The Wine Lover's Kitchen

Book excerpt: Over 70 recipes that showcase delicious ways of cooking with wine – the magic ingredient. Author Fiona Beckett is the Guardian's wine writer. She is also a cookery writer and a contributing editor to Decanter and Fork magazines and a leading authority on food and wine matching. In this beautifully photographed book, featuring more than 70 delicious recipes, she expands on the idea that cooking with wine is an easy way to make meals special. Included is a detailed introduction to wine, plus a section covering '10 Things You Need to Know About Cooking with Wine'. Each dish also includes a wine pairing to ensure every meal will be a perfect marriage of food and wine. Starting with Soups, Salads & Appetizers, there are recipes such as Warm Scallop Salad with Crispy Pancetta and Parsnip Crisps, Radicchio and Blue Cheese Salad. The next chapter, Pasta and Grains, includes Sticky Pork Mac'n'Cheese and Slow-cooked Ragu. Fish & Seafood has recipes for Moules Mariniéres with Muscadet and Fine Wine Fish Pie. Meat and Chicken features a classic Coq Au Vin and a delicious Duck Casserole with Red Wine, Cinnamon and Olives. Try some of the surprisingly good recipes in the Vegetable Dishes and Pulses/Legumes section such as Caponata and Chestnut, Mushroom and Madeira Tarts. The book rounds off with delightful Sweet Things & Baking with Peaches in Prosecco and Chocolate & Cabernet Pots, then concludes with Sauces, Butters & Relishes.