This African side dish that is part of the feast for Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of culture, community and family from December 26 to January 1 that is observed in both West African nations as well as by those of African descent in Canada, the United States and other countries. “Kwanzaa” is derived from Swahili meaning “first fruits of the harvest.” The loose-leafed collard greens are simmered in chicken stock, then spiced with chili flakes and other seasonings. Ingredients Preparation Please share your tips on preparing this recipe or another collard greens recipe in the comments below. […]
Fruitcake Recipe: Holiday Wine Match
A traditional United Kingdom dessert made from candied fruit, dried fruit, nuts and spices that is soaked in spirits. It is especially associated with Christmas and weddings. The earliest known recipes came from ancient Rome, and then soon spread throughout Europe. In the U.K., a round fruitcake is usually covered with marzipan (sugar and honey), and then a hard white icing made from beaten egg whites. Ingredients Preparation Please share your tips on preparing this recipe or another fruitcake recipe in the comments below. Return to the Joy to the World Holiday Wine Match.
Roast Turkey Recipe: Holiday Wine Match
Roast turkey is the centerpiece of Canadian and American Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday tables. It’s associated with the Pilgrims who were introduced to it by Native North Americans. Side dishes often include cranberry sauce, bread stuffing, giblet gravy, oyster stew, sweet potatoes and creamed corn. Ingredients Preparation Please share your tips on preparing this recipe or another turkey recipe in the comments below. Return to the Joy to the World Holiday Wine Match.
Food and Wine Pairing + Canadian Harvest: CTV
Join me on CTV’s Canada AM this Thursday at 8:30 a.m. EST when we’ll chat about how the harvest is going across the country in various Canadian wine regions, from the Okanagan Valley to the Annapolis Valley. We’ll also discuss how to pair wine with seasonal tomato dishes. On Friday, tune into CTV’s new national talk show, The Social: think The View, but with smarter hosts and much stronger social media angle. We’ll be having fun with unusual wine and food pairings from poutine to potato chips at 1:20 p.m. EST. It’s prime time for wine this week! Cheers, Natalie
Taboo Sommelier Talks: Ontario Wines + Restaurant Wine Lists
Markus Carl is the wine director and sommelier at Taboo Resort, Golf and Spa in Gravenhurst, Ontario, about 90 minutes north of Toronto. Carl shares a range of tips, from which wines to take to the cottage to which ones to drink when listening to Johann Sebastian Bach. While you were growing up, was wine a part of your family’s life? There was certainly wine around as my father had an extensive collection of Bordeaux from the late 1970s and early 1980s, including some Sauternes, that rich dessert wine from the region, which at that age struck me as particularly […]
How to Pick a House Wine: 5 Tips + Why You Need One
You’ve just finished your yoga class with your friend and the two of you agree it would be great to have a glass of wine together. Do you invite her back to your place? If so, which wine to serve? The mother of your child’s playmate arrives to pick up her child. Do you invite her in for some vino? Which one? (Of course, the answer is no if she’s driving … non-alcoholic cider is a great alternative.) The holidays are right around the corner, when unexpected guests will be the norm. Are you ready with your house wine? If […]
Wine and Social Media: Do Wineries Need Social Media?
Our video chat features social media tips for the wine industry from Marc Saltzman, tech columnist for the Toronto Star, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, CNN and Gear Guide, viewed by 6-7 million people every week at Cineplex movie theatres across the country. What about the concern that many wineries have: they don’t have the time to do it or the budget to hire someone? What’s the real upside in being on social media, especially if you already have a web site? How do you know which social media channels to focus on? Is it all about Twitter […]
LCBO Best Wines: Gnarly Head Zinfandel, Oyster Bay Pinot Noir Vintages September 14
Here are my top wine picks from the September 14 Vintages Release. VIP Members can access all 53 wines that I reviewed as a text shopping list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores. Stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. You can also see the September 28 LCBO Vintages reviews. They can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one click and access that list on their smartphone. This is […]
Monterey and Egg Pita Pocket Recipe with Niagara Riesling
Back to School Lunches for All You’re ready to send your wee ones back to school, but now comes the part most parents dread: packing lunches. Fret not, I found the perfect recipe to make your life just a little easier. The thing I love most about this recipe for Monterey and Egg Pita Pockets is that you can use them for your kids’ lunches and for your own lunch as well. Made with delicious Canadian Monterey Jack, children will love these bite-size pockets. Not to mention that they’re a breeze to prepare. This means you’ll have extra time to […]
LCBO Wines: Australia Shiraz, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Chardonnay Vintages September 28
Here are my top wine picks from the September 28 Vintages Release, the most quoted Canadian source of reviews in this release. VIP Members can access all 80 wines that I reviewed as a text shopping list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores. Stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. You can also see the September 14 LCBO Vintages reviews. They can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one […]
