Match of the Week

Match of the Week is a classic food and drink combination or a less conventional one that's recently inspired me. Most will be based on wine but some will involve beer, spirits, cocktails or other drinks.

It's just intended as a quick, stimulating thought rather than a long explanation. For a more in-depth approach sign up to access Top Wine Matches and Wine Pairing Tips and Techniques

Recent articles

Lager and jerk chicken Aug 30, 2010: A match that was as much about the mood as the food

Scallop and crab risotto with inexpensive French Sauvignon Aug 23, 2010: I know I’ve highlighted crab as a match for a number of different wines but it really is a great dish to pick if you’re drinking a serious white. This time however the wine was far from stellar: the basic house Sauvignon at Culinaria in Bristol where I was doing a photo shoot for our next book.

Lambs sweetbreads with girolles and Louis Roederer Rich champagne Aug 16, 2010: Possibly not the most obvious combination on the face of it but it worked intriguingly well

Laksa and riesling Aug 9, 2010: Laksa is one of those dishes you hesitate to pair with wine being both a soup and really spicy but the pairing I came across at the Pegasus Bay wine dinner at The Providores the other night was spot on.

Vietnamese sauce chicken wings and tamarind whiskey sour Aug 2, 2010: It might seem perverse to pick out a cocktail match during a week of drinking stellar wines in Oregon wine country but I’m saving my new thoughts on wine pairing with Pinot Noir for a more wide-ranging piece. And this is a great cocktail pairing

Vegetable Thali and Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale Jul 19, 2010: A sophisticated beer for an upmarket takeaway

Grilled sardines and - eeek! - Sir Cliff’s Onda Nova Verdelho Jul 12, 2010: A bit of a shock when I discovered whose the wine was but you can't fault the pairing!

Strawberries and elderflower cordial Jul 5, 2010: I’m really spoilt for choice for my match of the week, there were so many good ones last week. As you may have picked up if you follow me on Twitter (where I tweet as winematcher and food_writer) I was in Copenhagen eating Noma which was recently acclaimed as the world's best restaurant . . .

Cucumber fritters and Sancerre Jun 28, 2010: I think I’ve found the perfect summer match for Sancerre - and the perfect Sancerre to drink with them!

Gazpacho and Rueda Jun 21, 2010: Just squeaking in in time for this week’s match of the week is a great gazpacho and Rueda combo I had at lunch today at a new London winebar 28-50.