The enormous range of French wine types can make choosing a wine for Tuesday night dinner an overwhelming task. Burgundy or Bordeaux? Alsace or Loire Valley? To get you started, we’ve chosen some of our favorite French wines to pair with fall recipes from Edible Rhody magazine. Scroll down for a great recipe for Wild Mushroom Ravioli and Broccoli Rabe, and to read about a luxurious Côtes du Rhone along with a vibrant Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. Cheers!
2011 J.L. Chave ‘Mon Coeur’ Cotes du Rhone, Rhone Valley
While many Côtes du Rhone are a blend, this is all Syrah. Rich and deep color and with loads of dark fruit and black pepper flavors. A great wine to pair with dishes with lots of earthy flavors.
While many Côtes du Rhone are a blend, this is all Syrah. Rich and deep color and with loads of dark fruit and black pepper flavors. A great wine to pair with dishes with lots of earthy flavors.
2012 Pepiere ‘La Pepie’ Cabernet Franc, Loire Valley
A medium bodied beauty with vibrant red fruit and flower flavors with haunting earthy flavors that pair seamlessly with mushrooms and white truffle oil.
A medium bodied beauty with vibrant red fruit and flower flavors with haunting earthy flavors that pair seamlessly with mushrooms and white truffle oil.
Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Shaved Baby Turnips and Broccoli Rabe
Allison Vanderburg, sous-chef, Cav, Providence
At Cav we make our own ravioli with a duxelles of wild mushrooms and black truffles. To simplify things, you can substitute mushroom ravioli from local purveyors like Puerini’s or Venda. The topping can change with the seasons too—in springtime we use asparagus or fiddleheads with melted leeks. Enjoy!
Juice of 2 lemons, seeded
¼ cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons white truffle oil
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
32 wild mushroom raviolis
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 bunch baby turnips, washed, trimmed and sliced thin
1 bunch broccoli rabe, washed and chopped
Add lemon juice to blender with sage; blend and add truffle oil in a slow drizzle. If too thick, add more lemon juice; if too thin, add more oil. (Olive oil is fine at this point but we generally use more truffle oil.) Season to taste and set aside.
Boil a pot of salted water and add raviolis. Cook until al dente, which should take no longer than 6–8 minutes.
In the meantime, heat a large saucepan and add butter and garlic. Do not allow either to brown. After about 2 minutes, add turnips and rabe, tossing them in the butter. Cook until softened but bright and not soggy. Season to taste. Add vinaigrette, stirring, so it emulsifies with the butter and makes a sauce. Add raviolis and toss so they absorb some of the sauce.
To serve, divide raviolis among 4 warm large, shallow bowls. Arrange them like a crown around rim with the vegetables in the center, reserving the sauce so you can pour it equally over each serving. Serves 4 as main course or 6 as a first course.
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Cheers!
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We’re located in Providence, Rhode Island.