The sweet potato soup garnished with bacon and sage paired with the 2011 Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve from Orange County, Virginia is a delightful pairing. I really love the way the rich berry notes and caramelized fig flavors in the wine bring out the sweetness in the potato. The slight herbaceous notes in the wine bring the sage to…
A snow day calls for a hearty meal of braised short ribs paired with a big meaty Syrah. I gave my delicious short rib sliders a Paleo friendly make-over. My Paleo Pairing for day 29 features Short Ribs & Syrah! The Cakebread Cellars Syrah is outstanding with this dish. A great bold, jammy & spicy…
It looks like mother nature has an interesting sense of humor. We are expecting a foot of snow in coastal Virginia. Since I will be snowed in for the next few days, I will need to get creative with my Paleo Pairings this week. Tonight, my meal was inspired by a nice bottle of Barbera….
The last Sunday of our Paleo Pairing challenge calls for a succulent beef tenderloin and a Napa Cab! My Paleo Pairing for day 26 features a 2008 “Eileen” Cabernet Sauvignon from Chiarello Vineyards with Beef Tenderloin & Bordeaux Reduction. This wine is full-bodied and complex with bold dark fruit of blackberry and cassis, a hint…
Chicken Lettuce Wraps paired with a bright, effervescent Vinho Verde is an excellent pairing on a warm day. Vinho Verde comes from the Minho provence along the coast of northern Portugal. Vinho Verde is not a grape varietal, but rather a region. The term Vinho Verde means “green wine.” There are more than two dozen permitted…
When it comes to food, there’s nothing better than a hearty Italian meal shared with family & friends. I have such a passion for Italian cooking and believe it or not there’s so much more than bread and cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore cheese, but we all know it’s not Paleo friendly….
It’s hard to believe that I am already on the third week of my 31 day Paleo Challenge. Creating flavorful and different meals everyday takes some serious thought when you are eating Paleo, but I am already feeling and seeing the benefits of the extra time in the kitchen. My Paleo Pairing for day 21…
Since tacos are a staple in so many households I thought it would be fun to create a Paleo version. I substituted lettuce wraps for tortillas and used mashed avocados in place of sour cream. The result was a healthy tasty taco that I will definitely make again. My Paleo Pairing for day 19 features…
My 31 day Paleo challenge continues with my day 18 recipe of pan seared flounder with lemon & capers and a refreshing Bordeaux Blanc. When most people think of Bordeaux, they tend to think of the world renowned rustic reds, but there are some phenomenal white wines from Bordeaux that are incredibly food friendly. I…
I was inspired once again by my spice cabinet tonight. I reached for my 5 spice (star anise, cinnamon, clove, fennel, sichuan pepper), chicken and a bunch of veggies and whipped up a great stir fry and paired it with Evolution. Evolution is a blend of 9 grapes (Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, Gewurtzraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon,…
I am revamping my favorite roast chicken recipe and making it Paleo friendly for today’s Paleo Pairing by substituting an olive oil rub for my herb butter and I am also nixing the mashed potatoes. 16 days of a dairy-free, grain-free diet hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be. It does however…
Julia Child started inspiring amateur cooks and housewives across America when she first brought us her famous Boeuf Bourguignon recipe on The French Chef. This recipe takes about 30 minutes to pull together and another 2 plus hours for cooking, but it’s so worth it! Plus, you’ll have lots of leftovers. The classic pairing for beef…
Ever wonder what to pair with an omelet? Look no further than a nice glass of bubbly. Today’s Paleo Pairing is all about breakfast for dinner. Eggs are pretty challenging to pair with wine, but a glass of sparkling wine works like a charm. I often go for a sparkling rose like the J Brut…
I love using lemons and wine to cook with. The two combined provide a refreshing acidity to any dish and when you are going low carb, it’s all about packing a flavor punch. It’s easy to get bored with baked or poached chicken, so I spiced it up tonight a little with a Meyer Lemon…
A great food and wine paring is one of life’s simple pleasures. I was inspired tonight by my spice cabinet, namely my cocoa spice rub from Napa Style. This is a delicious blend of cinnamon, grey salt, unsweetened cocoa powder, coriander, nutmeg, cloves & pepper. This makes for a delicious crust on pork and beef….
