Whether you’ve got a home-cooked version in the works or simply plan on picking up a ready-to-slice Easter ham, Pinot Noir makes a lovely red wine match. (Looking for a white? Try Riesling or Pinot Gris…) Here are a handful I’ve enjoyed lately: Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Whole Cluster Fermented ($19). [...]

I recently revisited one of my favorite recipes from the old Wine Skinny recipe archives — and think it is a lovely way to celebrate any upcoming Spring occasion. It’s a dish that was inspired by a Molly O’Neill recipe — she inspires me in a number of ways, and her The Pleasure of Your [...]

Here’s a recipe that is simpler than you can believe — always a good thing, if you ask me. Recipe: Poultry: Grilled Cinnamon Duck with Caramelized Shallots 8 servings 2½ pounds boneless duck breast ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1½ cups thinly sliced shallots ¾ cup sherry vinegar 3/8 cup light brown [...]

I am way over winter at this point — and have made a personal decision to just go ahead with spring, regardless of the actual weather conditions. In that spirit, here’s a fresh, flavorful pairing — Chateau St. Jean’s La Petite Etoile Fume Blanc matched with an earthy asparagus and wild mushroom frittata. If cooking for [...]

This recipe comes by way of a grandmother from the old country — in this case a friend’s husband’s grandmother in Romania. As the story goes, she always used every scrap of every ingredient, including this idea of turning stale bread into a sort of savory french toast. I cannot now remember the Romanian word he [...]

This is one of my absolute favorite vegetable dishes ever — I look forward to making it several times each winter. It’s earthy and flavorful and gets a delicious glazed effect from the butter and chicken stock combining with the natural sweetness of the veggies. It works perfectly well with vegetable stock, too! Like many [...]

I love Valentine’s Day — relationship or no, I just like the silly, pointless sweetness of it all. And of course, there’s the chocolate. Some years I’m drawn to the latest, coolest, pushing-the-flavor boundaries brands, some years I’m old school. (This year, that plush, cushiony red Godiva heart box has my eye…) But whatever the chocolate [...]