Wine Mondays: Simple Wine Pairings and Seasonal Menus

Wine Mondays, by Frank McClelland and Christie Matheson, features 130 recipes—including Porcini Ravioli with Pea Pesto, Pan-Roasted Black Bass with Shrimp Flan and Stir-Fried Shiitakes, Warm Leeks with Goat Cheese and Spring Herb Vinaigrette, and Chocolate Hazelnut Tortes—organized into four-course pairing menus by season, with accompanying wine notes and suggestions. All of the recipes come from the popular Wine Mondays program at McClelland’s Boston restaurant L’Espalier—a weekly event created to make food and wine pairing accessible, fun, and affordable. Likewise, the information in Wine Mondays is informative without being overwhelming, and two beautiful full-color photo inserts show that these delicious meals look as good as they taste.

A thorough introduction welcomes budding wine connoisseurs to the rewarding art of pairing great wine with the perfect food and also offers many of McClelland’s cooking tips, which have helped L’Espalier earn its well-deserved reputation for delicious and inviting cuisine. Since the menus are organized by season, a perfect combination can be found for any time of year. McClelland and Matheson emphasize the importance of individual taste and preference while also encouraging readers to be adventurous and try something new. Their only hard-and-fast rule: Drink what you like, and enjoy it!