Entertaining with Wine

Here's where you'll find some general advice about choosing and serving wines - and other drinks - for different occasions and some menu ideas and recipes

Recent articles

A Middle-Eastern inspired barbecue for eight Aug 14, 2010: Assuming some of you at least still have weather that passes for summer here's a barbecue with a difference from my book Food, Wine and Friends. The centrepiece is a spiced, butterflied leg of lamb served with a delicious Turkish-style bulghur wheat salad called Kisir . . .

A perfect vineyard lunch Jul 30, 2010: As I mentioned in my last post our last lunch of the Oregon trip was at Cristom where the sales director (no less!) John D'Anna cooked us a great meal. Here's how he did it and - where I have a link to them - the recipes he used. Try it for a taste of the Willamette Valley

Six summery food ideas Jul 14, 2010: If you're stuck for ideas for summer entertaining here's a re-run of a feature I wrote last year on some inspiration I'd picked up from various restaurant meals, together with some suggested wine matches.

A Bastille Day Lunch Jul 11, 2010: July 14th - le quatorze juillet - is an important public holiday in France. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the beginning of the French Revolution. Despite its bloodthirsty connotations, it’s now seen as a family day, an opportunity for a picnic or an out-of-doors lunch and provides a good excuse - as if we needed one - for us Francophiles to celebrate. Here's a menu you might like to try.

3 peachy cocktails to celebrate the 4th of July Jul 4, 2010: One classic, one with a twist and a deliciously refreshing non-alcoholic one

An early summer supper for six May 28, 2010: Pea and Parma Ham Crostini, Tuscan-style roast Veal with Wild Mushrooms and Strawberry, Rose and Rhubarb Fool . . . One of a number of seasonal menus that you'll now find in the Entertaining with Wine section.

An easy Easter brunch for six Apr 4, 2010: Easter is so early this year - and in the UK at least it’s so cold at the moment - that it’s hard to think of serving traditional Easter fare. But I still think it’s a good time for a brunch.

A St Patrick’s Day supper Mar 16, 2010: Seized with a sudden desire to throw a St Patrick's Day supper party? Here's a suggested menu for six.

What’s the best pairing for pancakes? Feb 16, 2010: If you’re planning a Pancake Day celebration tonight and haven’t yet decided what to drink here are few ideas. Like pasta the best match for pancakes depends on the topping or filling which can obviously be savoury or sweet.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this delicious seafood supper Feb 12, 2010: An easy-to-organise feast from my book Food, Wine and Friends