What to Drink with What you Eat

This book will become an indispensable part of the entertaining arsenal of any host or hostess. Rather than relying on the sometimes dubious knowledge of your wine shop staff for recommendations, you can open these pages to find the perfect match for your meal.

If we're lucky, we've had the magical experience where the combination of our food and drink elevates both to a new level. The food is all the more superb and the beverage cannot be surpassd by another. But even if we've had that good fortune, recreating it in other dining experiences has been hit or miss unless you're a sommelier. We hope the meals we serve to our guests are one of the lucky hits where the dining experience is at its peak, Unfortunately, we can rarely be sure.

"What to Drink with What you Eat" seeks to dispel the mystery with answers to some of the most common foods such as beef or desserts, to more puzzling choices such as bitter food and chile peppers. Cuisines as a whole are explored through the underlying spices used in the dominant flavor combinations. The answers are not limited to wine, although many are provided.

The other side of the puzzle is answered as well. If you pick up an interesting bottle of wine, or wonder what would go perfectly with an ale on a hot summer day, you'll find enough suggestions to inspire your cooking.

This book is interesting, educational, and above all else, useful. My only two wishes are that there would be a companion guide to the best labels and vintages for the recommended beverages, and that there was a pocket version to take with me when dining out.