Fill Two Needs with one Deed For most of us, the beginning of the school year is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. You might feel relieved that your kids are back in school and away from the computer. You probably feel a twinge of regret at seeing them grow so fast and go up yet another grade. And you most certainly feel rushed as you run around collecting school supplies, new clothes and all the other activities triggered by their return to school. In the midst of this roller-coaster ride, let me propose a menu item that takes […]
Turkey & Wine
Turkey Wines 2
Choosing a beverage to pair with the Thanksgiving turkey is as important as deciding what ingredients should go into the stuffing. But rather than stressing about how to make just the right wine pairing, Natalie MacLean, a James Beard award-winning author of Red, White and Drunk All Over, suggests taking a deep breath and relaxing. With a glass of wine, of course. The Canadian wine expert is the engine driving one of the most popular, comprehensive, all-things-wine Web sites out there, nataliemaclean.com, launched in 2000. More than 80,000 Web-surfers subscribe to the Nat Decants e-newsletter, and her Web site is […]
Stoneleigh Wines and some great summer reads
Sponsored Post With summer finally here, avid readers are finding time to unwind and enjoy a good book. Whether in the backyard, at the beach, or on the dock, summer’s slower pace allows time to tackle that book club reading list. And what better accompaniment to a compelling story than a cool, crisp white wine, or a complex red? Stoneleigh® Wines from Marlborough, New Zealand are the Official Wine Partner of Random House of Canada Limited. Together, they have a range of book recommendations and accompanying wine suggestions. [table id=3 /] [table id=5 /] [table id=6 /] […]
Food & Viognier
I like to pair wine with foods. I also like simplicity. There are dozens of food types and styles that will go with most wines. I am however not a food critic. It would be very unfair of me to give my thoughts on someones hard work and creativity in the kitchen unless I am entitled to do so! The web (blogs especially), magazines and, I must admit, even the daily broadsheets, have endless examples of self made critics. There is nothing wrong with having a view and expressing it. There is a subtle difference between that and being a […]
Terrific Turkey Wines that will Make Your Holiday Meal More Festive – The Province
When hosting a holiday meal, the wines you serve are just as important as the food when it comes to making a sparkling impression with guests. From beginning to end, pairing the best wines with appetizers, the main course and dessert will not only show your guests you care enough to make the effort but will also give them an unforgettable experience this holiday season. Start the night off with a toast of bubbly to celebrate the occasion and the New Year to come. “Champagne is a very festive wine,” says Jennifer McLagan, an Australian-trained chef and author of Fat: […]
Turkey Wines 7
As much as we anticipate pairing wine with our Thanksgiving feast, let us not forget: that bird at center-stage is akin to winged tofu. Dry, winged tofu. Doesn’t exactly tickle your wine fancy? Not to worry. When selecting a wine for the festive meal, it’s not the turkey you’re pairing to anyway. Rather, it’s everything that touches the turkey on your plate: a sea of savory, sweet, creamy and crunchy side dishes that are the true stars of the holiday. For this reason, spry, fruity wines with little age and decent acidity are the best for turkey and its fixings. […]
Food & Wine
Dinner with wine used to be simple. The rule was white wine with white meat and red wine with red meat. But most of us don’t just eat meat and potatoes or drink claret and chablis these days. With modern fusion cuisine and wines from new regions around the world, the choices – and confusion – are great. One new school of thought is that any wine goes with any dish. However, most of us don’t put ketchup on our ice cream for the same reason as we don’t drink a delicate white wine with a hearty meat dish or […]
Turkey Wines 4
Thanksgiving is either the most difficult meal with which to pair wine or the easiest. Turkey and its trimmings go with everything and nothing at the same time. It’s those sides that throw everything off. From sweet candied yams to mushroomy green bean casserole to tart cranberry sauce, you really can’t pin down a flavor — or even a range of flavors — to complement. You have a couple of options. You can stop fretting about your wine selection and drink whatever suits you (a fine course of action, if you ask me). Or you can follow a couple of […]
Turkey Wines 6
Once the invitations have been extended for this year’s Thanksgiving feast and the relatives have excitedly called to plan their arrival, that’s when a lot of hosts might find themselves undergoing sudden “preparation panic.” Take your pick of white, crisp chardonnays and look for one from a lesser-known winery. As the traditional turkey is thawed, they might wonder how they’re ever going to top last year’s delectable secret recipe for Grandma’s sangria, which everyone enthused about while mingling with guests waiting to be fed. The answer to this year’s creative culinary drink-pairing struggle lies inside a chilled or aged wine […]
Turkey Wines 5
One of America’s favorite holidays – with its own parade, plenty of football and a feast – Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. This year it falls on November 22, and apparently the U.S. version of this feasting day (Canada’s is quite sensibly held in October) seems to be well-known in Europe and Asia. It is an occasion that can strike dread in the hearts of dieters and bring delight to dessert fiends with its apple, pecan and pumpkin pies, savory squashes and sweet potatoes, molds, relishes, salads, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Oh, right! The turkey. The question then becomes what wine […]
