The unofficial start of summer is just days away. As you prepare to fire up the grill, slather on the sunscreen and celebrate with family and friends, don’t forget to stock up on some great vino for your long holiday weekend. Let’s also take a moment to pause and raise a glass to salute our…
The Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui from Italy is a go-to with just about any chocolate dessert. It’s the perfect partner for dark chocolate, chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce and raspberry infused chocolate truffles. This a semi-dry wine that boasts a beautiful bright ruby color and has sumptuous notes of sweet raspberry, strawberries and floral aromas of rose petals. It’s…
Beer may be the beverage of choice at many Super Bowl parties, but I wouldn’t rule out bubbles for the big game. Believe me, the ladies will be more than thankful! Sparkling wines are versatile, boast nice acidity and help cleanse the palate. They add a touch of class to bar food and work great with…
Succulent, sweet lump crab meat paired with a rich, full-bodied Chardonnay is simply a match made in heaven. The bright lemon notes in the wine bring out the sweetness in the crabmeat and the luxurious mouth-coating quality of an oaked, slightly buttery Chardonnay makes this an outstanding pairing with crab cakes. Drizzle a little butter…
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….
Chicken satay is a great low-carb choice for those us of watching the scale. This is a great meal, but the perfect pairing can take it to a whole new level. While a Riesling is a go-to match, a Gewürztraminer works just as well. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white grape that grows best in cooler…
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…
Butternut squash soup with toasted sage and crabmeat is a classic fall dish. When it comes to wine for this hearty, decadent and creamy soup, I typically reach for a nice Chardonnay aged in french oak to accentuate the baking spices in the dish, but I always like to mix things up a little with a…
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….
Asian five-spice is a staple in my pantry, it adds so much flavor to so many dishes. This five-star soup recipe takes chicken soup to a whole new dimension. The great thing about this soup is that you can pretty much add as many veggies as you like. I like my soup with an extra…
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…
In general, veggies can be quite challenging to pair with wine. However; the crisp, clean and refreshing nature of a Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most reliable pairings with an array of raw and cooked vegetables. Although, there are some variations on the flavor profile of the varietal depending on where it comes from,…
