Sugar on a tomato? Yuck!! It’s fruit, for sure, but honestly, that’s a worse idea than making a butter and sugar sandwich on white bread!! (So Midwestern, so first grade…) Chefs, I totally get it. Sugar cuts acidity, especially in sauce/salsa, and even more importantly adding sugar can harmonize flavors and texture if the tomato’s…
Perfect Pairings: The Principle of Place in Tuscany
Pairing food and wine…simple, right? Chicken goes with white wine, beef goes with red. Cheese is great with anything. Easy! For sure, it takes a bit more effort to create a “perfect pairing” than simply choosing between an entrée meat (or vegetable) and a white or red wine. But the principles are clear and the…
Summer Caught and Stoppered: Second in a Series
Posted by Amy Neyer, CSW, WSET Advanced Certified One of the high points of summer for me is watching the annual Tour de France broadcast on cable early each morning and the wonderful three-week showcase of art, agriculture, history, and culture. The cycling’s pretty good, too. So as the Tour rolled through Normandy last week,…
Perfect Pairings: Principle of Place in Latin America
Pairing wine with the foods of Latin America.
“I can’t drink wine. It gives me a headache.”
Much has been written about wine-related headaches. Drink less. Go natural.
Summer Caught and Stoppered: First in a Series
Posted by Amy Neyer, CSW, WSET Advanced Certified With the temps and humidity finally making their annual appearance, it’s time to break out that classic summer bestie – rose. If you’re like me and other wine geeks, odds are likely that you’re well into your stock, despite this season’s tardy arrival from the classic Old…
Perfect Pairings: Principles of Pairing Wine with Food
Posted by Kathy Merchant, DWS, CSW Pairing wine with food can be very confusing, even frustrating, perhaps best left to chefs and sommeliers. Not!!! A few simple principles can strip away the uncertainty that prevents many of us from exploring new cuisines, unusual flavors and unfamiliar wines. Five basic principles guide most wine and food…