Erin's Irish Beef Stew Accompanied by Hunter Hill Zinfandel

The Fishy Chips

Loyalty and betrayal quickly become conflicts in The Fishy Chips, set in the Silicon Valley of California where many of the titans of the computer world have research and development operations and manufacturing facilities. Educators, under the control of Chinese agents are using students from the Mission Community College’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Program to obtain a top-secret computer chip being manufactured by Intel for use in the United States Military's anti--ballistic missile system. Rick has to reconcile his loyalty to his students with loyalty to his country as he works with his friend from the FBI to recover the stolen component.      Also telling the story is George Yuan, a nineteen-year-old alienated Chinese-American. Through the help of a beautiful female spy, George discovers his love and loyalty to China. He agrees to help steal the computer chip. In the process of recovering the stolen computer chip, the FBI captures the members of the spying ring, and two others are murdered. From Chapter 12       I'm not used to having a late lunch, but it was pleasant eating in the cafeteria with its glass walls facing Mission Boulevard. The room was nearly empty except for one woman, sitting in the sunlight in the far corner, an attractive young, blond who, I concluded, must be Amy. There was a sandwich bar and another counter at which you could order the day’s entrées, usually hotdogs, and hamburgers. Today, the special was from Ireland, a beef stew with stout served with colcannon. This was a dish that Erin had made for us many times in the past. The presentation was superb and the carrots, the chunks of beef and the pearl onions were easily distinguishable. Next to the stew was the colcannon--mashed potatoes with chopped kale. This dish would be absolutely perfect with a glass of Hunter Hill Zinfandel, but since I was in a school, I served myself iced tea and went to the salad bar to pile tomatoes, kidney beans and garlic croutons on a serving of lettuce before going to join the woman I hoped would become a source of solid information. Hunter Hill Vineyard And  Winery                                                                     The Hunter Hill vineyard and winery is located in Soquel on the old Manildi farm that in the late 1800s raised apples, stone fruits, and grapes. Wine was made for home consumption. Christine, a granddaughter of the Manildis married Vann Slatter and they returned to the farm to raise their own children. In 1992, Christine and Vann decided to replace the old apple trees with Merlot grapes and they started to experiment with making wine. By 1998 the winery moved from the basement of the house to a new facility and Hunter Hill was bonded. The six-acre property now produces ten to eighteen tons of Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah grapes each year. They produce about 2400 cases of wine per year.      Hunter Hill was named after the Slatter’s Chesapeake Bay retriever, Hunter, who died over five years ago. Her muzzle still graces the Hunter Hill label and business cards.      The family also is in the construction business, having owned Santa Cruz-based Slatter Construction since 1985. They were responsible for rebuilding much of downtown Santa Cruz after the earthquake in 1989.

Erin's Beef Stew Accompanied by Hunter Hill Zinfandel                           When Rick saw these two dishes in the college cafeteria, he knew that the chef must be Irish.  Sure enough, it was just as good as Erin’s rendition of these two Irish classics. When served at home Rick likes the Hunter Hill Zinfandel which provides a spicy contrast to the heavy flavor of the broth.  Some people like to serve this stew with Colcannon, Rick likes it with noodles.

Serves 6

2 pounds lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons of butter
4 teaspoons all purpose flour
1 clove garlic, crushed4 large carrots, peeled, sliced
2 cups pearl onions2 tablespoons of tomato paste3/4 cup canned beef broth
1 can of stout or dark ale

Beef, onions, garlic and carrots

Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper and coat it with the flour.  Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over high heat.  Add the beef and sauté until it is brown on all sides about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium-low.  Add garlic, carrots, and onions to skillet and cook for one minute. Add broth, tomato paste and stout. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours until beef and carrots are tender, stirring occasionally.  Season with salt and pepper.

Prepare noodles as per the directions on the package.  Pour the beef stew over the noodles and serve.

Leti's Pollitos en Vino Tinto (Little Chickens in Red Wine) with Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali

 Murder Before The Bell

The administration building at Central High School is set on fire to cover up the death of the principal. When the new principal is charged with the murder, Rick Podowski and the Hefty Trio work to prove their friend's innocence. As the plot thickens, they discover their friend's involvement in illegal activities including prostitution and police corruption. 

                                                                                                                                                             Chapter 27 

 Rick spent a busy weekend doing chores and visiting with his brother's son, which perhaps explains why he was so exhausted that he had trouble getting through Monday.  After school, he went home, found Leti's favorite recipe, Pollitos en Vino Tinto which were Cornish Game Hen he'd prepared a couple of weeks ago and then frozen, only to have been defrosting all day in the fridge. The Mexican spices made these so tasty.  French bread, a simple tomato and lettuce salad, fresh Italian broad beans and mashed potatoes rounded out the meal accompanied by a Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali.  This wine won a double gold medal at the 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

            Rick was relaxing in his green recliner when the phone rang.

            "I talked to Mrs. Do today," Erin told him.  "She said that the ESL classes, you know, the ones for the prostitutes, at the Vietnamese school are growing to sixty girls."

            "So, the Colonel's expanding his business," Rick said.  "It's getting too complicated.  We need to take this to the police."

            "But we still don't have any real evidence," Erin protested.  "Plus, you can't take this to Detective Johnson because he's part of the operation."

            "Maybe we need to go back to the FBI," Rick said.  "Even though they didn't help us last time, we have to go to them.  There's no place else."

                                                                                                                                                              

Naumann Vineyards  

                                                                                                                       

The owners of wineries come from many different professions, and they are united in their desire to make great wines.  In 1982 Don Naumann launched what has become the leading turf grass products supplier in Northern California and Nevada and this is still his primary business.  In 1987 he bought a home on Montebello Ridge in Cupertino and as a hobby in 1994 planted one and one half acres of Merlot grapes that he hoped to sell to Ridge Winery.  When Ridge over planted, Don decided to make his own wine and in 2001 Naumann Vineyards was founded.

With the help of Matt Oetinger of Fernwood Cellars, Don launched his winery.  All the grapes are dry farmed because fog blankets the vineyard in the evening and since the vineyard is close to his home he is very careful about the fertilizers and chemicals he uses.  The grapes are hand cultivated, harvested, and crafted in small lots.

Four wines are produced.  Tre Rosso Cali translates to "Three Reds of California" comprised of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc.  They also produce an Estate Merlot, a Chardonnay, and a Late Harvest Merlot.


The winery produces about 750 cases per year

Leti's Pollitos en Vino Tinto  (Little Chickens in Red Wine) with Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali

            Usually Cornish Game hens are not considered part of Mexican cuisine.  However, this dish, according to BellaOnline's Mexican food editor is authentic and it tastes wonderful.  The Tre Rosso Cali truly complements the dish with a rich, textured mouth feel that adds extra complexity.

Serves 6

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 medium onion, sliced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bay leaf

1 sprig thyme, or 1/2 tsp. crushed, dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 Rock Cornish Game Hens

4 slices bacon

1 and a 1/2 pounds Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

2 carrots, chopped

6 whole green onions, chopped in 1 inch pieces

2 cups dry red wine

  Combine the oil, vinegar, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper.  Marinate the hens overnight. 

           Cut the bacon into one-inch pieces and fry in a very large pan until most of the fat is rendered out.  Add the tomatoes, carrots, and green onions to the pan and cook for about five minutes. Add the marinade from the hens and wine.  Gently bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for about an hour.

 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Split Cornish game hens, drizzle both sides with sauce, and bake approximately 45 minutes in a shallow pan, skin side up.  Baste often.