Canadian Brie Fondue Recipe and Sancerre

Canadian Brie Fondue Add a little warmth to the cooler months Let’s be honest. The time between the harvest and the holiday season can feel like an eternity. The weather grows colder by the minute and the sky seems to be perpetually grey, yet there’s no snow on the ground to lift our spirits. So how can you make the time pass a little faster? Why, with a tummy-pleasing appetizer, of course. A personal favourite of mine, and one that I know will put a smile on your face, is Canadian Brie Fondue. Now, you don’t need to be a […]

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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 […]

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Duck Pizza Recipe with Smoked Mozzarella, Roasted Butternut Squash and Sauteed Mushrooms Paired with Las Rocas Garnacha

A  swanky pizza with smoky, sweet and savoury flavours. Choose a wine with the same bold flavours such as Las Rocas Garnacha 2009. The wine is full of ripe black cherry and raspberry notes supported by supple tannins and some very food friendly acidity. This incredible bargain should not be missed, until November 10th receive 20 Bonus Air Miles with each bottle purchased. Duck Pizza with Smoked Mozzarella, Roasted Butternut Squash and Sautéed Mushrooms Makes four 6-inch or one 12-inch pizza Pizza dough, purchased or homemade (recipe below) Ingredients: 1 whole head garlic 5 tbsp olive oil, divided 1½ cup […]

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Autumn Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Paired with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir

Hosting made easy? There’s a recipe for that. There’s nothing better than inviting a few friends over for a nice dinner. Unless, of course, you end up spending so much time preparing it that you’re completely drained by the time they show up at your house. With that in mind, I give you this week’s recipe suggestion: Autumn Hash. A new twist on an old classic, this shepherd’s pie 2.0 will not only wow your guests, it’ll actually leave you time to enjoy their company. The recipe calls for all sorts of yummy ingredients, including Canadian Havarti. And if that […]

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Pairing Meat + Wine: Fowles Wines Australia Video

We continue our video chat below with Matt Fowles about pairing wine with game and wild meats, and how he has created wines with flavours and texture to suit these dishes. You can watch our first video conversation here.           You may also enjoy these video chats: Game and Wine Pairings Viognier and Yalumba Wines Australia Canadian Cheese and Wine Tasting See all wine video chats here. Is there someone else with a fascinating wine story whom you think I should interview? Please e-mail me: [email protected].      

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Game and Wine Pairings: Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Video

Matt Fowles is the man behind the Australian wine called Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch. In the video chat below, he discussed how to pair wine with game meat, especially those you hunt yourself as he does.     When did you develop your passion for hunting? How is the taste of game and wild meat different from commercially raised meat? How does that affect the wine you pair with it? How did you come up with the name Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch?     Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Plunkett Fowles Shiraz 2009, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia: Smoky […]

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Lamb Shepherd’s Pie Paired with Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon

Lamb Shepherd’s Pie A beloved British classic perfect for a comforting Sunday dinner. This shepherd’s pie combines the earthy flavour of lamb with rosemary, thyme and russet potatoes. Look for those tastes in a wine- earthy and herbal with dark cherry and plum flavours. A terrific match would be Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Paso Robles, California. Lamb Shepherd’s Pie – Serves 6 to 8 Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 6 slices bacon, diced 1½ lb. lamb shoulder, trimmed of fat and cut into cubes 1 onion, finely diced 2 stalks celery, finely diced 2 carrots, peeled and finely […]

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Ratatouille au Gratin Paired with Chianti or Pinot Blanc

Ratatouille au Gratin How to Cook Two Meals at Once Hosting adults is one thing. Hosting families is another. While children aren’t exactly demanding when it comes to decoration and music, they can be extremely picky with food. This typically leaves you with two options: “dumb down” your entire meal to accommodate everyone or make an entirely different meal for the kids. But here’s a third, far-better alternative: a ratatouille au gratin for the adults, which turns into a delicious spaghetti sauce for the kids. The beauty of this meal is that you are minimizing time and effort spent, while […]

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Turkey Cutlets, Canadian Swiss Cheese and Riesling

Turkey Cutlets with Squash, Canadian Swiss and Honey Sauce What’s old is new again. And more delicious than ever. As beautiful and timeless as most of the holiday traditions are, in my humble opinion, there’s one that could use a little updating. That’s right. I’m talking about the Christmas turkey. So this week I’m suggesting a recipe that puts a whole new spin on this holiday classic: turkey cutlets with squash, Canadian Swiss (always a favourite) and honey sauce. I’m also suggesting a couple of wines to help you wash it all down with a flourish. Because the dish is […]

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Canadian Cheese and Wine Tasting: Video Chat

Our second Canadian wine and cheese Google Video tasting below was terrific! We had just as much fun as the first tasting, but this time we incorporated more pairing tips and background on the cheeses. We’re pioneering the use of this hottest new social media tool, so each time is a technical leap forward and we’ll continue to optimize it.     If you’d like to taste along with us, you’ll find all the cheeses and wines in this first post, as well as the names and sites for all the great participants. Kick back during an evening at home […]

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