Instead of hiring a caterer or cooking all week to serve complicated holiday treats, why not make this year's holiday party an opportunity for your guests to have a good time and take home some new favorite food and wine pairings to use in their own kitchens?
For a dinner party where the guests will be a mix of red and white wine lovers, I suggest buying a bottle or two of both a German or Finger Lakes Riesling and a Pinot Noir from Burgundy.
Riesling is a wine that many novice wine drinkers will be familiar with, and choosing a dry version will enable the wine to pair with a wide variety of seafood and white meats with fruit or cream based sauces.
Pinot Noir is a light, tasty red wine that can pair with many foods, especially meats with mushroom-based sauces. Encourage guests to try both wines with each dish and offer their impressions of which wine pairs best with each course.
Adding a wine and food tasting element to Hanukkah and Christmas parties can be as easy as purchasing a few dozen plastic wine glasses.
Instead of the traditional separation of food and drink, arrange a group of empty wine glasses next to a selection of finger foods. Place a handmade sign directing guests to try the 'Cabernet with the aged cheddar cheese' or the 'Sauvignon Blanc with the chips and mango salsa,' in front of the snacks and let guests choose their own wine and food pairing.
For more suggestions on appetizer pairings, watch my video on pairing wine with cheese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthfDWIeN_g
A perfect after-dinner wine for enjoying Hanukkah 'gelt' or the chocolate treats from the Christmas Stocking is Port. Port is a fortified wine and meant to be sipped and savored slowly, so portions are smaller than table wine. The residual sugar in Port wine allows the wine to pair very well with sweeter chocolate as well as nuts and savory blue cheeses.
For the adventurous wine drinker, chill a bottle of Brachetto d'Acqui. This is a slightly sweet red wine with a little sparkle in the glass. Brachetto pairs well with both chocolate and fresh strawberries.
New Year's Eve party wine and food pairings are focused on the drink of the night - sparkling wine!
Put out the classiest pairings early in the night and save the more interesting matches for after the ball drops. Champagne and other dry sparkling wines pair with salty and oily foods. Early evening snacks can include Caviar and a wide range of traditional hors d'oeuvres.
After midnight, get creative by inviting your guests to try their leftover bubbly with familiar favorites like potato chips, french fries, fried chicken and salted popcorn. For guests that like their wines a little sweeter, serve a bubbly Moscato d'Asti. This fruity sparkler pairs well with fresh fruit and berries with cream or other not-too-sweet desserts.
What are your favorite holiday food and wine pairings?
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Thanksgiving food and wine pairings
In an article for Bon Appetit entitled "The Best Wine for Your Thanksgiving Table" Heather John shares some great ideas for Thanksgiving food and wine pairings. Her tip - look to Spain for your Thanksgiving red and white wines.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Want to use wine to create delicious meals for friends and loved ones? Click HERE to receive Kathleen Lisson's FREE Wine and Food Pairing Tips by Email.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Chocolate and Wine Pairing for an Adult Halloween Party
Sample the following wines and desserts together to see which match works best for your Halloween party!
Try these wines:
Moscato d'Asti
Brachetto
Riesling Late Harvest wine
Ruby Port
Banyuls
The pairing OPTIONS are:
Fresh berries and cream with Moscato d'Asti
Pineapple dessert with Moscato d'Asti and Riesling dessert wine
Apple-Citrus Custard Tart with Late Harvest Riesling Dessert Wine
Fresh Cherry Tart with Brachetto, Banyuls, and Ruby Port
Cheesecake with Banyuls
Chocolate cake with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls
Dark chocolate with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls
The Beni di Batasiolo Moscato d'Asti was especially full bodied and unctuous for a slightly sparkling wine and could be a good selection to please someone who thinks sparkling wine is far too dry for their tastes. It was a good pairing with the pineapple part of the dessert but too acidic when paired with the cake alone. It was a good match for the berries and cream, but tasted bitter when paired with the citrus custard tart.
My favorite wine of the night, the Marenco 2007 Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui Piedmont was an excellent match with dark chocolate and a good match with fresh cherry tart. It paired well with chocolate cake, even with the white frosting.
The Ey Banyuls was a good pairing with both the chocolate cheesecake and regular cheesecake. It was not a good match with the tart cherry pie and the chocolate cake tasted too dry when paired with the Banyuls. The wine overpowered the dark chocolate.
The Ruby Port was a good match with the dark chocolate as well as chocolate oreo-type crust on the cheesecake. It matched well with the cherry tart.
A glass of Royal Tokaji paired well with the cheesecake and the chocolate cake.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Try these wines:
Moscato d'Asti
Brachetto
Riesling Late Harvest wine
Ruby Port
Banyuls
The pairing OPTIONS are:
Fresh berries and cream with Moscato d'Asti
Pineapple dessert with Moscato d'Asti and Riesling dessert wine
Apple-Citrus Custard Tart with Late Harvest Riesling Dessert Wine
Fresh Cherry Tart with Brachetto, Banyuls, and Ruby Port
Cheesecake with Banyuls
Chocolate cake with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls
Dark chocolate with Brachetto, Ruby Port and Banyuls
The Beni di Batasiolo Moscato d'Asti was especially full bodied and unctuous for a slightly sparkling wine and could be a good selection to please someone who thinks sparkling wine is far too dry for their tastes. It was a good pairing with the pineapple part of the dessert but too acidic when paired with the cake alone. It was a good match for the berries and cream, but tasted bitter when paired with the citrus custard tart.
My favorite wine of the night, the Marenco 2007 Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui Piedmont was an excellent match with dark chocolate and a good match with fresh cherry tart. It paired well with chocolate cake, even with the white frosting.
The Ey Banyuls was a good pairing with both the chocolate cheesecake and regular cheesecake. It was not a good match with the tart cherry pie and the chocolate cake tasted too dry when paired with the Banyuls. The wine overpowered the dark chocolate.
The Ruby Port was a good match with the dark chocolate as well as chocolate oreo-type crust on the cheesecake. It matched well with the cherry tart.
A glass of Royal Tokaji paired well with the cheesecake and the chocolate cake.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Unique Affordable Steak and Red Wine Wine Pairing
In an eye opening article on Snooth.com, Gregory Dal Piaz reviews a classic food and wine pairing - steak and red wine. His tasting group came up with two surprises - they chose an 'underdog' cut of meat as their favorite type of steak and a 'left field' type of wine I tried only to fulfill the requirements of my Wine Century Club application! I am intrigued at the pairing of a flatiron steak with Pinotage wine.
Would you try this wine and food pairing at your next steak dinner?
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Would you try this wine and food pairing at your next steak dinner?
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Monday, October 19, 2009
Ideas for Finger Lakes Winery Vacation
Do you like to visit the wineries in the New York Finger Lakes wine region? Let the Finger Lakes Wine Country e-Newsletter give you some great ideas for activities to do on your next Finger Lakes vacation!
Sign up here:
http://fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Plan_Your_Visit-Newsletter.aspx
Here are my Top Tips for a great Wine Country Vacation
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Sign up here:
http://fingerlakeswinecountry.com/Plan_Your_Visit-Newsletter.aspx
Here are my Top Tips for a great Wine Country Vacation
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Monday, October 5, 2009
How to learn about craft beer in Albany, NY
Oktober is a great time to learn about beers from around the world. You're invited to join the Capital Beer Advocates as we learn about beers from around the world at the Westmere Beverage Beer Tour.
When: October 12, 2009 6:00 PM
Where:
Westmere Beverage Center
1756 Western Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
518-456-1100
You'll discover new beers just like Columbus discovered America if you join us on the "Beer Lover's Tour" of Westmere Beverage. Jeremy Hosier, manager of Westmere Beverage will be our Tour guide and lead an exciting walk-and-talk tour of craft beers from around the world.
All your beer questions will be answered!
RSVP to attend here:
http://www.meetup.com/beeradvocates/calendar/11551302/
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Friday, October 2, 2009
Best Beer pairings for Oktoberfest party
This slideshow from foodandwine.com features beer pairings that will make your oktoberfest party the talk of the town. The best pairing for me would be Open-Face Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches with Guinness.
Would you drink beer with dessert? The final pairing is Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sundaes with Raspberries served with a lightly sweet raspberry lambic.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Would you drink beer with dessert? The final pairing is Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sundaes with Raspberries served with a lightly sweet raspberry lambic.
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
Monday, September 28, 2009
Best wine to order at fancy restaurant like Centrico, Nobu or Tribeca Grill
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in the Hudson River Valley is hosting their 19th Annual Harvest Party on Saturday, October 10th from 12 - 4 pm.
The wine tasting dinner will feature signature dishes from three of the Myriad Restaurant Group’s best known restaurants – Centrico, Nobu and Tribeca Grill - all prepared by Tribeca Grill’s Executive Chef Stephen Lewandowski.
Reading over the menu of food and wine pairings is the best way to find wine pairings for famous dishes like Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche, Nobu’s Black Cod Miso and Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib.
First Course
Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche with jalapeno, cilantro and lemon confit paired with 2008 Millbrook Tocai Friulano.
Second Course
Nobu’s Black Cod Miso matched with 2007 Millbrook Chardonnay "Proprietor's Special Reserve"
Third Course
Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib with truffled celery root mousse, brown butter carrots and porcini mushrooms paired with 2007 Millbrook Pinot Noir "Proprietor's Special Reserve"
If you can attend, tickets are $135 per person. Call (845) 677-8383 ext. 17 for reservations.
Tribeca Grill carries Millbrook Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay Proprietor’s Special Reserve.
I am a big fan of Millbrook's Tocai Friulano, especially with spicy food. Learn more about this wine here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3MsfAincY
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
The wine tasting dinner will feature signature dishes from three of the Myriad Restaurant Group’s best known restaurants – Centrico, Nobu and Tribeca Grill - all prepared by Tribeca Grill’s Executive Chef Stephen Lewandowski.
Reading over the menu of food and wine pairings is the best way to find wine pairings for famous dishes like Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche, Nobu’s Black Cod Miso and Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib.
First Course
Centrico’s Seafood Ceviche with jalapeno, cilantro and lemon confit paired with 2008 Millbrook Tocai Friulano.
Second Course
Nobu’s Black Cod Miso matched with 2007 Millbrook Chardonnay "Proprietor's Special Reserve"
Third Course
Tribeca Grill’s Braised Short Rib with truffled celery root mousse, brown butter carrots and porcini mushrooms paired with 2007 Millbrook Pinot Noir "Proprietor's Special Reserve"
If you can attend, tickets are $135 per person. Call (845) 677-8383 ext. 17 for reservations.
Tribeca Grill carries Millbrook Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay Proprietor’s Special Reserve.
I am a big fan of Millbrook's Tocai Friulano, especially with spicy food. Learn more about this wine here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3MsfAincY
Most-read Articles:
Best Red Wine and Appetizer Pairings - Click here
How to serve Brie and Camembert Cheese - Click Here
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