This year marks the 10th anniversary of County Line’s popular Wednesday night concert series, which raises funds for the San Antonio Food Bank.

The first concert is on March 10 and features Zack Walther and The Cronkites.

The shows are at the I-10 location each Wednesday from 6:30 – 10 p.m. and feature some of the best regional and national country music.  All concerts are free, but canned goods or cash donations to the San Antonio Food Bank are encouraged.

The list below is current as of press time, but see their website for any line-up changes..

2010 Schedule

March 10	Zack Walther and The Cronkites
March 17	Emory Quinn
March 24	Texas Renegade
March 31	Whiskey Myers (unconfirmed)
April 7	Josh Abbott (unconfirmed)
April 14	Ray Wylie Hubbard (unconfirmed)
April 21	Kyle Park Band
April 28	Jason Boland – CD Release
May 5	Two Tons of Steel
May 12	Scott Wiggins Band
May 19	Cory Morrow (unconfirmed)
May 26	Brandon Rhyder
June 2	Gary P. Nunn
June 9	Mike McClure
June 16	Seth James
June 23	Max Stalling
June 30	Daryl Dodd
July 7	Charlie Robison
July 14	Bruce Robison
July 21	Wade Bowen (unconfirmed)
July 28	Honeybrown
August 4	Sean McConnell (unconfirmed)
September 8	Emory Quinn
September 15	Two Tons of Steel
September 22	Texas Renegade
September 29	Band of Heathens (unconfirmed)

The County Line
10101 I-10 West
www.countyline.com

For many years, people have dwelled on the belief that absinthe was mind-altering drink that could ruin the mind and cause artistic types to lob off their ears.  After much research, the spirit (now relatively thujone free) has been pardoned of its crimes and we now know that the anise-flavored alcohol is neither addictive nor psychoactive.

On March 5, 2007, the ban on absinthe was lifted and since then, the anniversary is celebrated.  Tomorrow, why not coax out the green fairy with a simple preparation of absinthe, a sugar cube, and a bit of water?  The translucent often-times green liquor will become clouded when cold water is poured over the sugar into the shot, which is when the fairy is “released”.  Other classic ways to enjoy the spirit are cocktails like Sazerac; but there are also modern ones like the layered shot, Dangerous Detox.

If you don’t happen to have absinthe in your liquor cabinet, don’t worry- some local bars carry it.   Pavil Restaurant is serving their absinthe straight up or in cocktails at half price on Friday.  They will be extending the discount on Saturday, March 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. during their “absinthe hour”.  Downtown, The Bar at Bohanan’s also features absinthe fountains, a stylish way to serve this drink.

Dangerous Detox

This layered shooter requires a bit of patience to keep the individual strata from mixing, but the result is a beautiful, unusual drink.

1/2 part peach schnapps
1/2 part cranberry juice
1/2 part vodka
Dash of absinthe

Carefully pour the ingredients into a shot glass in order of desnsity, as listed in the recipe above, so that you have three equal layers and a thin green line of absinthe at the top.

From Retro Cocktails by Kate Moseley

Pavil Restaurant
1818 North Loop 1604 W
San Antonio, TX 78248
www.brasseriepavil.com

The Bar at Bohanan’s
221 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
www.bohanans.com/bar

(Photo: Nicholas N. Mistry)

Cowgirl Granola founder Heather Hunter has introduced a new gluten-free Organic Blue Cornmeal Pancake Mix.

The ingredients are all-natural and include organic blue cornmeal and brown rice flour.  There are two varieties: one with Texas pecans, the other with walnuts.  They sell for $6 apiece.

Hunter says, “Not only is our Organic Blue Cornmeal Pancake Mix delicious, it’s also easy to prepare.”  Each package makes 10 – 12 pancakes.

For her granola devotees, the current seasonal addition to the granola line is the Rodeo Mix, which combines dried banana chips and organic sunflower seeds.  Year-round varieties are Original Stock (with organic raisins), Cranberry, and Orange Cranberry.

Her product line is currently not available at major grocery stores, but you can find it at both the Leon Springs Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Legacy Outdoor Market on Sundays.  Cowgirl Granola products are also available online at www.cowgirlgranola.com or by phone at (210) 865-5900.

(Photo: Karen Green Pirinelli)

“A jazz musician can improvise based on his knowledge of music. He understands how things go together. For a chef, once you have that basis, that’s when cuisine is truly exciting.”

-Charlie Trotter

This weekend, don’t content yourself with the known.  Explore, taste, and enjoy!

Learn @ Lunch: Southern Comfort
Thursday, March 4, noon, $25
Central Market
4821 Broadway
Mary Martini will teach you simple and fast recipes for a Southern-inspired menu: Brined & Buttermilk Fried Chicken; Mixed Greens Soufflé; Buttery Mashers; and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  More information is at http://bit.ly/a8Y2yr.

Fine Wines of March
Thursday, March 4, 7 – 9 p.m., $25 plus tax and gratuity
Scenic Loop Cafe
25615 Boerne Stage Rd.
Scott Moore with Glazers will lead this tasting. Wine include 2008 Alamos Chardonnay Mendoza; 2008 Kris Pinot Grigio; Pierre Sparr Riesling; and Biltmore Estate Century Red Wine. Reservations are suggested; call (210) 687-1818 or email kim@scenicloopcafe.com.

Fiesta Fashiontini
Thursday, March 4, $10
Vbar at Hotel Valencia
150 E. Houston St.
Preview Fiesta fashion and help support the Rey Feo Scholarship.  The ticket price also includes one martini, valet parking, and an opportunity to win door prizes.  For more information, see http://bit.ly/bUSe1J.

Cookbook Swap
Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., free
Pearl Studio at Pearl Farmers Market
200 E. Grayson
Bring your unwanted cookbooks to this exchange and select some new ones for your library.

Winery U: Wines Down Under
Saturday, March 6, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $30 ($25 if registered for all 4 classes)
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards and Winery
1741 Herbelin Road, New Braunfels
Take a multimedia tour and taste samples of the Southern Hemisphere’s major winegrowing countries: Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa.  Participants will receive course materials, additional informational materials, a Winery U diploma, and possible surprises.  Preregistration is required and the class is limited to 30 participants.  www.drycomalcreek.com

Chuck Wagon Cook-Off & Heritage Gathering
Saturday, March 6, $20 dinner tickets, $5 general admission
The Agricultural Heritage Museum
102 City Park Rd.
Boerne, TX
The entire family can enjoy the chuck wagon cook-off contest, a western tradeshow, live music, cowboy poetry, and more.  There is a limited number of meal tickets, which includes Chicken Fried Steak, beans, bread, potatoes, and cobbler.  For information, call (830) 249-6007 or see http://bit.ly/cSujuT.

Australian Wine Tasting
Saturday, March 6, noon – 3 p.m., free
Whole Foods Market (Quarry)
255 E. Basse
Taste diverse Australian wines from the world’s sisth largest wine producer.

Salsa & Scholarships
Sunday, March 7, 5 – 8 p.m., $25 presale, $35 at the door (children 12 and under are admitted without charge)
La Hacienda de Los Barrios
18747 Redland Rd.
Incarnate Word High School and Viola’s Huge Heart Foundation invite you to enjoy food, music, silent auction, and more, while raising money for scholarships.    For more information or to purchase tickets, call (210) 832-2143 or see www.incarnatewordhs.org (click on the “giving” tab).

Oscar Night® America Party
Sunday, March 7, 6 p.m., $100 per person $1,200 for a table
St. Anthony Hotel
300 E. Travis
KSAT 12 is hosting this “Hollywood-style” evening including dinner, Oscar viewing, silent auction and more, which benefits the Special Olympics Texas. For more inforation, call (210) 530-9898.

Oscar Night at Copa
Sunday, March 7, 6:30 red carpet, 7 p.m. show begins
Copa Wine Bar
19141 Stone Oak Pkwy
This party, sponsored by Moet Chandon, will be include trivia, prizes, $20 Italian buffet, and Moet Chandon specials.  For more information, call (210) 495-2672.

“Recipes from Personal Chef”
Central Market
4821 Broadway
Monday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., $45
Natalya Sokolova will teach secrets in the preparation of Indian Spiced Lentil Soup; Rustic Italian Chicken Cacciatore with Olive Oil & Garlic Angel Hair Pasta; Turkish Beef Kebabs over Fragrant Rice Pilaf with Herbs & Currants; and Triple Layered Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Butter Frosting.  More information is at http://bit.ly/a8Y2yr.

When you order a steak, do you want a strip or something chicken-fried? Enjoy both this weekend.

“A Study in New York Strip”
February 23 – 26, $45 plus tax and gratuity
The Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills
1746 Lockhill Selma
Explore different preparations of New York strip paired with wine in this four-course prix fixe. For reservations, call (210) 349-8466.

Louis Martini Vineyards Vertical Wine Dinner
Friday, February 26, 7 p.m., $65 plus tax and gratuity
Crumpets Restaurant
3920 Harry Wurzbach Road
Start the meal with Crabmeat Stuffed Mushroom and a glass of Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006.  Next, enjoy Veal Lugano, scalloppini with goat cheese and fresh tomato sauce and capellini, served with Ghost Pine Winemaker Blend 2006.   The third course is Individual Beef Wellington made with Natural Australian Tenderloin, matched with Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.  The meal will end with Fresh Berry Crème Anglaise, paired with Louis Martini Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2006.  For reservations, call (210) 821-5600.

College for Cowboys- Chuck Wagon Roundup and Prairie Gathering
Saturday, February 27
Medina County Fair Grounds
Hondo, TX
The chuck wagons will be driving in from across Texas.  They make their for the judges their best country-fried steak, beans, potatoes, bread, and cobbler. 400 meal tickets will be available, each priced at $15, which also includes grounds admission and opportunity to win a shotgun.   There will be entertainment throughout the day and a concert and dance featuring Gabe Garcia and Keith Lutz.  Proceeds will fund scholarships for graduates of D’Hanis Independent School District.  More information is at www.collegeforcowboys.org.

Food Allergy Cooking Class
Saturday, February 27, 1 – 3 p.m., free
Sun Harvest (281 / 1604 location)
17700 U.S. 281 N., Ste 200
Chef Patrick Santé will teach how to identify the symptoms of food allergies, which include IBS, migraine headaches, asthma, acid reflux, skin irritation, and sinus problems. Recipes will also be provided.  More on Patrick Santé can be found at www.sante-foods.com.  Seating is limited; to register, call (210) 684-9581.

Smoked Ribs & Blind Chardonnay Tasting
Saturday, February 27, $35 plus tax and gratuity
Two Bros. BBQ Market
12656 West Ave.
This event is part one of the Swine & Wine Festival.  Sample a variety of chardonnays while enjoying ribs and the music of Brad Turner.  For more information, call (210) 496-0222.  www.twobrosbbqmarket.com

Louis Jadot Winemaker’s Dinner
Monday, February 28, 7 p.m., $125 plus tax and gratuity
The Dashiell House at The Fig Tree & Little Rhein Steak House
231 S. Alamo
Jacques Lardiere, distinguished Louis Jadot Winemaker, will be welcomed at this dinner featuring the label’s wines.  At reception, you will be greeted with Beaujolais Rose.  The first course is Vol au Vent of Snails in Chablis Sauce, served with Pernand Vergelesses Clos de la Croix Blanc 2006.  The next course will be Oven-Roasted Vegetables Terrine, paired with Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Clos de la Chappelle Duc de Magenta 2006.  The third course is Paupiettes of Dover Sole with Shrimp Mousseline, partnered with Puligny-Montrachet La Garenne Duc de Magenta 2006.  The following option is Roasted Hill Country Quail Stuffed with Black Truffles Paté, matched with Savigny Les Dominodes 2006 and Pommard Epenots 2006.  After this course is Braised Wagyu Short Rib Bourguignonne, served with Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St. Jacques 2006 and Clos Vougeot 2006.  The Burgundy Cheese Plate with Chaource, Epoisses, and Aisly Cendre will be matched with Moulin en Vent Grand Carquelin 2006 and Morgon Chateau des Lumiere Cote de Py 2006.  The dinner will conclude with Mignardises and Coffee Services.  There are limited seats to this dinner; please make reservations to Pat at (210) 224-1976.

Several new restaurants have opened in the area. Also note one reopening.

• The original Nicha’s location on Roosevelt now has a sister location on the northwest side, 5059 N.W. Loop 410. The new store also serves Mexican fare, such as shrimp quesadillas, taco salads and fajitas.  The bar serves a variety of margaritas, including El Natural, made with organic agave nectar and freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Martha’s Mexican Restaurant Contesa has opened at 13259 Blanco Road in the space that has formerly housed Matisse Seafood Restaurant and El Callejon.  The restaurant serves Tex-Mex fare and has a full bar.
• Papouli’s Greek Grill will be opening a third location in the Quarry, 255 E. Basse Road, in the space previously occupied by Koi Kawa Yakitori & Sushi Bar. The target opening date is March 22.
• The Fish City Grill at Northwoods Shopping Center, 18130 San Pedro Ave., has reopened.  Favorites like Oyster Nachos, Serafin’s Fish Tacos and Cream of Roasted Jalepeño Soup are still on the menu, along with a few new item, including Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese, Crab-stuffed Shrimp, and Honey Chipotle Shrimp Tacos.

Fish City Grill
18130 San Pedro Ave, Suite 104
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 495-3474
www.fishcitygrill.com
Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Martha’s Mexican Restaurant Contesa
13259 Blanco Road
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 492-1155
Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Nicha’s Comida Mexicana
5059 N.W. Loop 410 (between Callaghan and Evers)
San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 680-4420
www.nichas.com
Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Papouli’s Greek Grill
255 E Basse Road, # 384
San Antonio, TX 78209
www.papoulis.com

It’s a job any pizza lover would envy. Rachel Ray’s team challenged itself to find the best pizzas across the nation. The members sampled pies from more than 60 pizzerias from 25 cities.  The judges, well-versed in the definition of great pizza, were Adam Kuban, founder of Slice, and Ed Levine, Serious Eats founder and New York Times contributor.

When the last bit of crust was eaten, San Antonio’s Dough Pizzeria had made it into the Final Four of the South-Southwest and was the lone finalist from Texas.  The regional winner, Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, took the national honors as well.

Dough opened in 2007, and according to its website, is one of only 32 U.S. restaurants to receive certification from L’Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana for its genuine Pizza Napoletana.  The mozzarella is made daily, and a special oven that cooks pizzas in about 90 seconds at over 800 degrees is used.

The article singles out Dough’s Margherita pizza, but co-owner Lori Horn says that Levine also especially enjoyed the pizza topped with burrata, oak-roasted wild mushrooms, porcini powder, and shaved black truffles.

This accolade is certainly not the first for the restaurant.  Dough has also won second place in Texas Monthly’s Top Ten New Restaurants for the state and was included in Food & Wine magazine’s “New Pizza Artisans”.

Horn commented that she is excited to be in the same article as other places like Chris Bianco’s Pizzeria Bianco and Pizzeria Mozza, the collaborative effort by Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton, and Joseph Bastianich.  She says that she is excited that Dough is listed in a national publication, which will “bring people from all over the country.”

To see the other top 16 finalists, see the article from “Every Day With Rachael Ray” at http://bit.ly/alAWYL.

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana
6989 Blanco Road
(210) 979-6565
www.doughpizzeria.com
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. until “the fresh Mozzarella runs out”
Closed Sunday and Monday

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”
-Oscar Wilde

With Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year coinciding, many events celebrating the dawn of the year of the Tiger were postponed to this weekend.  Learn to add Asian flavor to your dishes, check out the city’s Asian festival, or enjoy a fine banquet.  Other great events include two from KLRN wine festival, a mystery to solve while enjoying wine and food (including chocolate), and a seminar on beer and cheese pairings.

Gluten-free Baking Class
Friday, February 19, 6 p.m., free
Whole Foods (Quarry Market)
255 E. Basse Rd.
Debbie Holladay will demonstrate quick breads and yeast breads.  Space is limited; for reservations, call (210) 826-4676.

KLRN’s 16th Annual Wine Opener
Friday, February 19, 7 – 9:30 p.m., $150
The St. Anthony Hotel
300 E. Travis
Enjoy gold medal winning wines and fine cuisine while listening to Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz.  More information and tickets are at http://www.sawinefest.com/10Open.html.

Death by Chocolate II
Friday, February 19, 7 – 9 p.m., $35 plus tax
Boerne Wine Seller
412 River Road, Suite 104
Boerne, TX
Experience an evening for mystery lovers and foodies.  Author Bob Doerr who writes the Special Agent Jim West mysteries has created a mystery game especially for this event as chocolate and food is paired with a variety of wines.  He will be participating in the game and available for book signing.  There will be prizes to those who solve the mystery.  For reservations, call (830) 816-5432.

The Flavors of Asia – Cooking Class
Saturday, February 20, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., $250
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) San Antonio
312 Pearl Parkway, Building 3 (In the Pearl Center)
Explore the cuisines of Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, and India while discovering ingredients and techniques unique to the Eastern world. Learn ways to create Asian-inspired dishes for everyday meals and a variety of authentic Asian dishes. Participants will receive a CIA logo apron and a copy of the CIA Flavors of Asia cookbook.  For more information, see http://bit.ly/6R0scJ.

Asian Festival – Year of the Tiger
Saturday, February 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., prices vary
Institute of Texan Cultures
851 Durango Blvd.
Travel to the far East without leaving downtown San Antonio!  The festival includes cuisines from across the continent including Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Filipino, and Polynesian. For those wanting to learn to cook Asian specialties, there will be cooking demonstrations. Dance groups and martial arts demonstrations will entertain and there will be activities like origami for children.  Online tickets are adults (13+), $8; children (6-12), $4; children (5 and younger), free. UTSA faculty, staff, and student pricing is $6 adults; $4 children.   At the gate, tickets are $2 more for adults and $1 more for children.  There are group rates available.  To purchase tickets online or for more information, see http://www.texancultures.com/events/asian.html.

A Day in Julia’s France – Chef Patrick Santé Cooking Class
Saturday, February 20, 1 – 3 p.m., free
Sun Harvest
8101 Callaghan Road (Callaghan and IH 10)
Learn how to make this satisfying dish at home.  More on Patrick Santé can be found at www.sante-foods.com.  Seating is limited; to register, call (210) 684-9581.

Beer and Cheese Tasting Seminar
Saturday, February 20, 2 p.m., $15 plus tax and gratuity
Freetail Brewing Co.
4035 N. Loop 1604 W.
Jason Davis will lead this informative class and discussion, pairing rich, flavorful cheeses with a variety of beers. No reservations are required.

KLRN’s 13th Annual Champagne Brunch
Sunday, February 21, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., $75
The St. Anthony Hotel
300 E. Travis
Start Sunday off with sparkling wines, multi-course brunch by Chef David Bull, and music by The Jim Cullum Jazz Band.  More information and tickets are at http://www.sawinefest.com/10Brunch.html.

Chinese New Year Banquet
Sunday, February 21, 6 p.m., $50
Golden Wok
8822 Wurzbach Road
Celebrate the year of the Tiger with an authentic menu.  For reservations, call (210) 615-8282.

(photo: Daniel Cubillas)

This year, the start of the Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine’s Day. For a prosperous Year of the Tiger, make these simple lettuce wraps, which are considered lucky because Cantonese name of the dish sounds similar to “life, prosperity, wrapped together.”

This recipe has been adapted from master Chinese chef Martin Yan, who will be teaching two cooking classes at Central Market Monday.  A limited number of seats are still available at: http://bit.ly/2Faj78.

Sany Choy Bao (Chicken Wraps)

Serves 4 as part of multi-course meal.

Marinade:
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon soy sauce

Wrap filling:
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/3 cup finely diced onion
1 Chinese sausage (about 2 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped Chinese yellow chives, Chinese green chives, or regular chives
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped red pickled ginger or regular pickled ginger

Assembly:
Hoisin sauce
4 iceberg lettuce cups

Stir the cournstarch and soy sauce together in a medium bowl until the cornstarch is dissolved.  Stir in the minced chicken and mix well.  Let stand for 10 minutes.

Heat a wok over high heat until hot.  Add the oil and swirl to coat the sides.  Add the onion, Chinese sausage, shallots, and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until the chicken is no longer pink, but still moist, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the sugar and salt, then drizzle the egg over the chicken and cook, stirring, until the egg and chicken are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in the chives, cilantro, and pickled ginger.  Scoop onto a serving plate.

To assemble, spread some hoisin onto a lettuce cup, then spoon in some of the chicken.  Roll the lettuce around the chicken and eat out of hand.

Makes 4 servings.

From “Martin Yan’s Chinatown Cooking” by Martin Yan

Some people just don’t like to celebrate with roses.

Why not pair your Valentine’s meal with a fine beer?

Brian Tarver, one of only four certified cicerone in Texas (similar to a master sommelier, but with beer instead), has a great list of beers to inspire romance.

If having chocolate, pair it with an imperial stout.  These dark beers traditionally have a higher alcohol content to prevent freezing and were made in the style of brewers who supplied the czarist courts.  Tarver recommends North Coast Brewing Company’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (9 percent ABV, 75 IBU), which is rated 91 by Chicago’s Beverage Testing Institute and has won a number of gold medals.

Another imperial stout that Tarver recommend is from Samuel Smith (7 percent ABV).  This beer has also earned several gold medals and brewer’s website says that it would also pair well with “espresso, stilton and walnuts, New York cheesecake, steak au poivre, caviar, oysters Rockefeller, [and] chocolate baked Alaska.”

A third imperial stout that Tarver suggests is from Samuel Adams (9.2 percent ABV).  In addition to chocolate desserts, the brewery suggest also pairing it with strong cheeses, rare roast beef, and oysters, which would be a perfect aphrodisiac.

As an extra special gift for a beer lover, Tarver’s choice is Deus Brut des Flandres – a beer that is brewed in Belgium, transported to France, and riddled like Champagne.  The current vintage is 2006 and priced at $31.49 per 750 ml.  At 11.5 percent alcohol, it is a strong beer that he says has a little spiciness and could be divided into two Champagne glasses for toasting your Valentine’s Day.

Tarver’s other suggestions for pairing desserts are Lindemans Framboise, a Belgian Raspberry Lambic, and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, which is great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floated on top.

All of these beers are available at the H-E-B’s Alon Market, where Tarver is on staff.

No matter what you choose, these beers will warm your sweetie’s heart.

HEB Alon Market
8503 NW Military Hwy.
San Antonio, TX 78230