PINOT GRIS

Pinot Gris is a white grape. This wine has a quite a bit of color and produces lots of flavor with a soft smooth tone. The grape originates in Burgundy France where it is grown among the Pinot Noir grapes. Pinot Gris is thought to be a mutation of Pinot Noir. While it is grown together it is sometimes difficult at first glance to tell the two apart. Pinot Gris seems to soften Pinot Noir Must when grown together.

This grape is also grown in other areas of France. In Loire it is usually know as Malvoisie. The range of fruit in these wines can vary. Alsace is another famous area, which produces a wine that is dry and rich in flavor. This wine is also known as Tokay.

Other countries include Germany and Italy. These countries actually produce more of this grape than France. In Italy the Pinot Gris grape is known as the popular Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio produces more acidity and is lighter in body than its French counterpart. This grape is grown in the northeastern area of Italy. Fruili produces excellent Pinot Grigio. This grape is also grown in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. In Italy this grape is also used in some of their sparkling wines.

In the United States Pinot Gris is produced in California. Recently there has been increase in producing in Napa and Monterey. Oregon is very successful with Pinot Gris. One of the reasons would be from the similar climate of that of Burgundy France.

This wine pairs well with fish, pasta salads, and light meat dishes. Enjoy it as refreshing wine with dinner or on its own.

Some beers may be ‘dogs’, but Flying Dog is some beer

Many of the monthly brews at The Little Rooster are not entirely new to me. More often than not, the featured beer and I have crossed paths somewhere or other. But this month is different.
Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale, May’s selection at The Little Rooster, was unknown to me and well may be to you, too. It hails from the Flying Dog Brewery in Denver and is one of “a litter” of beers that now can be enjoyed in 25 states.

I found Flying Dog appealing even before I popped the first bottle cap. As I removed a six pack from The Rooster’s well-stocked cooler, I recognized the illustration on the carrier as the handiwork of Ralph Steadman, a British artist who has often teamed up on projects with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

As it turns out, Flying Dog is indeed another collaboration involving Steadman and Thompson, who lives in Woody Creek, CO. Since I’m a fan of Thompson, the author of such timeless classics as “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” and I also happen to love dogs and flying … I was predisposed to savor this brew.
And so I did. In color, it’s bright amber, with a fresh hop aroma. There’s a hint of citrus and floral, but nothing that threatens to detract from the hop experience, which is paramount. Pour a glass and the head will stay with you the whole way, unless you take a lot longer to drink a beer than I do.

This is a pleasant beer to enjoy as spring unfolds. It’s not heavy the way winter brews often are, and it’s nowhere near as light as your typical after-mowing-the-lawn beer. It would be a fine accompaniment for the dish that follows, or for grilled chicken.
By the way, if you like dogs and beer and people who don’t take themselves too seriously, check out www.flyingdogales.com.

Fish meets fennel in this easy grill entree

Most of us have been walking past fennel in our grocery produce aisle for years, if not decades. A few years ago, I decided to buy one of these strange looking, sweet tasting bulbs and figure out what to do with it. Here’s a delightful way to make fennel’s introduction.

Grilled fish with orange-fennel salsa

(4 servings)
5 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons sugar
3 oranges
1 medium fennel bulb, cut into matchstick sized pieces
½ medium size red onion
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 6-to-8 oz. white fish fillets such as sea bass

Whisk 2 tablespoons of oil, vinegar, cilantro, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, ginger and sugar in a medium sized bowl. Cut peel and white pith from oranges and discard. Squeeze out seeds as needed and separate segments, cutting them in half and dropping them into the bowl, being careful not to lose any juice. Add fennel and onion and toss gently. Cover and chill.

Mix 3 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and garlic in glass pie dish. Turn fish in oil mixture to coat. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper and grill over medium high heat for about three minutes per side. Remove to plates. Spoon on salsa and serve.

This same salsa will work well with skinless boneless chicken breasts or pork chops.

Did you know?

Hops are the flowering cones of a perennial vine. They give beer its bitterness, help protect it against spoilage, and allow it to retain its head. There are dozens of varieties of hops, each with their own unique characteristics. Many of the best-known ones come from the Pacific Northwest. Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale has extra hops added during the brewing or maturation process. That’s why this Dog has such a friendly bite.

 

-- Scott Brinckerhoff

Scott Brinckerhoff of Haddam is a freelance writer specializing in business communications. He also brews beer, keeps bees and cooks "seriously." Each issue, he'll provide offbeat comments on our monthly beer, long with a recipe.