Many of us are mad about a great bottle of red wine; this flexible drink can help break the ice and works fabulously for entertaining. But how can we ensure the right food pairings for the rich and full-bodied flavour of a great red?
Pairing light red wines
Of course, not all red wine is as strong as others. A lighter, more delicate red wine pairs well with dark leafy greens and vegetable dishes, where these strong flavours could overpower a white wine. A light red is the ideal halfway-point, allowing the fruit to help combat the acidity of green vegetables. Another great pairing is to add a light red wine when enjoying salad dishes, which will help to bring out the earthy flavours. Pinot noir and Burgundy both work well here.
Pairing medium red wines
With a stronger red wine, opt for flavours which can compete with the bolder taste of your wine choice. Red meat works well, helping to emphasise the flavours of both the wine and the meat for an almost perfect pairing. Vegetable stews and tomato-rich dishes, chicken and fish such as salmon all also work exceptionally well when served alongside a denser red wine.
Pairing strong and fortified red wines
Some find very strong red wine too much, but the trick is to ensure the same level of sweetness to help negate an acidic taste. Fortified wines might not be to everyone’s taste, but when matched with the right food combination the results can be surprising even for those who thought they’d never try such a match! Dark chocolate is a particularly great choice when opting for strong red wines, as are chocolate-desserts in general. The richer the better; this is one wine variety that can certainly stand up to the challenge!
At Hamper Lounge, we specialise in a deluxe range of hampers and gifts, perfect for surprising a loved one with a hamper delivery or wine gift. Whatever kind of wine you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it at our online store – and with the ability to mix and match a hamper of your choice, the possibilities are endless. Why not impress with your newfound knowledge of wine pairings, and put together a hamper packed with some amazing reds? Explore the range online or contact us directly to find out more.
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From Beder's Kitchen is a charity cook book containing a collection of recipes and reflections from amazing foodies around the world including head and executive chefs at some of the UK's leading restaurants; MasterChef winners; TV chefs; food bloggers; nutritionists; best-selling authors; a Great British Bake Off winner and mental health advocates.
There are 90 contributors in all, who have donated recipes and shared their personal experiences and words of advice about looking after their mental health and how food has played a part in that.
Among those involved are Gordon Ramsay, world famous chef and TV personality; Yotam Ottolenghi, restaurateur, chef and best-selling author; Atul Kochhar, chef and TV regular; Carla Henriques, executive pastry chef at Hawksmoor; Michael Zee, author and creator of Symmetry Breakfast; Romy Gill, chef and TV regular; Judy Joo, host of Korean Food Made Simple; Joudie Kalla, author of Palestine on a Plate; Jack Blumenthal, chef and son of Heston; David Atherton, Great British Bake Off 2019 winner; Liz Earle, writer, TV presenter and author; and Miles Kirby, chef director at Caravan.
The lighter evenings, stunning warm summer sun (fingers crossed!) and the UK’s perfect picnic spots all call for celebrations and what better way to do so than with a Cartwright & Butler poshnic?
Not so glorious outside? As we all know, the classic British summer can be unpredictable, but even if it’s dramp and dreary, you can still enjoy a poshnic indoors.
Here are some top tips for turning your everyday picnic into something special
Here is the perfect scone recipe used by afternoon tea specialists The English Cream Tea Company.
Ingredients
3 x cups plain flour
half tsp salt
2 x tsp bicarbonate of soda
quarter cup caster sugar
85 grams cold butter
284ml buttermilk
half cup sultanas
Baking Instructions (makes eight yummy scones)
Preheat oven to 200C / 395F and line a baking tray with non-stick paper.
Sift 3 cups of plain (all purpose) flour into a bowl or mixer along with half teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and quarter cup of caster sugar.
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