Tonight we had a few of Karen’s friends (and now our friends!) over for dinner to unite over a love for Charlottesville and a love for wine.
Bill and Gayle are the son and daughter-in-law of Jack + Jamie Davies, who bought Schramsberg Winery in Napa Valley in 1965. Karen met them at the Cville Film Festival and knew we should get together to talk wine.
Tracy and Clayton are Karen’s other great friends from Madison County and we’ve enjoyed getting to know them since moving here (we went to their Christmas party!)
Appetizers for the group – simple, Barefoot Contessa style
The Davies brought a bottle of Brut Rose, which we uncorked and tasted around the room. I loved it! It had the structure of a wine with all the bubbles you’d expecting from a sparkling.
We also enjoyed a Prince Michel Symbius that Tracy and Clayton brought (LOVE that one!) and a white merlot Matt and Karen picked out for the evening. I tasted both throughout our dinner.
To eat we served a classic – Bleu Cheese + Date Stuffed Pork Tenderloin (local from the Organic Butcher!)
Matt took two tenderloins and butterflied them, and then butterflied those pieces and layered in a mash of chopped dates and our favorite D’Auvergne Bleu Cheese. Tie ‘em up with baker’s twine and bake for about 30-45 minutes at 400* until pork reaches desired temperature
We also served maple + garlic sauteed kale
Karen made a parmesan jasmine rice
And her No Knead Bread
Delicious!!
Dessert was especially scrumptious!! Apple Pie bake topped with vanilla bean ice cream!!
And decaf coffee for us adults 🙂
‘Twas a super fun night – we love to entertain! We’re having Great Harvest for dinner on Wednesday night and friends over on Valentine’s a week from today! Gonna be a busy one.
Dishes to do!
claire says
I LOVE me some wine!That dinner looks DELISH 🙂
Christin@purplebirdblog says
That tenderloin sounds ridiculously delicious! Glad you had a fun adult party! 😀
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Everything looks wonderful! Love the stuffed tenderloin, it’s one of my favorite meats. I need to try it with bleu cheese.
Are those fresh olives?!
Yena says
Your dinner looks fantastic, Kath! I love wine tasting. Looks like you had a lovely dinner 🙂
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Those grapes look SO juicy! I miss grapes, they are so darn expensive! Looks like you had a fun night Kath, the food is beautiful!:)
Annette says
That salad looked especially amazing. Was it all as tasty as it looks?! 😉
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
There’s nothing like good wine! What a lovely night.
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
Looks fantastic and relaxing! 🙂
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
That tenderloin sounds amaaazing! The evening looks like it was wonderful.
Kiran says
What a great way to enjoy a weekend with family and friends 🙂 Salute!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
Your dinner looks good and your dessert looks AMAZING!
Lindsey says
I’ve never had a white merlot- yum! I’ll have to look for one next time!
Namaste Gurl says
I love sautéing greens in maple, garlic gold, and bragg’s liquid aminos. So simple and sweet, yet gives the best flavor to the greens 🙂
Amelia says
There is nothing like great food with great company. Glad you had a wonderful evening. I would be all over that apple pie and vanilla ice cream! Mmmm! 🙂
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
bleu cheese and date stuffed pork? Holy crap that sounds so delicious!!!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
aaaah you’re so grown up indeed!
Meagan says
I think the dessert looked the best out of all the goodness!
Lauren Grier says
My husband and I have actually been to the Schramsberg winery in Napa. It is out of this world. Fun fact about the winery…the Brut Rose was the first U.S champagne served at a royal setting. Sounded like a fab dinner btw!
Allison @ Happy Tales says
Wow that looks like it was an *amazing* spread!!! So glad y’all had such a good time.
Allison says
That is so crazy that you love Bleu d’Auvergne cheese because I happen to LIVE in that region of France! And you are certainly right, it is SO good 🙂
Gill (snaxandthecity) says
Woah that meat looks SO good. As does the apple pie and icecream – officially envious of your snacks now! 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
This post is amazing!
Schramsberg Winery in Napa – have been to it! And i looooooove rose bubblies. I have had that brut rose and it’s great!
And I also love Barefoot Contessa. I just posted twice last week about my love for Ina (and Jeffrey :))
What a fun nite for you!
Hannah says
That parmesan rice dish looks amazing? Any chance of sneaking the recipe for us? 🙂
Katherine: Unemployed says
women and wine. we all age well. delicious looking dinner
Simply Life says
wow,what a great dinner – looks like you’ve got the entertaining piece down!
Kara says
That pork looks great! I love stuffing tenderloins, the options are endless!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Mmm…lovely dinner! Especially the dessert. 😉
Glad you guys had a fun night! 😀
Katie says
What a fun night! I love wine so I would of loved trying new ones, I will have to write down the one you said you loved! My fiance and I love finding a new wine!
I was looking for what dessert was and yum, there it is, the apple pie heaven , lol!
How exciting you will be having great harvest over for dinner next week, cant wait to see what you guys have planned for dinner then : )
Lauren says
What a fabulous dinner party! The food looks amazing and the wine sounds amazing! Great new friends too. 🙂
Meryl @ Scribbled Musings says
Looks like such a fun night! Reminds me of one of my favorite dinners that my mom makes :).
aubrey (italktofood) says
Yum! That looks incredibly delicious!
ashley nicole says
what a blast and a great menu! i love dinner parties. maybe i’ll grow up one day to host 😉
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
The dinner looks great! Dates, blue cheese, pork tenderloin… yes please!
megan @ blackberries for jam says
You guys are so creative in your cooking! Everything looks amazing, and the photos are fabulous.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
You all are classy down there in the south! 🙂 Looks like you had a great night!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
This looks like my dream night! 🙂
We almost Schramsberg in Napa… it will certainly be on my list next time.
AJ @ Flowing to Fifty says
YUM! This looks amazing. You may have to post a recipe for both the rice and the pork sometime soon.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
If you ever hop on the blogger book bandwagon, yours should be about entertaining. You and Matt always host the best dinners for your friends! 🙂
KathEats says
: )
Haleigh says
Fabulous appetizers! All you need is a little brie cheese and a baguette.
MonsteRawr says
You. NEED. To write a cookbook. Seriously.
KathEats says
Thank you 🙂
christina cadden says
mmm, all that food looks amazing!
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
Everything looks so good! I especially like the idea of a date-stuffed pork tenderloin. Scrumptious!
Paige @Running Around Normal says
What a fun night!!
Clayton is totally talking about a riddler and how champagne gets its bubbles in that picture, isn’t he!? 🙂
KathEats says
YES! Except it was Bill talking, not Clayton 🙂
Amy says
I’m glad it was a fun evening. This is strange, but i had a dream i was at your party and you ran out of plates 🙂 Cheers
Camille says
What gorgeous food! The dessert looks especially amazing 🙂 Glad you had fun!
stacey-healthylife says
How fun and very adult like.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
what a fabulous meal…everything looks and sounds delicious!
Ellie @ The Mommyist says
Good food, good wine, great night. Looks like fun!
Josie @ Skinny Way Of Life says
I love bubbly wine : ) looks like you had a great night with such gorgeous food! I agree with MonsteRawr ^ you do need to write a cookbook! I know throw that in the mix of all the chaos of opening a bakery! lol maybe one day!? : )
The Healthy Apple says
My mouth is watering; the kale, the jasmine rice…the apple pie. What a beautiful dinner, Kath; this looks like it was so much fun. Enjoy your Sunday and keep warm!
Lauren says
Wow, such an elegant evening! So grown up! 😉
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
Wow that pork looks amazing! You guys are so classy with your dinner party!
Lindsey says
That dinner looks incredible! I wish I had a plate sitting in front of me right now!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
What a wonderful dinner! Everything looks so delicious!
Jessica says
I’d been waiting to see your dinner party menu!
Stuffed pork tenderloin is awesome, I usually do mine with spinach and goat cheese.
Gayle Davies says
What wonderful, adoring fans you have, Kath! Wish you all could have been there to taste the incredible food! It’s great to know that there are so many out there who appreciate crafted food and wines!! woot!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
What a wonderful delicious dinner! I actually had pork tenderloin yesterday too but yours looks excellent
ann says
Looks great. Would love the recipe for that parmesan rice.
Thanks.
Ann
Emily @ NewlyWife says
I love Schramsberg! A few years ago we did the cave tasting and I can’t wait to do it again. My favorite is the Cremant.
WendyF says
Just catching up on your posts after a long trip. I love Schramsberg. It’s on my cycling route as well.
Maria @ The Fitted Apron says
The dinner looks amazing!