There’s no better way to combine food with friends and family than a summer barbecue. The simple recipe is: good weather, good company and good food. Barbecues often have a reputation for being basic, no-frills cooking—but, in truth, they provide ample scope for culinary invention. Even traditional favourites like the cheeseburger or hot dog can be reinvigorated or given an innovative spin by adding fresh, summer ingredients and combining with a well-matched Canadian cheese. And a homemade sauce or dressing not only provides a healthy alternative to standard ketchup or mayo, it can also help bring out the flavours of […]
Take the guesswork out of pairing wine and cheese
If you’d like to take some of the guesswork out of selecting wines that go well with Balderson Cheddars, experiment with applying the concept of “terroir.” The basic idea is that the attributes of agricultural products like wine and cheese are shaped by the landscape that produces them – and that products from the same regions therefore go well together. By this principle, Canadian wines should be your first choice for serving with Balderson Cheddars. For your “terroir” experience, pair our Vintners For Red Wine or our Vintners Cheddar for White Wine with any of the reds or whites from […]
Chicken & Vegetable Pakoras with Yogurt Mint Chutney
Here’s another great chicken recipe from Chicken Farmers of Canada: Crispy pakoras give way to warm chicken and tangy yogurt, lemon juice and spices inside. Pass me another one please! Ingredients: 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs ½ cup (125 mL) plain yogurt, 1-2% MF 1 jalapeño ½ cup (125 mL) onion, chopped 2 tsp (10 mL) ginger, fresh, chopped 1 clove garlic 2 tsp (10 mL) white vinegar 2 tsp (10 mL) lemon juice 2 cups (500 mL) chickpea flour (besan) 2 cups (500 mL) cold water ½ tsp (2.5 mL) salt ½ tsp (2.5 mL) chili […]
Experience Wine and Food at Peller Estates
At Peller Estates, we believe wine and food need each other. That’s why our winemaker, Lawrence Buhler, and our Executive Chef Jason Parsons, work together to ensure our exceptional VQA wines and Chef’s mouth-watering menu creations are in perfect harmony. We know that achieving the right balance, structure and freshness in wine are what make it a great food partner – and all of our wines are made with food in mind. This season, my pick is Peller Estates Family Series Riesling. Ontario’s cool climate growing region makes Rieslings that are among the best in the world, and this wine […]
Wine, Women and Connection
The July issue of Chatelaine has a terrific article by Anne Kingson on how women connect over wine: it brings them together for conversations (and wine-fuelled confessionals) and connection through shared emotions. She says that women, who now account for 80% of wine purchases, tend to browse when buying wine and are more open than men to trying new things. They’re also far more likely to think of wine-food pairings and other social factors. Recent Stats Can numbers say that white wine sales have increased 50% and red wine sales have doubled largely because of the increase in female buyers. […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 53 Review date: June 26, 2010 The highlights in tomorrow’s Vintages Release include: – 22 wines under $20 – Best value white: A lovely floral white from Spain, great aperitif $12.95 – Favourite white (tied): A zesty Niagara Riesling for shellfish 92/100 – Favourite white (tied): A lime-rich German Riesling for lemongrass chicken 92/100 – Best value red (tied): A blackberry-ripe Rhone Syrah that I rated 91/100, amazing price: $15.00 – Best value red (tied): A Sicilian Syrah for hamburgers $15.95 – Favourite red: Benchmark California Zinfandel for juicy steak 91/100 – Best value rosé: Niagara […]
Yahoo News: New 10-in-1 Wine Mobile App
Yahoo News June 23, 2010 – The free Nat Decants iPhone and BlackBerry app has dished up more than 7.2 million mouth-watering wine reviews, pairings and recipes since its launch in February. Nat Decants now bundles a suite of 10 wine apps rolled into one, including a cellar journal, articles, blog posts, glossary, newsletter, pairings, wine reviews, recipes, book excerpt and world winery directory. “This new app gives wine lovers a complete dinner solution at their fingertips,” says Natalie MacLean, editor of one of the largest wine sites at on the web at NatalieMacLean.com. “Start with a pairing, get a […]
Nat Decants Mobile App featured on Apple iTunes Homepage
We’re thrilled that the free Nat Decants mobile wine app is being featured under two categories on the Apple iTunes App Store Essentials homepage! The app is recommended as one of ten for top "Food & Wine" apps as well as the only wine app for "Date Night." For an app developer, getting your app on the iTunes App Store homepage is almost as good as being interviewed on Oprah for your book. The downloads for the app have been terrific since its launch in February, however we wondered why they started skyrocketing today (so did the sign-ups […]
Great Canadian Chicken BBQ Contest
Every July 1st, Chicken Farmers of Canada hold the “Great Canadian Chicken BBQ” in Ottawa’s Major’s Hill Park. We hold the BBQ each year as part of our sponsorship of Canada Day in the nation’s capital. This is our 18th year as national sponsor. This year is no different, but we wanted to bring you in on the action as well even if you can’t make it to Ottawa for the big party. So, we’re holding a little contest with a bit of a BBQ theme. To enter, all you need to do is head to our website on this […]
Toast to Robert Mondavi June 18 Live Broadcast
Remember the first time… You swirled the glass? Took in the flavors? And you knew what wine could be? That moment of recognition is what sparked Robert Mondavi on a forty year campaign to shape our industry and inspire a culture of wine appreciation in North America. On June 18, friends and family will gather to celebrate his passion and vision by raising a glass and sharing the stories that add up to his legacy. Share your story of Robert Mondavi. How his wine, his work, his drive touched your life or shaped the industry we love at ToastRobertMondavi.com. We […]
