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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Piedmont, US Wines Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Piedmont, US Wines Jacqueline Mitchell

The Versatile (and Yummy) Eggplant

Straight from an authentic Italian restaurant is this delicious eggplant recipe. It is a baked eggplant parmesan that woman winemaker and chef, Jacqueline Mitchell of Ojai Pacific View has wowed her family and friends with while taking vacations back home in the US from her “real job” as chef at a local favorite trattoria in the Langhe Italy. Not suprisingly, the wine and food pairing with her own California Dolcetto is out of this world.

Make your own parmigiana con melanzane with this eggplant recipe baked inside.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Twists on Burgundy

Saint Laurent is not just in the fashion world: do you know that it is a wine grape too?

Learn fun facts about this grape which could become your next go-to red wine, like:

  • Saint Laurent is the number one most planted red wine grape variety in the Czech Republic;

  • its closest relative is one of the most famous red wine grapes in the world.

Plus, as a bonus in this article, we have a recipe for Beef Bourguignon, or Beef Burgundy, with a twist. What is it? Find out inside!

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Who’s Hungry for Polpette?

Let's spill the beans on the whole spaghetti and meatballs gig – turns out, it's more Italian American than straight up Italian. Say hello to authentic meatballs, or polpette, the real deal in Italy, where meatballs is the main character, and pasta isn't their sidekick. Learn many ways to serve and make homemade meatballs, and the secret to making a really good polpetta. Get an authentic recipe, that is both easy and versatile for meatballs, spice it up with some traditional Italian wine and food pairings. Get ready to cook, crunch, and sip your way through authentic Italian vibes.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Not Your Boar-ing Pasta Sauce

It may be a discounted animal… but in many parts of the world the Wild Boar is an important part of life and the kitchen! Explore the world of wild boars, recipes, wine pairings and more traveling through Italy, the Czech Republic, and even the Americas. Stick around to the end for an authentic recipe for Pappardelle con Cinghiale or Pappardelle Pasta with a Wild Boar Ragu sauce including pairing foods of wild wines with wild boar.

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Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Learn the Art & Science of Wine and Food Pairing

Wine and food pairing can seem like a daunting task, yet, once you get down the basic principles, there is almost no right or wrong. It can turn into a life long skill that you can practice all the time, while alone or in groups, while at home or out and about. Start with this article which lays out an easy to follow approach to pairing foods. Then you’ll be on your way to doing fun and tasty food and wine pairings with others.

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Piedmont, Wine Jacqueline Mitchell Piedmont, Wine Jacqueline Mitchell

Master Barolo Vintages

The Langhe region in Piemonte, Northern Italy, is renowned for its exceptional red wines, but the story of each vintage is written by Mother Nature herself. Barolo winery owner Aldo Clerico wisely notes that winemakers don't make the same wine every year; it all depends on nature's whims. In this article we explore the Langhe's most recent vintages as we've witnessed first hand the impact of climate shifts on this terroir with extreme weather, such as devastating hailstorms, altering the winemaking landscape. Learn how Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo grapes adapt to vintage variations from 2016 to 2021. Join us in understanding how the weather's ever-changing story shapes Langhe's timeless wines.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Make a Quiche Just Like an Italian Nonna

It is a simple dish found throughout Italy, a staple of family gatherings and the ultimate svuota frigo or pantry meal: the torta salata, aka an Italian version of quiche. With endless possibilities for ingredients, they can be both an exercise in culinary creativity and a way to finish up bits and bobs of food in the fridge. No wonder that the Italian nonna is often behind the makings. Straight from nonna Petrussa of 3 generations of women at Vigna Petrussa, we have this breakfast recipe casserole to share. Grab a pie crust and let your imagination run wild.

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Autumn, Piedmont, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Autumn, Piedmont, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

'Tis the Season for Mushroom Hunting

In the heart of Piedmont, where vineyards and truffle scented air reign supreme, there's a hidden treasure waiting to be uncovered – wild mushrooms. In the forests different kinds of mushrooms are just waiting to be foraged, and not just the famous white truffle. even though truffle hunting season is just starting. Conveniently, mushrooms native to Piedmont go well with the rich and complex flavors of Barolo and nebbiolo wine and other red wine from the Langhe and Piemonte. With the start of truffle hunting season upon us, ‘tis the season for a bit of mushroom foraging and red wine pairing. Follow us on our journey into the world of natural wine and wild mushrooms in Piedmont.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

A Spanish Take on Brunch & Breakfast

Who doesn’t love home brunch ideas? Why not for your next brunch, choose a brunch recipe that is steeped in tradition. So much so that its name Duelos y Quebrantos could possibly have influenced the origin of the word “breakfast”.

Try a delicious and easy eggs and chorizo recipe, direct from the windmills in Spain and a Spanish amporae winery. Inside find out what Duelos y Quebrantos is, its historical importance in Spain and even influencing our culture. Then make this breakfast recipe casserole and try pairing it with a natural wine.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

The Secret Sauce of Midsummer

Nothing quite says summer like a big basket of juicy tomatoes, ready to be cooked down into a fresh tomato sauce or sugo. But that can be labor intensive and take ages… sometimes we need a pasta sauce quick to put on the table and enjoy! Enter the cherry tomato. These small ruby rounds have their own flavors and deliciousness to share. So come inside to find our Italian Vero Chef’s favorite recipe for a cherry tomatoes pasta and our suggested wine pairings.

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Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Your Go-To Guide For the Best Wine and Cheese Pairings

Now that you have at your fingertips these 5 Tips for Pairing Cheese and Wine let’s put your knowledge to practice with some of the best cheese and wine pairing suggestions. In this guide we break down wine and cheeses by category including favorite wine and cheese pairings by some Vero producers. Pairing cheese and wine allows for a lot of fun experimentation, making get-togethera more engaging and interactive. Use this guide as a “go-to” when seeking out the best cheese and wine pairing to have at your next party.

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Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

5 Tips for Wine and Cheese Pairings

It may seem like a daunting task: pick out and pair wine and cheeses. But when done right, it is so worth it! It is also not quite as hard as it may seem to pair wine and cheese together. Inside we have 5 tips and tricks to help you learn what wine goes with cheese! So get your local cheese monger on speed dial, open up a new tab with the VeroShop, and get ready to enjoy a delectable article!

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Dine Like a Local Romagnolo

In the countryside of Romagna, Italy, capretto al forno, or oven roasted goat, is a popular recipe, especially when drizzled with a really good Italian olive oil. We have an authentic recipe to share straight from the local trattorias of Romagna, thanks to the Braschi Boys sharing their passions of food, not only wine. In fact, Braschi’s recommended pairing wine with food with this goat recipe is a full bodied red wine: their riserva sangiovese wine. Check it out!

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

A Patchwork Quilt of Pasta

Straight from the land of pasta, comes a journey exploring a traditional filled pasta. While it is not the more well known tortellini, it is just as delicious and versatile. It is tortelli pasta from Romagna, the eastern half of the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Learn all about tortelli in this article, including pairing wine with food, and find an original homemade pasta recipe from one of the Braschi boys, Romagna natives who run the traditional Romagna winery Braschi.

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Natural Wine, Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Natural Wine, Wine and food pairing, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

All About Umami

What is umami flavor? Do you know that it is considered a fifth taste, after sweet, sour, bitter, and salty? In what foods can you find this fifth taste? Can you find umami in wine as well as food? … You may not know that some wines have umami flavors, or that certain wines pair better with umami dishes than others. Discover the flavor of umami and how it interacts with wines in this article.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Put Some Primavera in Your Pasta

We’ve heard the dish Pasta Primavera before, right? Do you know why it’s called primavera?… Spoiler alert, it means spring in Italian, but what does the word primavera come from? Find out in the article and get yourself an authentic trattoria recipe from Italy to make your own sugo for vegetables with pasta, great for pairing with Sauvignon Blanc.

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Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Recipe, Wine, Wine and food pairing, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Making Fresh Pasta with Wild Plants

We might think of nettles as a nasty weed, but it actually has loads of benefits, from to curing ailments, to being a tasty and nutritional food. Find the inner forager in you as we continue to explore backyard-to-table cuisine in this article with a fresh homemade pasta recipe that uses this wild food plant, making it flavorful and healthy. Check out this article to discover nettles tea benefits, get the nettles pasta recipe, find out what sugo to serve it with, as well as natural wine to pair along.

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Natural Wine, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell Natural Wine, Wine, Food Stories Jacqueline Mitchell

Backyard to Table: Foraging and Cooking Straight from the Wild

While farm-to-table is the rage, have you thought about upping it to backyard-to-table?

What wild foods are growing in your backyard, or neighboring fields and woods, that you can add taste and originality to your dishes? And not only - backyard-to-table takes sustainability to the max!

We talked with master forager and vegan chef Beatrice Calia to learn how she cooks with wild foods in her kitchen. Get her tips and tricks in this article.

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Sheila Donohue Sheila Donohue

Foraging for Nature's Wild Treasures

Our food foraging skills out in the wild may be part of our DNA as hunter-gatherers but the skill is lost. Beatrice Calia, a chef turned author, educator and consultant on wild plants took it upon herself to learn one new plant every day so to be able to live her life and livelihood centered on plants around her home in the hills of Bologna. What inspired Beatrice to become a wild food expert? What is there to know? Find out in this article.

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