Count Karolyi Grüner Veltliner & Piri Piri Chicken

Wine Name: Count Karolyi

Wine: Grüner Veltliner 2013
Country: Hungary	Region:  South West
Rating:  Very Good	Price: $12
I recently watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s no reservations, he was in Mozambique and they ate Piri Piri Chicken. What a great show, and a great looking meal, so I just had to try it! To accompany it, I have chosen a Grüner Veltliner to compliment the spicy white meat. Grüner Veltliner is a grape variety synonymous with Austria but is also widely grown in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and is even in certain regions in Hungary, particularly near the Austrian border. The company that makes this wine was founded in 1951 and has a fascinating history through the years of Soviet ruled communist Hungary and expansion in the years following the “fall of the iron curtain”. The name “Count Karolyi” was donated by a Hungarian Aristocrat who was instrumental in creating the Grüner Veltliner brand. The wine is a medium gold color with a slight green tint. The bouquet is relatively mild with a hint of earthiness. The taste is surprisingly dry, somewhat fruity with lemon and lime overtures, an earthy taste, and hints of pepper. It is low on acidity and is an easy drinking wine. It can be drunk on its own and complements white meats, seafood and cheeses.  It would also be a good compliment for Pumpkin Soup and Salmon, we really enjoyed the Count Karolyi product. Piri Piri Chicken is a dish emanating from Africa and Portugal. The Portuguese Settlers were responsible for introducing the Chili Peppers which are called piri-piri in Swahili from which the recipe soon evolved. We were really pleased with this meal; we will definitely be cooking it again. Piri Piri Chicken, Potato & Sweet Potato Ingredients: Piri Piri Chicken ·        Four chicken quarters 3 sprigs of fresh thyme 4 cloves of garlic 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika sea salt freshly ground black pepper olive oil 2 red onions 4 tomatoes 6 fresh chillies 1 bunch of fresh cilantro (Coriander) red wine vinegar extra virgin olive oil Potato’s & Sweet Potatoes 2 Large potatoes 2 Large sweet potatoes  1 teaspoon smoked paprika Preparation and Cooking   Pick the thyme leaves into a pestle and mortar Peel and add 1 garlic clove Add paprika and a pinch of salt. Crush to a paste Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix together with pestle and mortar Baste the chicken with the marinade. Place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350ºF Place a large pan over a high heat. Cut the onions and tomatoes into quarters and place on the hot pan with the chilies and the remaining unpeeled garlic cloves. Grill for 5 to 10 minutes, or until charred all over, turn regularly.  Remove the garlic skins and peel the onions, then add all the vegetables to a food processor. Add dash of red wine vinegar and a good pour of extra virgin olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add a dash of water, if necessary to loosen. Return the pan to a high heat. Add the marinated chicken and sear all over for 8 to 10 minutes, turning regularly. Move to a roasting tray, then place in the oven for 45 minutes, or until cooked through. Alternatively cook on the outdoor grill (Barby). Cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes length ways into quarters. Sprinkle with paprika and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add some olive oil to a baking tray and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until tender and crisp. Serve the chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes with the sauce from the blender for dipping.
Recommendation: I recommend both the wine and the meal, both are well worth trying.

 

Pietra Santa 2011 Sassolino and Shepherds Pie

 
 Wine Name: Pietra Santa 2011 Sassolino

Wine: Red blend
Country: USA	Region:
Rating: Very Good	Price: $14
Sorry we have not been able to release a new blog every week lately, but we have been rather busy. We are doing a follow on from our most recent blog, where we use the leftovers from a roast lamb to make Shepherds Pie. We chose a Pietra Santa 2011 Sassolino red blend from the central coast of California to have with the meal. The Pietrea Santa winery is a family-run winery with a history dating back to 1850’s. The area is noted for distinctive granite and limestone soils, giving the winery its name, which means “Sacred Stone” in Italian. The location is in a small valley inland from Monterey Bay and is influenced by the cooling coastal breezes. The winery produces various wines and is also a producer of olive oils. Going with the Italian theme and the connection to the rocky soils, the name Sassolio means “little stone” in Italian. http://www.pietrasantawinery.com/   The wine is a blend containing 81% the Italian Sangiovese grape and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon which results in a very pleasant and drinkable blend. It is a dark red mixture with a very delicate wooded and earthy bouquet. The earthiness continues through to the taste and creates a complex mix with a very slight hint of oak and strong overtones of cherry and subtle hints of plum. Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional English dish intended to make use of the leftovers from roast meats including beef and lamb. We used this recipe to make a Shepherds Pie from the roast lamb used in our most recent blog. It is a great way to make a quick, easy and delicious meal. It can also be frozen but make sure it is completely defrosted before cooking. Ingredients: Leftover roast meat cut into cubes. Onion Potatoes Baked  Beans (vegetarian) Worcestershire sauce Method: First peel the potatoes, boil, and continue to make into mashed potato. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice onion into thin rings and sauté in some light oil until soft. Place cubed meat in an oven proof dish and splash a little Worcestershire sauce over it (to taste). Cover meat with onions.   Cover meat and onions evenly with baked beans (We recommend Heinz Englash Baked Beans in tomato sauce). Then using a spoon, place mashed potato over the top of the beans. Make sure dish is covered. Place in the oven for 30 minutes. The mixture should be bubbling under the potato. Turn on the broiler (grill) and brown the top lightly so the potato crisps a little. Rating: Very Good. Pairs very well with red meats and tastes particularly well with chocolate so make sure you save some for a little treat at the end of your meal. Available from Specs in Houston.