Meatless Monday: Shiitake Tacos & Two Shepherds Pastoral Blanc

We’re taking a quick break from our virtual Burgundy tour for Meatless Monday. Today we’re trying Shiitake Tacos from the Herbivoracious cookbook by Michael Natkin.  We tried pairing the tacos with a Two Shepherds Pastoral Blanc white blend from one of our recent discoveries in Sonoma.  We loved the tacos, and we loved the wine, … Continue reading

Savory Shrimp Stir Fry and Burgundy – Yep!

“Bending” the Recipe to Fit the Wine When we’re on a virtual tour, some of our meals are carefully matched to the wine.  Other times, we’ll pick something for dinner and try to “bend” the recipe a bit to make it more friendly to the wine we’ll be drinking. Today, Julie had a taste for … Continue reading

A Cautious “Yes” for Burgundy and Mussels

Today on our tour, we’re at the northern end of the Coté de Beaune, in the town of Chorey Lès Beaune.  On hearing of our virtual Burgundy tour, a friend suggested we try pairing the wine with clams or mussels.  What an interesting suggestion!  We have always chosen a white wine with shellfish.  I have … Continue reading

Pork Chops, Pommard and a Surprise

Our third stop on our virtual tour of Burgundy is Pommard (confession: can’t seem to find the photos for the Santenay or the Monthelie, oops!).   Menu:  Pork chops, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and carrots for color.  We’ll pair the meal with the Pommard, but there is a surprise!  We pulled out a white wine we had … Continue reading

Nebbiolo Finale: Pio Cesare Barbaresco & Lasagna

The Christmas gift that keeps on giving…. A pasta making class For Christmas, our son Peter gave Julie a “Mom & Son” pasta making class at Kitchen Window.  They came home raving about the lasagna and we have quickly incorporated homemade pasta into our regular mealmaking.   Actually,  Peter didn’t know it but he gave both … Continue reading

What Goes with Goat? Barbaresco!

Goat Chops, Pasta with Vegetable Medley & Barbaresco You might be surprised that goat is the #1 meat consumed worldwide.  Julie and I had our first opportunities to taste goat on a trip to Ethiopia two years ago.  I liked it but Julie hasn’t been in a big hurry to have it again as goats … Continue reading

Who Would Pick Nebbiolo for a Chicken Dinner?

I never really understood the whole “chicken is a blank canvas” thing until today.  Sure, chicken pairs with different wines depending on whether it’s been baked vs. grilled.  I have made a variety of sauces to serve over chicken and they make the bridge to a lighter red like a Pinot Noir.  But Nebbiolo?  Powerful, … Continue reading

Nebbiolo Discovery with Short Ribs & Pasta

We’re trying so many new things today: Nebbiolo, Short Ribs, Homemade Pasta.  Let’s get right to it! This winter we’re spending time getting to know wines based on the Nebbiolo grape.  With rare exceptions, Nebbiolo thrives in the Piemonte region of Italy.  There are a few vineyards near Paso Robles in California that possess what … Continue reading

Which Wine with Roast Chicken?

With a houseful of guests over the holidays, I thought a nice roast chicken dinner would be easy, pretty, and a healthy choice in advance of all the rich foods ahead.  I picked out two very nice wines to serve with the chicken, I was curious to see if one would prove to be a … Continue reading