February 17, 2012 Bill Ristau’s 71st Birthday Party.

February 17, 2012 Bill Ristau’s 71^st Birthday Party.

We were invited to celebrate Bill Ristau’s 71st Birthday at his home in Corrales. 
Choi and Bill had made egg rolls with pork in wheat wrappers and their friend Cherrie who is from the Philippines had made vegetarian egg rolls stuffed with banana and jackfruit in a rice wrapper.  There was also a large baking dish full of delicious thin Vietnamese rice noodles stir fried with shrimp and chicken and wood ear and mushrooms and chunks of egg.  Although tere was lots of other food; I loved these three dishes and kept eating them.  Bill had purchased a case of Corrales Winery wine, including Muscat Cannelli, Sangiovese, and Reisling.  Corrales Winery is located very near to Bill and Choi’s house, so I felt like I was eating off the land as I sipped Sangiovese and nibbled on the noodles that had been flavored dark brown with soy sauce.

The party was fun and I got to talk to lots of folks including Rod Deaguero and his wife about New Mexico and Mexican history and water law. I also talked to Cherrie’s husband, Dean, about his art picking experiences and art gallery in Winslow, Arizona.