Pair It Up! Food & Wine Resolutions
If you’re one of those people who starts a detox and renews their gym membership on January 1st, by now you might be thinking: enough already! I read once that it was better to minimize alcohol consumption to a couple nights a week, instead of cutting it out cold turkey. I am not sure if it’s true but it certainly makes sense! I, personally, have never believed in extremes BUT….. I am on a cleanse too!! This is what I propose: let’s get back to real life in a way that’s slow and smart. Below are 4 healthy dishes that you can enjoy with a delicious glass of wine and have the bottle sent right to your door. It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Santé!
1. Haywire Pinot Gris 2013 with Lentil tabbouleh by Jamie Oliver
I always find lentils very satisfying and I love the twist on tabbouleh with this recipe. It’s filling, healthy, delicious and easy on your wallet – fulfilling all of the necessary requirements for your January resolutions. Haywire Pinot Gris 2013 has lively, juicy notes of lime and lemon that will work like a charm with the tomatoes and parsley in your lentils.
2. Le Vieux Pin Petit Blanc 2015 with Pear and fennel salad with caraway and pecorino by Yotam Ottolenghi
If you go extreme when trying to be healthy, chances are you will give up and go back to your bag of chips. This is why adding a little bit of cheese to your salad gives you a reason to eat more salad. I fell hard for this simple recipe by Yottam Ottolenghi. It is delicious with Le Vieux Pin Petit Blanc 2015. Although the Okanagan is not known for its Sauvignon Blanc, winemaker Severine Pinte has shown that it can be stellar when in good hands. Pinot Gris is part of the blend, which adds some roundness to the wine and makes it a perfect match with the pear and fennel.
3. Tawse Spark Riesling Limestone Ridge 2014 with Miso Soup with tofu & cabbage by Jamie Oliver
This soup has character and will warm you up during the colder days of the month. Don’t be scared of the tofu, it soaks up the flavour of the delicious broth. The spiciness of the soup required a wine with personality that can stand up to it. Tawse Spark Riesling Limestone Ridge 2014 works like a charm.
4. Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2014 with Roasted chicken legs with onion by Ricardo
Chicken, when organic and cooked in a simple way, fits in my healthy options when on a detox. The honey brushed on the legs gives a pleasant, sweet taste to the bird. Just think it’s dinner and dessert at the same time AND it’s healthy. The delicate, generous notes of wild strawberries and cherries of the Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2014 make each bite better.
You can get all of these fantastic wines at MyWineCanada.com, click the bottles for more information.
Michelle Bouffard is a wine and spirits educator and a writer who splits her time between Montréal & Vancouver. She is the president of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. She Tweets @michellebwine and Instagrams @michellebouffard.
