Need some recipe ideas

[twhipple]

I am having a wine tasting party with wines from Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, France and Italy). I am in need of ideas for food from those areas. Portugal is pretty much covered, but I need a fruit dessert from either France or Spain, appetizers from all three and main dish ideas (could be finger type food though) from all three. I'm thinking about coq au vin, and something pasta but other than that, I'm at a loss. I'll research more this weekend, but thought I'd give the DISboards a shot

 

[Margie J]

Here's a page from my website that has International recipes, including France, Spain and Portugal. Steve Soares site (link on bottom of the page) has more from a previous Festival.

The onion tart (France) and the gazpacho (Spain) were very good. The tart especially goes well with wine.

Food & Wine Festival 2000

There's also a Food & Wine recipe section on this site.

 

[SoonerKate]

You could do a small Spanish antipasto tray -- manzanilla olives, piquillo pimientos, manchego cheese and some good Spanish chorizo. Maybe some cocktail-sized empanadas? I know there are some excellent empanada filling recipes at the food network website; I've made these and they're outstanding.

Spanish tortillas are also really popular in Spain, served cold or at room temperature at tapas bars. It's basically a potato omelet/frittata with onion and maybe some peppers cooked in it as well. Plus, since you can serve it at room temperature it'd be easy to make ahead.

For a fruit dessert from France, you could try a Clafouti. Traditionally, it's a cake made with cherries, but you could also use any other kind of fruit. There are recipes for them all over; if you want one, I can dig mine up as well. Otherwise, a simple fruit tart would be perfect.

 

[twhipple]

Thanks for the ideas! I have already settled on Walnut Cake from Portugal, Tiramisou, and Creme Brulee, Coq au vin, a couple appetizers made with chorizo, antipasto. Room temp items sound great! I have a couple chaffing dishes, but will use those for the stuff that must be hot. I'll definitely have a large cheese platter. The Clafouti sounds good, I should be able to find a recipe. I have the recipes from this years Wine and Food Festival and nothing really inspired me, I hadn't thought about the past years' festivals. I knew I could count on some DISers to point me in the right direction. I got about 30 people coming and want to wow them!