It was the time of the month to celebrate all of the birthdays in the month of February.  It is just an easy way to get everyone together and a way to keep the social calendar down to one party instead of potentially three to six parties, depending on the month.  It just works out that it is easier to have it at our house, so that a lot of other culinary accoutrements don’t have to be schlepped as well as the food to be prepared.  This particular birthday celebration was a little light, because of an approaching snow storm and an approaching new member that was being anticipated at any time.

The guests began arriving and of course the appetizers and munchies came out first.   Fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers all seem to hit the spot, and the crowd around the breakfast nook became more crowded.  As more and more arrived, that signaled that the dinner should commence cooking, outside of the turkey, which had to start earlier.  There were also four full pork tenderloins that did not require as long of cooking time.  My Bride was also excited because the Romaine lettuce scare seems to have abated and she could make her Caesar salad.  I think everyone was looking forward to a monthly fix of Armenian Pilaf as well.  After all of the dishes were packed away and the tables and counters cleared, it was time for the birthday cake with all of the names written on top with the customary symbolic candles for the group.

With the potential of a blizzard or ice storm, the interest for adult beverages was not as strong as it could have been, but that is wise and it is not the Fifties and the Sixties where one would say “let’s have one more for the road,” and yes, I remember first hand those days.  I opened up one of the German wines that we bought after a virtual tasting that I was invited to do, and I thought it would be something that some of the non-dry wine drinkers would like.  I opened up a bottle of Weingut von Winning “Winnings” Riesling 2015 which was a Qualitatswein from the Rheinpfalz.  Weingut von Winning was established in 1849 and they are one of the founding members of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Pradikats -und Qualitatsweinguter or The Association of Germany Quality and Pradikat Wine Estates).  Weingut von Winning has sixty-four percent of their production in the Pfalz and sixty-six percent is in Riesling, so it is a grape that they know quite well.  As in the other wines of this tasting this wine was also a soft pale straw in color.  The nose on this wine showed a bit of the terroir or some influence as there was a trace of petrol, but not in a manner to turn away from.  I found this wine was very easy to drink with a nice finish that was enjoyable.  I also opened up a bottle of wine that everyone had noticed the last couple of times that we had never opened, and it was time.  The wine was from the Fat Bastard Wine Company and it was their Thierry & Guy Fat Bastard Merlot 2013 with the appellation of IGP Pays d’Oc, which is roughly the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France.  A mutual production by Thierry, a French winemaker and Guy, who is considered a British wine industry rebel and the owner of the vineyard estate Gabriel Meffre.  Legend has it, that the wine was originally from some forgotten barrels, be that as it may, the wine is aged in Stainless Steel, while thirty percent is aged in oak.  I didn’t get a chance to take a photo of the wine in the glass, but it had a good color and a decent nose, but it was a very easy and enjoyable wine and that is what we all want.  The party broke up a little early, but everyone did get home safe and sound and they all had “doggie bags” of goodies to enjoy later.