Michael Austin – Page 20

Crack open a bottle, crack open a book and drink deeply of the wine knowledge that might help you understand more completely what you're drinking -- and maybe appreciate it more too.

6 books that make wine taste better or at least help you understand it

June 9, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

You could learn a lot about the game of hockey by watching a season from start to finish. But until you lace up a pair of skates, step onto an...

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

Here’s looking at you — why your everyday ‘Cheers!’ matters

June 12, 2018 at 10:13 a.m.

We wine people like to acknowledge an occasion with a toast. There are two kinds of toasts, and the lesser of the two, ironically, is the long one — the...

Try this no-fail chicken dish with wines recommended by the sommelier at The Purple Pig.

Simple chicken dinner paired with three easy-drinking wines

June 12, 2018 at 10:50 a.m.

Chicken doesn't have to be boring — especially when we're talking about dark meat. Here, a plump chicken thigh comes alive with bell peppers, grape tomatoes, red wine vinegar and,...

Pork cutlets are wrapped in plenty of bacon, then grilled until done inside and the bacon is crispy.

Wine with bacon: 3 choices that meet the richness

June 12, 2018 at 5:45 a.m.

If everything is better with bacon, and if wine makes everything better, than what happens when you have wine with bacon? The mind boggles. Since your boggled brain will now...

Your choice for wine with your pizza depends on what's on the pie. A seafood pizza is great with rosé, especially if it has good acidity and a nice complement of fruit..

What wines to drink with pizza: Tips for a happy match

June 12, 2018 at 6:00 a.m.

There are single ingredients that are loftier, more intensely flavored and perhaps even more exciting than pizza, but come on, few culinary amalgamations have ever been more complete and satisfying...

Okra is cooked with tomatoes, green pepper, onion and garlic, then paired with shrimp, and the whole thing is served over rice.

3 wines that stand up to spice and green flavors of okra-shrimp saute

June 14, 2018 at 5:52 a.m.

Matching wine with green vegetables, especially a strong flavor like okra, can be tricky, as can matching wine with tomatoes. This dish of late-summer vegetables sauteed together as a base...

A few tips can keep your wine tasting organized but still fun. Slip the bottles into plain brown paper bags (or use foil, if you can't find the right-size bags), and cinch the tops, so no one can peek. Then number the bags, so guests can keep track of their tasting notes.

How to host a wine tasting at home and not get drunk — hint: spit

June 12, 2018 at 7:21 a.m.

If you haven't done a great deal of wine tasting in your life, either in wine shops, at foodie festival seminars, at wineries or in the homes of your wine-obsessed...

Fresh kale with tomatoes, onion, garlic, red bell peppers and Parmesan.

Still loving kale? Here are wines that pair well with the bitter greens

June 12, 2018 at 11:49 a.m.

This recipe from the Tribune archives was conceived in 2001, long before kale had its shining moment and subsequent fall. Now that the hearty, nutrition-packed green is off its pedestal,...

Why cabernet sauvignon is the big kahuna of wine grapes

June 12, 2018 at 8:42 a.m.

Call it the Louvre of art museums, the Rose Bowl of college football, the Everest of mountaineering, or something more clever that you come up with on your own, but...

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

Lively wines to match a classic steak-arugula salad combo

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

It's a classic combination in Italy, a grilled steak, hot, meaty and rich, topped with an arugula salad, cooling, peppery and fresh. This version pan-fries the steak, but the pairing...

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