Why did the chicken flee screaming across the road? It might’ve been escaping the dinner-party host trying to fry him and serve him with, yawn, a bottle of chardonnay. Matching vino and vittles for your next bash doesn’t have to be a “Wine for Dummies” affair relying on tried-and-tired combos (steak with Merlot, fish and Pinot Grigio). But combining tidbits that are supposedly wine-averse — Indian take-out, chips, breakfast — might mean you’ll uncork some interesting bottles. “In Europe, wine culture is quite developed, so it’s common and easy to simply pair white with fish or things like that,” says […]
Food & Wine Pairing
Tomatoes & Wine 2
It’s high season for tomatoes, that short but intense period when locally grown tomatoes seem to be everywhere: Farm stands, supermarkets, back-yard vines. One bite into a juicy, ripe sun-warmed tomato and you recognize once more what all the fuss is about after spending months dodging those wan, rock-hard “tomatoes” sold or served out-of-season. A fresh, vine-ripened tomato deserves to be showcased at the table with, at least, a sprinkling of good salt and, at most, a piece or two of mozzarella, basil sprigs and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. And, to make it even more celebratory, be sure […]
Avocados & Wine
For such a mild-tasting fruit, the avocado has a racy reputation. In its native Central America, the avocado was an aphrodisiac, thanks to its pear shape and creamy flesh. Avocados found their way to California in 1871, where about 90 percent of today’s U.S. crop is grown. The two most widely cultivated varieties you’re likely to find in the grocery store are Hass and Fuerte. Hass avocados have a pebbly skin that starts out green and ripens to purple-black, while Fuerte avocados are green with a smoother skin. The flavor difference is subtle: Hass avocados are smoother with more oil […]
An early taste of summer
We’ve all noticed the days getting longer and warmer. Very slowly. Instead of waiting for Mother Nature to give us a taste of summer, why don’t we treat ourselves to a generous dose of sunshine right now? Let’s pair southern warmth with the Canadian spring equinox and enjoy some fruity wines, exotic cheeses and great company. How can friends refuse an offer of good food and good wine? They won’t, which takes us to step one, food. Allow me to propose a sunny entree of almond-crusted maple salmon fillet and follow it up with an exotic cheese platter. The theme […]
A Valentine’s Day cheese platter is a great opportunity to treat your loved one
A great way to let your valentine know you care is with small, unique gestures. So why not go beyond the traditional flowers and chocolates and surprise your special someone with a romantic cheese platter? Your partner will think the world of you and it only takes minutes to prepare. This platter maximizes pleasure and simplicity, and everything on it can be eaten with a fork. Start off with a Saint-Paulin, a creamy and buttery cheese, and couple it with a salty and savoury Parmesan. Cut both cheeses into cubes and place them on the simplest, most elegant plate you […]
Food and wine sites worth visiting
My thanks to following food and wine web sites and blogs that have recently posted the free Drinks Matcher on their sites to keep their visitors coming back for more pairings. Please let me know if you post the Drinks Matcher on your site so I can include you in a future blog post with a link to your site. These sites are well worth visiting, with their wealth of tips, articles and recipes: Everyday Sommelier www.everydaysommelier.ca Wine Love Lust winelovewinelust.com/2011/01/14/natalie-mcleans-food-and-wine-matcher Culinary Thymes www.culinarythymes.com/blog/natalie-macleans-wine-food-matcher Fireside Winery www.firesidewinery.com/products.html Kinkead Ridge Winery www.KinkeadRidge.com/htm/whats_new.htm Saveur Faire www.saveurfaire.net Nickle City Foodie www.nickelcityfoodie.com
Brighten up your winter with food, drinks and friends
The holidays are over and we must now deal with the realities of winter: short days, cold weather and for many of us, no vacation in sight. So let’s create our own holiday by hosting small, intimate gatherings of friends and family. Let’s share laughs and forget about the weather, but let’s keep it simple: use your favourite comfort dish, dress it up with a great appetizer and finish off the meal with a delicious cheese platter. Start off your first dinner party of the new year with a classic dish prepared with a fresh twist: French onion soup with […]
Dry Aged AAA Beef Strip Loin with Warm Asparagus, Crispy Truffle Potato
Makes 4 servings 16 – 20 ounces Dry aged beef strip Loin steaks or roast 20 stalks Asparagus (peeled, blanched & cut, 1 inch pieces) 1.5 lbs Large Yellow or White Potatoes 1 Tbsp Gelatin Powder 2 Tbsp Instant Flour 1 Tbsp Fresh or Preserved Truffles (finely diced) 1.5 Tsp Truffle Oil 1 Tbsp Butter or Olive Oil 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese Beef: Purchase dry aged beef which most butchers carry. Please note: When trimming dry aged beef it is important to remove any exterior tissue that has been exposed to the air because that is the place which […]
Pairing wines and spicy foods
This is a terrific piece on pairing wine with spicy dishes written by my good friend Monica Bhide … There is certainly a noticeable trend in the past few years toward the growth of different ethnic cuisines in the U.S., and wine consumption is also trending up. Combine these and it begs a few questions, such as: What to drink with vindaloo (other than chilled beer)? What to pair with kung pao? How does one pair wine with cilantro? To find the answers to these questions, I turned to Natalie MacLean, editor of a free, award-winning wine newsletter at […]
Veal Roast with Sage and Apple Stuffing
A savoury spiral of succulent veal and bread stuffing makes a deeply flavourful winter meal and an elegant dinner table centerpiece. Ingredients 2 tbsp butter 30 ml 3 stalks celery, chopped 3 1 onion, chopped 1 1 tbsp dried sage 15 ml 1/2 tsp celery seeds 2 ml 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper 1 ml 2 apples, diced (unpeeled) 2 8 cups cubed day-old bread 2 L 3/4 cup dried cranberries 175 ml 5 lb boneless veal breast, trimmed 2.5 kg 1-1/2 cups approx. chicken stock 375 ml Preparation In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat; […]
