A Blind Taste Test and Some Surprising Cheeses

Great wines, foods and wealth of information in Thursday night's Let Party Italian class in the Capri Flavors kitchen. Taught by professional chef--turned wine distributor, Isabelle Sofras Edwards and Capri Flavors' own Raffaele Vuotto, the night was a big success--featuring 6 wines, 4 stunning and hard to find cheeses, 2 spicy meats and a elegant but easy pasta dish--All for just $40 a person

The food was wonderful. Many of the wines--very special. But this first in a series of wine and food paring classes had 4 big stars--

1) The Marzolino goat cheese was robust and delicious--a perfect pairing for it's Chianti Classico partner.

2) The San Felice, Vigorello was a run away winner in the Super Tuscan blind taste test. If you buy one expensive red, this should be it. A lovely vintage from old vines.

3) The Porcini Pasta--Isabelle's recipe was easy, elegant, and rich enough for a a great red wine.

4) And finally, Isabelle herself was a star. After more than a decade as a chef in European kitchens, she is an encyclopedia of Italian food and and wine, a wonderful teacher and a lot of fun in the kitchen. To watch her describe a famous Tuscan white and explain the term "Super Tuscan" click on the video below.



Next Week--the wines and foods of Veneto. On the menu--seafood, some very famous white wines and sparkling prosecco. Isabelle and Raffaele promise Bellinis and lots of other prosecco cocktails so their advice is bring your party hats. After all , Venice pretty much invented the party when it gave the world Carnival.



Go to Capri Flavors to book or call 919 462-9255 for more information.

Best Job in the World?

Isabelle Sofras Edwards may have the best job in the world. A locally based wine distributor specializing in the wines of Greece and Italy, she was opening three lovely Tuscan reds for tasting in the Capri Flavors kitchen one snowy day last week.

Isabelle along with Raffaele Vuotto, son of Capri Flavors owner Costanzo and Chef Titina, will teach a series of food and wine paring classes beginning this week. "Let's Party Italian" highlights Italy's 4 great wine producing regions--beginning with perhaps the most famous-- Tuscany, home of the newly popular Super Tuscans and long-time favorite Chiantis.

Isabelle is an expert in food and wine parings. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she worked as an international chef for more than a decade. "I turned my hobby (wine) into a career and my career into a hobby," she explains.

In last week's tasting a full-bodied red won out. Villa Pillo Borgoforte is a mixture of Cabernet and Sangiovese--the classic grape of Tuscany. It will be a last minute addition into the Thursday night class menu, beating out two baby Super Tuscans that were also very pleasing.

An average of 6 wines will be sampled in each class, along with Italian cheeses and other easy to fix food parings. For more information scroll down for the full menu, click this link http://www.capriflavors.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=74 or call Capri Flavors at 919 462-9255 to reserve your spot. Book this week and there's a special gift certificate promotion going on.

Tuscany -Chianti Menu
(March 4, 6pm)
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pinzimonio Raw Vegetable Appetizer
Sesame Bread
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Carpineto, Vernaccia di San Giminiamo
Pecorino Toscano Chesse DOP "Pientino"DOP
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Castelli del Gravepesa, Chianti Classico
Marzolino Cheese
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San Felice , II Grigio, Chianti Classico Riserva
Pecorino Truffle Chesse
Mixed Cold Cut Meats
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Blind Taste: San Felice Vigorello, Super Tuscan vs Carpineto, Dojaolo Baby Super Tuscan
Tortellini con Crema di Funghi Porcini
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Campobello, Santo Desert Wine
Cantuccini, Almond Cookies