Bring the taste of Italy to your backyard this summer. July is one of my favourite months, traditionally the warmest month of the year in Canada. It’s the perfect time to get together with friends and enjoy the best life has to offer. With warm days and spectacular sunsets, it’s easy to believe you’re in an exotic place where the weather’s more accommodating year round. To get the most out of your summer, here’s an exotic spin on an old favourite that’s best enjoyed with a bottle of wine, good conversation and the comfort of a backyard or patio. The […]
Food & Wine Pairing
How to Pair Wine and Cheese Plus Serving Tips
It’s been said that wine and cheese are not only the perfect marriage, but the one that never breaks up! The key here is to build up a momentum. Offering three separate servings, start with lighter cheeses accompanied by light wines or beers and move on to stronger cheeses and more full-bodied vintages. And don’t forget to look for the 100% Canadian milk symbol whenever you buy cheese. Presentation: It doesn’t take much to attract a crowd to cheese. So a simple, elegant plate can suffice. But a lovely assortment of cheeses luxuriously laid out on a prized marble or […]
Wine Marketing Brand Launch: Henry of Pelham Sibling Rivalry
In the video below, Daniel Speck shares a behind-the-scenes look at the incredibly successful launch of the wine brand Sibling Rivalry. How can you use consumer package goods marketing to such a fragmented, quirky and artisanal category like wine? In 1984, many people thought that the Speck family in Niagara was crazy when they ripped out their Concord grapes at their own expense and instead planted Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, they’re considered prescient for having been one of the first wineries in the region to make the leap to premium grapes and wine. Three […]
Grilled Flank Steak Sandwich Recipe with Gorgonzola, Roasted Red Pepper Paired with Liberty School Cabernet
This isn’t your average steak sandwich. Pair this recipe with a wine that offers lots of ripe red fruit flavours and firm, but silky tannins. A great choice would be Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from the California’s Paso Robles region.
Japanese Grilled Steak Sandwich Recipe with Canadian Havarti & Riesling
According to the calendar, summer officially starts in a week – on June 21. However, I believe that in sun-starved Canada summer starts the moment we see leaves on trees, and that’s why we’ve been enjoying it for more than a month. I suspect that many of you have fired up your barbecues long ago and by now you’ve probably cooked your fair share of burgers and steaks. So I thought you’d appreciate a fun, new idea for a simple and delicious recipe on the barbecue: Japanese-style Steak Sandwich with Canadian Havarti. This steak sandwich recipe features a mouth-watering, exotic […]
Grilled Steak Recipe Paired with Yalumba Shiraz or Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon
By Tracey Black Father’s Day coincides with the start of summer, so a grilled steak is the perfect way to celebrate Dad and enjoy a great bottle of wine with el fresco dining. You can take on the grilling yourself or let Dad take up his rightful place at the BBQ while you whip up this wonderfully easy and delicious dinner. Serve with grilled potatoes, your favourite baguette or forgo the carbs for an extra glass of wine. Be sure to make this recipe a jumping-off point to your summer as it’s easy to put together on the fly post-golf […]
Pork, Peach, Feta Recipe Paired with French Chardonnay
A Short and Tasty Recipe for a Long Summer Day I love the long days of June. I love having 16 sun-soaked hours to enjoy the splendour of Canadian summers and relish the prospect of lots of warmth and sunlight to come. It’s important to enjoy every minute of these days, from sunrise to sunset. Let me suggest a simple recipe for the barbecue that will put a perfect end to your day and start you off on a great summer night, preferably with some friends and a bottle of wine. The recipe I have in mind is Pork, Peach […]
The first patio party of the year
I’m glad to announce that I am officially opening my patio. There have been enough warm, sunny afternoons to make me believe that I can safely take my garden furniture out of storage and organize a small get-together. You should do the same. I propose you host an afternoon wine and cheese party so that you can bask with your friends in the spring sunlight, whether it be on your patio or balcony. The cheese platter I have assembled was inspired by the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix, a national competition that celebrates Canadian cheese-making excellence, awarding the best in each […]
Pasta Recipe Sagne e Fagioli All’Abbruzzese and Illuminati Riparosso
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 Italian pork sausages wild fennel seed, toasted and crushed extra virgin olive oil 28 oz can plum tomatoes, basil, onion pecorino cheese, grated small glass of red wine … Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo would suit the mood In a mixing bowl mix the salt and flour together […]
Wine Pairing Column in Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Sun
In the new year, I signed on to do a weekly syndicated wine pairing column in the Postmedia newspapers across the country, including the Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Regina Leader-Post and Montreal Gazette. The reader response has been phenomenal, with lots of tweets and comments coming in over the wire. You’ll find the sauvignon blanc below here with wine and recipe pairings. Got a wine to suggest that I feature in an upcoming column? Please e-mail me at [email protected].
