BLOGS

Summer, hard earned, has finally arrived. Another Memorial Day weekend marks Americans’ collective hopes for a season filled with fresh food, outdoor living, and delicious wine. What better way to mark the turn towards the solstice than with this savory Japanese take on a Pacific Northwest fish: salmon. Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is frequently employed in the East Asian kitchen. The ingredient was first made famous in America at Nobu with the restaurant’s iconic dish miso-cod. Now, Americans have begun to adapt the ingredient to other uses, including this omega-3 rich fish.

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Warmer nights call for lighter dishes. This whole roasted fish suits an April weeknight because it is easy to prepare and quick to cook. Stuffing it with fresh whole herbs from the farmer’s market gives the trout a sprightly taste of the season. When picking your fish, always look for glassy, not cloudy eyes. The skin should be wet, plump, and glistening, not dry or dehydrated. Try to buy from a proper fishmonger when possible over a grocery store for best quality. 

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As winter recedes unveiling the first shoots of spring, look for lighter dishes to suit the occasion. Since farmers markets won’t runneth over yet, stick with the first vegetables of the season: spring peas. These lovely little orbs should be prepared so their flavor can shine: simply. Lemon zest lends zippy flavor highlights, while leeks and button mushrooms provide a savory foundation to the sprightly white wine sauce. Roasted chicken thighs are always an easy-to-cook, juicy medium on which to paint. 

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Whether cooking for yourself or a partner, on Valentine’s Day one wants to splurge. But going out to eat is an exercise in frustration as restaurants inflate their prices and create “special” menus to justify doing so. Why not buy top quality meat from your local butcher and pan sear it at home? It’ll cost a fraction of the price, it’s easy to do, and you can serve an extraordinary bottle of wine alongside the steak without the painful price mark-up. Your $200 bottle of wine at home would be $600 at a steakhouse. That’s persuasive math.  

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The holidays have ended, and winter has settled in. The long haul to spring starts now, but rather than pine for warmer days, enjoy the chance to warm up over a bowl of chili and a glass of rich red wine. Beef and beans make for an easy and quick weeknight recipe that even your teenager can make. A little sautéing, toss in some spices, tomatoes, beans, and voilà – dinner is served.

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Nothing spells “holiday” like a centerpiece rack of lamb on the table. Not only does it look impressive, it’s surprisingly easy to make. With only a handful of ingredients and very little prep time, this recipe lets the meat tell the story. Fresh herbs and garlic merely complement the lamb’s deep flavor. Given the simplicity of the preparation, one has flexibility with side dishes. Mushrooms are a classic partner, especially with right bank Bordeaux, but greens and stuffing pair well, too.

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November marks the start of holiday excess. Football season, Thanksgiving, office parties. The march towards the year’s culmination leads to overindulgence of both food and drink. So, for this weekday recipe, we turn to the healing powers of turmeric. This root common to Indian cooking has a pale hue when raw, but takes on a deep, finger-staining gold when powdered. It is the spice that gives curry its color, but it lends earthiness rather than heat to dishes. Curcumin is the main active ingredient, known as an antioxidant and for its anti-inflammatory effects. The rest of the dish, composed of roast chicken and protein-packed chickpeas, provides a healthy low-carb foil to the food festivities of the month.

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Few people anticipate autumn more than the Piedmontese. Fall equals porcini mushroom season, and, notably, the return of the prized edible funghi Tartufo Bianco. Since white truffles don’t grow in the US and acquiring them demands a reputable source and lots of cash, this recipe will focus solely on wild mushrooms. Of course, be our guest if you want to track down a few grams and carefully shave them over the top of a steaming bowl of egg pasta. There’s nothing in the world like sampling the flavor of fresh Tartufo followed by a sip of Nebbiolo.

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Oysters are really one of nature’s most magical delicacies. They’re delicious, low in calories, and high in vitamins. Another great thing about oysters is that along with wine, they’re often served as happy hour specials. Now that the sun is setting later and your boss is getting lenient about letting you slip out of the office early on Friday, try and catch a dollar oyster and wine special somewhere near you. Which wine, much like which oyster you should order, depends on your taste:

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VinePair matched together some of the best frozen treats with the perfect wine. Talk about taking Have A Great Summer to a new level.

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It’s that time of the year – summer break is coming to its end, and children are getting ready to go back to school. That means you should also be getting ready to spend a few evenings helping out with homework. This can easily become a chore, and sipping on a glass wine would definitely ease the pain. Check out our back-to-school wine pairings:

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Antipasti, small bites at the beginning of the meal, are perfect for pairing with wine. Pairing wine and antipasti is fantastic as you can experience several different flavors at the same time, noticing how each different antipasti impacts the wine in your glass and vice versa. Whether you make an antipasti platter at home, or order one while out, here are eight of our favorite wine and antipasti pairings:

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The 90’s were fun. We had boy bands without irony, Lisa Frank, and the best freaking snacks. However, all good things must come to an end. With America’s latest bid to get healthy and the general decline of snack culture (that’s something we just made up), some of our favorite treats have become a thing of the past. However, some of our favorite lunchtime vices are still available in grocery stores. Plus, if you get creative and scour Amazon, you should be able to find the rest (we’re looking at you, Dunkaroos).

When you do get your hands on some nostalgic deliciousness, make sure you bring some adulthood to your snacking by moderating your portions drinking wine! Our friends at VinePair crafted their favorite wine/90’s snack pairings for your enjoyment. Sit back, shed a tear for the greater times, and get hungry.

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The perfect seafood dinner can only be improved by adding a stunning ocean view in the background, and a glass of wine on the side. While there are some classic wine and fish pairings out there, we wanted to be extra thorough and make sure that no matter what kind of aquatic dish you’re enjoying, you’re sure to know the right kind of wine to pour. Like any other food, the wine pairings for fish depend on the fish’s texture, taste, and aroma. If that intimidates you, don’t worry: you don’t have to be a marine food expert to enjoy a good fish/wine pairing. We have your back – this guide does all the work for you.

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Wine and cheese go together so well, at this point, their marriage has almost become a cliché. But when was the last time you sat down with a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of your favorite vintage? Well, it’s National Grilled Cheese Day, and there’s no better time to expand your wine and cheese consuming repertoire! Try these five wines alongside your favorite fromage sub for an adult version of the best childhood snack... courtesy of VinePair!

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The key to matching food and wine isn’t to be found in the pairing charts you’ve been memorizing, or the red wine-red meat combo you’ve read about so many times. Just as there are hundreds of different ways to make chili, there are hundreds of wine pairing combinations. Remember: there are no absolutes. As with food and wine pairings, only you are the arbiter of what works best. With that said…

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Easter this Sunday is the perfect occasion to celebrate, and, obviously, drink some wine! Easter dinner is an absolute food and wine pairing heaven (and my personal favorite), and requires some planning. We’re looking out for you with these traditional Easter dinner dishes paired with wine. So get in the spirit and start pairing! 

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The 88th Academy Awards are taking place this weekend. Whether or not you’re into the ceremony and glam of it all, we love any excuse to sip some wine – and, even better, pair some wine with great food. So for the occasion, we put together this brief list of food and wine pairing ideas for your Oscars’ viewing party. Your guests won’t be disappointed. Read on!

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It’s officially Fall, and you know what that means: football season is in full swing, with all of its tailgating glory. But just because the food is decidedly casual doesn’t mean the wine should be an afterthought. So we’ve called in two gaming expertsto help us up the ante on our tailgating game with wine pairings that perfectly complement the most iconic football foods. Take a look!

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Celebrating the Fourth of July may be more about casual barbecues and picnic tables littered with juicy burgers and hot dogs, but that doesn’t mean that the wine should be overlooked. So we’ve called in two ‘cue experts— Wesley Disney, beverage director at Atlanta’s upscale barbecue hotspot Smokebelly, and Riley McJilton, GM and beverage director at Dallas’ beloved SMOKE—to help us elevate our cookout game with wine pairings that perfectly complement the most iconic barbecue foods. Take a look!

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Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight, and Bottlenotes has a few suggestions for what wines you should be pairing!

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