What’s more romantic? Afour-course prix fixe dinner or oneyou create for your love at home?
I think the answer isobvious. Even if God didn’t grant you the gift of culinary prowess, your localtakeout is a better plan than a jammed table near the kitchen in your favoriteeatery.
And what better to pair with your intimate meal at home? Chocolate? Flowers?
Rookie moves. I mean, aren’t we all looking to “get in the spirit” of the day?
Wine, it is. So let’s discuss appropriate foodand wine for a night with your favorite loved one.
Course One:
Stuffed Mushrooms with Mushroom Stems and Vegetables: (https://kosherbygloria.com/stuffed-mushrooms/)
This recipe is vegan, so you’ll please everyoneyou know, and the mushrooms pair particularly well with a light, bubbly wine.In this case, let’s choose one from Bel Paese, the Beautiful Country:Italy. The Val D’Oca Prosecco Brut Extra Dry ($15) shows lovely tropicalfruit and crisp, refreshing tight bubbles.
A perfect opening to your night of amore.
Course Two:
Tuna Crudo with Shallots and Lemon Zest: (https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/fish-crudo/)
Don’t be afraid to deal with high-quality raw fish. I find it amazing how many people I know are willing to buy grocery store or pizza shop sushi, but worry about the safety of DIY sushi.
Learn more from this enlightening piece on rawfish https://www.seriouseats.com/2017/05/how-to-prepare-raw-fish-at-home-sushi-sashimi-food-safety.html The bright freshness of this seafood will be highlighted by 2018Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($18), a delightfully aromatic offering from thefamed Sauvignon Blanc region of New Zealand, with bracing acid, crispminerality and citrusy fruit.
Course Three:
Israeli Roasted Paprika Chicken with Potatoes:
Some interesting tidbits on prepping chickencontained within this piece. I love roasted chicken just about as much as Ilove everything in this world, so it’s the perfect Lover’s Day main course.Typically, I am only suggesting wines that the average purchaser can findlocally, but I find that the perfect pairing here is the Shirah Winery 2014Luna Matta Aglianico ($65 available at shirahwine.com)Eventually I will devote a column to the rock-star wine artists of ShirahWinery, but for now, I’ll say that this Roasted Chicken Paprika with the ShirahAglianico will leave you unsure if the stirring feelings of passion stem fromthe menu or your dinner partner.
Course Four:
Don’t waste precious late evening minutes fussing over dessert. A few bites of delicious rich bittersweet chocolate (I like Scharffen Berger’s 82% Extra Dark Chocolate) with the Solera-method liqueur muscat, Dalton Anna ($45), will satisfy the sweet tooth without overwhelming the senses.
The Dalton Anna is my favorite dessert wine,full-bodied, with notes of apricot nectar and almonds, and an oily creaminesswith enough acidity to not be cloying.
Hopefully, you can share the night with someoneyou love, and if there is no other person in your present-day equation,remember the person most worthwhile of these choices — yourself.
Dr. Kenneth Friedman is a Baltimore-born kosher wine aficionado/connoisseur. He is known for his unsolicited wine advice and runs many local kosher wine tastings.
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