winegirlblogs » Dinner for Two http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:39:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Dinner for Two II http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/2009/11/dinner-for-two-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dinner-for-two-2 http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/2009/11/dinner-for-two-2/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:26:28 +0000 callmejavier http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/?p=1082 For the second installment of Dinner for Two, we’ll feature a grilled salmon entree that I put together recently. I love cooking and eating delicious pacific salmon. This night I found whole coho salmon for sale. I fillet fish just often enough to think it’s a good idea to buy whole fish at the store. When I get started with the knife, however, I remember that my skills are a little dull. The fillets turned out a little rough to the eye but otherwise just fine. The meat was a great color and while not as fresh as if I’d caught it that day, it was in pretty fresh. In fact, the only silver (or king) I hooked this fishing season got away from me alongside the boat. I had to settle for pinks on the line this year. I lightly dressed the fish with olive oil, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper so as not to cover up any of the fresh fish flavors.

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To go along with the salmon, I steamed some green, green broccoli and roasted sweet potato slices. The colors went together very nicely. As the sweet potatoes were sizzling, I threw the fish on the hot barbecue grill. This was also the time to chose the wine. I paired WineGirl Wines’ 2008 Firá Chardonnay with the meal. The oak structure of this white wine could hold up to the rich flavors of the salmon. The zesty acidity and crisp fruit flavors would hopefully accentuate the freshness of the meal’s ingredients. And it worked. Try it for yourself sometime soon. To begin the meal, drink a little sip of the wine, swirl the wine in your mouth, eat a bite of the fish, and take another sip of the wine and you’ll be in a fabulous state of enjoyment.

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J.H.

]]> http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/2009/11/dinner-for-two-2/feed/ 2 Dinner for Two http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/2009/10/dinner-for-two/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dinner-for-two http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/2009/10/dinner-for-two/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:12:32 +0000 callmejavier http://www.winegirlwines.com/winegirlblogs/?p=892 Inspired by the blog at French Market Spice, I decided to record a mealmaking in progress. On the menu this night was polenta chunklets with black beans and chard. It was easy to prepare and delicious to eat. I first sauteed onion and garlic in olive oil. Then I added cooked black beans, replumped ancho chile peppers, jalapeno chiles, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and Bouquet Garni from French Market Spice. Bouquet Garni is a classic french blend of savory, celery, chives, thyme, onion, and bay leaves.

To make the polenta, I mixed the coarse ground yellow cornmeal into boiling water until it was the consistency of mashed potatoes. I poured the mix into a baking pan and baked for nearly 20 minutes until the top was slightly crispy. I sliced the polenta into squares and served with the bean mixture on top with  shredded sharp cheddar and jack cheeses and diced green onions. I added sauteed chard on the side to add some green color and flavor.

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Our 2007 Kamari Cabernet Franc was a perfect compliment to this meal. The peppery and earthy flavors of the wine went well with this hearty polenta dish. The soft fruit flavor in the Cab Franc added another dimension to the taste experience. Try something like this at home and you will not be disappointed.

J.H.

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