In our second video chat below, sommelier Mike Pierce gets into some specific and fun snack food and wine pairings. There were some surprising insights (really) as I thought all snacks would go best with sweet wines … Skittles proved me wrong, though I loved the Cracker Jacks pairing best. Have you discovered an unusually great pairing? What things do you have to keep in mind for the chemically-enhanced flavors of snack food? Any wines that really don’t work with snack food? Why do more obscure and expensive wines seem to go better with junk food? You can […]
Food & Wine Pairing
Wine and Junk Food Pairing from Maverick Mike
Our guest this evening is Mike Pierce, Sommelier and Co-Owner of San Francisco’s Maverick Wine Bar and he joins me now live from San Francisco. Welcome to the Sunday Sipper Club P.S. Tune in here for our next Live Video Wine Tasting: www.nataliemaclean.com/live Click on the “Follow” and “Like” buttons on this Facebook page to get notified when we go live. We’ll be simultaneously broadcasting on Facebook Live, YouTube Live Stream and Twitter Live Video via Periscope. Watch previous episodes of the Sunday Sipper Club (SSC) and find out who’s coming up next. Anyone can pair filet […]
Brookstreet Sommelier Rene Wallis Wine Tips
Rene Wallis, sommelier at the Brookstreet Hotel’s restaurant Perspectives, in Kanata shares, his tips on choosing from a wine list, unusual food pairings and favourite holiday wines. Where did you grow up? My mother raised my older sister, Angela, and I on her own in Ottawa’s French village of Vanier, a bilingual community where everyone knew each other. Wine wasn’t on the dinner table, but my good friend’s Portuguese parents made their own wine. At his tenth birthday party, I bit into a large piece of hot pepper on the pizza, filled my glass from a large pitcher of […]
Wine and Cheese Pairing Video
In this video we pair wine with 4 types of cheese: triple cream brie, goat cheese or chèvre, apple wood-smoked cheddar and blue cheese. I’ve selected four different styles of wine, but the fun is in mixing and matching to find new combinations. You can find more cheese pairings here or in the drinks matcher.Got a favourite? Let me know. In related news, you’ll find a video on pairing wine and pizza. Carmen Reserva Chardonnay 2010, Chile The 2010 Carmen Reserva Chardonnay wins the Best Brie Wine award! It’s caramel, toffee depths are a perfect backdrop for such a […]
Wine and Pizza Pairing Video
Are you planning a movie night soon with pizza? Here are tips on pairing your favourite pies with wines, whether you love Hawaiian, Margherita or Meat Lovers’ pizza. These are the four wines I tasted in this video, however several of them may not be in stock now so I have suggested some alternatives below. You can find more pizza pairings here or in the drinks matcher. Got a favourite pairing that you’d like to share? In related news, you’ll find a video on pairing cheese and wine. Urban Nik Weis Selection, Weingut St.Urbans-Hof Riesling 2009, Moselle, Germany Pure […]
Recipe: Aged Gouda Quesadillas and Bacon Paired with Cabernet Sauvignon
By Christie Pollard At a recent wine and cheese pairing event I tasted an Aged Dutch Gouda from Lancaster, Ontario with several wines and the best match was with Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California. The nutty, caramel flavours in the cheese wonderfully compliment the juicy, ripe fruit flavours in the wine. This easy quesadilla appetizer recipe was inspired by the match. Aged Gouda and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas with Bacon and Roasted Red Pepper Recipe Serves 8 Ingredients: 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil 2 large Spanish onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tbsp brown sugar ½ […]
Recipe: Beef Tenderloin, Root Vegetable Ragout, Porcini Red Wine Sauce Recipe
Beef Tenderloin with Root Vegetable Ragout and Porcini Red Wine Sauce An elegant and easy classic pairing. Rich, roasted beef tenderloin with sweet earthy root vegetable and mushroom ragout make this dish a terrific match with Chateau Pipeau Saint Emilion Grand Cru. This new addition to Vintages Essentials is an impressive Bordeaux, mainly Merlot, and is full of expressive red fruit with a long, structured finish. Serves 6 For the Ragout: 1 cup boiling water 1 cup dried porcini mushrooms 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp butter ½ cup chopped shallots 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 cups chopped parsnips (peeled […]
Wine and Food Pairing Evening with the Visa Infinite Dining Series
It was an evening of spectacular wine and food at Sidedoor Restaurant recently with the Visa Infinite Dining Series. Chef Jonathan Korecki, a contender on the Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, welcomed fellow competitors Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station, Toronto) and Trevor Bird (Fable Kitchens, Vancover) for a wonderful pairing of French wines and tasty dishes noted below. Wine expert Nick Hamilton provided lively and informative commentary on the wines and why they paired well with each dish. Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, Champagne, France: A robust and tasty champagne that floods the senses with freshly baked bread and hazelnuts. Pair with: […]
Lemongrass Acorn Squash Soup Recipe Paired with Nova 7
By Pamela Hatton My Mom microwaves pie pumpkins in pieces to speed up cooking time. Failing her instructions, I accidentally discovered all squash cook like a charm whole – as long as you poke holes deep into the flesh allowing steam to escape. A lesson quickly learned… Serves 8 first course Ingredients: 1 acorn squash 1medium onion, finely chopped 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 tablespoons butter 2-3 garlic cloves, finely diced 1 stalk lemongrass, smashed then finely chopped ½-1 tsp green curry paste 3-4 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock (1 tetra pack) or homemade ½ -3/4Cup whipping cream Salt and pepper […]
Mediterranean Burger Recipe Paired with Gilles Louvet O Pinot Noir
Mediterranean Burgers Ingredients 4 fresh buns 4 beef burgers 1 tomato 1 onion Fresh salad leaves 2 pickles Fresh goat cheese –preferably a Languedoc Pélardon Fresh cilantro Tobasco Sauce Mayonnaise Ground cumin Ground cinnamon Ground ginger Garlic Salt and Pepper Preparation Slice the onion finely and fry at a medium heat with a splash of olive oil. Meanwhile, cut the tomato into thick slices, rinse the salad, cut the pickles into slices lengthways and slice the goat cheese. In a small bowl mix ½ cup of mayonnaise, 1 tbsp tobasco sauce, a pinch of cumin, cinnamon and ginger, 1 tsp […]
