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Arkansas Democrat Gazette, August 31, 2011

Reading Nook

Last year, I reviewed Jill Silverman Hough’s 100 perfect Pairings: Small Plates to Enjoy with Wines You Love. And a year and a half later, I still turn to the book for ideas. So I was eager to check out Hough’s latest book, 100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love ($16.95, Wiley).

For a book about pairing wine and food, I was surprised to find my favorite feature wasn’t the recipes. Oh, I loved the recipes. Hough has a way of making even my least favorite dishes (lamb, mushrooms) sound irresistible (Changerelle and Gruyere Bread Pudding and Honey-Orange Lamb Chops).

And I especially liked the introductions to each wine, and how the descriptions hit the nail square on the head as to why I find myself drawn to specific grapes.

But my favorite part about 100 Perfect Pairings is how the book is organized. When I know I’m going to enjoy wine with a meal, I like to start with the wine and then plan my meal accordingly, rather than trying to find a wine to fit the food.

With each chapter devoted to a specific grape – sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, chardonnay, viognier, Riesling, gewurztraminer, rose, pinot noir, zinfandel, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon – menu planning is easy.

Each chapter also includes a list of other names the wine may be know by; for example, syrah from Australia is labeled shiraz.

In addition to the recipes, Hough gives general food pairing guidelines for each wine and suggestions for creating your own pairings.

But this book is just as much about great recipes as it is wine. Other intriguing recipes include a tri tip roast marinated in zinfandel and whiskey, a free-form summer vegetable ie, and pork chops with apples, shallots, and star anise.

-Kelly Brandt