Helen McGinn I’ve been watching Nigellaah cook on telly this evening. I love her. And, I. Want. Her. Kitchen. I have kitchen envy! How did it come to this? Surely I want the never-ending supply of jewel-coloured cashmere short-sleeved jumpers? Or, at least, the multi-millionaire husband and his art collection. Actually, no. I just want that kitchen. Although, must be said, the faux dinner kitchen supper parties at the end of the half-hour of gastro porn always look so painful. You just know she wants them all to bugger off so she can dive into that fridge in her dressing gown.
This week’s white in the fridge: McGuigan Bin 218 Chardonnay Viognier, 2009, £4.74 on offer, Tesco
I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again. Not all Australian Chardonnay is fat and oaky. In fact, most Australian Chardonnay is not like that at all anymore. Nowadays, expect a fruitbomb. This is one of those: peachy, ripe and full-flavoured. But not oaky. It has got a note of oak but the taste is vanilla rather than oak. It is a delicious wine: a blend of Chardonnay and the infinitely more interesting Viognier, adding a dash of lime flavour. Pair it with a gossip. Or fishcakes.
This week’s red on the side: Vinchio Vaglio, I Tre Vescovi 2007 Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy, £6.07 on offer, Waitrose
Another Italian. I know I was on the Italian red last week but, as I said, once I have a good Italian red I am reminded how wonderful they are and resolve to drink more. This is quite a random one, made from the Barbera grape grown in the Piedmont region in north-west Italy. It is gorgeous: smells of forest floor (yep, I have tested this), sort of wet leaf and bramble-like. In a good way. Smooth, full-bodied, perfumed, seductive. Lumme, it’s Clooney bottled. Again. Just add food: sausage and tomato-sauce pasta is a tried and tested success.
Happy to be home x
You're right, Italian reds (and whites for that matter, think Soave) are fab!
You need to bring your little scribbly-cartoon-thingy over from WP.
Tesco is nearer to me so will have a look at the white.
So glad you came back to blogger. I never got round to re-subscribing when you switched (lethargy is a terrible thing!) but now you're back in my reader!
Vinogirl – will do x
Trish – do you know, it is so much easier over here. Not sure why I tried wp, curiosity I think. So much easier to follow other blogs here. Hooray to be back in your reader!
Ah, but it's not really Nigella's kitchen is it? Isn't it in some studio in Battersea? (or maybe it is the real one now, I haven't seen the latest series).
Piedmontese reds are some of the best I drank in the 9 years we lived in Italy (I know that you can imagine how many I did try!) and the one thing you forgot to mention that they go with – yup, you guessed it, CASHMERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clooney in a bottle is an excellent description, certainly makes me think of warm and luscious, full-bodied… erm, fruit.
And yes, as with the others, glad you're back here. I never did make the switch over to wp, either.
NVG – Yes, you're right, think it is still a pretend one but I'll take it anyway. Her fridge is always full, there is every kind of gadget and a production team to do the washing up x
Villaolivi – yay for Piedmontese reds, shall we make a point of drinking more whilst draped in cashmere? x
ADoC – I feel like I left the party too soon! Luckily the one at wp was crap and there were still people here when I came back. Very pleased you're still here…
I seem to remember a small revolt in culinary circles when it was discovered that the kitchen was a studio. Still, we can all pretend can't we?
EM – exactly!
Hi – have just found your blog, via Troutie. I love Nigellas kitchen too – and my kids spend the whole of her programme guessing what she is going to be devouring in her dressing gown – bizarre creature! Great wine tips, if it wasnt a Monday lunchtime I would be reaching for the corkscrew±
Nigella's terrifying.
Tell me now; am I right in presuming that if Tesco's is snowed in and has run out of milk, that I can substitute with a full-bodied red? 🙂
JHC – thank you, glad you like!
Eh – absolutely…and wine will keep you warmer.