Rainbow Trout Recipe with Brown Butter, Lemon Capers and Pine Nuts Paired with Foxglove Chardonnay, California

A simple but elegant way to prepare rainbow trout. Pair this dish with an un-oaked Chardonnay with citrus notes and a zesty acidity such as Foxglove Chardonnay 2009 from California Serves 2 12 oz. rainbow trout filet, pin bones removed flour for dredging 2 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp unsalted butter 2 lemons, segments cut away from skin and pith (This technique is called supremed – here’s a quick video on how to supreme a lemon) 1 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp capers, chopped 2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped 2 tbsp pine nuts salt and pepper In a large skillet, […]

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Baked Ziti Recipe with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper, Fennel and Mozzarella Paired with Alamos Malbec, Argentina

Crowd pleasing and soul satisfying.  This hearty pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food.  The recipe can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight making it the perfect dish to serve game day.  Pair it with a fruit forward, full-bodied red like Alamos Malbec 2010. Serves 8 to 10 1 lb. ziti or rigatoni pasta 1 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 small fennel bulb, diced 1 lb. Chorizo sausage, casings removed 1 can diced tomato with juice (28 oz.) ½ can crushed tomato (14 oz.) ½ cup roasted red pepper, diced ¼ cup parsley, […]

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Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe Paired with Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny

This holiday classic is the perfect finale to Christmas dinner. A fantastic pairing with this dessert is Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny, a port-style blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Makes 10 servings For the Puddings: 1 ¾ cups packed pitted dates, chopped 2 cups water 1 ½  tsp baking soda 2 cups flour ½ tsp baking powder ½  tsp ginger ½  tsp cinnamon ½  tsp salt 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 3 large eggs   For the Toffee Sauce: ¾ cup unsalted butter 1 ½ cup brown sugar 1 cup 35% cream ½ tsp vanilla […]

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Bites of Bliss – Holiday Cheese Hors d’Oeuvres Recipes and Wine Pairings Make for Festive Evenings

GOUDA ALL WAYS Holiday eating usually means large meals and I love the occasional feast as much as the next wine writer. But I also appreciate meals that give me a break in the middle of banquet season and still deliver sparkle and flavour. Let’s organize an event with no main course and enjoy tasty morsels of deliciousness: hors d’oeuvres! They’re perfect for a supper party because they can be eaten over a long period of time, delight the senses and still leave room for wine and conversation! So let’s have a great evening of appetizers and cheeses paired with […]

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Duck Pizza with Smoked Mozzarella, Roasted Butternut Squash and Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe – Paired with Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre 2008

A  swanky pizza with smoky, sweet and savoury flavours. Choose a wine with the same bold flavours such as Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2008. The wine’s bright, concentrated fruit and hint of spice works well with this recipe. Leftover smoked duck or BBQ duck would be a great substitute. Makes four 6-inch or one 12-inch pizza pizza dough, purchased or homemade (recipe below) 1 whole head garlic 5 tbsp olive oil, divided 1 ½ cup butternut squash, peeled and diced 3 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 cups mixed mushrooms (cremini and shiitake), sliced 1 duck breast […]

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Take It Inside – November is a Great Time for an Intimate Cheese Fondue Recipe

Cheese Fondue Fall is beautiful, colourful and very romantic. November rains are an invitation to cozy up indoors and appreciate the simple joys of life: the comforting presence of a loved one, a great meal and an intoxicating glass of wine. Forget your worries, embrace the moment and ask your better half to join you for an intimate dinner of cheese fondue and great wines. I propose this fondue of Canadian Swiss, Gouda and Cheddar cheese not only for its sensuality and warmth, but also for its wonderful flexibility and simplicity. I invite you to get creative with the dipping […]

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Proscuitto Wrapped Salmon with Warm Lentil Salad Recipe Paired with Luca Pinot Noir 2009

Proscuitto Wrapped Salmon with Warm Lentil Salad Paired with: Luca Pinot Noir 2009 Wrapping proscuitto around salmon filets is an easy way to dress up fish while adding some intense flavour.  Salmon pairs well with medium bodied, bright and fruity red wines, and Pinot Noir is a classic pairing. Try this simple and elegant recipe with Luca Pinot Noir 2009 from the Uco Valley in Argentina. The wine is layered with strawberry and raspberry flavours, while offering a velvety texture lingering finish. Proscuitto Wrapped Salmon Serves 4 4 salmon filets (6 oz. center cut, skinless) 1 ½  tbsp Dijon mustard […]

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Korean BBQ Beef Sliders with Kimchi Recipe Paired with Parducci Sustainable Red

Korean BBQ Beef Sliders with Kimchi Paired with Parducci Sustainable Red In this recipe, Korean flavours add gentle spice without any major heat, making it a great appetizer to pair with both Syrah and Zinfandel.  Parducci Sustainable Red, is a blend which includes both varietals, making it a perfect choice. The recipe for the buns is simple but you can also purchase mini slider buns or Asian dumpling buns to cut down on your prep time. The BBQ beef also makes a nice main course, thinly sliced and served with sticky rice and kimchi. (Kimchi is a condiment often used […]

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Calzone Recipe with Artichokes, Ham, Ricotta, and Parmesan Paired with Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Calzone with Artichokes, Ham, Ricotta, and Parmesan Paired with: Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon By: Karl Wente, Fifth Generation Winemaker As we head into the winter months, I always start looking towards some heartier dishes and the wines to match with them, especially after the yearly exhaustion of harvest. One wine that I’m incredibly proud of and often turn to at this time of year is the Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has plump aromas of blackberry, cherry, currant and cinnamon toast, and is an incredible value as it is all estate grown from sustainable vineyards. […]

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Ratatouille Recipe Paired with Bordeaux Chateau Des Moines 2008

Ratatouille by: Shari Goodman Throw the word “Ratatouille” (rat-a-too-ee) into a conversation these days and people tend to think of the 2007 Oscar winning, computer-animated movie produced by Pixar. In this movie, Remy the rat, dreams of becoming the best chef in Paris, and not to spoil the movie if you are among the few who have not seen it, the French dish, Ratatouille plays a significant role. Ratatouille is not only beautiful to behold, it is a perfect dish for this time of year when Farmer’s Markets are still offering vegetables fresh from the gardens. And the good news […]

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