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

An alternative Burns Night supper for six Jan 20, 2012: If you're not a haggis-lover read on!

Which wine to choose for Thanksgiving Nov 23, 2011: The first thing to bear in mind about Thanksgiving - and for that matter Christmas - is that it’s as much about mood as food. Who you’re inviting, what age they are and how big your party is are factors every bit as important as what you’re eating

What to drink for Diwali Oct 26, 2011: Two traditional drinks from the Michelin-starred Quilon restaurant in London.

A Hallowe'en supper for 4-6 Oct 21, 2011: With Hallowe'en just over a week away here's a sophisticated supper for those of you who don't have to go out trick or treating . . .

A Middle-Eastern inspired barbecue for eight Sep 30, 2011: To celebrate our unseasonal Indian 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 steak and Malbec supper Sep 16, 2011: Host a wine tasting - then serve this to follow

A Greek-inspired summer supper Sep 2, 2011: For those of you who still have a bit of sunny weather here's a late summer meal for 4 that takes its inspiration and ingredients from modern Greek cooking

A Bastille Day Lunch Jul 13, 2011: 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.

A spring lunch for 4 May 6, 2011: With the blazing weather over the last few weeks it's hard to remember it's still spring rather than summer but here's a light lunch to enjoy with a couple of friends before we move on to full al fresco eating

An easy Easter brunch for six Apr 21, 2011: If you don't feel like cooking a big Sunday lunch this weekend how about a brunch?