Altos reposado tequila, amaro nonino, ambre vermouth, amontillado sherry, verjus

Ode To Crunch

Fresh avocado with lime, cilantro, and onion.

Guacamole

Spanish olive oil dip served with warm baguette

SPANISH OIL DIP

Jamón Ibérico de Bellota

Catarratto Sicily, Italy; pithy stone fruit, cantaloupe, dried citrus rind, long salty finish

In a medium bowl, combine the diced cantaloupe, diced peaches, and finely chopped red onion. Add chopped mint, preserved lemon, and dried citrus rind. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, then season with sea salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine and let rest 5-10 minutes for flavors to meld.

Make the citrus-melon salsa

Taste the salsa and adjust seasoning if needed. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped pistachios as a garnish.

Finesse the salsa

Pat the branzino fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with a pinch of sea salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sear the branzino fillets skin-side down (if skin-on) until crisp and golden, about 2-3 minutes per side depending on thickness. Transfer to a warm plate.

Prepare the branzino

Spoon or lay a portion of the citrus-melon salsa onto each plate. Top with a branzino fillet. Drizzle with a touch more olive oil and serve with lemon wedges on the side. Finish with a light sprinkle of flaky salt to echo CALA's salty finish.

Plate and finish

Branzino fillets

Cantaloupe melon, diced

Peaches or nectarines, diced

Red onion, finely chopped

Fresh mint leaves, chopped

Preserved lemon, minced

Dried citrus rind (orange zest)

Extra virgin olive oil

Lime juice

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Pistachios, chopped (for garnish)

Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)

Dario Serrentino - 'CALA' Macerato 2021

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Sicily, Italy; 70% Frappato/30% Nero d'Avola grapes

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Pierre Arnold - 'L'Amour Glou' 2021

Make Dario Serrentino - 'CALA' Macerato 2021 Recipe in just 50m. Catarratto Sicily, Italy; pithy stone fruit, cantaloupe, dried citrus rind, long salty finish

Dario Serrentino - 'cala' Macerato 2021 Recipe

Descriptors

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings

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