One of the highlights of Thanksgiving weekend was a day trip out to the horse country in Virginia, with our friend Suzanne, who raises ponies and teaches with Glen. We had a great time visiting the Vintage Ridge Vineyard in Rectortown. Instead of the regular tasting room experience, they seat you at a bistro table and bring a plate of food pairings to enjoy with half a dozen wines. The tasting costs $12, but it is really worth it. I bought three bottles and joined their wine club, which obligates me to purchase one case per year in exchange for a 20 percent discount. Virginia definitely is not Napa, but these people have made some very serviceable wine, and their passion is infectious. I also like the idea of supporting more local agriculture.
One of the wines that I purchased was a 2005 Cabernet Franc, which is fairly common in Virginia. We drank it on Saturday with the most amazing pork chops I've ever had. I picked them up in Middleburg, just down the road from Rectortown, at a place called Home Farm, which sells locally and humanely raised organic meats. They specialize in the old heritage varieties. Boy, those chops were marbled with the most delicious fat imaginable. I butterflied them and stuffed them with a mixture of wild rice, shallots, mushrooms, dried cherries, pecans, sage and parsley, and then I seared them and finished them in the oven for 20 minutes or so at 375 degrees. We ate them along with some Brussels sprouts tossed with butter and whole grain mustard. Sheer heaven, and a really nice match for the Cab Franc.
And then two more curries for dinner last night. And a great pot of vegetable soup tonight.
Autumn really is the best time of the year for cooking.
