Food Pairings
Cooking Sherry: What It Is and What to Buy Instead
Cooking sherry is salted wine sold near the vinegar, and it isn't the same as real dry sherry. What's in it, when it works, and which bottle to buy.
5 min read
Category
Food Pairings
Food and wine pairing made simple: which wines go with cheese, chicken, salmon, steak, pasta and pizza, why the pairings work, and a good-value bottle to try with each.
Food Pairings
Cooking Wine: What It Is and Why Regular Wine Is Better
Cooking wine is wine with added salt and preservatives, sold near the vinegar. What's in it, how US rules treat it, and when to buy real wine instead.
5 min read
Food Pairings
Marsala Substitute: Best Swaps for Chicken and Desserts
The best Marsala substitute is Madeira, with dry sherry close behind. Here's what to use in chicken Marsala and desserts, with and without alcohol.
5 min read
Food Pairings
Red Wine Substitute: What to Use in Stews, Sauces and More
The best red wine substitute is beef broth with a little vinegar. Grape juice, cranberry juice, red vermouth and strong black tea also work, by dish.
6 min read
Food Pairings
Sangria Recipe: Classic Red Sangria, Ratios and Rest Time
A classic red sangria recipe from Serious Eats, compared with Spanish, Wine Folly and Wine Spectator versions: ratios, fruit, rest time and batch sizes.
8 min read
Food Pairings
Shaoxing Wine: What It Is, How to Use It and Substitutes
Shaoxing wine is an amber Chinese rice wine, not a grape wine. How cooking and drinking bottles differ, how to use it, and what to swap in.
6 min read
Food Pairings
Sherry Substitute: Best Swaps for Cooking, With Amounts
The best sherry substitute is dry vermouth or another dry fortified wine. Here are the alcohol-free options too, including America's Test Kitchen's mix.
5 min read
Food Pairings
White Wine Substitute: What to Use in Cooking, by Dish
The best white wine substitute is broth with a little vinegar or lemon, or dry vermouth if alcohol is fine. Amounts from named cooking sources, by dish.
6 min read
Food Pairings
Wine and Chocolate: What to Pour With Dark, Milk and White
The best wine with chocolate is usually sweeter than the chocolate: Port, Banyuls or Brachetto. What to pour with dark, milk and white chocolate, and why.
7 min read
Food Pairings
Bellini: The Venetian Prosecco and Peach Cocktail
A Bellini is two parts Prosecco to one part white peach purée, created at Harry's Bar in Venice. The ratio, the method and what to do out of peach season.
6 min read
Food Pairings
Kir Royale: Recipe, Ratio and the Story of Canon Kir
A Kir Royale is crème de cassis topped with Champagne; a plain Kir uses dry white wine, traditionally Aligoté. Ratios, the right cassis and its Dijon story.
6 min read
Food Pairings
Mimosa Recipe: Ratios, Best Sparkling Wine and Brunch Tips
A classic mimosa is equal parts chilled sparkling wine and orange juice. Ratios from named sources, which bubbly to buy, and how to serve it for brunch.
6 min read