Gulf Coast

Adrienne, Susan, Starr & Windy

Movin’ and Shakin’ on the

gulf coast By Suzy Moss

Mardi Gras is a time for celebration for the Gulf Coast area and the Gulf Coast Knights of the Vine never miss a chance for celebration and for drinking wine. This year the group met for a Mardi Gras Winedown Wednesday at Biloxi’s local wine bar BoHo Social House. BoHo touts itself as serving local, regional, and international wines for sipping and enjoying. They also serve specialty meats, cheeses, and tapas and the bar owners describe their charcuterie boards as Char Cutie presentations. The KOV group dressed in their Mardi Gras finery and since many of the members are members of Mardi Krewes and have been Kings, Dukes, Queens, and Maids, the Mardi Gras costumes are always very colorful and sparkly with purple, green, and gold highlights that carry out the Mardi Gras themes of justice, faith, and power. Toasts of wine and specialty cocktails served by BoHo were plentiful throughout the evening and members repeatedly expressed their gratefulness for being fortunate enough to be able to eat, drink and be merry in an area that provides so many avenues for fun and excitement.

FINALLY! After delays and rescheduling and conflicts for every conceivable reason (and a few we could never have thought of!), we finally held our Assemblage on April 2 at the Golden Nugget Casino and Resort. The wait was worth it and the Gulf Coast Chapter knighted 16 new members which is a new record for the group.

Dr. Michael McKay, Sheryl Moran, Teresa Rankin, Randall Ladner

Members gathered around the courtyard fountain at Patrick’s Bar Vin in New Orleans for the Kentucky Derby Pre-Party

Rickey & Lisa Authement

The new Knights and Gentle Ladies enjoyed specially prepared delights that included such delicacies as fennel pollen, black mission figs, asiago broccolini paired with boursin mash and sous vide beef short ribs. The dinner was finished with chocolate panna cotta with spiced pepita brittle. Each of the courses was paired with a complementary wine such as Roessier Black Pine Pinot Noir and other exceptional California wines. Everyone enjoyed the evening and each of the attendees left the event with a feeling of elation to know that our Brotherhood is growing with excitement for the future. Our Gulf Coast Chapter has been on the move as always. In early May, the Kentucky Derby provided the backdrop for excitement in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Members dined at the Criollo Restaurant in the Hotel Montelone to get in the mood for the race. The Hotel Montelene is the home of the worldfamous Carousel bar which has been rotating for over 70 years. While waiting for our meal and the race to begin, the Knights and Gentle Ladies placed bets on the winning horse by participating in a cork pull. Ron Krentel won $400 after drawing cork number 21 which represented the #21 horse, Rich Strike, who, as fate would have it was a surprise winner after being allowed to run in the race when another horse was disqualified at the last minute! After a delicious lunch that was accompanied by some fine wines, we

Leslie & Achim Suit Chris & Wanda Rains wandered the streets and art galleries in the French Quarter and made our way to Patrick’s Bar Vin which continues to be a long standing favorite of the group. The ladies were dressed to the nine’s and the gentlemen were similarly adorned. And, of course, elaborate hats were worn by all which leads to our traditional hat contest while we enjoyed our $10 mint juleps which we are certain were even better than those $1,000 delights available at the Derby itself. At the end of a spectacular day, this happy crew returned home but not without great memories and a promise to return as soon as possible to the Big Easy! Nicole Bulick & Jean Marc Torre, Mark Sedgwick