Which wines go best with the “green food” that we’ll enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, such as corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew? How about those fresh spring vegetables that will soon be on our plates? Which wines go best with the “green food” that we’ll enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, such as corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew? How about those fresh spring vegetables that will soon be on our plates? Green foods are the problem children of the wine world. But as a stubborn hedonist whose grandmother’s name was Brophy, I’ve found some terrific wines to […]
Tomatoes & Wine
Pairing Tomatoes & Wine, Heatwave Impact, Gary Vaynerchuk’s New Wine Club
Introduction What’s the best way to pair wine with tomatoes and tomato dishes? Will the current heatwave impact wine and the greater wine economy? How is Gary Vaynerchuk disrupting the way we buy wine? What effect does being in a romantic relationship have on your use or abuse of wine? On this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m diving into all these topics plus I’m sharing some tips you can use to get the most out of my wine app for your next shopping trip. Enjoy the episode! Highlights What should you consider when pairing wine with […]
Pairing Wine and Tomato Dishes (Video)
In the video clip above, Jeff and I chat about pairing wine with different types of tomatoes and tomato dishes. What’s your favourite pairing? Jeff: Stores and Farmer’s Markets are lush right now with colourful products including tomatoes of every colour ripe off the vine or cooked up in a sauce. Nothing can complement a tasty dish like a great glass of wine. And here with her picks for perfect pairing is wine expert Natalie MacLean, nice to see you. Natalie: It’s great to see you, Jeff. Jeff: Now listen, before we get to the tomato, which, to me, […]
Gourmet Spreadable Cheese Recipes and Wine Pairings
Gourmet Spreadable Cheese Terrine with Toasted Pecans Recipe Ingredients 8 oz. Rondelé® by Président® Garlic & Herbs Cheese Spread, room temperature 8 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature 3/4 cup Toasted Pecans, chopped 2 tbs Parsley, chopped 1 tsp Orange Zest Instructions Line a small loaf pan completely with plastic wrap, allowing several inches of overhang. Blend Rondelé® by Président® Gourmet Spreadable Cheese with cream cheese in food processor until completely combined. Layer in pan: 6 tablespoons pecans, half of cheese mixture, parsley, orange zest, remaining half of cheese mixture, finishing with 6 tablespoons pecans. Wrap over-hanging plastic wrap over […]
Cream of Roasted Red Pepper with Bocconcini Soup Recipe Paired with Sauvignon Blanc
Cream of Roasted Red Pepper with Bocconcini Soup Warm up to Fall Shorter days. Colder weather. It’s enough to leave you feeling like you need a vacation. But if you can’t do that, why not try the next best thing: a hearty, heartwarming bowl of soup. This recipe for Cream of Roasted Red Pepper with Bocconcini Soup ain’t your grandma’s chicken noodle (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It’s a deliciously modern combination of soft and creamy Canadian Bocconcini and juicy roasted peppers, topped with a sweet tang of balsamic. It’s one of my go-to soups, and whether you’re […]
Food and Wine Pairing + Canadian Harvest: CTV
Join me on CTV’s Canada AM this Thursday at 8:30 a.m. EST when we’ll chat about how the harvest is going across the country in various Canadian wine regions, from the Okanagan Valley to the Annapolis Valley. We’ll also discuss how to pair wine with seasonal tomato dishes. On Friday, tune into CTV’s new national talk show, The Social: think The View, but with smarter hosts and much stronger social media angle. We’ll be having fun with unusual wine and food pairings from poutine to potato chips at 1:20 p.m. EST. It’s prime time for wine this week! Cheers, Natalie
Baco Noir: A Grape to Call Our Own
Baco Noir: if you live and drink wine in Ontario, then seeing this on a wine label is probably not a curiousity. But, if you don’t live in a cool wine making region, then this hybrid grape has probably never passed your lips. A cross of Folle Blanche from western France (historically used to produce Cognac) and a Vitis Riparia vine indigenous to North America, Baco Noir grows happily in vineyards of Ontario and produces wine that is deserving of the glass. Typically a smoky, fruity, deeply coloured wine, it was once a mainstay in Niagara, before the arrival of […]
Empanadas with Smoky Tomato Chutney Recipe Paired with Tilia Malbec
These Argentinean pastries are packed full of flavour. The fragrant beef filling features olives, raisins and cumin. Traditionally eaten as street food, empanadas are a perfect snack with a glass of Tilia Malbec. To save on time, use purchased puff pastry that has been pre-rolled. Join us and sample Tilia wines at the Toronto Gourmet food & Wine Expo Nov 16-18th. Empanadas with Smoky Tomato Chutney Recipe Makes 36 Ingredients: For the empanadas: 2 tsp olive oil ½ cup onion, finely diced 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup green pepper, finely diced ½ lb. lean ground beef 1 tsp fresh […]
Recipe: Beef Braciole, Grilled Tomato Sauce with Chianti Classico
Beef Braciole with Grilled Tomato Sauce Braciole is traditionally made with slices of top round steak, pounded thin and wrapped around a savoury filling, which is then braised in a tomato sauce. This version is BBQ-ready and features flank steak stuffed pinwheel-style, with proscuitto, fontina and parmesan. A summery grilled tomato and fresh herb sauce is served alongside. The dish would be a perfect match for a rich, harmonious Tuscan red like Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2009. Serves 6 to 8 For the steak: 1 ½ to 2 lb. flank steak, well trimmed ½ cup Panko bread crumbs ¼ cup plus […]
Pairing Wine and Tomatoes is a Delicious Challenge
Bill Daley, the superb wine columnist from the Chicago Tribune, asked for my tips on pairing wine with tomatoes. You can find more of my tomato and wine pairings in the Drinks Matcher: click on Start with a Food, then Vegetables/Salads. These pairings are also in the mobile wine apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and Blackberry. Since we’re just coming into tomato season, we have lots of delicious days ahead of us! Cheers, Natalie Bill Daley A ripe tomato deserves to be showcased at the table with, at least, a sprinkling of good salt and, at most, a […]
