Saturday, September 12th

First Course
Mixed greens with Cider Vinaigrette, crumbled Dimoc Cheddar, and toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Main Course
Baked Sirloin under Champagne Caramelized Onions

Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Broiled Stuffed Tomato

Dessert Course
Homemade Bread Pudding

Wine Pairings: The flavors of autumn are upon us, and so, in the spirit of the season, I have included my favorite fall flavors, making this week's menu very easy to pair!

I am increasingly a fan of the malbec, and it's slight tartness will pair very well with the cider vinaigrette in the salad, and be offset quite nicely by the cheddar. If you're not sure, go smokey (i.e. cabernet) or peppery (shiraz), though I might still stay with a nice light white (gewurtztraminer or pinot grigio) for this one. A chardonnay will do very well with this menu, too, especially one with pronounced vanilla notes to compliment the caramelized onions.

Beer Pairings: Oh, man, it's my favorite beer season! So many beers were produced for celebrations at this time of year, and "mein lieblings" (my favorite) is the Oktoberfest style. Toasty, nutty, passing hints of hoppiness. . . it's magical sometimes. Try any Oktoberfest offering at this time of year and you can be assured of a decent experience, but make special note of the August Schell Brewing Company' offering; it's a sure-fire hit http://www.schellsbrewery.com/home.php. Anyway you find it, grab some and enjoy around a nice campfire or a table with some fresh-baked bread.