WINO Match-Maker: Branzino and Vino

Chester Gerl and Chris Lara Bring You the Perfect Pair

By Julien Perry

“What wine goes with this dish?” It’s a question WINO wants to help you answer by tapping into the wine libraries of those who know best. In this issue, chef Chester Gerl of Matt’s in the Market teams up with his wine director, Chris Lara, to bring you a knock-out dish with wines to match. From the bargain wine to the splurge, we’ve got you covered.

Roasted Branzino with Manila Clams, Spanish Chorizo, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes and Purple Tomatoes

This recipe has all the bright colors of spring, but is perfect for fall. Chef Chester Gerl took inspiration from Pike Place Market to create this dish, which he recently presented at the James Beard House in NYC. Almost everything in this recipe was purchased from the Market—from the signature spice blend courtesy of Market Spice, to the branzino and clams. The tomatillos, however, are from Chester’s personal garden. The apple-sweet fruit will be gone by the first frost, but can be found in most supermarkets year-round.

Embeding recipes with Kitchen Monki

As an online publisher, one of my favorite features of KitchenMonki.com is the ability to embed recipes into almost any publishing platform. With just a single line of cut-and-paste code, a formatted recipe, which includes ingredients, tags, and all the fixin’s, is rendered automatically to the page. Internet voodoo, to be sure.

Below is my own take on a Mediterranean sandwich, brought to you by the Monki.

Drink Pink

When it comes to food & wine pairing, it’s time to think Pink!

By Marcus Pape & Melissa Peterman, EAT & DRINK In The Northwest

You may resist the idea of rosé for various conscious or subconscious reasons. Maybe your hesitation is due to the stigma created twenty years ago by a little wine called Beringer White Zin (which is actually considered “blush” not rosé), or maybe you just don’t like the idea of drinking something pink. Well you’re not alone, because there are many people out there that faithfully declare “I won’t drink pink.” Why, because it’s not “serious” wine?!

Well, if you enjoy pairing wine and food, then you’ll want to take another “serious” look at this jewel of the dining room table. Rosé by nature is one of the best, most food-friendly wine styles available in your arsenal. It carries flavor and structure characteristics of both white and red wines, with the refreshing acidity of a white and tannic backbone of a red (depending on skin contact).

So, the next time you’re struggling with what to pair, or if you just don’t feel like trying so hard, rosé is your go-to option for almost any food-pairing occasion. Best of all, rosé wines tend to be less expensive than either of their full-blooded counter parts.

Romance, Wino Style

By Melissa Peterman

You hand-knitted your sweetheart a scarf for Christmas, and created love coupons for back rubs and long walks for their birthday, all in the effort to save money in this horrific economy. Now, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you’re thinking “How do I pull this one off?”