Need some inspiration for a romantic meal this Valentine’s Day (or any old day)?  Here are four, simple-to-make dishes along with wine pairings that are sure to show your loved one(s) how much you care.

• Savory Cheese Tartlets with Blackberries paired with  La Marca Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco ($12)
• Cream of Asparagus and Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese Soup  paired with  2007 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Pinot Noir ($65)
• Boeuf en Croûte (Beef Wellington)  paired with  2006 Stag’s Leap Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
• Simple Greek Yogurt and Berry Tart  paired with  2008 Heron Hill Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ($18)

BONUS – breakfast:  Strawberry and Nutella-Stuffed Crepes

Whichever dish you decide to prepare for your loved one(s) this Valentine’s Day, I hope your meal is paired with love.

Cheers,

Veronique

Domaine Pascal Cotat

The pale green color of this wine in the glass is a little deceiving to what this rich wine tastes like.  On the nose, it’s an explosion of tropical fruit.  In the mouth, it’s opulent with juicy grapefruit, lime and papaya. Nice mineral levels that complement the lushness of this Sancerre. This wine has a 14.5% alcohol level and can improve with some cellaring.

Style: White

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Loire Valley, France

Around $50

Celebrate National Wear Red Day® on February 3, 2012.

 Heart disease is still the #1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.  This means mothers, sisters, wives, and friends are dying at a rate of one per minute.  In fact, in the time it takes you to read this, another woman will die from heart disease.

Each year on the first Friday of February, thousands of hospitals, small businesses, multinational corporations, schools and individuals “Go Red” to help raise crucial awareness in the fight against heart disease in women.

Let’s do our part to show support and raise awareness!

Veronique

Dark ruby in the glass, this Merlot offers a ripe cherry nose with some earthy notes.  In the mouth, it’s a combination of dark berries with some chocolate undertones.  The finish is uber dry and lovely.

This wine could really use some breathing time and decanting for a good 30 minutes to help open it up.

Nice Merlot, especially at this price point.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Merlot

Region: Sonoma, California

Around $20

I take no credit for this BBQ beyond buying the cookbook and trying it.  It’s the legendary BBQ sauce by Joe Beef restaurant in Montreal, Canada.  Without exaggerating, I want to bathe in this stuff, it’s that good.  Sweet, spicy, full of depth and simple to make.  This BBQ sauce would be great over grilled chicken or ribs and combined with pulled pork for an amazing sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Coca Cola
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¼ cup cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 1 Tbsp. Sriracha
• 1 tsp. ground coffee
• ½ tsp. each salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine all the ingredients and cook for 30 minutes, stirring a few times.

Notes:  Sauce keeps for up to two weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

I’m excited to be able to support this very worthy cause to fight hunger while getting some super deals in the process.

About 3SquareDeals:

3SquareDeals, Where Deals Make a Difference is brought to you by our friends at JerseyBites.com, a website dedicated to delivering the latest news on all the culinary experiences New Jersey is dishing out.

When you take advantage of the great offers on 3SquareDeals, you are helping raise funds that will go directly to fighting hunger in New Jersey. No other deals program can make that claim!  In addition to supporting the three major Food Banks, we will also be spotlighting smaller hunger relief organizations for special “Deal Weeks” throughout the year.

It’s obvious that everyone today is looking to save money. So, what better way to raise money than through offering consumers valuable deals redeemable at local restaurants and gourmet specialty stores?  Saving while you’re sharing – that’s what we call a perfect equation.

How Much Goes to the FoodBanks?

After we split the total revenue from the deal with the merchant, 3SquareDeals will donate 10% of its revenue to the FoodBanks. The potential to raise tens of thousands of dollars for hunger relief could become a reality once we are serving all of New Jersey.

How Can You Help?

Simple, keep an eye out for deals that make sense for you and buy one.  Share our website and each deal with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, through email, and so on.

Kudos to the Jersey Bites team for launching such a win-win program.  Sign up for the program at http://www.3squaredeals.com

Cheers,

Veronique

This will be the second year that we catch the Big Game at NJ Bar & Grill in Mine Hill, NJ.  Not only is it a fun crowd, the staff of the popular Morris County bar feeds us a dish before the game, during halftime AND during each quarter!

$16.99/person – $8 pitchers of Bud or Bud Light

* Platter of chicken chips for the table at the start of the game
* 1st quarter: Choice of either homemade chili or soup of the day
* 2nd quarter: Choice of platter: spinach & artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped chicken with jalapeno and BBQ sauce, nachos (buffalo chicken or chili)
* 3rd quarter: Choice of one per person: penne a la vodka, fish n’ chips, blackened burger with blue cheese topping, pulled pork sliders
* 4th quarter: Assorted dessert platter (one per table)

PLUS – 6′ sub served at halftime

Reserve by February 1st at 973.989.1999 and join us for all the fun.

NJ Bar & Grill – Mine Hill, NJ (100 Randolph Ave., Mine Hill, NJ 07801)

Cheers,

Veronique

Nicole’s 10 is a restaurant in Randolph, NJ that offers casual dining in an upscale atmosphere.  Read my review as published by Jersey Bites.

Cheers,

Veronique

Yesterday, Jersey Bites published an article I wrote about the pros and cons of the new wine reform bill that passed this week in the Garden State.

Here is a link to the article.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Veronique

Me on my 3rd birthday

Today, I turn 40 years-old.  I come to this milestone with satisfaction, both personally and professionally.  To keep this post food and wine-focused, I’ll reminisce about some birthday traditions and memorable birthday meals I’ve cherished over the years.

When I was growing up in Quebec, my mom would often make my sister and me crepes for our birthday breakfasts.  The first crepe would have our first initial “stamped” into it with her spatula and we thought that was awesome.  When I got a little older, my special birthday dinner became a stuffed beef tenderloin with peppery sauce and mashed potatoes.  It’s still no doubt a favorite of mine, when fixed by mom.  Another birthday tradition when I was little, was to have my grandma make me a birthday chocolate cream pie.  Yea, no cake, always this mile-high pie that I often still crave.

Now that I live in the New York metro area with no family around to help celebrate, my guy always plans a special night out in Manhattan.  The restaurant is always kept a secret with me getting clues every few days as to the location or perhaps chef, as the big night gets closer.  What fun!!  Over the years, we’ve dined at Daniel, Bouley, Nobu and others that are foodie favorites.

This year, my girlfriends from Florida flew up to help celebrate the big 4-0 with me and some of my friends.  We I say that “we” celebrated, I mean that the two of them celebrated the fact that I’m no longer in my 30s and have FINALLY joined them in the 40s.  As we always do when they come visit, we had a foodie weekend with tons of diet-unfriendly grub.  I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.  Did you see the chocolate cream pie they made me that I posted a few days ago!??

I look forward to what’s to come in this new decade.  Onwards and upwards!

Veronique