We’ve started our regular Monday night food and wine routine for 2011 and we are off to a good start. I prepared hachis Parmentier from our new French cookbook. Hachis Parmentier is described by Dorie Greenspan in her cookbook “Around My French Table” as a really good French version of shepherd’s pie. You can look up the details in her cookbook or elsewhere. I stumbled across a blog you might find interesting, eat. live. travel. write. that is celebrating French Fridays with Dorie… check it out.
Our hachis Parmentier was just as pretty as hers and tasted amazing. The dish takes about 3 hours to prepare, but most of the time everything can simmer unattended on the stove. The time investment is very worthwhile. In fact, I used this recipe as a basis to prepare beef stroganoff tonight and that too was wonderful. The recipe calls for Italian sausage in addition to the diced chuck roast. This adds an incredible amount of flavor.
Also, in the stroganoff instead of using sour cream, I used crème fraiche (my new favorite thing). Give it a try, you will love it. I served peas with sauteed shallots and mushrooms on the side.
Dave brought the wine this week, a 2001 Hafner Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The color was a medium dark garnet-iodine, beginning to show some age. The nose was pretty minimal. The flavors tasted of dark fruit, spice and cedar. The tannins were smooth and well integrated. The finish was medium in length. The flavors were elegant and understated, but very pleasant. This wine has aged very gracefully.
I love older wines! Thanks Dave!
