Win 6 summer sipping spirits from The Whisky Exchange ...

…and your August update from matchingfoodandwine.com

Those of you who used to get the regular Matching Food & Wine newsletters may have noticed they now come via Substack but they’re still free so I hope you’re all enjoying them. 

Basically they’re to tell you about the current competition (we always have a cracking one) and what I’ve posted on the site over the past few weeks

Matching Food & Wine, as you may know, is free for everyone to use and to keep it that way I’ve set up Eat This, Drink That as a crowdfunder to help meet the running costs. (There’s a team of five of us - not full-time employees, but freelances who contribute their services for between a few hours and days every month) 

If you use the site to look for wine pairings it would be great if you’d take out a paid subscription to ETDT to help meet those costs. In return you get additional benefits by way of recipes, restaurant and wine recommendations plus giveaways and exclusive subscriber discounts. 

Anywaaaay on to this month’s fabulous comp!

Win a summer sipping hamper from The Whisky Exchange

What is a sipping hamper you might well ask? Well it’s a box of tricks that will enable you to make a whole variety of mixed drinks that will expand your repertoire way beyond the standard G & T. It includes six aperitifs and spirits including Tapatio Blanco Tequila, Black Tot Rum,  Nikka Days Japanese whiskey, Barsol Quebranta Pisco, AKER English Rose Aperitif and Tio Pepe Sherry. Each comes with two bottles of a matching mixer that will enable you to make some very cool drinks. (I’m personally LOVING the idea of rum and pineapple soda!)

You can read about each of the products and find out how to go in for the competition here.

Last month’s top wine pairings

My top 3 pairings last month were

Peaches, burrata and white vermouth
This is sooo good. Dead easy too!

Bacchus and coriander salsa
English wine and a feisty salsa? I’d never have expected this combination!

Roast monkfish with girolles and a SIXTY year old Aussie shiraz
At a very posh Penfold’s lunch at the Michelin-starred Trivet in London. Just unbelievable!

Recipes you might want to make

Watermelon, halloumi and lime-pickled red onions
From Gen Taylor’s veggie barbecue book, Charred. So summery

Tomato and tapenade tart
An easy, impressive-looking tart that doesn’t require much cooking

Pizza claminara 
Can you get your hands on some clams? If so you’re going to love this recipe from chef Mitch Tonks

How to cook grouse
Glorious 12th coming up! This is what to do with a grouse if someone gives you one. (Actually they’re more likely to give you several. One wouldn’t go very far.)

Drinks you might want to try …

…especially if you’re not drinking 

Following on from my Guardian column on whether alcohol-free wine has finally come of age, these two from Wednesday’s Domaine are worth trying. (In answer to that question we’re not there yet but the options are getting better all the time.)  

The best wine in cans for a picnic and 

Which wines go best with barbecues
It’s not all about massive reds!

Anyway enjoy your August and if you’re off on holiday I hope you manage to get away without too much hassle! I’m setting off on a three week Scottish road trip shortly so keep tabs on the Friday 5 for my progress! Here’s the last one.

Fiona