Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

A Taste of Beaujolais

Beaujolais and its wines are easy to understand, easy to buy, and easy to love. With few exceptions, they are juicy, bubble-gum reds produced in a light style for easy drinking. A huge amount of red Beaujolais is produced, all of it made solely from the Gamay grape. A small […]

Main Dishes

Braised Brisket with Persillade

Makes 10 servings The key to the brisket is the marinade, and a handy way to marinate it is to place the meat in a large zipper-locked plastic bag. Pour in the marinade, and seal the bag. Turn the bag a few times to thoroughly coat the meat.

Soups and Stews

Catalan Beef Stew

Makes 4 servings This Spanish dish marries a flavorful cut of beef from the shoulder with some typical Catalonian ingredients: oranges, olives, red wine, and bacon. Bitter oranges are traditional, but if you don’t have access to a bitter orange, use a Valencia (juice) orange and a touch of lime […]

Desserts

Sangria Sorbet

Makes 1 quart Fruity sangria is a summer favorite, perfect for sipping poolside or on the patio as the sun sets on another day. This sorbet, made with poached fruits in the style of red wine sangria, recreates that feeling for a summer dinner party or refreshing weeknight dessert. You […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Uku Rouge

Makes 1 serving This cocktail is visually beautiful with deep red wine literally floating on top of the orange-hued blend of sake, sweet vermouth, and orange juice. It is refreshing enough to enjoy during a cocktail party on your back patio, but also transitions beautifully as an aperitif before a […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Wine 101: Malbec

Great food and wine go hand in hand, but when the-things-to-know-about-wine are seemingly infinite, it can be difficult (and intimidating!) to choose a wine. In this series, we’ll explore the fundamentals of wine, from grape varietals to tasting, so that you can tackle a wine list with confidence. Get to […]