Customer Reviews

Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wish that I could have the knowledge of this book by osmosis. To read Evan's insightful comments about a wine, then to read suggestions on food pairings with that wine, is a delight. Additionally, Joyce's ample recipes, some simple, some complex, are well chosen, and a strong plus for adventuresome cooks to buy this book.

This was my favorite pairing book (and there's several books out there!) till recently.

When I saw a copy of "What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine...by Andrew Dornenburg, I realized that Dorenberg had "one-upped" this good text in different ways. One can find the food type, or the dominant spicing or saucing, then work backwards to the wines that are better suited. This is a more intuitive way for most people not well versed in different wines, and is better for me, as I need to match a wine to a fish's sauce more than to the fish. Still it does not diminish my appreciation for Perfect Pairing one bit. Evan Goldstein's Perfect Pairings does acknowledge this importance as well on pages 22-23 and 26-7, however many readers may gloss over this. The book is not as well geared as Dorenberg's in my opinion, for things such as spicy or some Asian or other ethnic foods, your mileage may vary.

Additionally, Dorenberg's book expands one's options with a food to go beyond wine for pairings, to include spirits, beer, etc. This makes more sense, as I just love a good beer with some things (some Asian food, German foods, etc.) that just don't work as well with recommended wines. The drawback (or plus, to some) to Dorenburg's book is that it isn't a text as Goldstein's. Dorenburg's book, after a few brief text chapters, is an extensive alphabetical listing of numerous foods and beverages, followed by their matches, with no explanation present, or felt needed.

I like Goldstein's Perfect Pairings dessert/dessert wine chapter, for example, having a sweet tooth. This section gives a good overview of different wines (late harvest, fortified, sparkling), and then separately talks about tree/stone fruit desserts, creamy and custard desserts, nut and dried-frut desserts, and finally the chocolatee, coffee, and caramel desserts..and recommends appropriate wines for each dessert classification.

Glance through both wine pairing books, and see which book style suits your needs best. I enjoy aspects of both, for different reasons, and appreciate each for it's strengths.

I've been in the wine trade for over five years now and have been in search of a book to recommend to my customers in regards to pairing wine and food. So far, everything that I've come across has seemed flat and dull and generally boring.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Goldstein last week at a trade seminar and picked up a copy of his book, and I must say that I've finally found it, the penultimate pairing guide! He not only goes into which particular wines go with which foods, but goes into the "whys" as well. This makes a tremendous difference, since you can carry that knowledge over to some of the more obscure wines and foods that aren't covered in the book.

Overall, the book is a fantastically fun read in and of itself, and I can't wait to try out some of Joyce's recipes- they look fabulous. Mr. Goldstein has managed to put into words what many of us in the industry love to try and convey- the sheer fun, joy and adventure of pairing food and wine. Salut!

I'm writing this minutes after a sublime experience, drinking Evan Goldstein's recommended fruit-forward Pinot Noir with Joyce Goldstein's incredibly good recipe for Pork Loin Glazed with Pomegranate and Orange. I actually Googled Evan's name because I wanted to send him some fan e-mail -- alas, couldn't find an address. So the least I can do is give the book an excellent review. I learned more about pairing wine and food in the book's first chapter than I have after years of subscribing to wine publications. Two thumbs up!

This is one of the finest books on pairing wines with foods that I have ever come across. Not only does it discuss why certain wines go well with different foods, it actually offers recipes and pairings as proof! I've tried a few recipes, and every one has gone perfectly with their recommendations. There are several more I want to try, and eventually (slowly, because I don't often cook) will, and I am confident that all other recipes will hold up to the few I've tried.

There are plenty of reviews here, and this is an excellent book, one that I would recommend without hesitation. Except, if you only want one book, there's now a better wine (and other drink) pairing book available. That is What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea - Even Water - Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers which expands on the wine pairings to add beer, spirits, coffee, and tea.

PERFECT PAIRINGS: A MASTER SOMMELIER'S PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR PARTNERING WINE WITH FOOD isn't for the casual cook: it's the item of choice for home cooks who are well beyond the basics and seek to understand the underlying logic of pairing foods with the wines available from around the world. Evan Goldstein is a restaurant industry veteran, as is his wife, so PERFECT PAIRINGS comes from a professional's point of view and offers the depth of perception on some twelve grape varietals paired with over fifty recipes by chef Joyce that other books couldn't touch in a wine analysis alone. Explanations of food and wine pairings focus on the elements which bring both to life with excellent pointers on other desirable pairings.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If you don't care that much about photos with recipes, this book is excellent on text. There is a photo section in the middle but personally I like to see at least half of the cookbook with accompanying photos. I gave this as a first anniversary gift to my son and daughter-in-law because they enjoy both wines and foods. She liked it a lot for the information about how to combine dishes and also the sections on history of the wines/regions. It is weak on information about American wines and in some cases it might be difficult to find some of the foreign wines mentioned. I would probably use it more as a reference book than a standard cookbook.

One of the best pairing books ever written. Takes most of the mystery out of the food/wine pairing dilema. Another good one to look at is "What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine".

I puchased five copies for gifts to my family members as information for pairing wines with foods. They all felt that the materials were very helpful. I would recommend this to any one struggling ith wine and food pairings.
John Casey, Northville, MI>

As a studying Sommelier, I find this book lays the foundation for food and wine harmony. It is a wonderful reference and will be helpful for all levels of wine education. Cheers!