pork & brandy) served with a petit salad caramelized onions & dijon mustard

 Anthony's selection:

Pizza: With caramelized onions, duck confit and Roquefort cheese.

Third Stop:

The Winery: Greenhill Winery, Middleburg, VA

My Tasting Notes: The Blanc de Blancs is my favorite out of all of their wines that I tasted. It's a sparkling wine made using traditional champagne methods, using 100% Chardonnay grapes...small delicate bubbles and hints of lemon and pear. And who doesn't love a good champagne during the holidays?!

My Verdict: It's an up and coming winery. The reds were okay, but not notable...and they were actually out of one of the whites on their tasting menu so we couldn't try it, which either means it's an amazing wine, or they were under-prepared. But, it was a fun atmosphere, cozy with a beautiful view. If you like brand new wineries, definitely pay Greenhill a visit. And in a few years, the reds will probably mellow out!!

From the State of the Vine Kitchen: Lemon Chicken with Arugula

I'm trying something new in this post...food! And more specifically (and perhaps, unfortunately) not desserts.*

I'm kind of a health nut and I'm on an extra health kick because of my upcoming wedding, so this is a perfect healthy recipe that packs a lot of flavor!
 

Full disclosure: As a journalist, I would be remiss to claim credit for something that isn't entirely my own, so I must confess this dish was a joint effort, due mostly to my wonderful fiance Anthony, who is an amazing cook. He has been teaching me since we moved to DC several years ago.

Food and wine are, of course, natural partners but this time I'd like to make the food the star of the show.

Presenting...lemon chicken! Scroll down for the recipe, directions and the finished product.

In the pan...

Plated and ready to eat!

Lemon Chicken Recipe:

Take 2 lbs of thinly sliced thin chicken breast, coat with a mix of 1 tbsp. of mustard (I love Grey Poupon) and one egg. Then cover lightly with Italian breadcrumbs and a little Parmesan cheese.

Pan fry on medium heat until brown with a little olive oil to coat the pan. And as Anthony says, "As soon as it's off the pan, hit it with lemon" (fresh squeezed lemon tastes best). Then, garnish with arugula, red onion and tomato and a drizzle or two of balsamic vinegar.  

For anyone concerned, I promise it's only very lightly breaded (and the Italian breadcrumbs we bought from Giant are made with whole grain)!

*Desserts will make a triumphant return to the blog after my wedding.


Cheers!