Classic Pairings for the Veggie Soul: Pairing Five

Our resident herbivore Ellen Clifford is back, but instead of discovering the perfect shower wine (each to their own), she searches for the perfect veggie alternative to popular meat and fish focused food and wine pairings. Throughout this series, Ellen breaks down the components of classic dishes and offers vegetarian alternatives that echo the flavors, textures and acidity that make them pair so well with certain wines. Enjoy this last installment of Ellen's veggie twist on classic pairings! In Part 1 , Ellen notes that no culinary combination can come close to surpassing French fries and rosé, but nevertheless offers the first of her wine orientated vegetarian recipes, a simple egg based appetizer inspired by oysters and paired with Muscadet . In Part 2 , Ellen shares a biscuit and cherry preserves alternative to foi gras with Sauternes . Part 3 replaces steak with Mini-Tortilla Béarnaise and pairs it with Cabernet . Part Four swaps spaghetti and meatballs with chickpea pomodoro to pair with Chianti . Read on for Ellen's fifth and final pairing and veggie take on lobster and Chardonnay. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLASSIC PAIRING INFLUENCE #5: LOBSTER AND CHARDONNAY This is all about butter and acid in my opinion. Buttery lobster, buttery and just-acid-enough chard. How about Hasselback potatoes, but with Okinawa purple sweet potatoes? And toss a small salad of arugula and lemon juice on the side. You’ll feel better about the butter. Actually, I always feel good about butter but I hear moderation is a thing. Veggie solution: Hasselback potatoes Recipe: • purple Okinawa sweet potatoes • butter butter so much butter • salt • pepper • baby arugula • lemon This is almost not a recipe. Preheat the oven to 455 degrees Fahrenheit. Melt a bunch of butter and stir in a little salt and pepper. Cut very thin slices into the potatoes, not quite all the way through the potato. Or as many potatoes as you wish to make. Brush the butter over and in the crevices between the slices. Place on a baking tray and bake 40-50 minutes, giving a periodic basting with butter. Feel free to serve with yet more butter. In the meantime give the baby arugula a squirt o lemon and a grinding of pepper and serve on the side. Feel free to use your hands to rip the slices of potato off and dip into extra melted butter. Stab a bit of arugula on the fork to get a nice spicy punch. Swill the Chard. Get greasy. Get freaky.

Rijckaert

Arbois Chardonnay 2015

Meg Herring

9.0

Creamy mouthfeel, fresh acidity, and notes of lemon, almond, pear, candied ginger, chamomile, and salted butter. 🤤 Has a few more years left in it. — 7 years ago

Dennis, P and 16 others liked this

Hubert Lamy

En Remilly Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Chardonnay 2015

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A great vintage and stupidly good with Hedy’s Melted Racklette Confit Potatoes with smoked olive oil. What a pair!!!

If you enjoy this young, over chill and decant one hour. It needs it and it vastly improves.

Hedy is our good friend and is a chef who would earn 1-2 Michelin Stars should she choose to open a restaurant but, wishes not to do. Check out Hedy’s Pop Up Dinner business @plate&bottle on Facebook.

January 22nd notes apply. — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

Douglas, Julie and 30 others liked this

Domaine Gérard Thomas

Les Chenevottes Chassagne - Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2015

Mike Mayer

9.0

Ringing in 2019 with steak and lobster tonight. Our first wine is a slight departure from the types of wines we normally drink. This Chassagne-Montrachet has a very nice nose with notes of lemongrass, pears and fresh made bread. Wonderful acidity coats your mouth to bring on lots of citrus and melon flavors. A very crisp and clean wine that I really like. — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Lisa, Sharon and 5 others liked this

Domaine William Fèvre

Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2010

Thomas Sorbo

9.4

Excellent with cold lobster claws appetizer! — 7 years ago

with Jack, Grant and 1 other

Paul, Severn and 1 other liked this

Paul K Sorbo

How good is the Les Clos and with Lobster no less - fantastic!

Del Dotto Vineyards

Cinghiale Vineyard Chardonnay

Lauren Young

9.0

Just enough oak and butter to be balanced and delicious - with Maine lobster roll at Piazza del Dotto — 8 years ago

Michel-Schlumberger (Benchland Wine Estate)

Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2014

Mike Smith

9.3

Had this with an asparagus quiche and arugula salad. Outstanding. Told the guy at Specs in Dallas to find a great Chard without butter, balanced, and reasonable price. He found it. Great refreshing wine from the first pour. — 8 years ago

Severn liked this

François Mikulski

Goutte d'Or Meursault 1er Cru Chardonnay 2012

Ron Siegel

9.2

So good! Lots of lemon lime, mineral, saline with bracing acidity. — 7 years ago

Ira, Riddley and 7 others liked this

Amigos de las Bodegas

Anima de Raimat Costers del Segre Chardonnay Blend 2017

Zach Jindra

9.1

Deep straw/gold all the way to the edge
Grilled pineapple, apricot, tangerine, canned pear, peppery arugula, salty brininess
🍋, Crisp green apple, jackfruit, white flower, doughy yeastiness, big salinity, a touch of oxidative nutiness, big acid, great depth of fruit that spans from underripe to ripe. The whole gammet of ripeness the pallet. Just a touch of phenolic bitterness.

This was delicious. Enjoyed with super super awesome mirepoix braised chicken over mashed potatoes and chicken gravy. Great pairing. — 7 years ago

Paul Croses

Viré-Clessé Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay 2016

Ellen Clifford

8.8

Made to go with hasselback potatoes and it worked especially when potatoes got spritzed with lemon which is to say this is rich and mineral, tropical yet maritime. Is this Chardonnay an ocean? It contains multitudes. Not saying it’s my favorite just that it is interesting and complex and worthy of attention. — 7 years ago

David, Ira and 12 others liked this

TheSkip

Love hasselback!

Ellen Clifford

@TheSkip meeee too!

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015

Jeff Ball

9.2

Green apples, lemon and oak; pleasing, pale yellow color- a nice compliment to my lobster tails. — 8 years ago

Château de Villars Fontaine

Clos du Château Chardonnay 2008

Rick Riddle

9.6

From the first breathe, this aged beauty reminds me of bananas at its peak. The banana layered cake with marzipan rushes onto the palate adding golden raisins, lemon along the journey with a lingering finish of a aciditic, slate minerality. This aged French full bodied beauty evolved when paired with a swordfish with parsley, capers, and arugula salad. A 10 year White Bourgogne at its peak!
Surprisingly Priced around $29.
96 Tipsy Grapes — 8 years ago

Dawn liked this

Linguist Estates

Paso Robles Chardonnay 2015

Christy Fitzgerald

9.0

Wow! Wow! Wow! It has been quite some time since my husband and I had a well balanced smooth Chardonnay that had the complexity this wine has. The Linguist Estates Chardonnay used partial malolactic acid fermentation to make this wine roll across your tongue perfectly. They Nailed this wine! Beat Chardonnay we have had in years!!!! Very complex but balanced with lingering flavors of hazelnuts, dried apricots and dried fruit flavors . We paired it with halibut, shrimp, arugula and jasmine rice. Worked perfectly!!!!! — 8 years ago

Neal liked this

Domaine Bachey-Legros

Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay 2015

Kimberly Anderson

9.0

Scents of Lemon pith and fresh almonds. Petrol, lemon, wet stones, and a kiss of oak. Lovely mouth feel to this wine. Finishes crisply. — 7 years ago

Ryan, Daniel P. and 29 others liked this

Arnot-Roberts

Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

Bryan Kesting

9.3

Burgundian in style. Lemon on the palate. Very mineral driven and lots of tension. I would like to see what this is like in a few years. — 7 years ago

Shay, Mark and 9 others liked this

Paul Hobbs

Edward James Estate Chardonnay 2016

Eric L.

9.4

This is a really lovely, balanced Chardonnay. Nice lemon curd and pastry notes. — 7 years ago

Shay, Kirk and 30 others liked this

P A

@Eric LaMasters Cheers 🍷

Billy L.

@Eric LaMasters -Nice view! Aloha!

Eric L.

@P A @Billy L. Cheers and Aloha!

Domaine Clos de la Bonnette

Légende Bonnetta Condrieu Viognier 2016

Min Liu

9.0

Flavor explosion, but smooth and well-balanced. Viognier, but to me this is what Chardonnay ought to be. Paired with boiled lobster, worked well. In love with Condrieu right now. — 7 years ago

Domaine Paul Pernot et Ses Fils

Grands Vins de Bourgogne Puligny-Montrachet Chardonnay 2014

Chris Grimm

9.0

Lemon, oak, wet stone. Love the mouthfeel--velvety chocolate milk texture. Paired with lobster in tarragon sauce, which were great together. White Burgundy always reminds me of melting snow in the spring. — 8 years ago

Keith liked this

River Road Vineyards

Double Oaked Chardonnay 2016

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Bright gold in the glass. Abundant nose of baked quince and spices. Echoed on the rich full-bodied palate with butterscotch and a slim but sturdy backbone of acidity. Priced low enough for fried chicken. Built voluptuous enough for boiled lobster. Enjoy with either or anything in between. — 8 years ago

Laura and Paul liked this