Michael Austin – Page 17

Pouring this cabernet sauvignon from Galilee, Israel, will spark more conversation than opening the Oregon pinot noir you always buy.

Give Napa a rest. Vineyards from Texas to Uruguay are making stunning, less expected wine

June 6, 2018 at 7:00 a.m.

Although wine production occurs basically all around the globe — from Mexico to Zimbabwe — there are only a handful of countries that most of us associate with wine. If...

Six wild Burgundian snails are the star of the wood-grilled escargot ($12) at Le Sud. The Roscoe Village restaurant's version of this dish is not hiding in a pool of garlic butter or served in a scalding hot dish. Presented on a skewer, the mollusks are brushed with olive oil infused with herbs de provence before they're grilled, absorbing a delicate smoky flavor that lingers in your mouth. Tender and buttery, the snails are served with a few generous pats of herb butter that melt, adding another layer of fragrance and lusciousness. A side of green salad dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt provides a bright contrast to the skewer and a hearty country bread serves as a foundation for assembling a makeshift toast point. The portion is small, so make your dining companions order their own. $12. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, <a href="https://lesudchicago.com/">lesudchicago.com</a> — Grace Wong

Fry your dinner in bacon fat, open wine, relax

May 2, 2019 at 2:11 p.m.

Bacon-fat-fried anything is an excellent dinner; in the recipe below, plump shrimp do the job especially well. But finding a wine that can stand up to the strong flavors of...

That bottle of wine you’ve been saving? Drink it

May 2, 2019 at 2:11 p.m.

It was about as ordinary as a night could be, the night we opened the prized bottle. It was a Saturday, sure, and that ramps things up a little. But...

19th-century Viennese chef Franz Sacher would be pleased, I think, by the version of his eponymous chocolate cake served at Café Selmarie in Lincoln Square. First, the top of each slice of Sacher torte is decorated with his name, elegantly written in chocolate script. Second, the cake is a real looker: Layers of chocolate cake are mortared with raspberry preserve and chocolate buttercream; the whole thing is then frosted with more buttercream and wrapped in a smooth sheet of bittersweet chocolate — firm enough to be eaten on its own, if you like, with a fork. Third, every bite is delicious. The devil's food cake is firm and pleasant, while the raspberry offers a deep berry counterpoint to all the chocolate. $4.20. 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-5595, <a href="http://cafeselmarie.com/" target="_blank">www.cafeselmarie.com</a>. — Bill Daley

Rich red wines go great with beefy sloppy Joes

June 6, 2018 at 11:11 a.m.

It may have "sloppy" in the name, but that doesn't mean you have to slum it when thinking of wine pairings. Think of this recipe as sloppy Joes with an...

Flute glasses are pretty, but they’re ruining your Champagne

May 2, 2019 at 2:11 p.m.

I gave up the flute years ago. It was a pretty easy decision to make, since I was seeing so many other people giving it up. They were drinking sparkling...

Eating a sandwich and chips during your Sunday Netflix marathon? Go ahead and open that bottle of sparkling wine.

Why you should drink Champagne throughout the year, not just at New Year’s

May 2, 2019 at 2:11 p.m.

That Champagne toast you had at midnight on New Year's Eve is fine. In fact, it's great. I have had some memorable midnight toasts through the years. I'm sure you...

Pork, peppers, mushrooms and pea pods make an easy stir-fry that's even better with wine.

Quick winter dinner: Stir-fry and wine

June 8, 2018 at 1:13 p.m.

There's not much that's easier to whip up at home than a stir-fry. Match this one, rich with pork and vegetables, to a variety of wines; below, we have options...

A refrigerator rich with odds and ends is the source for this soup, built on smoked turkey sausage, carrots, onion, tomatoes, pasta and edamame.

Wines with moderate tannins, umami flavors for a thrown-together soup

June 8, 2018 at 2:55 p.m.

The peculiar title of this soup was born of its creation. Making soup from what you have on hand is an excellent way to use leftovers and also to build...

Show your Notre Dame spirit by drinking wine — not a bad deal.

Notre Dame has its own wine? Our expert tries all 5 bottles

June 8, 2018 at 3:15 p.m.

Cheers, cheers for old Notre Dame. It's college football bowl season, and oddly, the famous golden dome helmets of the Fighting Irish are nowhere to be seen. All is not...

Last-minute gifts that will make the wine lover swoon

June 8, 2018 at 3:55 p.m.

Wine people never really get tired of receiving good wine gifts — even when you pick them up at the last minute, which these suggestions can help you with. It's...

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