Sharing the Vineyard Table: A Celebration of Wine and Food from the Wente Vineyards Restaurant

Rating:
Summary: A superbly accomplished addition to any cookbook collection
Review: Carolyn Wente (a winery president) and Kimball Jones (an executive chef) successfully collaborate in Sharing The Vineyard Table: A Celebration Of Wine And Food From The Wente Vineyards Restaurant to share stories and secrets of vineyard living -- and showcase more than one hundred delicious recipes, enhanced with color photography, wine notes, and sidebar commentaries. From Mascarpone Cheesecake with Biscotti Crust and Balsamic Strawberries; Smoked Trout on Potato Chips with Lemon, Fennel, and Dill; and Watercress Soup; to Wild Mushroom Flatbread with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Truffle Oil; Calzone with Artichokes, Westphalian Ham, Ricotta, and Parmesan; and Corn and Smoked Chicken Chowder with Jalapeno-Cilantro Butter, Sharing The Vineyard Table offers dishes in harmony with the seasons. Each recipes, from appetizers to desserts, is accompanied by simple and concise wine notes suggesting the type of wine that will best complement the dish (and why!). A superbly accomplished addition to any cookbook collection Sharing The Vineyard Table is enriched for the family chef or casual gourmet browser with are sidebars of Wente and Jones' personal refections on the farming life of the vineyard, cooking tips, a detailed index, entries for 36 wine varietals followed by a list of all the recipes suggested for pairing, and a list of mail-order resources.

Rating:
Summary: A Divine Partnership. . .
Review: Carolyn Wente and Kimball Jones have created a masterful book for people who truly love to cook for family and friends. This cookbook sets the new standard for those of us who have cooked for many years, have collected (and divested themselves of) hundreds of cookbooks and who want a sophisticated, yet easy to prepare, palette of seasonal menus. The wine and food pairings are exceptional, the balance of flavors heaven-sent, the cooking instructions are intelligent and conversational -- they really understand the home kitchen. My "audience" has raved and I have a new enthusiasm for cooking that I thought I'd lost. This book is a necessity, not a luxury. A comfort just to read. Thank you, Wente Vineyards.

Rating:
Summary: A Divine Partnership. . .
Review: Carolyn Wente and Kimball Jones have created a masterful book for people who truly love to cook for family and friends. This cookbook sets the new standard for those of us who have cooked for many years, have collected (and divested themselves of) hundreds of cookbooks and who want a sophisticated, yet easy to prepare, palette of seasonal menus. The wine and food pairings are exceptional, the balance of flavors heaven-sent, the cooking instructions are intelligent and conversational -- they really understand the home kitchen. My "audience" has raved and I have a new enthusiasm for cooking that I thought I'd lost. This book is a necessity, not a luxury. A comfort just to read. Thank you, Wente Vineyards.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect marriage of wine and food
Review: The perfect book for those who love good food and wine.This book is a wonderful blend of exquisite receipes and wine pairings. It is a joint effort of Carolyn Wente of Wente Winery in Livermore, Ca, and Executive chef extraordinare, Kimball Jones. Each contributes thoughts about the pairings of wine and food and there are receipes from both authors. The receipes are reasonable and anyone with even moderate skill should be able to produce wonderful meals. The real joy of this book is that the receipes are arranged by season to take advantage of the best availble produce in the area(added bonus, usually found in abundance and at reasonable prices!), in the finest French tradition. This is a sensual cookbook,both visually and in the wealth of food and wine knowledge that allow even the casual cook to prepare and serve gourmet quality food. An absolute must for anyone who loves good food!