Tag Archives: wine pairings

Summer Pairings: A Cool Dish for a Hot Week

vietnamese_salad_edible_rhody

It’s hot.

The air is hot. Our political climate is hot. Our society is hot. And we’re not even halfway through the Summer of 2016.

Things could change if we all cool down our own little corners of the world, one step at a time. And a good place to start is at the table, with family and friends.

Begin with a delicious, refreshing and easy to prepare chilled dish from Jason Timothy, chef/owner of Providence’s Laughing Gorilla Catering, that’s sure to please the crowd of 2 or 10 gathered at your table. Add open bottles of icy beer and wine (our picks below), good conversation, laughter and love, and watch the mercury drop.

edible_rhody_noodle_pair
We can’t get enough of the Gobelsburg Cistercien Rosé from Austria. Its bright balance of fresh acidity and excellent, round strawberry and peach fruit flavors make this a great match. The sauce’s citrus and jalapeno tang will be cooled by the fruit, while the minerality and acid provide enough structure to round out the whole dish.

We chose Revival Brewing Co.’s Fanny IPA as this noodle dish’s ideal beer partner. Its fruity hops from the Southern Hemisphere will highlight the melon’s cool notes, which piney North American hops accentuate the dish’s spicy flavors. And what’s even better, Fanny is low in alcohol, so it says as light in your as does the salad, keeping everything in harmony.

And for the recipe, published in the beautiful Summer 2016 issue of Edible Rhody:

CHILLED VIETNAMESE RICE NOODLE SALAD
A note from chef Jason Timothy: This is an easy, flavorful salad that is incredibly versatile. It’s been a favorite among my friends at summer cookouts when the weather is hot, the grill is going and the produce is abundant. I love to grab herbs and vegetables from the Armory Farmers’ Market that’s almost outside my door.

INGREDIENTS
1 package rice noodles (size noodle to your liking)
2 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola)
¼ cup fish sauce
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice, plus extra wedges for garnish
1 cucumber, seeded and sliced
2 cups sliced melon (watermelon or cantaloupe), rind removed
1 pound (3–4 cups) fresh bean sprouts
½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves, torn
½ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
3 jalapeños, sliced (optional)
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook for 4–5 minutes. Strain noodles. Give them a quick rinse with cold water just to get the cooling started and, once well drained, toss lightly with oil. Let rest in the refrigerator, covered.

Meanwhile, combine fish sauce, water and sugar in a 1-quart saucepan. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved, 3–4 minutes. Add lime juice and set aside to cool.

When ready, add noodles to a large mixing (or serving) bowl. Add sliced cucumber and melon slices, bean sprouts, basil, mint, cilantro and sliced jalapeños. Toss with sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lime wedges. Serve immediately or cover and chill until serving.

Serves 4–6.

Stay cool, eat well, and carry on.

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Four Reds for Easter and Spring!

Last week we gave you Bottles’ top Spring picks for white and rosé wine. Today we share our favorite reds that will pair beautifully with lamb, ham, and other heavier dishes you’ll have on your table this season.

Primarius, Pinot Noir, Oregon
A rich, luxurious pinot from Oregon with bold fruit and an interesting mineral/graphite element that makes it a no-brainer pairing with lamb. It’s also gentle enough for fish.

guerra Armas de Guerra, Mencia, Bierzo, Spain
One of our favorite values in the store! It’s made from grapes from super old vines (50+ years!) and is studded with energetic aromas and flavors of sappy black fruits and fresh violets. A perfect springtime wine!

bruni Bruni “Poggio d’Elsa” Red Blend, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
A “Super Tuscan” 50/50 blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon that over delivers for the price. Rich, dry and brooding with a softness and a gorgeous depth of flavor that will pair well with roasts and richer meat-based dishes on your Easter table.

secaturs AA Badenhorst “Secateurs” Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa
Our favorite wine (at the moment) from South Africa. A perfect blend of grapes usually found in the South of France, this wine typifies the terroir of South Africa: minerally, juicy and bold. Terrific with grilled or roasted pork.

Happy Spring!

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A Mushroom Wine Pairing

Photo by Chip Riegel

The humble mushroom is a cook’s best friend, given its amazing flavor and texture, versatility and nearly year-around availability in local farmer’s markets. It’s also beloved in the wine world as it has a natural affinity for so many different wine grapes and styles.

When pairing wine with mushrooms, consider their power: delicate varieties (the chanterelle, the oyster, for example) play best with light to medium bodied wines. Meaty ‘shrooms (portobello) love big, bold styles.

For the following dish of blue oyster mushrooms roasted with grape tomatoes and tarragon (from the Winter 2015 edition of Edible Rhody), we zeroed in on the texture of the mushrooms: roasting adds a richness to their delicate nature, calling for a medium-bodied wine. We also wanted to complement the dish’s other ingredients and aromatics: tomatoes and tarragon. And for this we turned to Italy for a white and a red that work well with acid and herbs.

2014 Cantine Colosi, Nero d’Avola, Sicily There’s a supple cherry fruitiness in this medium-bodied bottle that is a lovely balance to the oyster mushroom’s delicate earthiness, and its menthol finish is just delicious with the dish’s tarragon notes. The nero d’avola grape – the superstar of Sicily – is a natural match for tomatoes.

2013 Argillae Orvieto, Umbria This blend is a beautiful example of the savory white wines Italy is known for. It has floral and tropical notes that add a brightness to the roasted dish, but it is its savory, almond notes that we prize with the mushroom’s earthy flavor and the warm licorice aromas from the tarragon.

ROASTED BLUE OYSTER MUSHROOMS WITH GRAPE TOMATOES AND FRESH HERBS
Co-owner Bob DiPietro, RI Mushroom Co., South Kingstown

Just about any type of fresh herbs can be used in this recipe—just be careful they don’t overwhelm the dish. Use less of stronger herbs like rosemary or sage than you would basil or tarragon. You can also substitute different mushrooms or opt for a mix. (Total cooking time may vary.) Bottles’ Note: we like to use tarragon in this dish, and think it’s sublime served over pasta.

¾–1 pound (5–6 cups) blue oyster mushrooms
1 cup (½ pint) grape tomatoes, washed and halved
2–3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1–2 tablespoons red wine or cider vinegar*
2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons mix of chopped fresh tarragon, thyme or Italian flat leaf parsley, divided
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
Trim off woody stems of the mushrooms and reserve for another use (a terrific addition to homemade stock). Shred the remaining mushrooms lengthwise into a large bowl.

Add tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and 1 tablespoon herbs. Toss well.

Arrange the mixture in a single layer on the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even browning.

Remove from oven, add remaining herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. (I always add salt at the very end whenever cooking mushrooms, otherwise they will exude their natural juices.)

May be served as a side dish, tossed with pasta or as a topping for steak or burgers. Serves 4.

* Instead of vinegar you can use pickle brine. I highly recommend the pickle brines from Rhode Island’s own Fox Point Pickling Co.

Cheers and Bon Appetit!

Wines to Pair with Butternut Squash Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Photo by Amy McCoy

Come ON … look at that photo … why are you still reading and not on your way to the market to pick up fixins to make this Butternut Squash Mac ‘n’ Cheese? While you’re out, stop by Bottles for one (or more) of the wines we suggest to pair with this absolutely delicious, rich and comforting dish. (Recipe below, courtesy of Edible Rhody.)

White Wine:

Evolucio Furmint. Grown primarily in the Tokaj region of Hungary, the furmint grape produces both sweet and dry wines. This crisp, refreshing easy-drinking bottle is a dry version, though given its ripe apple and floral aromas, it presents as a touch on the sweeter side. Which means it will echo the beautiful sweet squash, and its tangy acidity will slice through all that cheese.

Souscherie Savennieres Clos Des Perrieres. One of our favorite expressions of the chenin blanc grape is the beautiful wine made in the Savennieres region of France’s Loire Valley. This medium bodied, stunning and very special bottle has notes of honey and apricot (both of which have a natural affinity for cheese) and a vanilla finish, which is a lovely complement to butternut squash.

Red Wine:

Caiado Red Blend. A mix of cabernet sauvignon and two other relatively-obscure red grapes from Portugal, this terrific-value-of-a-bottle bursts with juicy fruit, is slick with silky tannins and is low in alcohol – all things we like when pairing wine with cheese-based dishes. It reminds us of the jam on a well-crafted cheese board: it’s the bright, sweeter yin to the cheese’s rich, creamy yang.

Laurence Remi Dufaitre Cote de Brouilly. Most wine pros have the gamay grape on their short list of wines that match mac ‘n’ cheese really well. And given its lighter style, and fruit-forward elegance, we have to agree. This in particular is a really fun, organic bottle from one of the more pristine of the Beaujolis cru. It’s succulent with bright fruit and a crispy acidity which will complement the squash and the cheese in equal measure.

FARMERS’ MAC ‘N’ CHEESE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
By Amy McCoy, author of Poor Girl Gourmet and founder/blogger of TinyFarmhouse.com

Master recipe (serves 4–6):
3¼ to 3½ pounds whole butternut squash, peeled, seeded and sliced into ½-inch rounds
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound pasta, such as ziti or penne rigate, prepared al dente according to the manufacturer’s instructions
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups (1 quart) whole milk, warmed
8 ounces (approximately 4 cups), grated sharp cheese (Narragansett Creamery Atwell’s Gold, cheddar cheese or a mix), divided
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly oil a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then transfer to a large, rimmed baking sheet and arrange in a single layer.

Roast on the middle rack for 50 to 55 minutes, until the edges are golden brown, and the squash easily mashes with a fork.

Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly. Transfer squash to a mixing bowl and mash.

(Can be done a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.)

Place cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.

Then make the béchamel sauce. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour gradually, using a whisk to blend it into the butter. Cook until the mixture is a light caramel brown shade, approximately 5 to 7 minutes, being careful not to burn. Slowly add the warmed milk, whisking constantly to keep the mixture from clumping. Cook over medium heat, whisking frequently, until the sauce is the consistency of pancake batter, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove the sauce from the heat, stir in half the shredded cheese and sprinkle with nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper.

Add the butternut squash and stir to combine evenly throughout the sauce. Mix the butternut-béchamel sauce with the pasta, stirring well to combine, then transfer to the baking dish. Top with remaining cheese, sprinkle with thyme leaves, season with salt and pepper and bake until the cheese is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes.

Notes: Can be prepared up to the point of topping with added cheese then covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Please note that the cooking time may need to be increased as the ingredients will be starting from a colder temperature right out of the refrigerator.

For a slightly creamier finished dish, increase the milk to 5 cups.

Bon Appetit!

Wines to Pair with Braises, Roasts & Stews

They’re the mainstay cooking methods in winter kitchens, and the backbone of virtually all of the comfort foods we are genetically inclined to crave when the mercury dips below 32. Here are our picks for the wines that will match the rich, warming flavors these techniques will bring to your table.

2010 Chateau Magneau Rouge
Graves, Bordeaux, France
A particularly dry wine with only hints of fruit and a pronounced minerality that goes especially well with the flavor of roasted lamb.

2010 Domaine Bessa Valley
‘Petit Enira’
Ognianovo, Bulgaria
A sturdy red with a judicious amount of boastful red fruit that stands up just fine to the richest of roast beef dishes. It’s 100% merlot and it’s from Bulgaria (Bulgaria? Bulgaria!). Trust us, it’s a perfect match!

2014 Il Casolare (Verdicchio)
Marche, Italy
A white wine that is more savory than fruity with loads of flavor like roasted almonds, fresh herbs and sweet hay. Great with herb-rubbed roasted chicken as the wine and chicken share many of the same flavors.

2014 Gia (Barbera/Dolcetta/Nebbiolo)
Langhe, Italy
Intense and highly appealing aromas and flavors that are a perfect match to the rich personality and creamy texture of Osso Bucco.

2012 Pujol Izard
Minervois (Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah)
Languedoc, France
A serious dish like short ribs requires a serious wine like this one. Studded with intense flavors of dark red fruit with hints of black pepper, this full bodied beauty can stand up to the richest of ribs.

2014 Penya
(Grenache, Carignan, Syrah)
Cotes Catalanes/Roussillon, France
Silky and not too heavy, this blend from the South of France is a perfect match to your favorite Coq au Vin dish. Perfect to cook with and great to drink!

2014 Terre Nere
Etna Bianco D.O.C.
Sicily, Italy
An interesting and rich white wine to go with a rich seafood, such as an oyster stew.
Definitely floral on the nose with a fresh and salty flavor profile that has hints of minerals, just like oysters!

2013 L’Argentier
(Cinsault)
Languedoc, France
A deliciously rustic wine that’s an ideal partner for cassoulet. Highly aromatic and medium bodied, this wine is perfectly at home with whatever your cassoulet recipe calls for.

2014 Astoria ‘Caranto’
(Pinot Noir)
Veneto, Italy
For a traditional Boeuf Bourguignon recipe, we’re shaking things up with a pinot noir from Italy. Perfectly balanced between light and heavy, the Caranto’s flavors make the beef sing while being heavy enough to not get lost.

Cheers and Bon Appetit!

Wines for Winter Holidays

It’s official: Home entertaining season has reached its fever pitch. And because wine plays a key part in most winter occasions – from a romantic fireside dinner for two to a holiday open house for 100 – we selected 9 1/2 wines that are ideal for your table, under the tree, or for your host.

NV Serafini & Vidotto “Bollicine” Sparkling Rose
Veneto, Italy
A medium weight sparkling rose tailor made for winter celebrations.The bollicine (Italian for bubbles) are crisp yet creamy and lead to brambly strawberry and toasty flavors. It’s a great bottle to pop open with hors d’oeuvres and makes a great gift, too.

2014 Domaine Salvard Cheverny Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)
Loire Valley, France
Crisp and lively, this sprightly wine is an ideal aperitif and pairs exceptionally well with shellfish (we’re partial to oysters). Open a bottle and start shucking! A super gift, it’s classic French label belies its gentle pricing.

2013 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast, CA
A statement wine for your table or as a gift: Classic California chardonnay at its richest: creamy pear flavors accented with oak spice. It’s a dream of a wine, and pairs best with rich seafood: think butter-basted salmon or lobster ravioli.

2013 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, OR
Pinot Noir’s savory, herbal and tart berry flavors, coupled with its light body style, were made for roast chicken, baked fish, braises, and other less demanding winter fare. It’s organic and biodynamic, too.

2007 Aljibes Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)
Tierra de Castilla, Spain
Herb-crusted roasts and the like will love the dark berry, spice and raisin flavors that flow from this Spanish beauty. And its high scores make it a great gift for your wine-loving pal who’s into that type of thing.

2009 Haut-Corneau Graves
Bordeaux, France
This isn’t good bordeaux for under $20. It’s great Bordeaux and its coffee, chocolate and pepper notes will play nicely with duck and beef dishes. It’s our house-wine for the holidays – and at this price – can be served at an open-house for 50+ without breaking the bank.

2012 Antigal Uno Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
Smooth vanilla spice notes and luscious black & red berry fruit mean this bottle will be superb with rich roasts and aged cheese. Its bold packaging makes it an impressive gift, too.

2011 Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
A Bordeaux blend, forward with blackberry, sage, and forest floor aromas. Its suppleness and medium-body style lend it to lots of winter foods — and it’s this versatility, coupled with its elegant packaging, that makes it an impressive gift for the host/hostess.

2012 Fattoria di Lucignano Chianti
Tuscany, Italy
Serving lasagna, are you? The balanced tannins and acidity found in this Chianti will be molto perfecto. It’s great with other creamy casserole dishes, too, as well as with antipasti of all types.

…for our “1/2”: 2005 Fattoria di Lucignano
Vin Santo (375ml – half bottle)
If not now, when? Sweet dessert wines are ideal after big winter holiday meals, when the thought of another bite is too much to bear. A classic style, Vin Santo is thick with sweet dried apricot, honey and toffee notes and is lovely with blue cheese or biscotti.

Cheers & Happy Holidays!

Wine Pairing: Grilled Swordfish Pairs with Rosé!

Grilled Swordfish and Rosé Wine Pairing

Looking for a wine and grilled swordfish pairing? Try Les Dauphines Rosé and Edible Rhody’s Grilled Swordfish recipe.

Les Dauphines Rosé is one of our favorites this summer! It boasts a beautiful pink color and has elegant flavors of red fruits like ripe strawberries and raspberries with hints of honeysuckle and tangerine.

This rosé is perfect with the swordfish recipe because the flavors of the wine complement the flavors in this dish. Additionally, the wine has a bright acidity that rips right through the full-flavored Arrabbiata Sauce. Deliciously zippy!

These two together = Livin’.

Les Dauphins Rosé Wine - Pairing Ideas for Summer

GRILLED SWORDFISH WITH HARICOTS VERTS, FINGERLING POTATOES, HEIRLOOM CHERRY TOMATOES AND ARRABBIATA SAUCE

Executive Chef Brian Ruffner, Trio, Narragansett

Nothing says summer like fresh swordfish with an array of warm vegetables and a drizzle of dressing. Let this fish dish transport you to the seaside, where the scent of garlicky Arrabbiata sauce will mingle with the salty sea air.

INGREDIENTS

Arrabbiata sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil½ medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (14½ -ounce) can organic plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Swordfish:
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and halved
¼ pound (about 1 cup) haricots verts cut in 2-inch lengths
6 (8-ounce) swordfish steaks Extra-virgin olive oil
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes
Microgreens for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a saucepot over medium heat and sauté onion and garlic until softened. Season with salt and pepper. Add plum tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Cook until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Purée in a blender until desired texture is reached (smooth or chunky). Add more salt and pepper to taste, and add lemon juice. Keep warm.

Meanwhile, parboil potatoes in salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Parboil green beans for 3 minutes, drain and place in cold water bath to stop cooking. Set aside.

Preheat grill or prepare coals. Coat swordfish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. (Let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before grilling.) Place on hot grill and cook to medium-well, approximately 4 minutes per side. Set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a hot sauté pan and cook fingerling potatoes until golden. Add the haricots verts and heirloom cherry tomatoes and cook an additional 3 minutes.

To serve, spoon several tablespoons arrabbiata sauce onto each warm dinner plate, place swordfish steaks on top, place veggies on side and top steaks with garnish.

Visit EdibleRhody.com for more recipes.

New Kosher Wines!

At Bottles we take great pride in hand selecting every single wine in our shop, we are always on the hunt for new great kosher wines from all over the world.

This year we’re proud to introduce Volcanus Petit Verdot, a full and rich red with notes of raspberry, blackberry and a lush, smooth finish.

Another new exciting find, La Fille de Boucher “Butcher’s Daughter” Bordeaux is medium bodied, dry and contains a fair amount of tannin. The best food pairing for this style of wine will be beef — the fat in the brisket will melt together with the tannin to create a wonderful culinary experience.

Last but not least we’ve brought in a new Sauvignon Blanc from one of our favorite kosher wineries, Terra Vega in the Central Valley, Chile. Wonderfully light and tart with hints of apple and lemon, this is a great new option for salads and light chicken dishes.

In addition, we would like to share a recipe from one of our new favorite cookbooks, Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi. Ottolenghi has created a virtual food tour, documenting the history of dishes with such beautiful detail and gorgeous photography. I can’t recommend this culinary resource enough; the lamb stuffed quince is on the top of my list for next fall! For Passover, I chose a simple and delicious “Beef Meatballs with Fava Beans & Lemons” which will pair beautifully with the Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux.

Beef and Lamb Meatballs With Fava Beans and Lemon.
Makes about 20 meatballs, to serve four.

4½ tbsp olive oil
350g broad beans, fresh or frozen
4 whole thyme sprigs
6 garlic cloves, sliced
8 spring onions, cut at an angle into 2cm segments
2½ tbsp lemon juice
500ml chicken stock
Salt and black pepper
1 1/2 tsp chopped flat-leaf parsley, mint, dill and cilantro, to finish

For the meatballs
300g minced beef
150g minced lamb
1 medium onion, finely chopped
120g breadcrumbs
2 tbsp each chopped flat-leaf parsley, mint, dill and coriander, plus ½ tbsp extra of each to finish
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
4 tsp baharat spice mix (recipe follows)
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp capers, chopped
1 egg, beaten

Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Add three-quarters of a teaspoon of salt and plenty of black pepper and mix well with your hands. Form into balls about the same size of ping-pong balls. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in an extra-large frying pan for which you have a lid. Sear half the meatballs over a medium heat, turning them until they are brown all over – this will take about five minutes. Remove from the pan, add another half-tablespoon of oil to the pan and cook the other batch of meatballs. Once browned all over, remove these from the pan, too, then wipe it clean with kitchen towel.

While the meatballs are cooking, throw the broad beans into a pot with plenty of salted boiling water and blanch for two minutes. Drain, refresh under cold water, then remove and discard the skins from half the broad beans.

Heat the remaining oil in the meatball pan, add the thyme, garlic and spring onion, and sauté over a medium heat for three minutes. Add the unshelled broad beans, one and a half tablespoons of the lemon juice, 80ml of the stock, a quarter-teaspoon of salt and plenty of black pepper. The beans should be almost covered by liquid. Pop on the lid and cook over a low heat for 10 minutes.

Return the meatballs to the pan, add the remaining stock, cover again and simmer gently for 25 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning. If it is still very runny, remove the lid and reduce a little. Once the meatballs stop cooking, they will soak up a lot of the juices, so make sure there is still plenty of sauce at this point. You can leave the meatballs now, off the heat, until you’re ready to serve.

Just before serving, reheat the meatballs and add a little water, if needed, to get enough sauce. Gently stir in the remaining herbs, lemon juice and the shelled broad beans and serve immediately.

Visit us in store — we’re here to help you select the perfect wines for Passover.

-Joanna

Champagne and Popcorn – Just in time for Oscar Night

Popcorn and Champagne … they go together like Harry & Sally. Like Bogie & Bacall. Like Harold & Maude: great alone, together sublime.

They’re the ideal pair because Champagne’s yeasty, toasty bready flavors crave the fat and salt of a perfectly popped and dressed bowl of popcorn. And then there’s all that texture: the crunch of the popped corn loves the fizziness of bubbles.

It’s a fine thing to do on these cold winter nights here in New England, and on February 22 especially, the night of this year’s Oscars. Make a big batch of stove top popcorn and pour a glass or two of your favorite sparkling wine. Grab a thick wool blanket and turn on the telly. Relish in all the glamour and shine and pop and fizz of the Oscars, and then give yourself an award, too, for making such a sublime and tasty popped production of your own.

Here are a few of our favorite popcorn and sparkling wine pairings:

The Harry & Sally

Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux
+ Popcorn with Salt and Freshly Ground Coriander Seed

This sprightly blanc de blanc sparkling wine from the Lanquedoc, made primarily from mauzac (a white grape), with just a touch of chardonnay and chenin blanc, has an apple-y pear liveliness to it that pairs beautifully with the citrusy coriander on the popcorn. We popped this batch in just the neutral oil, then topped with maldon salt (kosher is good too) and the coriander seeds that we crushed with a mortar and pestle. Melted butter not needed! (Though really, a little wouldn’t hurt.)

The Harold & Maude

Louis de Grenelle “Corail” Samur Rosé
+ Bacon Popcorn

From the Loire, this 100% Cabernet Franc sparkler bursts with wild strawberry and raspberry flavors — redolent of morning jam made with super ripe fruit — and finishes with a hint of yeasty goodness. What better to pair with this “breakfast in a glass” than bacon? We cooked off a pound of bacon, and used 4 tablespoons of the rendered fat to pop the corn. Once popped, we topped with 1/2 lb of the bacon, broken into pieces and of course, melted butter.

The Bogie & Bacall

Champagne Perseval-Farge Brut NV “C. de Pinots” 1er Cru
+ Brown Butter Popcorn with Coriander and Parmigiano Reggiano

This rich and full blanc de noir, made with 55% pinot noir and 45% pinot meunier, is full of dried fig, almond, toasted wheat bread and baked apple flavor, all delivered though a sparkling cyclone of tiny bubbles. To match its warm intensity, we served it with popcorn seasonings that are equally as round and deep.

First, we popped the corn in 2 tablespoons of neutral oil, 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once popped, we dressed it with brown butter, made by warming butter on a stove top until the milk solid have turned a warm brown (don’t burn!), and coriander seeds that we crushed by hand. We then topped with maldon salt (kosher is a fine replacement) and drifts of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. The toasty coriander flavors help draw out the brown butter, and the Parmigiano is regal enough to stand up to this true 1er Cru Champagne. Spectacular.

Enjoy the show!
– Cheers, Katie McManus

Basic recipe for stove-top popcorn:

Supplies & Ingredients

– A heavy-bottomed pot, with a capacity of at least 3 quarts. This is key. Using a thin-bottomed pot will result in burned popcorn and a ruined pot.
– 4 tbsp fat. Neutral, high-heat oils, such as grape seed or vegetable work best, but for taste, we like to add in more flavorful fats. Use at least 2 tablespoons of the neutral oil, then supplement with butter, or bacon fat, or olive oil, or hazelnut oil or pumpkin seed oil or truffle oil. You get the picture.
– 1/2 cup of good quality corn kernels

Directions:

1. Add the fat to the pot and set over a medium flame. Once heated, add 3 kernels of corn and shake to coat. Put the lid on the pot. Here’s a crucial point: Leave the lid ajar to allow steam to escape. Doing this will give you big fluffy popcorn.

2. Once all 3 kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn and turn the heat to medium-high. Shake to coat them with the oil.

3. Once the popping resumes, drop the heat slightly, and continue shaking the pot vigorously over the heat, all while keeping the lid ajar, until almost all have popped.

4. Remove from heat, and pour the hot popcorn into a wide bowl to ensure even distribution of your seasonings, sprinkle with the toppings of your choice and toss with your hands.

A Bordeaux Wine Pairing: Sausage with Cabbage and Gratin

A rich and hearty feast deserves a rich and hearty wine! And with the colder weather, dishes like Chez Pascal’s Belgium Tripp Sausage, recently featured in Edible Rhody Magazine, are ideal with Bordeaux wines.

Wines from Bordeaux contain mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, both known for their power and elegance, and can stand up to and even enhance the full flavors of both the sausage and the cabbage. I really recommend Chateau Blaignan from the Medoc. It has both bold flavors of black fruits and notes of baking spices, like cardamom, that would be a perfect pairing, and especially delightful for a holiday dinner.

Looking for more great holiday wines? Read more about the Bottles Top Picks for the season!

Belgium Tripp Sausage with Braised Red Cabbage and Apple & Celery Root Custard Gratin
by Chef/Owner Matthew Gennuso, Chez Pascal & The Wurst Kitchen, Providence

Perfect for a wintertime feast, this recipe combines savory sausage with a creamy gratin and mellow wine-braised cabbage. House-made sausages are available at the Wurst Kitchen at Chez Pascal but any favorite sausage will do. Braise the cabbage in advance to reheat on the stove and bake the gratin before serving.

Braised Red Cabbage:

4 cloves
8 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
2 pounds (1 small to medium) red cabbage, cored and finely shredded
1 medium onion, finely diced (or grated)
2 very firm (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith) apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 large Bartlett pear, peeled, cored and diced
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup red currant jelly
¼ cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups dry red wine

Apple & Celery Root Custard Gratin:

1 ½ cups whole milk
1 cinnamon stick
1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
¾ cup sugar
½ tablespoon table salt
3 very firm (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith) apples, peeled, cored and sliced paper thin
1 pound (1 medium to large) celery root, peeled and sliced paper thin
6 links Belgium Tripp sausage (or your favorite variety)
1 teaspoon cooking oil

For the cabbage, preheat oven to 325°. Put cloves, peppercorns and broken-up bay leaf in a cheesecloth bag or a tea infuser and place in a large Dutch oven with remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and then immediately place in oven. Braise covered, stirring occasionally for about 2 ½ hours or until cabbage is tender.

For the gratin, heat to lukewarm the milk and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and sprinkle with yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes to proof yeast, then remove cinnamon stick. Add mixture to a blender with butter, flour, eggs, sugar and salt and blend until well combined. Place apples and celery root in a large mixing bowl and pour in blended ingredients. Toss until well coated. In a 9- by 13-inch baking dish, arrange the sliced apples and celery root in overlapping layers so they lie flat and pour in remaining liquid mixture to cover. Place in a warm spot to rest for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°.

Bake for 1–1½ hours or until the custard sets and is golden brown. It should be firm when you give it a light shake. If it still looks loose in the center, return to oven for a few more minutes.

For serving, heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and cook sausage until nicely browned. To serve, divide sausages among 4 large, warm plates with portions of cabbage and custard gratin. Serves 6 as a main course.

Drink | A Wine, Beer & Spirit Blog by Bottles

A blog by Bottles in Providence with cocktail recipes, party ideas, and everything wine, craft beer, and spirits