Quaintrelle Weekender

Four ways to a better weekend

Welcome to Quaintrelle Weekender.

This is a short list of things I am currently loving to make eating, drinking, and hosting easier and a lot more interesting.

Rosé All Day

Chateau Val-Joanis Rosé, Rhône, France $19.95 #707281

One of my top wines for summer is Chateau Val-Joanis Rosé. A rich blend of Syrah and Grenache, it’s loaded with intriguing flavours of wild strawberry, white cherry, and orange peel. Ripe and juicy, try this with watermelon and feta salads, spicy shrimp tacos, and turkey burgers (bonus points if topped with melted brie.)

*I live in Ontario, and currently the LCBO, which is our provincially-owned wine and spirits store is on strike. No biggie. Even though stores are closed, online ordering is still available and there are a bunch of other (and probably better) ways to get your booze including independent bottle shops, local wineries, and directly from import agencies.

Cocktail Hour

A Proper G+T

Gin and tonics are my top cocktail of summer. So, I hate when I get a bad one. With only two ingredients, those ingredients had better be top notch, otherwise, it’s a highly disappointing cocktail hour. Because I’m a bit extra, I add a splash of white vermouth to mine, which does push it into martini category, but I’ve never been a careful observer of rules.

To Eat

Zucchini Fritters

The above link is a sneak peek to tomorrow’s blog post on The Wine Sisters. I’m basically meh on zucchini. I think they’re kind of a spongy, tasteless vegetable, generally, so I don’t go out of my way to make any. However, zucchini are seemingly indestructible in the garden and therefore a confidence-building plant for novice gardeners, which also means anyone within an eight-mile radius of a beginner’s garden is getting a bucket of zucchini dropped off a their front door every other week. These golden bundles of deep fried deliciousness are an excellent way to get through the bounty.

To Read

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

I discovered my current read – J. Courtney Sullivan’s family saga Maine – while putting her newest book, The Cliffs on hold at my local library. It’s about a 23-week wait for The Cliffs, so I thought I’d introduce myself to this new-to-me author with one of her earlier books. Ergo, Maine. It’s a deliciously compelling tale of three generations of women, each bearing stubborn grudges, hiding secrets, and refusing to let go even though they’ve had enough of each other. It all centres around the family summer compound in Maine where they all meet each year, despite their best attempts to stay away.

What are you reading this summer? I’m always looking for great recommendations.

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Thanks for reading. May your drinks be cold, your days warm, and your reading undisturbed.

xo -Erin