The Culinary Art of Wine and Food Pairing
by Sheryl Landrum
Chef School Review Columnist
Food's not just for eating anymore; it's also a popular entertainment medium and showcase for culinary talent. Local papers offer weekly food sections, cooking stores and department stores offer individual cooking classes, and culinary schools abound. Whether you're a gourmet chef or a novice cook planning a holiday meal, a super bowl party, or a themed dinner to entertain our friends, food is the focus. But wait! You've forgotten the wine. How do you know which wine will pair with your best culinary efforts?
Culinary Schools and Classes: Mixing and Matching
In many culinary schools and cooking classes, wine and food pairing is taken very seriously; the right wine can act as a perfect compliment to your food, while the wrong wine can overpower it. Wine makers appreciate the culinary arts and advise novice cooks as well as gourmet chefs about wine and food pairing. Here are some of basic principles for food and wine pairing taught at culinary schools:
- Pat attention to how the food is prepared. Is it roasted, grilled, or fried? Which herbs and spices are used in the dish? For example, Veal Piccata, already loaded with flavor, calls for a more delicate wine than braised veal shanks.
- Sweet and spicy foods pair well with white wines, including Reisling, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc.
- Lamb and steak pair well with robust reds, especially Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Syrah.
- Bitter and astringent foods pair well with fruit-forward wines like Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet.
The Culinary Arts Payoff: Wine Is Fun!
These are just a few basic principles, and there's always more to learn. Thankfully, learning the nuances of wine and food pairing can be a fun and delicious experience. Remember, you don't have to be a culinary artist or a gourmet chef to impress your friends. A great culinary school, local cooking class, or wine tasting class can help you set the stage for memorable meals and delightful dining.
About the author
Sheryl Landrum is freelance writer and member of the Viewcrest Above Lake Hodges Gourmet Club in San Diego, California
Posted on May 28, 2007 at 10:41 AM
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