What dinner to pair with nice port?
I'm making dinner for 4 and someone is bringing along a very nice port to drink with dinner. Any ideas/tips/hints/recipes for this dinner? I'm planning to make an appetizer, main course w/ side, and dessert. I'm up for a challenge, but nothing TOO intense in terms of difficulty and time. And, of course the easier the better! After all, I am a college student with a budget and somewhat limited supply of cookware.
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7 Comments:
HHHhhhmmm... I'm certainly no expert, but it seems to me that port is pretty much for dessert and/or AFTER dinner, not with dinner.
Feel free to set me straight... don't much care either way as I no longer drink port due to a particularly unpleasant experience that is seared into my brain.
;-x
LoCo at 1:33PM on 02/29/08
As I understand it, LoCo is right. Port is generally served after dinner. How about a lovely soup or stew, a salad, some good bread, followed by that port with some nice cheese and fruit? No fancy cookware required! Perhaps you could go to your local cheesemonger (or the cheese specialist at your favorite grocery or supermarket) for some advice on cheese(s) that wouldn't dent your budget.
baboo at 1:52PM on 02/29/08
Yes, port is--so far as i am aware--most traditionally consumed (especially by my father) with cheese and perhaps some grapes after dinner. So I'd recommend that whatever you serve, you make sure people have room, and, importantly, that they didn't have too much wine with the meal.
renzata at 2:26PM on 02/29/08
If cheese is to heavy a dessert to have with your port, just put out a bowl of nuts and some fruit. Sounds like y'all will have a good time!
Library Lady at 5:14PM on 02/29/08
Port is a fortified wine. Very concentrated flavors; tawnies seem sweeter than the ruby varieties; lots of caramel, toffee, figs, dried fruit flavors, with rubies having more bright fruit notes.
Port is generally sweet which is why you see it mostly after dinner.
However, there is a white port which can range from sweet to very dry.
Depending on your type of port, you may need to decant.
Pre-dinner serve with a pate de foie gras, any blue cheese, strong cheeses have an affinity for the sweet counterpoint of port. Or save the cheese course for after dinner & serve with figs and other fruits.
Generally would NOT recommend port with the entree.
wookie at 5:23PM on 02/29/08
oh and it goes great with chocolate
wookie at 5:24PM on 02/29/08
Port? Truly dessert only. I alway enjoy a Tawny after a fantastic meal. Just me, maybe, but oooohhhh how yummy!
crazyspice at 10:29PM on 02/29/08