October 2013

Grilled Cheese, please with Laura Werlin, Paul Mathew wines and guest chef Crista Luedtke of boon eat & drink and Big Bottom Market.

This October's Foodie Seminar included guest speaker Laura Werlin and each guest received a signed copy of the book.

We started by picking five recipes that were all very different from each other. Each recipe incorporated different cheeses, breads as well as other ingredients. We purchased all the bread from Della Fattoria in Petaluma, one of our favorite bakeries.

With the line up of sandwiches, we offered four different Paul Mathew wines, Chardonnay, Valdiguie, Pinot Noir and Cab Franc. The idea was that every person taste each sandwich with each wine. And they did.

The outcome of pairing preference is always fun and sometimes very surprising.

Double cheddar with Tomato jam - first place pairing Chardonnay. Second place Pinot Noir / tied     
                                                         with Cab Franc. This sandwich was one of the two favorite
                                                         recipes of the evening.

Mozzarella with Proscuitto - First place pairing was Cab Franc. Second place Valdiguie. Although
                                               LW and 2 others preferred the Pinot.

Cheese and cherries -  This sandwich was one of the Favorites of the evening and the pairing was tied
                                  for first place between Valdiguie and Pinot Noir. Great flavors and so fun to pair


Balsamic glazed carrots and Havarti - all or none. This very unusual sandwich was not the favorite 
                                                             and none of us felt it was perfect with any of the wines.

Gorgonzola, Hazelnut and Honey - we had to try it even though we didn't expect the magical pairing.
                                                         Fun sandwich and with additional honey even funner. But pairing
                                                         was limited. Some liked the Cab Franc but many did not.

The greatest thing about Food and Wine is the enjoyment of tasting and discussing the flavors.
We look for to 2014's Mac and Cheese, please with Laura Werlin.