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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 9 April 2021
kilkennyobserver.ie
Food & Drink
Dine Me Come
With
The nine styles of wine
Chicken chasseur in no time at all Prep: 5 mins Cook: 20 mins Serves 4
AS diverse as wine is, most bottles can be categorised into nine different styles.
SPARKLING WINE
A classic in a flash, you can also use beef. Either way it’s a winner.
If you already love sparkling wine, give yourself a pat on the back for your exquisite taste. This wine first came about in France and is synonymous with the region of Champagne. Sparkling wines are the most technically challenging and time intensive wines made in the world. Champagne is often too price restrictive, so instead, keep your eyes peeled for Brut-level sparklers (ie. not sweet) like Cava or Prosecco.
INGREDIENTS • 8 rashers streaky bacon, chopped into large pieces • 4 chicken breasts, cut into large chunks • 200g pack baby button mushroom • 1 tbsp plain flour • 400g tin chopped tomato with garlic • 1 beef stock cube • dash Worcestershire sauce • handful of parsley, chopped
LIGHT-BODIED WHITE WINE
These light easy-drinking dry white wines are some of the most-sold wines in the world (even if red wines get more attention). Light whites are like the ‘beer of wine’ and, for this reason, they are perfect to drink with most foods. Some of these wines are perfect for savoury lovers (like Sauv. Blanc and Grüner) with green herbal flavours of gooseberry and bell pepper. Wines that fit into this category include Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio) and Sauvignon Blanc but they also include many lesser known wines like Grüner Veltliner, Albariño and Soave. Look for a wine from a cool climate region (imagine the places with a rainy month of June). Cool climates produce some of the best examples of this light, zesty style.
METHOD STEP 1 • Heat a shallow saucepan and sizzle the bacon for about 2 mins until starting to brown. Throw in the chicken, then fry for 3-4 mins until it has changed colour. Turn up the heat and throw in the mushrooms. Cook for a few mins, stir in the flour, then cook until a paste forms. STEP 2 • Tip in the tomatoes, stir, then crumble in the stock cube. Bubble everything for 10 mins, splash in the Worcestershire sauce, stir through the parsley, then serve with mash or boiled rice.
Quick and easy ... and tasty tiramisu
INGREDIENTS • 3 tsp instant coffee granules • 3 tbsp coffee liqueur (or Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence) • 250g tub mascarpone • 85g condensed milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 4-6 sponge fingers • 1 tbsp cocoa powder METHOD STEP 1 • Mix the coffee granules with 2 tbsp boiling water in a large jug and stir to combine. Add the coffee liqueur and 75ml cold water. Pour into a shallow dish and set aside.
STEP 2 • Make the cream layer by beating the mascarpone, condensed milk and vanilla extract with an electric whisk until thick and smooth. STEP 3 • Break the sponge fingers into two or three pieces and soak in the coffee mixture for a few secs. Put a few bits of the sponge in the bottom of two wine or sundae glasses and top with the cream. Sift over the cocoa and chill for at least 1 hr before serving.
HANDY RECIPE TIPS USES FOR SPONGE FINGERS Sponge fingers make an ideal base for trifles too. Use leftovers in a super-quick version: pour a little syrup from any canned fruit over the fingers to soak them, then top with cream and the fruit from the can. Prep:15 mins plus one hour chilling Serves 2 Condensed milk is the
secret to this super snappy Italian dessert. Coffee and chocolate are a classic combo, simply layer them up and enjoy
STORING LEFTOVER CONDENSED MILK Once opened, the remaining condensed milk can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to three months.
FULL-BODIED WHITE WINE
Full-bodied white wines are perfect for red wine lovers because of their rich smooth taste with subtle creaminess. What makes them different than light white wines usually involves special winemaking techniques including the use of oak-aging, (just like aged whiskeys, wine becomes smoother with barrel ageing too). The classic choice for this wine is Chardonnay and particularly Chardonnay from a warmer climate (like California, Spain or Italy). Beside Chardonnay, another great option in this style is Viognier.
AROMATIC (SWEET) WHITE WINE
Aromatic grapes are some of the oldest wine varieties in the world. In fact, Cleopatra is noted for her love of Muscat of Alexandria from Greece – a lovely rich aromatic white wine. These wines have explosive, almost perfumed, aromas that spring out of the glass into your nose. They can be either dry or sweet, but most will taste a touch sweet due to all those perfumed aromas. There are many great aromatic wines to try, and most are shockingly affordable. A few examples of these include Moscato d’Asti, Gewürztraminer, Torrontés (great if you like a more dry style), and Riesling. * To be continued in next edition
