Zucca Trattoria tweets: “@TrialtoON that’s right! We are so impressed with Illuminati Riparosso ($12.55) we made a pasta especially for it.” Sagne e Fagioli All’Abbruzzese Recipe created by Andrew Milne-Allan, Owner/Chef (Serves 4) Ingredients 250 g all-purpose  flour 150 ml warm water salt 250 g romano beans, fresh or frozen garlic, sage 2 good quality [...]

The “I’ve got too much to do and not enough time to do it” Blues We’ve all had days like that! On a day when you can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, can’t be checking on things, can’t be doing multiple steps, a crock pot can be your best friend. Did you [...]

Tagliatelle with Mushroom Ragù A rich, hearty pasta dish featuring earthy mushrooms in a tomato red wine sauce. The recipe is fairly quick to prepare for an easy weekday meal. Enjoy the dish with a fruity, lush red like Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009, a terrific bargain at $12.95. Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients 1 [...]

My good friend and chef extraordinaire Tracey Black developed this tender and juicy recipe for Spring Navarin of Lamb. Tracey will be re-opening her fine food store and Ottawa-based catering and gourmet take-away store in early April. Details below along with my wine pairings for this dish. Serves 4 Ingredients 2 pounds boneless lamb leg [...]

Warm Chorizo Cheese and Black Bean Dip A crowd pleasing dip featuring oozing melted cheese and black beans with a touch of heat from jalapeno peppers and chorizo sausage. A perfect pairing to try would be La Posta Cocina Tinto 2010, a blend of Malbec, Syrah and Bonardo from Argentina. If you are unable to [...]

Braised Lamb Shanks with Indian Spices and Basmati Rice Pilaf A ripe, fruit forward red with soft tannins would be the perfect match to this Indian spiced braised lamb dish. Try Tilia Malbec 2010 from Argentina’s Mendoza region. The wine displays concentrated black raspberry flavours and a touch of sweet spice. Serves 6 2 tsp [...]

Thai Spice Infused Risotto with Sauteed Scallops and Shrimp An Asian twist on the classic risotto recipe. Coconut milk, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves infuse the broth and a touch of heat is is provided by Thai red curry paste. Choose a wine that is able to stand up to all these flavours. A [...]

A simple but elegant way to prepare rainbow trout. Pair this dish with an un-oaked Chardonnay with citrus notes and a zesty acidity such as Foxglove Chardonnay 2009 from California Serves 2 12 oz. rainbow trout filet, pin bones removed flour for dredging 2 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp unsalted butter 2 lemons, segments cut [...]

Crowd pleasing and soul satisfying.  This hearty pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food.  The recipe can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight making it the perfect dish to serve game day.  Pair it with a fruit forward, full-bodied red like Alamos Malbec 2010. Serves 8 to 10 1 lb. ziti or rigatoni pasta 1 [...]

Salmon Dill Crepes Paired with Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc By: Shari Goodman When you need a break from the busyness of the holiday season, it’s nice to catch up over a delicious but deceivingly simple make-ahead brunch. I used to think crepes were too difficult to make home. I thought of them as something special [...]