Pairing wine with Corn on the Cob

Saturday was a perfect fall day.  Farmers Market, espresso, a nice walk, I discovered a wine that pairs with corn on the cob and I cooked butter.  Yes, I cooked butter – not cooked with butter - I cooked butter.   

My dinner was Sole Meunière and it required me to both clarify some butter and brown some butter.  If you have never browned butter then I advise you to do so now and dip a baguette into it - you won’t be sorry.    

The rule is “white with fish”.  Well, that’s not always right.  I chilled a Chardonnay and proceeded to create my Sole Meunière.  A light white fish cooked in clarified butter and served with brown butter and parsley on top (maybe the French think parsley counts as salad in this dish).  The Chardonnay wasn’t quite right for the fish – not acidic enough to deal with the meal that was really butter two ways.  What it did pair beautifully with was the corn on the cob.    

The corn was sweet enough to eat without butter (always my preferred eating) and the Chardonnay was perfect with the sweet corn.  I am buying this wine again for the next time we buy a fresh dozen.   

PROSPECT WINERY THE CENSUS COUNT CHARDONNAY VQA
LCBO 92296 | Price: $ 14.95   

This Chardonnay is a great balance of fruit and acidity. It is lightly oaked (the only way to oak in my opinion) a lovely straw colour with the aromas and taste that will make you think of  the farmers market stand that sells both apples and pears.   

Browned butter - it is so tasty that I am considering starting a new blog dedicated only to browned butter

Kaçaba Unoaked Chardonnay – Local White

I normally tell people that I don’t like Chardonnay. However, that’s like saying that I don’t like small dogs - that statement is too broad.  What I mean is that I don’t like small yappy dogs that never shut up!  Sometimes I think Chardonnay is like that small annoying dog when what I really want is a well-bred, well-trained dog  to sit with me and be quiet.  I could be happy with a dog like that – a quiet miniature dachshund that is pleasant even when company rings the doorbell.

Most Chardonnays are heavily oaked (aged in barrels) and I don’t really like that in a white wine.  I want a crisp white that is subtle, has aromas other than oak, and is fruit forward.

While the winemaker at Kaçaba is not likely to describe their Unoaked Chardonnay as “a well-behaved dachshund that sits peacefully in your lap”, I hope you get the idea.  This is a great wine from an Ontario Craft winery that will be welcome on a warm summer night.

KACABA VINEYARDS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY VQA
LCBO 101469 |  Price: $ 14.95

Winemaker’s notes

A lightly tropical, fruit forward chardonnay with an easy-drinking personality of soft green apple and refreshing pear. Its crisp, flowing flavour makes it ideal for light poultry dishes and white fish.

Ironic – don’t you think

“It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay… isn’t it ironic, don’t you think”.  I just had an English teacher rant to me that this isn’t even ironic.  It’s scary when an English teacher rants.  Chardonnay and Irony – those are things to rant about.

Do you think that finding a black object in a white wine is ironic and not simply a contrast in colours? I am no English teacher (PE degree from York actually) but I “really do think” that there are more ironic things than a black fly in your chardonnay.  

Is it ironic because you wanted to send the wine back but couldn’t come up with a good reason –  planned to use “waiter, what’s this fly doing in my wine” - when suddenly you look down and “Hey everyone, there really is a fly in my wine!” Maybe it’s ironic because you bought an expensive Chardonnay with the lottery money you just won and you’re about to choke on the fly and die (the next day).

What is ironic is that this album has sold 33 million copies worldwide and that I own one of them.

If I can go back to “ironic” for a minute the only really good definition I have ever heard was from my friend Glenn- “The man who poisoned the ribs got run over by the rib truck” – thanks Glenn.

 

Also, I had a good Chardonnay the other day – Kaçaba unoaked Chardonnay (LCBO 101469 $14.95).