Which do you prefer with your prawns , beer or wine?
I recently received this book for review. Written by Marnie Old, an award winning sommelier and Sam Calagione, brewer and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery it approaches the question of serving wine or beer with food.
I would say it is aimed at the younger market. Specifically those people just discovering wine and wanting to know more about pairing alcohol with food. Sometimes beer works better and this book will help you understand when that is.
I personally didn't like the style of writing but I'm sure that's an age thing. At 256 pages it covers everything you need to know. From how beer and wine are made to how to read labels, understanding styles and finishing with ideas on hosting a beer/ wine tasting party. The final section includes recipes complete with a recommended beer and wine to complement the dish.
I confess I have not read the entire book cover to cover, I just don't have time for that. However it is one of those books you can dip in and out of as you please...or as you are plannning your menu and looking for appropriate matches.
Before I was married I hung out with a group which included a couple of Greek boys. Their family owned a large fishing company so seafood was often part of our weekends. Every Saturday we would gather at someones apartment and feast on prawns with rye bread washed down with lager beer. Back then it was the fashion to add a dash of Rose's lime juice to our beer. Now days you just stick a quarter of lime into the beer bottle neck.
The book features a recipe for Spicy Gulf Shrimp and has been paired with a rose and a malt beer.
Over the weekend I recreated the prawn lunch of my past. Only this time I added a bottle of wine to the table to see if I would prefer the prawns with wine. The only cold white I had was a De Bortoli Windy Peak Viognier which was okay , but I think a semillon or sauvignon blanc would have been better.
The beer was my preferred drink - a Grand Ridge Brewery Natural Blonde. The slight citrus taste complemented the prawns perfectly. I'm finding I enjoy beer more and more in the warmer climate where we now live.
If you want to know the difference between a prawn and a shrimp it is here.
Book He Said Beer She Said Wine
Authors Marnie Old and Sam Calagione
Publisher DK
RRP US$25 CA$28
