Chocolate and Wine

Posted on February 9, 2015 by pistachiotable under Celebrate, Inspiration

A chocolate and wine pairing is the perfect way to indulge on Valentine’s Day and add a special twist to the traditional box of chocolates! We went to our local Chocolatier, Chocolate Maya in Santa Barbara, for advice about this pairing. Their chocolate truffles are delicious and unique but their suggestions provided us with some general rules to follow:

Riesling and white wines pair best with white and milk chocolates
Rosé is a good match for sweet and citrus flavors
Cabernet Sauvignon and lighter reds pair well with dark chocolate and fruity flavors
Merlot and darker reds go well with the darkest chocolates and spices

Be sure to ask your local Chocolatier about their favorite wine and chocolate pairings for Valentine’s Day!

Citrus Sangria

Posted on July 2, 2014 by pistachiotable under Celebrate, Recipes

This sangria is perfect for your 4th of July celebration! It’s sweet, delicious, and it serves a crowd.

I serve it cold and add all the spices you’d put in an apple pie.

Its ruby hue turns the floating islands of fruit the prettiest color.

I always use Southern Comfort instead of the customary brandy or rum because it comes with it’s own sweet and spiced flavor.

Citrus Sangria

1 Bottle Red Wine
1/4 Cup Triple Sec
1/2 Cup Southern Comfort Whiskey
1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 Cups Citrus Juice (Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon)
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Star Anise
1 Vanilla Bean, split
10 Cloves, whole
1 Orange, sliced
1 Lemon, sliced

Combine ingredients, except sliced citrus, in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate overnight for the best flavor. Add the sliced citrus just before serving. Enjoy!

Behind the Scenes

Posted on April 14, 2014 by pistachiotable under Inspiration

Here’s a few behind the scenes shots from our Pistachio Table photo shoot at Julia’s parents home in Ojai, CA. Such a beautiful location to bring out the colors and inspired prints of the table linen collection!

Pictured below is Michael Mantalos, the incredibly talented Master Florist of Louloudi Designs in Santa Barbara, and the genius behind the arrangements for this photo shoot.