Food Pairings

Gravad Lax (Swedish Cured Salmon)

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  • 2-2 1/2 lbs salmon filet, with skin
  • 4 Tablespoons salt
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup chopped fresh dill
  • Large Ziploc bag

Cut the salmon in half so you have two rather equally-sized portions.  Remove any bones; tweezers are a fine tool!  Mix the salt, sugar, ground pepper, and dill.  Cover one of the filets with the spice mixture and put the other filet on top.  Place stacked filets in Ziploc and seal.  Refrigerate with a weight atop the package.  (Wine bottles work well!)   Turn the filet bag every 8 hours.  After 48 hours, pour out the “juice” to keep the fish from getting too salty.  Serve in thin slices.  (We enjoy it on toast or mini-bagels spread with cream cheese and topped with capers.)

Serve with Cooper-Garrod Chardonnay

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Narsai’s Rack of Lamb, Assyrian

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Serves 4 portions of 3 chops each

You will want 1-1/2 lamb racks, each with 8 to 9 ribs.  Ask the butcher to remove the flap of meat and to French cut the rib bones.

Put into a blender and puree:

  • 1 large onion
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp. basil leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate juice (If pomegranate juice is not readily available, substitute more red wine)

Rub this marinade well into the racks and put the remaining marinade over the racks in a shallow glass or enameled pan. Set to marinate in refrigerator overnight, or at cool room temperature for 6 to 8 hours.  Wipe off excess marinade and roast in 450 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes for medium rare lamb, longer if you like lamb done to a greater degree.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Franc

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(c) 1994 Narsai Davis