On this page you will find examples of food and wine pairings we love so much we enjoy them regularly. I update this page often, so please be sure to keep checking in for new menus and the wines that make them shine. Experience (not to mention living within our means!) has taught us there are lots of great wines available for under $10.00. Most of the wines we drink fall between $8.00 and $13.00. And after years of experimentation, our taste buds have concluded that we need not be timid slaves of traditional wine and food pairings. For example, it’s perfectly all right to have a red wine with seafood, it all depends on the seasonings and your mood.
When my husband is in the process of selecting a wine for dinner, he often admits it defies the conventional idea of what goes with what, and yet, usually, the results are wonderful. As most passionate cooks will attest, there’s nothing worse than a wine that competes with the food, and nothing quite as sublime as a wine that enhances it. After a certain hour in the evening Stinger and I (whether we have guests over or not) invariably drop whatever we’re doing and sit down to a glass of Chardonnay. Together we relax and talk about our day and whatever else comes up. Our glasses chiming as we toast, “Cheers!” is akin to a magical bell signaling the beginning of another beautiful evening, during which we remember to appreciate everything we have and enjoy the moment even while sharing dreams of more to come–creativity and growth–it can always get better. Enjoy!
We tend to prefer Chardonnays with character as opposed to light, overly fruity varieties, and we’re also partial to full malolactic fermentation. Wines aren’t just about how they taste, they’re also about how they make you feel; some inspire and uplift, others don’t. Some of our favorites include:
FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS
Walnut Pate
Barramundi with Avocado Cream Sauce
Lentil Soup with Herbs and Tomatoes
Rex Goliath Zinfandel
Pork Chops Italian Style
Roasted Turnips
Swiss Chard Saute
Le Colline Pinot Noir
Lamb and Pepper Kebabs with Mint Yogurt Sauce
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Grilled Bread
Laurent Miquel Nord Sud Syrah
Ham Steaks with Honey Mustard Raspberry Glaze
Rotini with Tofu Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Spinach, Arugula & Sunflower Seed Salad
Conte Priola Chiante
Champagne and Strawberries
New York Strip Steaks with Port Wine Sauce
Asparagus with Roasted Coriander
Barley Risotto
Vino de Eyzaguirre Cabernet Sauvignon
Kale and Cheese Quesadillas
Tomato-Avocado Salsa
Cuban Black Beans with Rice or Barley
Twisted Vine Zinfandel
Flank Steak with Lemon & Thyme
Baby Dutch Potatoes Roasted with Herbs de Provence
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese
Domaine Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon – Chile
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Caesar Salad
Chocolate Cake, Sinless & Vanilla Ice Cream
Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux
Beef Stew Cuban Style
Israeli Couscous
Hot Bread
Yogurt Cheese Pie with Apricot Icing
Phebus Mendoza Argentina
Avocado, Tomato and Black Bean Pie with Whole Wheat Crust
Sweet Black Plantains Sauted or Baked
Sobon Estate California Zinfandel
Organic Roast Beef Sandwiches
Oven Fries
Toscana Sangiovese Bellini
Shrimp Broiled with Sherry Saffron White Sauce
Hot Bread and a Garden Salad
Fontana Candida Frascatti
Chicken Pot Pie Nice & Easy
Barley with Mushroom Gravy
Peaches with Yogurt & Honey
Concannon Merlot
Lamb Chops with Oregano
Mashed White Beans with Sage
Tossed Salad with Feta Cheese
Borsao
Yellow Squash Gratin
Asparagus Wrapped in Ham with Truffle Butter
Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberries
Chester Gap Cellars Merlot, Front Royal, Virginia
Salmon Tacos with Black Beans, Avocado and Cilantro Cream
Shredded lettuce or cabbage and diced tomatoes
Rex Goliath Zinfandel
Shrimp Spanish Style
White or Brown Rice
Romaine Hearts Salad with Shaved Manchego Cheese
Vila Regia Douro
Yellow Squash Baked with Mushrooms and Cheese
Sweet Peas
Grilled Bread with Roasted Tomatoes
Forever Zinfandel
Kale and Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Red Lentil Soup
Cline California Zinfandel
Fettuccine Alfredo with Tofu
Sliced Garden Tomatoes
Caesar Salad
D’Aquino Chianti Riserva
Organic Salisbury Steaks
Asparagus Roasted with Butter and Parmesan
Whole Grain Penne
Garden Salad
Eyzaguiree Cabernet Sauvignon Chile
Duck Breasts Pan Seared with Pineapple-Orange Marinade
Kale Grits with Cheddar Cheese and Sliced Garden Tomatoes
Blueberry Cheese Pie
Mouton Cadet Bordeaux
Skirt Steak with Rosemary & Garlic
Potatoes with Rosemary & Sage
Chocolate Yogurt Cheese Pie with Strawberry Icing
Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon
Gourmet Meatloaf
Turnips Sauted with Butter & Honey
Caesar Salad
Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon
Pork Chops, Grilled
Mashed White Beans
Sliced Garden Tomatoes
Grilled Bread
Ropiteau Pinot Noir