recipephile

Wine Musings From Jerry - Wines for Leos...

Louis Barthelemy Brut Champagne NV France $32.50 btl – Delicious and appropriate wine for a Leo

30% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. The most fierce of the Fire Signs, Leo is also the charmer, Leo is the life of the party - you are huggable, delicious and the fearless master of all things warm and fuzzy and fun. Jerry, Chris and James are all Leos, so we are a bit partial here, but nothing says a Leo has entered a room like the POP of a champagne cork…..let the party begin. Leo-love knows no bounds.

Louis Barthelemy is a small family run Champagne House which was established in 1925. In blind tastings, this exuberant bottle of bubbles tops all contenders in the non-vintage brut category. 4 years ‘en triage” results in a creamy, showy, biscuit-bread dough quality that is sublime. The latest bottling of Brut is fresh, yet rich and warm on the palate while providing a fine persistent mousse. The flavors are round with seductive fruit, a touch of brioche and finishes with a note of citrus peel. 12% alcohol.

Wine Musings From Jerry - Wines for Cancers...

Jerry is joining us again with thoughts on wine, but this time his recommendations are based on your sign. Look for his insight each and every month.

Chateau Christina Pinot Noir 'Franscioni vineyard' Monterey '05 $27.00 btl - The perfect bottle of wine for a Cancer

100% Pinot Noir. Politically correct, charming - Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac - is a water sign, and signifies a highly emotional nature. (Under that cool, unruffled exterior of course) Being under the sway of the element of water also makes you highly caring, generous and intuitive. You are a good judge of character. You are true blue. This Pinot Noir exudes a bit of mystery and charm of its own, a complex wine to match to many warm emotions….

The Central Coast of California is producing some noteworthy Pinots, and the small production wines from Chateau Christina are no exception. The 33 year old Franscioni Vineyard lies 15 miles southeast of the Pacific Ocean. These exceptional Swan clone vines provide the luscious fruit for this delicious wine. Smooth ripe rich and polished, with a pretty core of cherry, spice, raspberry and a hint of cola. The mouth feel is silky – a great Pinot for the price. 14.5% alcohol. 140 cases produced.

Garlicky Garlic Bread

When I was younger my sister and I would toast pieces of white bread, slather them with butter and top it off with garlic salt and a little bit of oregano. This was our version of garlic bread and to this day I still make it every once in a while. It always brings back memories of sitting in the front of the television arguing over what to watch and always losing since she was the oldest and the only girl in the brood.

For a truffled risotto dinner party that a few friends and I hosted the other night we served garlic bread as an accompaniment. This one was quite different, very garlicky and absolutely delicious.

Stanley's London Broil on the Grill

After college I lived with my good friend Stan March. We did so much cooking in that apartment and fed so many people in the year we lived together. Stan used to make a London Broil that I loved. It is so very easy and marinates in a Ziplock bag.

Quick Bites - Figs with Goat Cheese

This is truly one of the easiest recipes on the planet. It is also one of the most loved of my friends and family. If you can find really ripe and delicisious figs buy them. Cut them in half and dollop a little bit of goat cheese on the top. Arrange on a platter and drip a little bit of balsamic vinegar on each of the figs. Crack some black pepper on each and serve. You will be the hit of the party.