Last week Seattle Uncorked brought sexy back with the Sexy Syrah event at Salty’s on Alki. With over 58 Syrahs and Syrah blends the event definitely reminded us that Washington Syrah has many styles.  Some are bright and fruity while others are smoky or peppery. Whatever the style, Syrah is definitely a favorite around our house. [...]

The food and wine pairing seminars at Taste Washington offer more than just a lecture on what to pair with chicken or steak. They offer guidance from a well-qualified and engaging panel, questions from an inquisitive audience, and the opportunity to actually taste several pairings. The Canlis Food and Wine Pairing seminar offered last Saturday was no exception. [...]

For those of you heading out to Taste Washington today, here is a quick rundown on some of my favorite food and wine pairings from yesterday. Note that my wine picks aren’t always at the table right next to where the food is being served. However, I’m a believer that if you take the time to [...]

Here’s an update on a classic Italian dish made to pair with Malbec. This makes 4 servings. Ingredients: 1-2 teaspoons oil 2 links turkey Andouille Sausage (I get mine from the butcher counter at Whole Foods) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup dry red wine (preferrably the wine you will be drinking with dinner) 1 750 g box of pureed [...]

This recipe came about while I was preparing material for an Italian wines class. Inspiration came from the latest issue of Food Network Magazine . I’ve simplified the recipe  because I needed to easily feed a crowd. In fact, quantities can be doubled or quadrupled to do just that! So next time you’re hosting a casual spaghetti [...]

Pesto is wonderful for it’s versatility. It can be used on pizza, sandwiches, and pasta, for example. Tweaking traditional pesto recipes also means that different wines will work with your meal. So why not play with your food? If you don’t have any fresh basil on hand you can substitute parsley, spinach, or even kale. [...]

Some people might not consider this a true pesto due to the omission of Parmigiano and pine nuts. Since I like to use this sauce on dishes such as pizza or pasta where cheese is added anyway, I find that I don’t miss the Parmigiano in this recipe. The end result is a more balanced [...]

Every year the hubby asks me if I want to go out to dinner for Valentine’s Day. Every year my answer is the same. “I’d rather stay home.” Wouldn’t you? I mean, really, any place you eat at is going to be charging a premium for a limited menu and wants to rush you out the [...]

Trying to come up with of a way to reinvent some leftover spaghetti squash, I recalled a recipe for fritters in Greg Atkinson’s book, “ At the Kitchen Table .” His version is based on parsnips, but I can’t get the hubby to eat those. Besides, we were in need of a side dish to pair with [...]

The food and wine pairing classes I’ve taken at Northwest Wine Academy have had an ongoing influence on me. In Varietals II where red wine is explored at great length, we were tasked with serving a dish to pair with Malbec. I’m now obsessed with pairing food with Malbec . All the time. Seriously. One of the food [...]

Here’s a quick and dirty guide for throwing a party together when time and money are limited. We’ve culled together a couple of our favorite recipes, drink ideas, and party planning tips to help keep the merry in your merrymaking. Start with our plan for hosting a salami and wine pairing party . Then, throw in a couple of [...]

Washington winery, Walter Dacon , crafts some lush and decadent wines. One of our favorite wines that they’ve produced has been their Roussanne. Sadly, they haven’t bottled any in recent vintages. So when our good friend Vivian discovered a bottle of the 2006 and one of the 2007 vintages in the winery’s library, we planned a special pairing dinner. [...]

Sure, there are those who might be stunned that anyone might have leftover wine from dinner. When it happens who can bear to let even a drop of our precious juice go to waste? The good news is, there’s no need to pour that wine down the drain! Cook pasta in wine . I saw Mario Batali [...]

As a student at the Northwest Wine Academy ,  finals in food and wine pairing classes involve creating and presenting our very best pairings. In Varietals I, a class focusing on white varietals, our friend Vivian prepared this “Magical Austrian Soup”. Our instructor, Chef Lenny Rede still waxes poetic about this warming wonder. Many thanks to Vivian [...]

I’m still obsessed with Cardamaro. Not only have I incorporated it into biscotti, but also this recipe. This is a decadent treat that I love serving to dinner guests for dessert. There is nothing like homemade ice cream so refreshingly cool, creamy, and smooth. With an automatic ice cream maker, it’s unbelievably easy to make. In [...]

We are fortunate in Seattle to have so many wine events taking place at any given time. How to choose which to attend? This is our take on some of our favorites that inspire our palates. Mosel Wine Merchants Riesling Tasting at the Wild Ginger in Seattle August 29 5-7 pm What’s so great about it? At just $15 [...]

Looking for a great summer sipper? Pinot Gris is a light to medium bodied white wine with refreshing acidity that is perfect for pairing with dinner on a warm summer evening. Northwest produced Pinot Gris tends to be a bit heavier than its Italian counterpart, Pinot Grigio. Keep the body of the wine in mind [...]