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Pairings | Dinner parties

Wine pairings for a chocolate-themed dinner party

Wine pairings for a chocolate-themed dinner party

Posted on December 9 2008 at 14:44

Ever tried chocolate with smoked salmon? Or with butternut squash soup for that matter? Unlikely matches, I'll grant you, but 'chocolate' - in its confectionery guise - is actually a misnomer. It's most likely cacao you'll be cooking with in future, if the founders of the fashionable chocolate brand 'Venezuelan Black' have their way.

Tags: chocolate dinner party dinner parties food:desserts & cakes
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Six of the best ways to entertain as a single

Six of the best ways to entertain as a single

Posted on April 15 2018 at 09:36

Ever since my husband died two and a half years ago I’ve been grappling with the problem of how to entertain on my own.

Tags: dinner parties entertaining
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I’m totally with @rocketandsquash* that a well-judged side makes a meal. Last night’s cold roast chicken (revisiting the @zunicafe method which is SO good) enlivened by generously buttered new potatoes and broad beans with lashings of parsley. I double podded most of the beans but kept the skin on a few of the smaller ones for contrast cos I’m not a bean skin fascist and tbh I like the taste. Do you ALWAYS double pod them these days? * who has written a brilliant book called On the Side from which this is not a recipe but I’m channelling the inspo. . . . #beans #broadbeans #favabeans #potatoes #newpotatoes #sidedish #ontheside #mondaynight #bowlI’m tasting wines online with @thewinesociety1874 this morning and so far this sherry has got my highest mark. It’s a really nutty dry amontillado from @williamshumbert (think grilled hazelnuts and salted treacle toffee) and at £17 for a full size bottle ridiculously good value for a 12 year old wine. If you’re not a member of the Wine Society you should be (I am myself). They’re a non-profit making co-operative with really experienced buyers and offer brilliant value for money. This is the best sherry I’ve tasted all year and that’s saying something from a hardcore sherry fan. What to eat with it? Well meaty tapas like chorizo and albondigas but above all a really good mature sheep cheese, Manchego being the obvious example . . . #sherry #sherrylover #amontillado #thewinesociety #notsponsored #wine #winetasting #instawine #winestagramIt may have felt more like a fairground tent than the French bistro we were used to but that didn’t stop @littlefrench_bristol being its usual warm, welcoming self on the first night back after lockdown and - as it happened - their first anniversary. As you can see they now occupy an outdoor space outside the church next door. Too excited to take decent photographs of the food but did manage to snap @freddybirdfood’s famous scallops. We also shared lamb chops and kidneys, crab, roast chicken and chips and onglet and chips - and an excellent green salad in case you think we were being unhealthy (heaven forbid!). Massive kudos too to all the waiting staff who adapted to the new situation with great charm and cheerfulness. It’s taking a huge financial investment for restaurants like Freddy and @nessa_bird’s to make themselves COVID-safe and keep on their staff so if we want them to be there for us in another year’s time we need to support them over the coming weeks and months. If you live in or near #Bristol I hope you will. . . . #littlefrench #bistro #scallops #freddybird #restaurant #restaurantsareback #eatlocal #eatout #supportsmallbusinessI really like this thicker cut smoked salmon which you can serve Russian-style with chopped egg, red onion and capers - and also a shot or two of frozen vodka were it not lunch time. The salmon is from a new smokery to me called @smokin_brothers and really is quite smoky - which Is a Good Thing In my book. Thinking a lightly peated whisky would be nice with it too. You may notice the lemon wedge looks a bit stunted but I was clean out of lemons which shows I’m really not a pro at this game. Still, this is what I’m actually having for lunch. #notsponsored but #gifted so thank you very much @smokin_brothers. Good luck to you. PS If you wanted to embellish this a little further I’m thinking a few blinis or mini new potatoes topped with sour cream and caviar (or, more realistically, lumpfish roe) would be a good addition. Or some dark rye bread (I had wholewheat sourdough on the side) . . . #salmon #smokedsalmon ##smokingbrothers #lunch #instafood #foodstagram Follow on Instagram

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