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Food & Wine Recipes

• Wine Pairing & Suggestions
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• Napa Valley Recipes
• Seasonal Recipes
  • Corn Bisque
  • Figs with Chevre and Hazelnuts
  • Go-To Buffet Menu
  • Grilled Shrimp with Orange-Chardonnay Mojo Glaze
  • Lemon-Garlic Shrimp
  • Mini Maple Turkey Panini with Riesling-Cranberry Relish
  • Pinot Noir Pork Bruschetta
  • Prosciutto with Grissini
  • Riesling-Scented Pear Tartlets with Vanilla Cream
  • Roquefort Mousse with Vegetables
  • Rosemary-Garlic Beef Bouchette
  • Sauteed Winter Vegetables in a Crisp Wanton Cup
  • Veal (or Turkey) Polpettes (Meatballs)

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Seasonal Holiday Recipes

Holiday Entertaining on a Budget

With the holidays fast approaching, many people are looking forward to entertaining friends and family but are also searching for practical ways to stretch their entertaining dollar by incorporating easy yet elegant food and wine ideas.

Celebrity Chef Jon Ashton – the food correspondent for "The Daily Buzz," the in-house chef for Relish magazine and a regular on "The Today Show" – has developed a new and inspired "small bite" (appetizer) menu for this holiday season. Each recipe pairs beautifully with five popular wine varietals. This delicious small bite buffet only sounds and looks like a chef prepared it! Each recipe can be ready in no time at all, and all of them contain easy-to-find ingredients that won’t break the budget. Serve them all or incorporate a few into your favorite holiday menu. Your guests will thank you!

Mirassou "Small Bites" Holiday Menu

• Go-To Buffet Menu
• Grilled Shrimp with Orange-Chardonnay Mojo Glaze
• Mini Maple Turkey Panini with Riesling Cranberry Relish
• Pinot Noir Pork Bruschetta
• Rosemary-Garlic Beef Bouchette
• Sauteed Winter Vegetables in a Crisp Wonton Cup

Chef Jon Ashton and David Mirassou's Tips for Hosting a Memorable and Affordable Holiday Celebration

• To stay within your budget, choose one or two of your favorite wine varietals. We like to offer guests both a red and a white – and then pair them with special holiday recipes that are both beautiful and delicious.
• Be creative in how you display the food and wine. Try platters of varying heights, and accent food with fresh herbs. This extra effort takes only minutes – but really makes the difference between nice and spectacular.
• Bring out your best dishes, cloth napkins, and wine glasses – you'll help the environment by not using disposable products. If you don't have enough, borrow some from a friend or family member. Mixing patterns keeps things interesting, plus your table will sparkle with the collection.
• Try choose a warm color scheme, such as reds or maroons, deep greens and golds – it's cold outside!
• Download or create your own custom mix of holiday tunes. Music sets the tone, puts everyone in a good mood and doesn't break the bank.

Read more about Chef Jon Ashton and his exciting culinary career!