The Wine Knows - food

Height of decadence

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:58:06 -0400

It's really, really warm this weekend in the heart of Washington's Columbia Valley. The high Saturday tipped into triple digits, and it's supposed to stay this way at least through Wednesday. I guess we're making up for a cool spring, but this is a bit ridiculous.

Currying favor for Riesling

Fri, 30 May 2008 14:50:08 -0400

Last night, I put together a dish of curried chicken using some Thai red curry paste and coconut milk. I'm a sucker for spicy foods, but danged if I didn't put a bit too much red curry paste in the wok.

Jumping for joy

Wed, 28 May 2008 14:33:18 -0400

Friends of ours spent the long weekend at their family property near Shelton, Wash., on the Olympic Peninsula. As I've learned, this is good for me because they tend to bring back oysters.

Last night, we were invited over to imbibe. I was asked to supply the wines.

You and Bobby Flay

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:25:40 -0400

How would you like to hang with celebrity chef Bobby Flay in New York City? Flay and Columbia Crest are teaming up with a contest called "Flayvors of Washington." All you have to do is come up with an original recipe that uses ingredients from Washington state and is inspired by a Columbia Crest Grand Estates wine.

Sinclair Philip, the force behind Sooke Harbour House

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:20:24 -0400

Sinclair Philip, the force behind the fabulous Sooke Harbour House, also is a national leader in Canada's Slow Food movement.

Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, sat down recently with Philip to talk about the Sooke Harbour House, Slow Food and a number of other subjects. Watch the interview here:

Wild salmon with dried cherries

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:13:46 -0400

Braiden Rex-Johnson, Wine Press Northwest's food-pairing columnist, appeared on Whole Food's Secret Ingredient, an online cooking show. She demonstrated how to make Wild King Salmon with Dried Cherries.

Pairing wine with Jell-O

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:50:44 -0400

My wife pointed out an article in the recent issue of From House to Home magazine that pairs Jell-O with Moscato D'asti. As we have a 4-year-old and Jell-O is a major food group in our home, I took note.

A rosé for Easter

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:01:51 -0400

This afternoon, we had two couples over for an Easter meal. As the various toddlers screamed through the house, the adults enjoyed a glazed ham, green bean casserole and freshly baked bread.

For me, ham means rosé. I haven't gotten around to drinking up all my '06 rosés, so I rooted around in the cellar and found a Joie Wines 2006 Rosé, a pink blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir.

Knee-numbing pairing

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:43:23 -0500

My wife is testing some samples from local caterers for an event. Tonight, she brought home a dessert truffle filled with blue cheese, Chukar Cherries and chocolate.

Melissa wanted to try it with a wine. I'd already popped the cork on a Snoqualmie Vineyards 2003 Whistle Stop Red, Columbia Valley (under $10) to go with tonight's pasta. While I thought it would be an OK pairing, I realized I had a recently opened bottle of Barnard Griffin's 2005 Syrah Port.

Recipe for fast, delicious, healthy lasagna

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:24:05 -0500

I've now made this meatless lasagna twice (including yesterday while watching the Super Bowl). It's delicious, stupidly simple and relatively healthy. Last night, I made two pans so we would have plenty of leftovers.

Win copy of 'Northwest Wining & Dining'

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:49:41 -0500

We are giving away four copies of Braiden Rex-Johnson's latest book, Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining. Braiden, our longtime food-and-wine-pairing columnist, has penned a beautiful book that helps to further define Pacific Northwest cuisine, especially as it relates to Northwest wine country.

An interesting pairing

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:49:13 -0500

Last night, Melissa wanted scrambled eggs for dinner. We'd had chicken tikka masala the prior night, so I decided to get a little creative.

I chopped up the leftover chicken breast and added it to the eggs as they cooked. I topped the finished eggs with masala sauce and served with a dry Gewürztraminer.

'Pacific NW Wining/Dining' on NPR

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:33:36 -0500

Braiden Rex-Johnson was on National Public Radio this morning, talking about her new book, Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining.

Braiden, who is entering her eighth year as wine/food pairing columnist for Wine Press Northwest, spoke about the various regional cuisines she's encountered, first living in Pennsylvania, then Texas and now the Northwest for the past 18 years.

Cooking with wine

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:41:45 -0500

Troy Townsin is host of a radio wine show in British Columbia and also has co-authored (with his wife, Cheryl-Lynn) three books: Cooking with BC Wine, Cooking with the Wines of Oregon and Cooking with the Wines of Washington. The engaging Aussie transplant lives in Victoria.

Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, caught up with Troy recently while in the Okanagan Valley. Here's his interview with him.

How to put on a wine-tasting party

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:22:31 -0500

Over on The Seattle Times Web site, Paul Gregutt's first column of the year gives several great tips on starting a wine-tasting group.

Wine-tasting groups can be fun and educational, and they don't necessarily need to be formal. Having a wine-tasting party can serve a similar purpose. Here's how I would suggest putting one together.