Hooray for Rosé

July 30, 2010

I know, I know. Some of you, just reading the title of this post, are saying to yourselves some version of, “Oh no – not rosé!” You have an idea of it being too sweet, too soda pop-y, too much like, maybe, Hawaiian Punch.

I understand.

Rosés have been too sweet, too soda pop-y, and too much like Hawaiian Punch.

Obsessed with Salmon Caesar

June 17, 2010

I’ve been obsessed.

Not with expensive shoes or daytime soap operas or Facebook – so I guess it could be worse.

The object of my obsession is Salmon Caesar Salad.

It started about a month ago, when I was working on a story for Bon Appétit, for holiday roasts. One of the recipes was for Rosemary-Rubbed Side of Salmon, which meant, in varying-sized hunks, I cooked my way through about seven pounds of the stuff. And not just garden-variety salmon – beautiful, succulent, sweet, creamy salmon from the best fish market in town. $116 worth, thank you very much Bon Appétit.

Lessons in Food and Wine Pairing: One that didn’t work.

February 17, 2010

I thought it might be interesting to talk about a recipe that I cut from my book, “100 Perfect Pairings: Entrees to Enjoy with Wines You Love,” because I couldn’t make it, well, a perfect pairing!

99 down, 1 to go! Plus thoughts on pairing with Cab

December 10, 2009

I have spent the last couple of weeks cooking up a storm for the Cabernet Sauvignon chapter of my second “100 Perfect Pairings” book. On the docket last week: Peppered Prim Rib Roast with Crème Fraîche Horseradish Sauce, Lemon- and Olive-Stuffed Leg of Lamb, New York Steaks with Espresso Pan Sauce, Steak and Radicchio Caesar Salad, and Good Old-Fashioned Pot Roast! I couldn’t have done it all without my trusty kitchen assistant Judy. My freezer is stuffed with carnivoric leftovers.

What to pair with Thanksgiving dinner? A major rave

November 20, 2009

Right on the heels of my minor rant about the San Francisco Chronicle’s food and wine pairing advice comes some fabulous advice from the Chron’s Jon Bonné about what to serve with Thanksgiving dinner. Bottom line? Drink what you like, says Bonné.

Food and wine writing talking over readers’ heads? A minor rant

November 6, 2009

I’ve had an article from the San Francisco Chronicle Food & Wine section on my desk for about six weeks now, thinking it fodder for a blog post, but then being kind of reticent about it. But, well, I’m tired of seeing it there, mocking me, calling me a chicken, and so here goes.

68 down, 32 to go! Plus Merlot musings

October 25, 2009

It’s been a quick month since my last post. Since then, I’ve finished the recipes for the Gewürztraminer chapter of my cookbook “100 Perfect Pairings: Entrees to Enjoy with Wines You Love.” I’ve also finished the Rosé and Pinot Noir chapters, and am now about halfway through Merlot. All in all, about one third of the book is complete and I’m on track to deliver it to Wiley, my publisher, as agreed on January 4.

48 down, 52 to go – plus more love for my recipe testers!

September 21, 2009

I’m narrowing in on finishing the first half of the book – working on the last white wine chapter, Gewürztraminer (gah-VERTZ-trah-mee-ner), this week and next. After only one day in the kitchen, I’ll go out on a limb and say that it’s going really well.

27 down, 73 to go

July 27, 2009

Although it’s dated July 14, I actually wrote the last post a couple of months ago, and have since finished a bunch more recipes for my upcoming cookbook, 100 Perfect Pairings: Entrees to Enjoy with Wines You Love.

1 down, 99 to go!

July 14, 2009

This week I started work on the second book in my food and wine pairing cookbook series, “100 Perfect Pairings.” The first of the series, featuring small plates recipes, will be released from Wiley & Sons in April 2010. The second, featuring entrees, will be released about a year later. But that’s all a long way away.