Thanksgiving is here and I feel so grateful and blessed to be surrounded by many festive traditions that require lots of eating and drinking throughout the week. Having grown up in a Mexican-American household, my family has always enjoyed a diverse menu integrating traditional American Thanksgiving dishes with authentic Mexican cuisine.
Funny enough, my least favorite part of the Thanksgiving feast is the turkey. That's right, I said turkey. So sue me. However, when it comes to the sides I simply can't get enough! From the cornbread stuffing to the garlic mash potatoes to the baked Brussels sprouts with bacon and rosemary. Oy vey, I can go on and on! On the other side of the spectrum, some of my favorite authentic Mexican dishes include: chicken pozole, Mole poblano and a cóctel de camarones (shrimp cocktail) that my tia makes. Two completely different cultures, cuisines and traditions combined in one. I love it.
This past month we hosted an intimate post-harvest dinner party at our Napa estate. We made birria (braised goat stew), cilantro infused rice, vegetable escabeche (pickled salad) and grilled peaches for dessert. I'm getting hungry just looking at the pictures! Cooking, eating and sharing recipes is a way of life for my family and there is nothing more special than food and wine bringing people together. I'm thankful everyday to be surrounded by such passionate foodies who find peace, relaxation and happiness through the art of cooking and feeding others. As my abuelita always says, "the window to your soul is feeling happiness in your belly." Cheers to that!
Images via Jon McPherson | www.JonFromNapa.com