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…
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…
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,…
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…
There are some nights when we simply need a nutritious meal that we can plate up in a matter of minutes. Seared Ahi Tuna is one of my favorite meals to whip up on a busy night. When pairing wine with Ahi Tuna, there are many varietals that make a good partner. Ahi is a…
There’s nothing like homemade comfort food and a nice glass of wine to soothe your soul on a chilly night. Stuffed acorn squash makes me long for Thanksgiving. The aromas of baked apple and cinnamon wafting through the air just makes me smile. It tastes so decadent. You feel like you are giving into your…
Today marks day 6 of my 31 day Paleo challenge and I am still going strong. I have found that the key to succeeding with the Paleo plan for me is lots of flavor! It’s way too easy to indulge in a sweet or savory treat when you feel deprived on diets. Fortunately, there are…
