Photo taken in Tuscany, Italy, an “Italian Lunch”
HI! Meet us…………..Deb and Mike
Mike loves to cycle and I prefer to run.
He definitely likes Chardonnay more than I do.
I’m a celiac and Mike isn’t. So, most recipes are Gluten Free, with an extra helping of gluten on the side for him.
We love to travel when we can………………experience different cultures, taste the food and wine, and see the sights – crowded and remote.
And we love home ………..to cook, pair wines and to get together with friends and family. And we love quiet nights too.
For the most part I do the cooking and Mike picks the wine. Or Mike might have a special bottle of wine and we plan the menu around that. Some wines are kept at just the right temperature for years, the memories and the stories being told several times throughout dinner. And some wines barely make it through the door before they are in the fridge chilling!
For years Mike has been pairing wine and food. Sometimes embarrassingly. Calling the hosts to ask what they are serving so he can bring just the right wine. But it wasn’t that easy for me. I’d google a wine and see something like “pairs with roasted meats”. I was sure that didn’t mean necessarily my sauce/gravy or our family favorite recipe. Ultimately, how many times Mike went down to the wine cooler again I can’t count.
Every recipe on this site we have made many many times and they are family favorites. We’ve paired wines, tested…agreed and disagreed.
At the end of each recipe, we will suggest wine pairings. We intentionally recommend a wine/s from a region aka: “Rose from Provence” or a “Full-Bodied Red from Italy” rather than recommending only a specific wine. That way you can choose from what’s available near you.
Sometimes we will highlight a wine specifically….a favorite or something oh so special it deserves its own blog. Then we will provide links to our recipes, tried and tested food/wine pairings and any other interesting stuff we know.
In the end it’s your palette and what you like. But it’s nice to have a starting point and a recipe not meant for a 5 Star Chef.
STAY ACTIVE, STAY HEALTHY, STAY HAPPY….. AND ENJOY THE FOOD, WINE, TRAVEL AND COMPANY!