Thinking of Drinking: April Rain

April showers bring May flowers!  Have a sip of some April Rain.  Hopefully we'll clear through the rest of the month without more rain.

Dining Out: Cherry Blossom Tasting Menu at BLT Prime by David Burke

With the Cherry Blossom season in full bloom, David Burke at BLT Prime has outdone himself again with a new cherry-inspired tasting menu. Located in the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C., the upscale steakhouse offers outstanding service, a beautiful atmosphere, and incredible flavors. The Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off on March 20th and runs until April 17th, with the peak bloom taking place between April 8th-April 12th, and David Burke and Executive Chef Matijevich wanted to add another way to celebrate the 3,000 cherry trees that Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave to the city of Washington D.C. in 1912.

Perfect Pair: Garlic Chicken

The Wine: Luca Bosio Barbera d’Asti 2016 D.O.C.G

This is a light red that pairs well with chicken.  This Barbera shows ample red fruit on the nose. It has silky tannins that give it a smooth mouthfeel. This freshness and approachability makes it a great wine for everyday drinking.   The company has 60 acres of vineyards and sources additional grapes from vineyards in Piedmont.

Recipe: Carrot Gooey Butter Cake

The cake was supposedly first made by accident in the 1930s by a St. Louis-area German American baker who was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of sugar and flour.  This cake is available at most area bakeries and grocery stores in St. Louis. If you haven’t had it before, you are in for a treat.  I've put a spring spin on it with my carrot cake version.