D'Vine Wine's Fall Dinner

Held on November 7 (Thursday), this was again catered by Main Street Bakery.  This restaurant does not seem to get their menu finalized until the very last day, which means that even though the menu will be distributed about a week early by e-mail and printed up for the night of, expect changes to both.  However, it is all good, so, no problems.

We started with cheeses, cornichons, seasonal fruit, and a baked brie en crout with strawberries.  This was served with D'Vine's Yellow Rose, a peach flavored Chardonnay.  Very nice with this particular appetizer, though, with something else it might have been too sweet. 

Shortly after we had arrived and started to pick up our appetizer, Maureen and John also arrived, so we all got out ap together. Next was served a roasted butternut squash soup which was surprisingly sweet.  With this we had an unoaked Chardonnay which went perfectly.

Our conversation centered on our travels--Maureen and John had recently returned from Israel, but we soon learned that they have been all over the world (Maureen not as much as John who travels for work, but still...) and had wonderful stories to tell.

Next was served a rosemary garlic pork tenderloin with which we had a choice of Pink Vine (a dry blush, which TR and I had) or their Merlot (which both John and Maureen enjoyed.)  I don't think anything would have had trouble complementing that pork, which was tender and very tasty.

Last we were served a decadent chocolate bourbon pecan pie--rich and smooth.  With it there was Uva Rossa (a full-bodied Sangiovese) which surprised me how well it complemented the sweetness of the dessert.

We had taken some nonperishable food with us for the Grapevine food pantry, and, as a "thank you" were given 50% off all wines.  Naturally, TR and I walked off with a case.  John and Maureen took advantage of the sale as well.

A great time was had by all....



Stock picture....I wish that looked like me.

The State Fair, Part 2--Night

At the beginning of the day, Kristin and I clowned around with some scooter yoga.

 

 

 

Then all of "Part 1" happened.

 

 

Back to the evening, Kristin and I had finished supper just as the parade started.

 

Big Tex reincarnated smaller on a float.

 

 

 

The pig races and ostrich races reincarnated smaller on a float.

 

What follows is the lantern exhibit.  The lantern exhibit alone is worth going to the fair for...it is a fairly expensive endeavor--$15 parking, $13 entry to the fair (senior price), and $14 entry to the lantern exhibit (though I paid $7, because there are some steps in it that they don't think the scooter can use. It can't, but I can go around--retracing my steps, come in the back side and still see anything. I also think they don't believe the scooter can travel on grass over hills and gravel--wrong! I ride that thing like a dirt bike!)

 

Next, we went to the lantern exhibit.  These pictures uploaded out of order, but I will describe the correct order when needed.  The dragon was a boat in the middle of what the fair calls "the lagoon"--more a pond created from a swampy area.

 

These tulip lanterns sit on the close side of the pond.  You can see the lanterns on the far side of the pond reflected in the water.

 

Some of the lanterns were huge--the people on these were at least three times our height.

 

The aisle of lanterns above was the exit from the exhibit.  You can see people walking through.

 

This was the entrance to the exhibit--equally large as the exit.

 

Lanterns with the huge Texas Star ferris wheel (we went on it in the morning) in the background.

 

This huge castle lantern was so large most children thought all of us should be able to go inside it.

 

We went onto the lantern boat.  Kristin took this picture and those that follow from there.

 

Just above is a castle made entirely of china--plates, spoons, and cups.  There are more pictures later--some close up.  You can see the people standing around it.

 

Kristin was born in the year of the goat.

 

I was born in the year of the rooster.  Note that one of my best matches is with the dragon.

 

TR was born in the year of the dragon.  Notice, one of his best matches is the rooster.

 

After leaving the lantern exhibit, we walked again past Big Tex--this time to see him all lit up.

 

We had tried to go onto this observation tower first thing in the morning.  When we went on, the girl ahead of me put her hand on a wire that appeared to be protecting the glass window and it became disconnected.  Kristin tried to re-connect it, but I encouraged her not to since it went directly in front of our view.

 

But once on, the tower would not go up, so we all filed out to get our money back.   They told us it may be fixed later in the day, and not long after, we saw it going up again.

 

Now, as we were leaving the fair, we decided to try again.  Kristin took these while we were waiting in line.  It is coming down.

This time the wire was intact and the platform went up smoothly, turned slowly, and showed us the fair grounds, all lit up.  A beautiful ride.

 

But we wonder if the girl in front of me's disconnecting that wire caused it to malfunction earlier and I was duplicitous....

 

We had arrived as the fair was opening--at 10 am and left as it was closing--10pm.  We encountered an accident on the way home, so I didn't walk in the door until 11:30.  It was a great day!