Cab Sav dinner ideas

[rhinopias]

I am cooking for a friends birthday and her husband is suppling the wines....all California Cabernets. I am completely stuck on a few lighter/vegetable courses that would stand up to these bold wines. I need 6 to 7 courses and all my ideas are so rich and heavy. Blue Cheese and Walnut tart w/ a small herb salad, Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates, Coffee and Ancho Chili Brasied Short Ribs w/ Celery Root Potato Mash, all my ideas are running this heavy.

Any ideas on how to lighten up at least 2 courses? Brussel sprouts, Squash?

Jim

[MSRadell]

A winter squash course could go quite well as long as you keep it on the savory side. In my opinion Brussels sprouts would not go well. I know it sounds crazy but you could try going to some kind of crab course utilizing a flavorful sauce to brighten it up. I know you already have a beef course but small individual beef Wellingtons are fairly light and go great with Cabs.

Just try to break out of the mentality that you need heavy courses to go with Cabs and let yourself go. The old saying of Reds for red meat and whites for white meat is a thing of the past and almost everything can be paired with anything if you're creative!

[Doodad]

How about salmon? It holds up very well and is not too heavy. Or even BBQ shrimp.

[MattJohnson]

A winter squash course could go quite well as long as you keep it on the savory side.  In my opinion Brussels sprouts would not go well.  I know it sounds crazy but you could try going to some kind of crab course utilizing a flavorful sauce to brighten it up.  I know you already have a beef course but small individual beef Wellingtons are fairly light and go great with Cabs.

Just try to break out of the mentality that you need heavy courses to go with Cabs and let yourself go.  The old saying of Reds for red meat and whites for white meat is a thing of the past and almost everything can be paired with anything if you're creative!

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I agree. Do the best you can, but once you get stuck, just make good food. Who knows, you might stumble upon a pairing that you'd never think of. I've heard that some white desert wines go great with steaks - who'd think that?

[Abra]

One thing you might try is looking for recipes on the websites of some of the wineries doing the style of cabs you'll be drinking. For example, the Mondavi site has a recipe for pine nut and basil-crusted salmon that they suggest goes with cab sauv.

[rhinopias]

Abra, I had just finished my menu, but what a great idea. Thanks, I'll check it out now.