In the romantic month that is upon us, it’s essential to embrace our senses. Walking through a market, we are overwhelmed by the smell of flowers, brand new teddy –bears and helium filled plastic hearts.

How to truly appreciate ones senses, is to pair the two most important things in life – Wine and Chocolate. Some might think the pairing should be handled only by experts, but it’s easy and fun to do it yourself.

So, if you want a quick escape from this month’s busy festivities and do a wine and chocolate pairing from the comfort of your own home, here’s what you do.

Firstly keep in mind, you won’t necessarily find the perfect matches straight away, but that’s the best part. You have to keep on experimenting, which means more wine and chocolate.  A general tip is to match lighter chocolate with lighter-bodied wines and the stronger the chocolate, go with a more full-bodied wine.

Here are a few simple hints to get you started.

Try a Sherry with a nice buttery white chocolate.

A Pinot Noir or the medium bodied Arniston Bay Merlot will compliment milk chocolate, a creamy mousse or even a chocolate accented cheesecake.

Muscats do wonders with mild milk chocolates.

The Arnsiton Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Arnsiton Bay Cabernet Sauvignon is a marvelous match with dark chocolate.

To end things off, appreciate a well aged Port with a dark chocolate dessert or a truffle.

That’s the basics. So invite someone over, get creative and enjoy your pallet.

Holiday  celebrations usually conjure up thoughts of sweet treats and some bubbly. Here’s an easy, delicious dessert which incorporates the best of both these elements. You’re bound to receive a barrage of compliments from your guests!

Ingredients - 200g digestive biscuits -90g butter, melted

Filling - 15ml gelatine - 60ml water - 500g cream cheese - 85ml castor sugar - Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon - 125ml sparkling wine (the Arniston Bay Brut Sparkling Wine is ideal) - 250ml cream, lightly whipped - 1 punnet of cherries, washed, retaining stalks - Sugar - Icing sugar

Method - Crush the biscuits and combine with butter. - Press into base of a 20cm, loose-bottomed cake pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. - Refrigerate. - Sprinkle gelatine over water and set aside to form a thick cake. - In a mixing bowl, beat cheese and castor sugar together. Add rind, juice and sparkling wine and beat again. - Place gelatine in microwave on medium for 1 minute. Pouring from a height, add to cheese mixture and then stir through the cream. - Pour into biscuit base, cover and refrigerate for three hours. - Just before serving, stone a handful of cherries. - Place in food processor with 60ml sugar, 100ml warm water and 15ml honey. Process till you have a chunky sauce. - Use remaining cherries to decorate the top of the cheesecake. - Drizzle over the cooled sauce and sift over some icing sugar and serve.

Source: The Times

The holiday looms, and so does Christmas. All you want to do is chill out after what’s been a hard year. But that’s not always the easiest thing to do – you know the bit about life being “the thing that happens while you’re making other plans”.

For some, chilling out may mean booking a camping site 20 km from the nearest village a year in advance. Or going into a Trappist monastery until the festive season is over.

But most people will have a more sociable time – either at home, visiting relatives, or at the seaside somewhere. Who knows, you might need to get back to the office in January to get some rest. In order to get the most out of your break , women24.com suggest that you try and avoid the following festive season stressors.

Guests galore. You have a big house, and over Christmas it fills up with aunties, grannies, nieces, uncles – you name it. Instead of looking after four people, you are now looking after twelve. This is no holiday for you, as you are the unofficial entertainment committee, the caterer, the conflict resolution specialist, and the local cleaner. If you live in a popular destination, you might have to put your foot down. Or at least put together a duty roster for the cooking and the cleaning. And, for heaven’s sake, don’t feel you have to be the unofficial tour guide. Take a day or two off and let the guests entertain themselves.

Feeding frenzy. Food, food, food. It’s all over during the Christmas season and it’s lying in wait for you everywhere, and we’re not talking about celery sticks either. It’s chips, cakes, cheese snacks, chocolates, to name but a few. And, after all, you’re on holiday. So why not? That’s fine, but just don’t get into a new habit. Most people end the festive season with quite a few kilos that were not there in November. Don’t become a festive season fatty.

Booze bonanza. From the office party to friends’ homes, to family barbecues – booze is no stranger to the festive season. And often, other people are paying for it. By all means have a beer or two, if you’re not driving, but don’t binge on booze. Drinking too much is something that carries its own punishment with it, a bit like eating that second helping of hot Indian curry. And do remember, that everyone likes you to have a drink or two, but nobody likes having a social embarrassment at their parties. Fall down drunk, or insult one of the other guests, and you can be sure you’ll be off the party list. Forever.

I’m so lonely. Some people wish everything could be a little quieter. Others wish for a break from the peace and quiet and they dream of the phone ringing or a horde of guests arriving. The secret is to arrange a few things in advance. Invite people for supper, get a friend to go with you to a movie, or organise a day or two away in a different place. Don’t wait until the festive season is upon you before doing something about your social calendar. It’s not going to happen by itself.

Exercise inertia. Most people give their exercise regimes a break during the festive season. It is, after all, the end of the year. Problem is, many people overindulge completely on the food front at the same time, and coupled with a fortnight of couch-potato-ism, your waistline might be expanding at the rate of knots. Go for a walk with the family, run along the beach, play volleyball. Do anything to burn up those extra calories. And get back into it early in the new year.

Credit card crisis. The last of the Big Spenders. If that describes you in the shopping centre with your Christmas bonus and your credit card, you’re obviously a sucker for all those Christmas ads. And you’re going to be stony broke in January, and depressed in February when the credit card statements start arriving. Point is that you can probably buy just as nice a present for R100 as you can for R200, or R400. You just need to plan it well. It’s the thought that counts, not the size of the present.

Sunburn stress. The sun in the southern hemisphere is vicious , and skin cancer is a real danger. And remember that the damage is cumulative. Burning yourself to a crisp or having a whimpering and sunburnt child on your hands, is no way to spend Christmas. Speak to your pharmacist and get a high-factor sunblock before you head for the beach. And speaking of the beach – watch out for bluebottles or pieces of broken glass in the sand.

Crowd control. Think of Christmas, and what many people see are teeming masses of people in a shopping centre, all of them with a mission, and accompanied by at least two unwilling and exhausted kids. It can be avoided – do your gift shopping in November and do a bulk grocery shop before 18 December. Milling crowds can be exhausting, and elicit everything but the Christmas spirit in you. In fact, it can bring on a bout of trolley rage.

Gift of the grab. Frantic last-minute gift-buying is a killer – not only don’t you get what you are looking for, you also spend a fortune on it. Rather than give unwanted and expensive presents, go for gift vouchers – at least people will appreciate them, even if they are not the most personal of offerings.

Family fest. Family. You get them, you don’t choose them. And never is it more obvious than at Christmas time when Uncle Freddy is holding forth on all his achievements, or Aunt Doris is slurring after her third beer. Or your cousin’s kids are running around screaming, chasing your poor cats. Then there are the endless questions about when you are going to tie the knot, have babies etc. Family get-togethers seldom do much for your self-esteem. Just repeat the mantra, “It will soon be over for another year.”

Arniston Bay has a wide wine range that will suit any palate for all the festive season occasions.

Source: women24.com

The festive season is famous for bringing family and friends together. This will undoubtedly result in more social eating and of course drinking. Here are some principles to apply this season:

Know your limits:

Safe and healthy alcohol intake levels are 30g/day for men and 20g/day for women (women generally have less of the enzyme that helps break down alcohol in the body).

This means that one unit of alcohol a day is considered safe and healthy for an adult female and two units for a male. One unit = 340ml beer, tot (25ml) spirits, 50ml port, sherry or muscadel or 120ml wine.

Moderation is key:

Spread your weekly alcohol allowance as evenly as possible over seven days. Infrequent bingeing on alcohol can bring on attacks of gout or pancreatitis, and may cause abnormalities in heart rhythms and increases your risk of cancer.

Stretch your intake:

Use plenty of ice, water or soda water in spirit drinks or white wine (to make a spritzer); this dilutes the alcohol while increasing the volume so you drink less. Ensure your first drink is some other liquid e.g. a mineral water or a cooldrink – your alcoholic beverage should not be used as a thirst quencher.

Arrive alive:

On average it will take the liver about an hour to break down one unit of alcohol. So even after a night’s sleep, if you have had six cans of beer or two bottles of wine, you could still be over the legal limit the next day. Remember that, when driving.

Being fitter makes no difference to the rate of absorption. But, the absence or presence of food and the type of fluid that accompanies the alcohol does. Alcohol consumed on an empty stomach is more rapidly absorbed. Water and fruit juices mixed with alcohol slow the absorption process, whereas carbonated drinks (because of the carbon dioxide) will speed it up. Warm alcohol is absorbed quicker than cold alcohol.

Weight gain:

The calorie content of alcoholic beverages (which depends on the percentage of alcohol, the type of beverage and the type of mixture) plus the behaviour associated with drinking all have their part to play in the effect it will have on your weight.

When drinking alcohol, you tend to snack more, especially on the high fat foods, often available in social drinking environments. Eating high in fat take-away food (e.g. pies or burgers) late at night is another typical problem which arises after drinking, especially in students and young adults.

If you are watching your waistline, consider that one unit of alcohol is roughly equivalent to a slice of bread. It is then prudent to occasionally substitute a carbohydrate during the day to compensate for a drink or two that night.

Apply the 24 hour rule for training:

Avoid alcohol in the 24 hours prior to exercise. After exercise, once you have rehydrated and refuelled with carbohydrates, enjoy alcohol (and here I must include the ‘in moderation’). However, if you have any soft tissue injuries or bruising, abstain from alcohol for another 24 hours.

Fake it:

My personal favourite – a Rock Shandy (soda water, angostura bitters, ice and a slice of lemon) gives the impression of being an alcoholic drink, but hardly contains alcohol and calories – a sneaky option when friends continuously want to buy you a drink when they spot you standing empty handed.

Did you know?

Using thinner, taller glasses (especially wine glasses) can help you reduce your consumption. Research shows that people consume more alcohol when drinking out of shorter, wider glasses.

Read more on  iafrica.com

Picnics are wonderful, but can be even better with the sun warming your face and ocean sounds in the background. Here’s some tips on how to make it a day to remember.

1) Choose a scenic and wind-resistant venue for your outdoor meal. Try a place between two rock faces or farther from the water than you’d usually like to sit.

2) Although beach parties are generally informal, you may send invitations a week or two in advance so guests can plan ahead.

3)  Plan a menu based on the amount of people and the load you can carry. Ask friends to bring certain items to lighten your responsibilities.

4)  Outfit yourself with the necessary equipment. A picnic basket filled with plates, utensils (don’t forget the bottle/can opener and corkscrew), cups, plastic containers and napkins is recommended. Pack trash bags to carry away any disposables.

5)  Pack your food. Place the heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on the top.

6)  Remember to bring a hat and/or an umbrella to shade your perishables and your face from the hot sun. Also pack plenty of ice, which you’ll need to keep your food chilled in the sun.

7) Toss in a blanket and/or folding chairs for your sitting and dining comfort.

 Bring torches or lanterns for nighttime picnics, or in case your daytime adventure carries on into the night.

9) The wine. A chilled Arniston Bay The Coast  Rosé will pair well with most of the picnic dishes and will also be a refreshing drink.

Source:  eHow.com

Want to invite guests for dinner and you don’t know what to serve?

Fondue is a great idea. It’s something out of the ordinary, yet it can be very entraining and delicious.

Wine makes for a lovely addition to the classic fondue – it provides a sweet tang that balances against the roundness of the cheeses deliciously.

Ingredients:

½ cup dry white wine- Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese ½ cup grated cheddar cheese 1 teaspoon flour Pinch garlic salt Pinch white pepper

Directions:

1) Heat wine in a fondue pot over high; when near boiling, add remaining ingredients and whisk vigorously to combine. When melted, keep warm over low heat. Serve as desired.

For more Fondue tips and recipes visit fonduerecipes.org

When paring wine and food, the main rules are firstly to enjoy yourself and secondly, the food and wine must both taste great on its own. If you remember this and follow these guideline food and wine matching will be a breeze.

There are no rules The first and most important rule. There are no rules that work for every situation and every person so relax and don’t waste your time worrying about breaking them.

As long as you and your guests are having fun then your food and wine matching has been a success, regardless of what the traditional rules would have us believe.

The food and wine must both taste great on their own This is the second rule which and can be seen as the rule of thumb for wine matching. You can’t expect for a juicy steak to improve the taste of a bad wine. The same goes for the food, if it’s not going to taste any good on its own, it is very unlikely that your wine match, no matter how delicious, is going to make the food taste better.

Match wine with people first Just as some people always have and always will hate anchovies, some people just don’t enjoy certain styles of wine, regardless of the quality of the vino. Sometimes this may be based on a bad experience with a poor quality example, and if the person in question did actually try a decent Sauvignon Blanc they may find that they love it. But forcing people to try new things may do more harm than good.

Respect that everyone’s palate is different. Think about your guests and their wine preferences first and think about the food matching second.

Weight is important Lighter, more delicately flavoured food generally works best with lighter style wines. Heavy tannic reds tend to be best with more robust meaty dishes but of course there will always be times when a light wine could team marvellously with a heavy rich dish

Wine and food can contrast one another Contrast is something that we personally love to play with. Using a light acidic wine like a Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc to cut through the oiliness of fried fish and chips is always a winner. Unless of course you’re with someone who hates acidic wine (see rule ii).

Wine and food can complement each other Sometimes finding flavour similarities can result in a harmonious food and wine matching experience. The earthiness of mushrooms in a mushroom risotto can work a treat with a funky earthy Pinot Noir. A fresh, Arniston Bay Cabernet Sauvignon to compliment classic roast lamb with mint sauce can also be a flavour explosion.

Trust your own instincts. Like most things in life, if it feels like it’s a bit dodgy and it isn’t going to work then you’re probably on the right track.

It isn’t the end of the world if the food and wine are more at the divorce end of the relationship spectrum as long as you follow rule number three, you’ll be able to enjoy each on their own. A judicious sip of palate cleansing water in between mouthfuls can make all the difference.

Source: mylifemynews

When you don’t what know dish to serve, it is sometimes better to go back to the basics.

Old trusted chicken recipes are sometimes overlooked. This simple and easy to prepare chicken and sweet potato recipe is an excellent meal for friends or family. This easy dish will enable you to join guests in the pre-meal conversations as the preparations are not too time consuming.

Ingredients

• 2 small sweet potatoes (about 500g), peeled and cut into thin wedges
• 1 red onion, cut into wedges
• 12 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 1.5 – 1.8 kg chicken, cut into 10 pieces

Directions

Heat oven to 200º C. In a large roasting pan, toss the potatoes, onion, thyme, oil, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper.

Season the chicken with 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper and nestle it, skin-side up, among the potatoes and onions.

Roast until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender, 40 to 50 minutes.

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon will be the perfect match with this trusted dish.

Source: realsimple.com

Food styles from different corners of the world have become worldwide dishes. Pizza, curries and stir fries are common in many counties and each region add a little of its own cuisine to these dishes.

Stir-frying is a fast Asian cooking method which allows vegetables and meat to retain both texture and flavour. This quick and easy beef stir-fry recipe originates in China, and is an appetising dish best served with rice.

Ingredients:

500g sirloin steak 5 tsp dark soy sauce 1 tsp dry sherry 1/2 tsp sugar 1 tsp Maizena mixed into a tbsp of water 200g fresh rice noodles or a packet of dried rice noodles packet of baby sweet corn 2 garlic cloves 1 tbsp Chinese black bean sauce 2 tbsp oyster sauce 5 tablespoons oil for stir frying, or as needed

Method:

1. Cut the flank steak or sirloin steak across the grain into thin strips about half a centimeter thick.
2. In a large flat dish add the dark soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Marinate the steak in the mixture for 15 minutes.
3. While the steak is marinating, prepare the vegetables.
4. Finely chop the garlic cloves, coarsely chop the sweet corn and cut the cooked noodles into three centimeter strips.
5. Heat the wok and add two tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the beef. Lay flat and allow the steak to brown slightly.
6. Stir in the black bean sauce and stir-fry the beef until it is browned and nearly cooked through. Remove from the wok.
7. Clean the wok and add two more tablespoons oil. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic.
8. Add the rice noodles and stir fry until browned.
9. Remove the noodles from the direct heat of the wok by pushing them up to the sides.
10. Add one tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add the baby corn and stir-fry briefly.
11. Mix with the noodles, stir in the oyster sauce and add the beef back into the wok.
12. Combine everything together and serve hot.

Recommended wine: The versatile Arniston Bay Rosé will pair well with this global dish.

Source:justeasyrecipes.co.za

Just five ingredients (not counting cornstarch, olive oil, and seasonings) make this delicious, fresh, and simple stir-fry. If asparagus is out of season, use frozen asparagus or substitute green beans or a sliced green bell pepper. Serve it over hot cooked rice.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 3cm lengths
• 300ml cherry tomatoes

Preparation:

In small bowl, combine chicken broth, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and thyme; mix and set aside. Prepare all ingredients.

Heat olive oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken; stir-fry until chicken is almost cooked, about 4 minutes. Remove to plate.

Add onion to skillet; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add asparagus; stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until bright green.

Stir chicken broth mixture and add to skillet; bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and asparagus is crisp-tender. Add cherry tomatoes; stir-fry 1 minute until hot. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon will be the perfect wine with this dish.

Source: busycooks.about.com

My busy lifestyle is taking its toll as quick-just-heat-up dinners and take-away lunches is becoming to norm. But luckily I stumbled upon this easy, healthy and quick salad which is the perfect meal to get the balanced lifestyle (diet) back on track, and allow me a few more minutes to relax and kick my feet up.

I treated myself to a lovely glass of Arniston Bay Chardonnay to complete this great meal.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 teaspoons  salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)
• 1 tablespoon white wine or rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 4 scallions (white and light green parts), thinly sliced
• 2 Granny Smith apples (peeled, if desired), diced
• 1/3 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions

1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Pound it to an even thinness. Place the chicken in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover by 1 cm. Add 3 teaspoons of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until no trace of pink remains, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the lime juice, vinegar, and sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the scallions and apples and toss.
3. Drain the chicken and pat it dry. Dice the chicken and add it to the apple mixture along with the peanuts, mint, basil, and the remaining salt and pepper. Toss and divide among individual plates.

Source: realsimple.com

Red wine sauce is a delicious recipe to incorporate into your repertoire that will impress friends, family and dates. If you make it properly, it will seem as if you’ve spent a great deal of time and energy preparing a wonderful meal–when, in reality, creating the sauce can be done rather quickly and without too much difficulty. You don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen to master a tasty red wine sauce.

Ingredients

Salt

Pepper

Thyme leaves

Butter

Mustard (Dijon)

Balsamic vinegar

Chicken stock (beef, vegetable or lamb will also work)

Shallots

Red Wine (Arniston Bay has a wide range of red wines)

Instructions

1.  Saute whatever meat you’ll be pairing with your red wine sauce, but do not throw out the juices that remain in the saute pan when you’re done. You can use this sauce with chicken, beef, lamb, venison or other meats.

2. Remove the meat from the pan and reduce heat to a low temperature. Now, pour in minced shallots. Two are usually enough, though this is something you can experiment with to your suit your taste. Shallots can burn, so don’t forget to stir often. Keep this up until the shallots become transparent.

3. Crank your burner up to high heat and add 1/2 cup each of stock and red wine. Allow the mixture to reach a strong boil.

4. Reduce the sauce down by about 50 percent by allowing it to boil awhile.

5. Bring the heat down to medium or medium-low. Pour in 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar. Add 1 tsp. Dijon mustard. At this point, it’s all about consistency. Continue cooking until your sauce has reached the level of thickness you prefer.

6. Turn off the heat and add 3 tbsp. of butter. You may find it easier to stir in the butter if you’ve divided it into small pieces, rather than dropping in entire pats. You can also melt the butter ahead of time in the microwave, if you so choose.

7. Finish it off by adding pepper, salt and about 1 tsp. of finely chopped thyme leaves.

8.Sauce your meat and serve right away.

Source: ehow.com

Andre Simon famously said ‘Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized’. But how do we pair wine and food?

Here are a few simple rules and guidelines

Rule 1- Red Wine with Red Meat, White Wine With White

Perhaps surprisingly, the old saying “red wine with red meat, white wine with white meat,” works quite well as a general principle. A powerful, tannic red wine would simply overwhelm delicate white fish, for instance, while a light, ethereal white like a fresh Viognier would seem mighty wimpy alongside a joint of rare roast beef.

Rule 2- Don’t Sweat the Exceptions

Yes, there are exceptions to the “Red with Red” rule, but they’re tasty exceptions. Although roast chicken counts as a “white meat,” for instance, it goes very well indeed with a fruity red. So do salmon and fresh tuna, shattering the notion that you should never serve red wine with fish.

Rule 3 – The Rule of Complements: Match Likes with Likes

Newer in principle than the ancient “red with red,” this one makes intuitive sense: Look for a wine with flavour and aroma characteristics that evoke the trademark flavours of your entree. A slightly sweet, rich seafood like lobster or crab makes a wonderful marriage with a slightly sweet, rich white wine like a big California Chardonnay. Add a sprig of rosemary to your pan-grilled steak and watch it wake up with the herbal qualities of a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux.

Rule 4 – The Rule of Contrasts: Opposites Attract

This is a little more tricky, as it takes the intuitive nature of Rule III and turns it on its head. It can lead to some lovely surprises, though, as when you match a tart, lean white like a White Bordeaux or Loire Sauvignon Blanc against a rich, oily fish like bluefish or mackerel. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

The Bottom Line – Drink What you Like!

Remember always that all these rules are advisory. There’s nothing more impolite than the wine “snob” who insists that only his answers are right. Try the standard rules first, but if you decide that you want a Chardonnay with your steak, it’s certainly your privilege, and you shouldn’t be ashamed to exercise it.

If you want a versatile wine which pair well with a wide array of dishes, The Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé will be the perfect wine.

Source: wineloverspage.com

Rosé wines are usually perceived as perfect spring and summer wines. Served chilled it can be a refreshing accompaniment to a variety of warm weather fare. But Rosé wines also top the charts for food-friendly versatility, which makes it a perfect all year drink. . So, if you are opting for “surf ‘n turf” rest assured that a rosé can handle both the seafood and the steak in one fell sip.

It’s also a great picnic wine, as it tends to have both a lighter body and more delicate flavors on the palate, presenting a great wine partner for a ham, chicken or roast beef sandwich, along with a fruit, potato or egg salad and can even handle a variety of chips and dips. Rosés are also the perfect guest for a backyard barbecue, tackling hamburgers, hot dogs and even French fries and ketchup with ease.

The Arniston Pinotage Rosé is a great wine and will pair well with a wide array of dishes , all year round.

Source: wine.about.com

Wine and cheese have enormous ranges of aromas and flavours, some bold and others subtle. The fun thing about pairing wine and cheese is that they can work together to bring subtle flavours to the forefront, thereby opening up an entirely new world of aroma and taste. By focusing on the elements of wine and cheese that work together, the ones that provide each other the right balance, you’ll find ways to open up these heady doors. When pairing wine and cheese:

• Match the body.
• Pair the complexity.
• Balance the primary flavours.

When wine and cheese are balanced, they both finish well. That is, you won’t detect any bitterness, or too much saltiness, or those strange off tastes at the end.

Follow your instincts. Everyone’s palate registers flavours with different intensities, enabling them to recognize certain flavours but not others. That’s the best argument there is for following your own instincts, because no matter what anyone else says, if you detect flavours that please you, you will like what you eat.

Read more…

Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to spoil dad and treat him to a fantastic meal. This also makes buying the gift easier as the perfect wine pairing with this meal will be the perfect gift.

Father’s Day Recipe: Beef Pot Roast

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 15kg boneless chuck roast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups good-quality beef stock
• 3 tablespoons canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180° C.
2. Heat the olive oil in oven over medium-high heat. Season the boneless chuck with the salt and pepper and sear on all sides until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the beef and set aside.
3. Place the onion and garlic in oven and cook, stirring, until brown and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the stock, scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits, then add the tomatoes and bay leaf.
4. Return the beef to the pot, cover tightly, and transfer to oven until the beef is fork-tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
5. Remove the beef to a cutting board and cover it loosely with foil. Transfer the pot to a burner over moderately high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Remove from heat.
6. Slice the beef and spoon extra cooking liquid on top.

Recommended Wine: The Arniston Bay Cabernet Sauvignon will be the perfect wine to complete this Father’s Day meal.

Source: realsimple.com

This robust dish is perfect on a chilly day, with briny olives and golden raisins lending salty-sweet flavours to the tender chicken and sauce. It also freezes well, so make a big batch and save the leftovers for a night you don’t feel like cooking.

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked
• salt and black pepper
• 16 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2.5kg), halved
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 red bell peppers, sliced
• 3 green bell peppers, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups pitted olives
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 2 cups long-grain white rice

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. In batches, brown the chicken, turning, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to a plate as it browns and add more oil as necessary.
3. Add the bell peppers, garlic, ½ cup of the broth, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until the peppers begin to soften, 4 to 6 minutes.
4. Add the olives, raisins, and the remaining 1½ cups of broth and bring to a boil. Nestle the chicken in the vegetables and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Twenty minutes before the stew is done, cook the rice according to the package directions. Serve with the stew

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon will pair very well with this dish.

Source: realsimple.com

This delicious Pasta recipe is  easy to make and guaranteed to be a mouth-watering treat for dinner guests.

Recipe: Hot Italian Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Ingredients: 1 pound (1/2 kg) dry fettuccine 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium red onion, sliced 1 clove garlic, smashed 4 hot Italian sausages, casings removed 1 pint red or yellow cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn 1 cup rocket, torn 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Preparation: Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook about 5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to crumble it. Add the tomatoes and cook until the skins burst, about 8 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked fettuccine, basil, and rocket and toss gently to combine. Serve in bowls and top with the Parmesan.

Tip: Vegetarians can omit the sausage. Try adding 3/4 cup Feta cheese to the pasta and greens.

Recommended wine: The versatile Arnsiton Bay Pinotage Rose will be the perfect wine with this dish .

From: realsimple.com

For some people the indecisiveness when choosing the wine for an event is sometimes unbearable.  Picking the right wine for any occasion is easier than you think. Just be logical and think a bit about the dynamics of the event and the people that will attend.

The first thing about selecting the wine is to relax and to realize that this is a live or death decision. The wine choosing process is supposed to be fun and part of the enjoyment of the event.

The second thing that you must take into account is the dynamics of the social event or when and how will the wine be enjoyed. Is it for a dinner and the wine will probably be discussed? Or is it a party or an informal gathering where the bottle will only be one of a few that will be opened by the guests? In the latter case it would we unwise to buy expensive, rare or unique wines.

Dinner with snobbish business partners (or your boss) will call for a different wine budget than a casual evening with friend or family.

What do you do when you are “Stuck in the middle”? This is where you cannot decide which wine, because the guests are diverse or you do not know their wine preferences.

The trend is your friend so go for the most popular choices within your budget. In a South African context I will go for Cabernet Sauvignon (maybe Merlot) for red wine and Sauvignon Blanc for white wine.

Just remember to relax and make a decision because indecisiveness creates unnecessary stress.

The Arnsiton Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a great wine and is sure to delight at any occasion.

Source: modbee

Mother’s Day menu are usually associated with a breakfast in bed or maybe a sweet treat for dessert. But a breakfast in bed can be an administrative nightmare and a disaster waiting to happen especially with the kids running around the bed. 

So this year, what about a funky yet healthy dish which will be the perfect meal for mom? 

Recipe: Salmon with Potato salad   Ingredients 

• 500g  new potatoes (about 10) ·        
• Salt and black pepper 
• 4 tablespoons olive oil 
• 4 180 g skinless salmon fillets 
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish 
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 2 scallions, sliced 
• 1/2 small bunch watercress, thick stems removed (about 2 cups) 

Directions 

Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover and bring to a boil. 

Add 1 teaspoon salt, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, 15 to 18 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Cut into quarters. 

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 

Season the salmon with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook until opaque throughout, 4 to 5 minutes per side. 

In a large bowl, combine the horseradish, vinegar, scallions, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 

Add the potatoes and watercress to the dressing and toss to combine. Serve the salad with the salmon. 

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay will be a perfect match with this meal. 

Source: realsimple.com

Picnics are all about the food, company, and of course, the perfect wine to pair with all of that.

Picnic fare is all about the variety, ease, and “travel ability”. The food has to survive the time it takes to get to the picnic area, handle not being too cold for a long period of time (unless you want to lug around a cooler) and not be too messy. These tend to be foods that are lighter: the cold fried chicken, veggie trays, lunch meats, and fruit. Crisp, delicious white wines are a must in these situations. You can buy those freezer sleeves that can slide over bottles to keep them cool so you don’t have to worry about carrying too much ice with you. I think Sauvignon Blanc and crisp wines like it are a good choice. Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Semillon  are among my favorite varietals too. They are bright, acidic, and loaded with crisp citrus fruit and minerality. Lighter white wines like this make the food come to life while refreshing your palate.

The Arnsiton Bay Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon is a perfect beach picnic wine.

Rosé wines are so versatile that they are a must-pack with your picnics. They are served chilled, just like white wines, so slide a freezer sleeve over this wine, too. It’s also acidic, but the red wine it’s made from offers a little more melon/strawberry/red fruit qualities that pair well with many food types.

The Arniston Bay Pinotage  Rosé is a great versatile wine for your picnic basket.

Source: wine.lovetoknow.com

The traditional dinners that many people prepare for their Easter holiday meal consist of either roasted lamb or baked ham. The tradition of roast lamb actually dates back to biblical times, to a meal that was commonly referred to as the “sacrificial lamb,” while the baked ham is an American tradition that began more out of necessity than for any other reason.

Prior to refrigeration, hogs were slaughtered in the fall and what wasn’t eaten immediately was cured and smoked to last through the springtime. These two main courses are on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to pairing wines.

The perfect pairing for a Smoked Ham (or gammon) will depend on the sauce or preparation method. But in general the saltiness of the pork will probably lend itself to fruitier wines like the Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay . This wine has pineapple and melon flavours on the nose with a full fresh and crispy finish.

Roasted lamb offers a much wider variety of wine from which one can choose, including Bordeaux style , Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and  Malbec to name a few. I think the Arniston Bay Cabernet Merlot will go perfect with a roasted lamb.

Read more on : www.bradenton.com

Simplicity is the key to a good picnic menu. It doesn’t pay to be too ambitious or to assume that recipes which work well at home will be just as good in the open air.

Delicate flavours can be lost eating al fresco. Fresh gutsy flavours make the meal more exciting.

Remember that people seem to have larger appetites outdoors!

Simple fare , but lots of it, is better than anything too rich.

Provide picnic food which is easy to eat too – especially if you’re reclining on a blanket on the ground! Finger food is best or something which just requires a fork.

Pack simple food but not too many choices – you don’t want to be constantly passing things round. A picnic should be a relaxed affair with an easy to recognise, wholesome, menu.

If time is at a premium you can take advantage of the vast range of ready-prepared foodstuffs available in the supermarkets and local delicatessens.

They can certainly help you create a quick picnic. You can put together an entire meal just from their selections of pies, terrines, cooked meats and antipasta.

Add a bag of pre-washed salad, some pre-cut crudités, and a nice crusty loaf of bread and there you have it.

South Africa  (and Arnsiton Bay )is renowned for lovely weather, beautiful scenery and great wines. These aspects collaborate to make picnic a part of life and enjoy the great outdoors.

Source: the-picnic-site.com

Wine and food pairing has many dimensions and in some instances it can be very confusing but it can also be very rewarding.

Pairing wines with vegetable-focused dishes – including vegan and vegetarian foods – is easy, but it’s also a way to flex your creative muscles. Honestly, choosing wines for these dishes can result in some of the most exquisite pairings if we understand a few basic principles:

1. Powerful flavours in food and richness call for powerful wines.

2. Lighter food flavours require lighter wines.

3. Spicy, salty, or smoky flavours in food welcome lighter, fruity reds, and off-dry to semi-sweet whites.

4. You can pair food with wine by creating complementary pairings, where the food tastes like the wine (pasta with fresh herbs, olive oil, and olives paired with fresh, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc). Or you can go the other direction with contrasting pairings, the food and the wine have opposite flavours and textures (an earthy mushroom risotto, for instance with a fruit-driven Pinot Noir).

One of the keys to enjoying a great wine and food match is to consider the cooking method you apply to a dish.

The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc is a great wine with a herbal grassy character, ideal for herb orientated dishes.

Source: winetimes.co.za

Beach picnics are the ideal way to relax, unwind and to take in some soul food. But ironically choosing the right food can be stressful as you want food that fuels you up without weighing you down.

The perfect seaside meal is made up of foods that can last in the cooler all day.  

Here are some tips: Make sturdy foods that are great served chilled: Spicy Cold Chicken can stand up to the sand and the heat of waterside picnics.

To round out the meal, buy:  

• 2 l of  lemonade
• Guacamole and tortilla chips
• Pre-sliced watermelon
• Spiced Cold Chicken– Recipe to follow

Spiced Cold Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1.8 kg chicken , cut into 8 pieces
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• kosher salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1. Heat oven to 200° C.
2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and place in a large roasting pan.
3. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, sugar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the olive oil. Rub evenly over the chicken and roast until cooked through, 45 minutes. Serve hot, at room temperature, or chilled.

Recommended wine:

From the peaceful tranquil surroundings of Arniston comes a range of fresh uncomplicated and easy drinking wines. Capture a moment of stillness in the midst of the madness, sit back and unwind with a glass of Arniston Bay.

Source: realsimple.com

Join us for a glass of wine at the DF Malan Food and Wine festival in Bellville.

Click here for more info.

Salads can sometimes be so dull and predictable and can make a meal seem boring. Here is great and interesting salad which is sure to impress your guests and is definitely not boring.

Ingredients

• 1 small head of lettuce, torn into pieces 
• 4 stalks celery, sliced on the diagonal
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups green grapes, halved
• 90g blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 – 1.5kg  rotisserie chicken, meat thickly sliced

Directions

1.  In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, celery, onion, grapes, and 

blue cheese.

2.  In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, oil, ½ 

teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

3.  Divide the salad and chicken among plates. Serve with the vinaigrette.

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé will complement this dish. This is a beautifully aromatic Pinotage Rosé. The palate is youthful and vibrant showing a beautiful fusion of fresh red berry fruits.

Source: realsimple.com

Cooking can be loads of fun but this can be spoiled by the massive cleaning up session after the meal. If you don’t like cleaning up, try a One-Pot Recipe.This One-Pot Roasted Chicken Recipe is a lovely meal with no cleaning up headaches making life easier for the modern woman.

Ingredients 

• 1 lemon
• 3 cups grape tomatoes
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated
• 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 8 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1.2-1.4 kg chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 small loaf country bread, warmed (optional)

Directions 

1. Heat oven to 220° C. Using a vegetable peeler, remove strips of zest from the lemon. (Reserve the lemon.)
2. In a large roasting pan, toss the tomatoes, garlic, olives, thyme, and lemon zest with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
3. Nestle the chicken, skin-side up, among the vegetables and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Season the chicken and vegetables with ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Roast until the chicken is cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.
4. Remove the chicken from the hot roasting pan. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into the roasting pan and add the wine. Gently stir, scraping up any bits stuck to the pan. Serve the chicken and vegetables with the pan juices and bread (if using).

Tip: Frozen chicken can be roasted without defrosting. Add 50 percent more cooking time. 

Recommended Wine: 

The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon  will complement this dish. This wine has a powerful perfumed nose of sweet fruit with green pepper and grassiness. The palate is concentrated with a herbal grassy character and thick-textured fruit. A powerful wine of real personality. 

Source: www.realsimple.com

When romantic Valentine’s dinners draw to a close the last thing to order/serve is the dessert.

Some sceptics believe that when the pudding is served the wine is  ‘not welcome’ anymore as rigid old pairing rules suggest that desserts do not pair well with wine.

This is not the case as many red wines are deemed to be the perfect partner for darker chocolate based puddings.

A great suggestion for the cherry on top for the Valentines dessert is a Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake served with a Sparkling Rosé.

The Arniston Bay Sparkling Rosé will add that extra sparkle to the Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake and to your Valentines dinner.

Chicken salads are easy meal options, especially in summer. Here’s a simple recipe which is delicious when shared with friends and served with Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay.

Ingredients

• -250g  rice noodles or angel hair pasta
• -1 tablespoon olive oil
• -4 180g  boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• salt and pepper
• -1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• -1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• -1 tablespoon sugar
• -1 jalapeno (preferably red), seeded and thinly sliced
• -1 bunch watercress (about 3 cups)
• -1 seedless cucumber, cut into ½ cm-thick half-moons
• -2 scallions, sliced

Directions

1. - Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
2. - Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until browned and cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes per side.
3. - In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, sesame oil, sugar, and jalapeño.
4. - Slice the chicken. Divide the noodles, chicken, watercress, cucumber, and scallions among plates. Drizzle with the dressing.

Recommended Wine:

The Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay  will superbly  complement this meal.

This masterfully blended white wine  has fresh and lovely bright lime and herb aromas. It features a creamy richness on the palate but the dominant feature is citrusy freshness along with a bit of spice.

Source: Real Simple

While salads are perennially popular, in the scorching summer months they are the ideal choice for meals.

Not only is the cool crispness appreciated on a hot day but also the fact that the kitchen and the cook can stay cool as very little cooking is required for the salad.

This smoked salmon salad with rye recipe  is a perfect summer salad and great for a picnic or lunch dish.

The mayonnaise binds all the ingredients together, and it can be eaten with a fork or piled on to the bread and eaten as an open sandwich. This smoked salmon salad is quite thick with mayonnaise, making it suitable to pile on to sliced ryebread or crispbread. I like to use hot-smoked salmon but you can also use cold-smoked salmon.

 Serves 4.

 Ingredients

· 350g hot smoked salmon, flaked

. 1 punnet baby plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise

· 1/2 cup mayonnaise

· 1 tbsp mild mustard

· 1 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice

· 1 cup baby butter leaves

· 1 cup curly endive, roughly chopped (spinach can be an alternative)

· 1/2 bunch chives, chopped

· 2 hardboiled eggs, chopped

.  freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Combine the salad leaves and tomatoes, then fold through the smoked salmon.

Mix the mayonnaise with the mustard, lemon juice and pepper. Fold the mayonnaise through the salad.

Sprinkle the chopped egg and chives over the top of the salad.

Accompany the salad with some rye bread.

Recommended wine

The Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé  will complement this dish. This is an uncomplicated easy drinking Rosé filled with sweet red berry and strawberry aromas.

Source: themercury.com

Roast gammon has become part and parcel of many Christmas lunches. It seems that the general recipes for this dish have not changed too much in the past few decades.  They say  the probable reason for this is people tend not to experiment with new dishes at big family gatherings because the ‘chef’ can’t afford to go wrong.

I do not know if this is true but here is a tried  and tested roast gammon recipe which will delight your Christmas guests.  

Recipe Honey Roast Gammon

Ingredients

• 1.8kg – gammon joint
• 1 onion
• 20 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 10 peppercorns
• 40g – soft brown sugar
• Grated rind and juice of 1 large orange
• 2 tbsp runny honey
• 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard

Method

Soak the gammon joint in a bowl or cold water for at least three hours. Drain and place the gammon in a large saucepan. Stud the onion with the cloves and add to the pan with the bay leaves and peppercorns. Cover with water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 1 hour.

1. Heat the oven to Gas Mark 6 – 200C – 400F. Drain the gammon, remove the skin and most of the fat. Score the remaining fat into diamonds, stud with the remaining cloves and place in a roasting tin. Mix together the ingredients for the glaze, and spoon over the gammon. Bake for 45 minutes, basting 3-4 times during the cooking time. It can be served hot or cold but should be left to stand before slicing.

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé will pair well with this dish, and because of the versatility of this wine, it will probably pair well with the other meats on the Christmas plate.

Source: bbc.co.uk

For a great way to enjoy the festive season before making your New Year’s resolutions about getting into shape and losing the Christmas kilos, try some of these delicious puddings made with wine. These delicious recipes will ensure an unforgettable traditional Christmas meal as it’s all about indulgent decadence

 It’s important to remember that not only is wine the key ingredient in these recipes, but you also have to pair your puddings with the right wine. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that the wine is sweeter than the dessert it will be accompanying. If you have a tart pudding, try an acidic wine to bring out the flavour.

It isn’t an easy task matching wine and desserts as the desserts have a diverse variety of flavours. Here’s a simple guide:

• Custard – pair with a sparkling wine or MCC
• Fruity – pair with a Sauvignon Blanc
• Cream based tart or pie – pair with a spicy red like a Pinotage

Tip: Balance is key Acidity and sugar levels must be balanced in both the food and wine. If not balanced, the very sweet dessert will make the wine seem more tannic, less sweet and more acidic. Work with the aromas and flavours of the wine to get a good match for pairing desserts.

If you aren’t into pairing puddings and wines, here are some recipes that have wine in them so the job is done for you!

Fruit and wine: Fresh fruit simmered in wine

Ingredients:

• Fresh fruit (pitted cherries, sliced strawberries, blueberries etc)
• Red wine – try: Kumkani Pinotage
• cinnamon sticks and cloves in cheesecloth sack
• sugar to taste

Method: In a large pot, cover the fruit with the wine. Bring to the boil, the reduce heat to low simmer. Add the spices. Continues to simmer until fruit becomes slightly tender. Remove spices and serve warm or refrigerate overnight, then remove spices and serve cold. Sprinkle sugar on top to sweeten and taste for something decorative add sugar syrup to the plate and serve with wafer biscuit.

Blanched Almonds

Ingredients:

• Finely ground almonds
• powdered ginger spice
• sugar
• salt to taste
• pastry dough
• oil
• honey
• a slightly sweet white wine – try: Arniston Bay Reserve Chenin Blanc

Method: Mix almonds with sugar, ginger, and a little salt – this should be a sweet, slightly spicy blend. Roll out the pastry dough. cut out circles of dough, placing filling in the middle, and folding into a half-circle make sure the edges of the pastries are securely sealed.

Fry the pastries in hot oil until lightly browned; remove from oil and let drain.

In a pot, bring the honey to a soft boil, and then reduce heat. Skim off the residue as it rises. Add just enough wine to make a thick sauce. Thoroughly coat the pastries in the wine sauce, and then place on a baking sheet. Bake in a hot oven for several minutes. The pastries may be basted with additional sauce during baking or immediately afterward.

Serve with a dollop of cream.

Wine bread pudding (update on the classic bread pudding)

Ingredients:

• Macaroons
• sponge cake
• 500ml white wine – try: Welmoed Heydens Courage White
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 teaspoons of sugar
• 3 egg whites
• ½ cup of chopped walnuts

Method: Place sponge cake into an ovenproof dish (½ full). Add a few macaroons; heat the wine in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix the cornstarch and sugar together and slowly add the wine. Beat the yolks of eggs and add to wine mixture. Cook for about 2 minutes. Pour over the cake and let cool. When its cool cover with the stiffly beaten egg whites and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake at 180ºC for 5 minutes until golden brown. Serve cold.

Wine prices: Welmoed Heydens Courage White – R38.99 per bottle Arniston Bay Reserve Chenin Blanc – R46.99 per bottle Kumkani Pinotage – R66.99 per bottle All wines available at Checkers.

In the past few years rosé wines has firmly established itself among wine lovers all over the world.

The UK and other European market saw steady increases in the demand for these beautiful salmon- or scarlet-coloured wines.

The reasons for this popularity increase are because these wines provide the refreshment aspects of white wines with some of the extra body and flavour from red wines.

Dry rosés are also deemed to be the world’s most food flexible wines which make it an any-season, any-occasion and any with any meal wine.

The Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé with its youthful palate and beautiful fusion of fresh red berry fruits are an excellent wine with a wide array of dishes.

Source: forbes.com

Legendary South African food blogger, Jeanne Horak-Druiff recently visited the restaurant at our Cellar door, the Duck Pond, and was immensely impressed with the food and wine.

Jeanne’s blogsite (cooksister.com ) has won the coveted best SA food blog award four times in the past six years and she is deemed to be one of South Africa’s favourite food bloggers.

She loved the curried lamb potjie and the 1.5 litre eco-friendly wine pouches from Arniston Bay was also a hit.

Here is what she had to say about Arniston Bay on her blog site:

“While we were chatting about the wines (the 2009 Welmoed Chardonnay that we had with our meal was a perfect lunchtime wine), our lovely waitress mentioned in passing that they had started selling some Arniston Bay wines in a new eco-friendly 1.5 litre packaging and very kindly brought one to our table to show.  I love it!  From the ergonomically-designed grip with the thumb holes, to the fact that the vacuum pack just grows flatter and flatter as it empties and ends up totally flat and takes up far less space in landfills, to the handy 1.5 litre size.  I mean, who wants to drink 3 litres or 5 litres of the same wine (which is usually the case with vac packed wines)?”

Source: cooksister.com

We have chosen Nina Timm as our food blogger of the month because of her irresistible Grilled chicken, fig and rocket salad.

Nina is the editor of the immensely popular food blog , my-easy-cooking. Her recipes and writing style is are fantastic, making her  a worthy winner of this prize.

Recommended wine: The fresh and versatile Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay will complement the dish and will be perfect with this salad.

Here’s her amazing Grilled chicken, fig and rocket salad recipe:

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp dark soy fresh ice-berg lettuce fresh rocket 4 figs – quartered pine-nuts toasted a few anchovies 4 small onions – peeled and halved 3-4 small day old bread rolls chilli Oil salt/pepper

Directions

Slice the chicken breasts in thinner strips. In a plastic bag, mix the lemon juice, sugar and soy. Add all the chicken pieces and allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes.

Heat up your griddle pan and grill the chicken pieces very quickly on both sides. while doing that, you can add the onions and grill them too.  Season with salt and pepper and keep aside.

Slice the  bread rolls in thin slices and drizzle with  chilli oil. Roast in a hot oven until golden and crispy. To assemble the salad, lay the lettuce and rocket in the bottom of a beautiful salad platter and start building your salad with the various ingredients. Finish off with the toasted pine nuts

Source: my-easy-cooking.com

Some people see salads as a side-dish and not as the main course. But by adding some roast beef to a salad you can transform the ‘side-dish’ to a great meal.

The beautifully aromatic Arniston Bay  Pinotage Rosé will perfectly complement this meal.

Roast beef salad with goats cheese

Ingredients

• -2 small heads lettuce, torn into pieces 
• -350g sliced deli roast beef
• -1 large  tomato, cut into wedges
• -1/2 red onion, sliced
• -120g  soft goat cheese, crumbled
• -1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• -2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• -2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• -salt and black pepper

Directions

-Divide the lettuce, roast beef, tomato, onion, and goat cheese among bowls.

-In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle over the salad.

• Source: realsimple.com

The belly rules the mind is old Spanish proverb and I believe there is a lot of truth in this saying.

Exploring your own tastes and preferences is part and parcel of discovering interesting dishes.

Many people say that as a child their family’s menu consisted of two choices:  take it or leave it. Luckily as adults we have a choice.

Sushi is not everyone favourite and some people believe that it must be called bait and not food.

I disagree and love sushi. It is healthy, interesting and has an abundance of tastes. I have not mastered the art of making sushi as I’m still learning from some great online articles and clips.

Here’s a shortlist of some sushi variants:

Nigirizushi- The most typical is sticky rice flavoured with vinegar and topped with raw, or fresh, fish (sashimi). The rice is formed by hand in a clump and the fish or grilled egg is placed on top. Sometimes the fish or egg is secured by a strip of seaweed. Complimented by wasabi, also known as Japanese horseradish, most restaurants serve nigirizushi in pairs.

Makizushi – Rice wrapped in seaweed (nori) with vegetables or seafood make this a favourite.

Temakizushi – Literally this translates as sushi for your hand. Vegetables and fish are placed in a pocket of seaweed.

Inarizushi – Easy to eat, this rice flavoured with sweet rice wine is inserted in a pouch made of tofu.

Chirashizushi – This seasoned rice is served in a bowl with mushrooms, carrots, other vegetables, and strips of seaweed.

In general, sushi will pair well with dry white wines and The Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect choice. This wine has a powerful, perfumed nose of sweet fruit with green pepper and grassiness.

Source: recipes.lovetoknow.com

When deciding on a salad, the main challenge is to find a balance to get an exciting dish which is also easy to prepare. 

Sometimes salads can be boring as the same old recipes are regurgitated. But on the other hand some ‘new’ salads are so complicated with unusual and hard to find ingredients that it’s a nightmare to prepare.

I found this great and interesting recipe which is ‘fresh’ yet easy to make.

Green Apple and Watercress Chicken Salad

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup mayonnaise 

- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 

 - salt and black pepper 

- 1kg rotisserie chicken , chopped 

- 4 cups watercress, thick stems discarded 

- 1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced 

Directions

-In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 

- Toss with the chicken, watercress, and apple slices. 

Source: realsimple.com

The pace of life is getting to me as everything seems to be rushed and deadline orientated. So in order to get a grip, my suggestion is to escape for a while and enjoy a beach break.

Or alternatively, you can arrange a nice picnic with good food and wine.

Keep it simple and tranquil and try to relax as this will do wonders for your soul.

Picnic Idea

Prepare a main course and buy the rest as you do not want to slave away preparing for the picnic.

Buy:

-          Baguette and cheeses (brie, camembert etc.)

-          Potato chips

-          Cherry tomatoes

-          Fruit ( peaches, apricots, plums, naartjies)

-          Wine

Recommended wine: The fresh and versatile Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay will complement the dish and will be perfect for your picnic.

Recipe : Eggplant pasta salad

Ingredients

 3 tablespoons olive oil

2 celery stalks, sliced

1 eggplant , cut into 1cm pieces

400ml grape/ plum tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

salt and black pepper

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons capers

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted (optional)

1 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

450g dried penne

Directions

  -1) Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the celery and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the eggplant and tomatoes.

-2) In a small bowl, combine the tomato paste, vinegar, ¼ cup water, 2 ½ teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and the sugar. Stir into the eggplant mixture.

-3) Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

-4) Remove from heat and stir in the capers, pine nuts (if desired), and parsley.

-5) Meanwhile, cook the penne according to the package directions. Toss with the remaining oil; let cool. Combine with the eggplant mixture and serve.

Source: realsimple.com

We have picked Cindy Taylor as our food blogger of the month due to her delicious Spaghetti Carbonara recipe.

Cindy is the editor of the hugely entertaining food blog , The only Cin, and her writing and recipes deserve this prize.

Here is her easy and mouth watering Spaghetti Cabonara   recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 packet  spaghetti
• 6 baby marrows, cut into thin strips
• 1 dash  olive oil, for frying
• 1 packet  back bacon, cut into strips
• 2 cloves of garlic, or 3, finely chopped
• 4 large free range eggs, beaten
• 125 ml pecorino cheese, finely grated
• 1 pinch salt and milled pepper

Directions

Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Add baby marrows 2 – 3 minutes before the end of cooking. Drain and set aside.

Heat a glug of oil in a large pan and fry bacon until crispy.

Remove and drain on kitchen paper.

Drain excess fat from pan and fry garlic for a minute.

Add pasta, baby marrows and bacon to pan and toss well.

Remove pan from heat. Quickly stir through the eggs, mixing until they begin to thicken, but not scramble.

Add cheese, season and serve.

** Pecorino is a hard rind cheese similar to parmesan, originally made from sheep’s milk.

Recommended wine:  The Arniston Bay Chardonnay will be the perfect pairing with this pasta dish. 

Cindy Taylor:

Source: theonlycin.wordpress.com

Sometimes salads can lack the ‘wow’ factor and are too bland and unimaginative. But this shrimp salad is fantastic and functional as it combines simple ingredients to make a delightful  meal.

I’ll recommend the Arniston Bay Pinotage Rosé . This versatile and easy drinking wine will pair well with this meal .

Recipe:  Spinach, Shrimp, and Avocado Salad

Ingredients  

 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice 

 - 3 tablespoons olive oil 

- 1 tablespoon chopped capers 

- 1/2 teaspoon honey 

- salt and black pepper 

- 8 cups spinach 

- 500g cooked, peeled, and deveined medium shrimp 

- 4 plum tomatoes, chopped 

- 1 avocado, sliced 

Directions 

1.      – In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, capers, honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 

2.      – In a large bowl, toss the spinach, shrimp, tomatoes, and avocado with the vinaigrette. 

Source: realsimple.com

 A recent article in Wine magazine states that there’s nothing quite as tasty and fresh as linefish braaied over hot coals.

Not only were they spot-on with this statement, but they were also spot-on with their recommend wine to accompany this dish.

“The Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay, a fresh white blend to be enjoyed with seafood, salads and antipasti encapsulates the laid-back Arniston lifestyle,” the article stated.

Here’s how they created this mouth-watering dish:

Use a hinged grid to prevent the fish from breaking or falling out.

Squeeze lemon juice over the fish while braaing it or use your choice of basting mixture, eg lemon butter or olive oil.

The fish is cooked when it’s opaque but not dry. You can test it with a small paring knife – the flesh should part with no resistance. A lean game fish like yellowtail is best cooked fast over high heat.

Place the fish flesh side down 3-4cm from the coals until it starts to brown, then turn it over and brown the skin – this way you retain the juices. If you braai it skin side down first, then turn it over to brown the flesh, all the juices will run out, and the fish will lose some its flavour and become dry.

To remove the fish from the grid easily and without breaking it, turn it so that the flesh side of the fish is facing downwards. Open the grid and then place a serving platter or chopping board upside down over the skin side. Close the grid over the platter, invert the grid and then remove the platter with the fish on it.

From: winemag.co.za

Life can be such a rush and often we feel that we don’t have time to prepare a decent meal. But the truth is there are great recipes for amazing dishes where the total preparation time is less than 20 minutes.

For some people making food can be therapeutic and helps them to unwind.  Here’s a great recipe which is simple, quick and really delicious

Recommended wine: Arniston Bay Chardonnay 2010 . This is a fruity wine with good acidity and some toasty, spicy complexity from well judged oak. Really attractive with lots of character and elegance.

Ingredients

• 8 small chicken cutlets (700g pounds total)
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 400g  sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup goat cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Directions

1. - Season chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
2. - Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to plates.
3. - Add mushrooms and remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. - Stir in heavy cream, goat cheese, parsley, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve over the chicken

Source: realsimple.com

Chicken recipes are sometimes to extravagant and complicated because chefs suggest that you must add a number of different herbs and spices. Here is a nice and easy recipe with just the right amount of extras. 

With this meal I would suggest the well balanced Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2010. This wine has grassy and green pepper undertones with a good crispy and lengthy finish which will definitely complement this dish.

Ingredients

• - 750g  small chicken cutlets (8 to 12)
• - Salt and pepper
• - 2 tablespoons olive oil
• - 700 ml grape or cherry tomatoes
• - 3/4 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
• - 4 spring onions, sliced
• - 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

Directions

1. -Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, cook the chicken until browned and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to plates.
2. -Add the tomatoes to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to burst, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. -Add the wine and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the spring onions and rosemary and serve with the chicken.

Source: realsimple

This month’s recipe / food article (blogger) of the month is Alida Ryder for her mouth watering Chili Risotto with Calamari recipe.

Alida creates the most amazing recipes and the way she presents it on her blog is so appetising and looks extremely delicious.

Alida’s blog (simply-delicious.co.za ) is also nominated for a SA Blog award in the Food and Wine category and we wish her the best of luck as she definitely deserves to be a finalist.

Recommended wine:

The Arniston Bay Chardonnay will pair perfectly with this creamy, chilly spicy calamari  dish.

Here is the recipe:

Chili Risotto with Crispy Calamari

Serves 4

Ingredients

- 2 leeks, finely chopped

- 2 tbsn butter

- 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced

- 2 cups Risotto rice

- 250ml white wine

- 1-1.5l chicken stock

- 1/2 cup cream

- 2 fresh chillies, finely chopped or use as much crushed chillies as you can handle.

- 1 cup grated parmesan/pecorino

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 500g baby squid and calamari steak cut into strips

- 15ml cajun spice mixed with 4tbsn flour

- oil for deep frying

Directions

• - In a large pot/pan,  fry the leeks in the butter until soft. Add the garlic and fry for another minute or two.
• - Add the rice and stir, coating the rice with the oil. Add the wine and allow to reduce
• - Now, add the stock ladle by ladle. Stirring in between and allowing the rice to absorb the stock. The rice shouldn’t be completely dry before you add more, it should always be moist. Take care not to stir too much as you don’t want it to go stodgy.
• - Meanwhile, coat the squid and calamari with the seasoned flour.  Try to get the squid as dry as possible before coating with the flour, otherwise it will go a bit gloopy.
• - Heat the oil in a pot/wok and fry the squid and calamari until crisp. Set aside.
• - Finish the risotto by adding the cream, chillies and cheese.
• - Serve in bowls topped with a handful of the squid and calamari and some extra chillies and cheese.

Source: simply-delicious.co.za

Alida Ryder

Pork chops is probably one of the most underrated dishes. It is easy to prepare and it is very versatile. This recipe is and nice and easy recipe for a spicy pork chops with some cabbage and raisins. Truly divine.

Recommended wine: I would serve the Arniston Bay Shiraz 2008. This is a full bodied wine with intense dark colour subtle smoky and pepper spice nose with strong full middle palate and good tannin structure. Good finish with hints of coffee and chocolate in the aftertaste

Serves 4

Total Time: 25min

Ingredients

• - 3 tablespoons olive oil
• - 4 bone-in pork rib chops (about 2.5cm thick; 500g total)
• - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• - salt and black pepper
• - 1 onion, sliced
• - ½ small head red cabbage, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
• - ½ cup golden raisins
• - ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• - ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
• - bread (optional)

Directions

1- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the pork with the cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes per side.

2- Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a second large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cabbage, raisins, vinegar, ¼ cup water, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, covered, tossing occasionally, until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes; stir in the dill. Serve with the pork and bread, if using.

Source: realsimple

Sometimes you need some colour in life. The winter can be so gloomy and colourless and that is  why I decided it’s time for a colourful sosatie. 

This is a great recipe and it serves 4 comfortably. 

Recommended wine: The Arniston Bay Shiraz will definitely complement this meal 

Grilled Lamb Sosatie Recipe 

Ingredients  

2 medium green bell peppers, cut into 2cm pieces Salt and pepper 700g boneless lamb leg, trimmed and cut into 2.5 cm cubes 1 medium onion, cut into 2cm pieces 4 slices bacon, each cut into 4 pieces 1/2 cup olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 3 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 large lemon) 2 tablespoons brandy 1 teaspoon tomato sauce 1 clove garlic 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper Vegetable oil for brushing the kebabs 

Method In a medium saucepan place peppers in boiling water. Return water to a boil. Remove peppers from water; drain. 

Sprinkle salt and pepper on lamb cubes. On eight 25cm skewers alternately thread meat, pepper, and onion pieces. Thread bacon pieces on both ends of each skewer. Set aside. 

In a blender or food processor purée oil, onion, lemon juice, brandy, tomato sauce, garlic, mustard, oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper until smooth. 

Lightly oil sosaties and place in center of cooking grate. Grill 7 to 9 minutes for rare (140°F/60°C), 10 to 13 minutes for medium (160°F/71°C), or 14 to 17 minutes for medium-well (170°F/77°C), turning once halfway through grilling time. Brush sosaties with purée occasionally during last half of grilling time. 

Note: If using wooden skewers, soak in water thirty minutes before using so ends won’t burn during grilling time. 

Source: barbecue-party.com

Robyn MacLarty’s amazing salad recipe got the nod for recipe of the month. She is the our first SA food blogger winner with this stunning dish and post.

This recipe looks so delicious and the way she presents it on her blog ( KOEK! ) makes your mouth water.

Recommended wine: This salad will be perfectly complemented by the Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010.

Here is Robyn’s recipe:

 Chickpea and cauliflower salad with olive-anchovy dressing

1 head cauliflower, broken into florets Half a loaf of ciabatta (sourdough/bread made with olive oil), crust removed and torn into chunks Extra virgin olive oil, to taste 3 anchovy fillets 1 clove garlic 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 cup black olives, drained and finely chopped Juice and zest of 1 lemon 2 handfuls rocket

1. Lightly steam the cauliflower until just cooked (but still very firm), then plunge into icy water to prevent further cooking. 2. Arrange the bread chunks on a baking tray, drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Roast until golden. 3. In a pestle and mortar, mash the anchovy and garlic until you have a paste. Add the lemon juice, zest and a good glug olive oil, and whisk to create a dressing. Season to taste. 4. In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower, chickpeas, olives and dressing, and stir so everything’s nicely coated. 5. Arrange the rocket on a platter and top with the cauliflower and chickpeas. Sprinkle with the croutons, drizzle over any remaining dressing and serve.

Robyn MacLarty:

Source: maclarty.blogspot.com

 We are giving away monthly wine prizes to South African food bloggers.

The best recipe or food blog post of the month will win wine prizes from Arniston Bay Wines.

How do you enter?

-          Post the URL  link of your recipe on our Facebook page

-          Use Twitter  – send URL links to @arnistonbay  

-          All entries on South African Food Blogger Showcase’s Facebook group are automatically reviewed

I’ll keep you posted