The book offers specific beer and wine pairings for dishes from foie gras to french fries, as well as a primer on how to do your own pairings, useful tools to help you demystify wine and beer, and even dinner-party recipes (with pairings, of course).
The message: If you're in the habit of drinking only wine or beer with food, think outside the box — or bottle. We've picked five dishes from the book's pairings section to help you get started.
Sirloin steak and ...
Beer: A brown ale such as Chimay Premiere. Calagione considers a complex, fruity brown ale a better match than a dry, tannic red wine. About $11 for a 25.4-ounce bottle.
Wine: A Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon such as Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon. Classic match for steak on the grill: a big, complex red. About $50-$56.
Glazed ham and ...
Beer: An English old ale such as Theakston Old Peculier. Sweet and salty flavors need a smooth, mellow beer partner. About $7-$9.50 a six-pack.
Wine: A delicate pinot noir such as Sanford Pinot Noir. A soft, silky red for a salty-sweet meat. About $30-$32.
