All posts tagged wine and food

What Food What Wine

by Andrew on January 28, 2013 in In the Press with No comments

what food what wine Take the guesswork out of serving the perfect romantic meal this year by following the choices of the UK’s leading wine experts.

Finding the perfect wine match this Valentine’s Day has never been easier thanks to What Food What Wine? the UK’s first wine and food pairing competition.

A panel of judges, including married Masters of Wine Susie Barrie and Peter Richards from BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, tasted wines from around the world to find the best matches for the UK’s favourite meals, including the ultimate Valentine’s Day dinner.

They discovered a £4.50 Sauvignon Blanc from supermarket Asda, that was a wow with smoked salmon; a Waitrose Shiraz dubbed ‘fantastic’ with steak and chips; as well as a popular budget Mosato called ‘heavenly’ with strawberries and cream.

A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (Luis Felipe Edward Reserva, 2011, £4.50, Asda) beat competition from around the world to be crowned the ‘best match with smoked salmon’.
Judges praised the wine’s: “Fresh zippy flavour, with a tang of citrus, that dances with the rich oiliness of the salmon. The sweetness of the fish highlights deeper flavours in the wine, creating the perfect mouthful.”

When it came to the main meal of rump steak and fries a robust Australian Shiraz from Waitrose (Reserve Shiraz St Hallett, 2010, £9.99) came out on top.

Judge Ewan Lacey, from Channel 4’s Cookery School, said: “The black pepper and sweet black fruit, with a decent pull of alcohol, stood up to the steak. Huge flavours vied for attention with bursts of vanilla and sweet meat. This is a fantastic steak wine at a good price.”

And an American Moscato, from the popular vineyard Barefoot, scooped the crown as the ultimate match with strawberries and cream. Judges called the Barefoot Moscato NV, £4.99: “Heavenly! A really fruity, creamy match, the sweetness is delicate and enriching without cloying.”

The competition, launched last year, aims to find the best wine matches for the UK’s favourite dishes including fish and chips, chicken tikka masala, roast lamb, lasagne, mushroom risotto and apple crumble and custard.

Judges include the Guardian’s wine writer Fiona Beckett and BBC Good Food’s Sarah Jane Evans, MW, as well as delicious wine critic Susy Atkins.

The competition boasts a true ‘blind’ tasting, with judges only knowing if the wine costs more or less than £10. For the full results visit www.whatfoodwhatwine.com.


Food and Wine Matching Bordeaux Style

by Andrew on January 16, 2013 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with 1 Comment

Since winning Celebrity MasterChef back in 2006, Matt Dawson has now become a firm fixture in the culinary world. Good Food Would Choose Bordeaux, and so does Matt.

This winter the foodie becomes a Bordeaux wine lover: Matt shows Brits how to match great food with great Bordeaux wines without breaking the bank. Discover culinary passion with a series of cooking demos that will introduce you to the versatility of Bordeaux wines and endless pairing possibilities for any occasion.

Matt has fond memories of Bordeaux that date back to his teenage days when he spent Easters playing rugby against the local side, Bordeaux Bègles, and enjoying the hospitality of host families.

Food and wine are central to Bordeaux-style life, but back then Matt had no idea food was going to become his central focus after hanging up his boots. This self-confessed foodie now has time to devote to his great passion. Being able to match his own recipes to a selection of Bordeaux wines is a labour of love that takes Matt back to those memorable Easters in Bordeaux.

Watch the video where Matt cooks up a delicious Warm Steak and Roquefort Salad, and with help from Wine Expert Ewan Lacey matches his creation to the perfect style of wine from Bordeaux.

Video: Food and Wine Matching Bordeaux Style

Glynde Food and English Wine Festival

by Andrew on April 26, 2012 in Tasting Events/Shows with No comments

glynde food and english wine festivalNow in its 6th year, the Glynde Food and English Wine Festival offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the country’s biggest gathering of English vineyards, alongside the very best local and regional food producers in the beautiful setting of Glynde Place.

Viscount Hampden, Festival Founder, comments:

‘English wines are now proving themselves on an international level and Glynde is becoming the largest and most significant gathering of some of the best vineyards in the country. Coupled with the best artisan producers, it’s a marvellous showcase’.

Visitors can explore English wine through tastings at the vineyards’ stands and Tutored Tastings with wine broadcaster Ewan Lacey and Stephen Skelton MW. There will be free talks on viticulture and wine production for those wishing to learn more.

Ewan Lacey comments:

‘I’m so excited to be involved in the English Wine festival, the strides that have been made here in England have rightly made it one of the most exciting wine growing regions in the world. I’m looking forward to tasting the best and having a chance to share in the rewards of the hard work that our wine makers are reaping’

Free to all visitors, one of the major highlights of the festival is the Chef Demo Stage. This year’s line up includes John Torode, Dhruv Baker, Peter Bayless, Tim Anderson (MasterChef winner 2011) plus actress and cook, Lisa Faulkner.

For a more hands on experience at the festival, visitors can also sign up for Cookery Masterclasses with John Torode and try food, wine & beer matching with Ewan Lacey and Tim Anderson. For children, the Kitchen Academy will run all weekend encouraging the next generation of chefs to cook great dishes they can then make at home – from Vegi Sushi to Mexican Quesadillas.

NEW for 2012 is the Summer Feast, an exclusive party hosted by John Torode and Dhruv Baker. Held in the main festival marquee on the Saturday night of the festival, this will be a unique opportunity to try some stunning food and enjoy the striking surroundings of Glynde Place into the evening. Tickets are £50 ,but will need to be purchased in advance due to limited availability.

‘With a plethora of cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, cookery classes, artisan food producers, English wines, beers, ciders and a street food market – there won’t be a minute in the day not to be enjoying fantastic food and drink!’ Says Viscount Hampden.

Tickets for this year’s festival are now on sale.

Glynde Food and English Wine Festival
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July 2012
Glynde Place, Glynde, East Sussex BN8 6SX

The Real Wine Fair 2012

by Andrew on April 20, 2012 in Tasting Events/Shows with No comments

the real wine fairThe inaugural Real Wine Fair will take place in Holborn, London on 20th May, giving wine and food lovers the opportunity to taste over 600 organically or biodynamically produced wines. Tickets are now on sale for £20 per ticket at www.therealwinefair.com. Two wine trade days will follow on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd. Timings will be 10am-6pm on all three days.

The Real Wine Fair celebrates dedicated individuals who work organically or biodynamically in the vineyards and winery. 150 growers and winemakers will be at the event, presenting over 600 wines.

Visitors to The Real Wine Fair can meet and talk to the growers, whilst having the opportunity to taste a diverse range of honest, terroir-driven wines. Several real wine ‘heroes’ have been lined up for a series of seminars and debates including Alice Feiring, author of ‘Naked Wine: Letting grapes do what comes naturally’ and ‘Wine Anorak’, Jamie Goode, co-author of ‘Authentic Wine: toward natural and sustainable wine making’.

There will be an exhibition of contemporary paintings and posters as well as artisan food and drink exhibitors, and restaurant stalls selling “street food”.

All of the wines on show at the fair will be available to purchase from an on-site pop-up shop, created specifically for the event.

In association with this event, up to 200 restaurants across the country will be selling real wine by the glass, throughout the month of May. Details of participating restaurants and a full list of producers will be announced in the next fortnight.

Winter Warming Wines PodCast With Charles Metcalf

by Andrew on December 16, 2011 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with No comments

vins de loire logoA quick podcast featuring Charles Metcalf offering up his wisdom in regards to “winter warming wines” and the “perfect drop for your festive menus”.

Winter is here and for many wine lovers that means red wine season.

But while it may be a given that a red wine is the perfect drop for those heart-warming winter meals, knowing which variety of red to choose can be a minefield, considering the vast array of wines from around the world now available in Britain.

With Christmas approaching, many of us will be entertaining friends and family around the table in the next few weeks, so making sure you’ve got the right type of wine on hand for both unexpected guests and planned parties is paramount at this time of year.

Because when it comes to matching your food to your wine, whether pre-Christmas or on the big day itself, a little knowledge can mean the difference between a good meal and a great one. So which red will go best with your Christmas turkey, a hearty casserole or the traditional Boxing Day cold cuts?

Wine expert Charles Metcalfe knows exactly how to help you figure out how to match the perfect vin rouge to your festive menus, whether canapés or cordon bleu.

Charles has a particular interest in Loire Reds, which are lighter in style than other reds ensuring the festive flavours aren’t overpowered. He joins us with his top tips on buying and enjoying red wine this winter.

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