Whether you’re on the deck, by the lake, in the mountains or beside the pool with friends and family… all you need is the right cheese and the perfect wine pairing for fresh and easy summertime deliciousness. This time of year is ripe for fresh ingredients like tomatoes, leafy lettuce, herbs and local vegetables. And what better way to add a little nutritious twist and a lot of taste to great summer meals, than by adding Canadian cheese? Cheese expert Anne-Marie Shubin recommends adding aged Canadian Cheddar to green salads, as well as toasted pumpkin seeds and thinly sliced apples. […]
Food & Wine Pairing
My fav wine & grilled grub pairings in Every Day with Rachel Ray
I was thrilled to contribute my favourite wine pairings for grilled and barbecue foods in the June issue of Every Day with Rachel Ray Magazine. I’m looking forward to many grilled delights this summer … as long as I also have a great glass of vino in hand! What are your favourite grilled grub wine pairings? Cheers, Natalie
Homegrown: Cheeses and Wine from the Annapolis Valley
In the Annapolis Valley, you can practically feel everything growing around you. Rich green forests border mile upon mile of farmland, orchards, tangled fields and lush vineyards. It’s the type of beauty that makes people invest heavily in picnic baskets. It’s understood that if you’ve never visited, you should call your travel agent immediately, but failing that, the right cheese and wine pairing can deliver a delicious little piece of this Canadian paradise. In a particularly green corner of the valley, next to a herd of grazing Holsteins you’ll find the Fox Hill Cheese House. Using milk from their own […]
New Wine App Featured in Canadian House & Home Magazine
Just got my June copy of Canadian House & Home Magazine, and was thrilled to see the new wine mobile app featured in this issue! I love the recipes and home decor ideas in this magazine, so it’s such an honor for the new food and wine mobile app to be included in it. Now I’m off to organize my closets, inspired by the serenity of everything in its place in the magazine! Cheers, Natalie
Bubbly & Bruschetta with Soft Eggs and Lobster
For all that she’s done, the mother in your household or in your life deserves a bit of luxury on Sunday morning. A brunch featuring Bruschetta with Eggs and Lobster should fit the bill nicely. It’s a celebratory riff on scrambled eggs on toast, with rich cream cheese, regal lobster, and, if you have it handy, a drizzle of truffle oil on top. (Lobsterphobes could substitute another seafood preference — smoked salmon, shrimp, crab or white fish — or opt for none at all, given that the cream cheese is decadent in itself. ) The Wine: Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling […]
Which wines go best with Clam Chowder?
Most of us think of hearty wines with soups or stews because their meat and texture is appetizingly rich from slow cooking. These winter warmers often work, but you might also consider other ingredients. Spices, herbs and tomatoes add tangy notes that may call for wines with good acidity, while vegetables such as onions, carrots and squash add an element of sweetness and so wines with more rounded, lush fruity flavors work. Just as you experiment with different seasonings in your pot, try different flavors in your glass to see which ones you like best—and enjoy! These wine pairings and […]
Which Wine to Pair with 24?
The new season of 24 has started with a bang. Wine lovers are wondering not so much how Jack Bauer will get out of his latest predicament, but rather, which wine(s) to drink while watching the series. Until that’s settled, there’s no way we can focus on the plot. So here are some fun suggestions to kick things off from my wine friends on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere online: A tasty, and a challenging pairing! Probably something bianco & indigenous to Italy. Falanghina perhaps? @CityWineJournal I’m also thinking an Oregon Pinot might work… unassuming yet powerful (as in a Bauer […]
Holiday Wines on CBC
Join me on CBC radio Tuesday, December 22 when we’ll be chatting about wines for the holidays with the hosts of the drive-home shows from coast to coast. Here are some more details. I’ll be posting theschedule of interviews as soon as they’re confirmed today, but we’ll be chatting about how to pair wines with holiday dishes and treats, from mince meat pie to chocolate Santas. We’ll also discuss how to choose the perfect wine as a gift for the wine lovers in your life. Join us! 3:00 QUEBEC CITY 3:20 VICTORIA 3:40 REGINA 4:20 WINDSOR 4:40 WINNIPEG 5:30 WHITEHORSE […]
Food & Wine Pairing Rules Aren’t What They to Be
It used to be so simple: Red wine went with red meat, white wine went with white meat, and that, essentially, was that when it came to pairing food and wine. These days, it’s a bit more complex. For one thing, wines are being made in more styles and more regions than ever before. For another, our diets now include flavours from all over the world as well as casual fare that once we would never have dreamed of enjoying with wine. By Joanne Sasvari The old rules don’t always apply. But what has replaced them? Are there any rules […]
Sumptuous Pinot Noir Dinner in Niagara
While in Niagara, I was fortunate to indulge in a Pinot Noir tasting dinner at Peller Estate Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in the Niagara region. Chef Jason Parsons chatted with me in the busy kitchen about his philosophy of fresh, local and wine inspired cuisine. Here’s the menu: the wines and dishes were matched deliciously well! CHEF’S SIGNATURE CHIICKEN LIIVER PARFAIIT Pinot Noir, Plum Preserve ~ Andrew Peller Chardonnay “Sur Lie” 2007 LOBSTER LIINGUINI Icewine Poached Lobster, Alberta Parmesan, Chardonnay “Sur Lie” Cream Sauce ~ CHESTNUT ROASTED DUCK Spiced Autumn Ragout and Pinot Bacon Sauce ~ […]
