Small Plates, Big Pours Pairing
by Executive Chef Russell Skall
Our Small Plates menu has become quite popular. I’m proud of the most frequent comment from our guests: How can we get away with calling them small? Well, only a restaurant with a 20 oz. bone-in ribeye as an entrée would call them small. Our guests especially enjoy these steakhouse Small Plates as a light entrée in the bar. So here’s something I’m really looking forward to:
My life is devoted to good food. And one of the pure joys of food is the interaction that happens when the right food magically meets the right wine. People ask me quite often about the pairing. My first thought is to just order what you like. There's a lot to be said for knowing and enjoying your favorite foods and wines. But I have to admit there are combinations of food and wine that truly elevate both to taste levels neither could possibly reach by themselves.
Being a chef, I like to first choose my dish and then the wine. Maeve Pesquera, our Director of Wine, might argue otherwise, but that's what makes life interesting. In either case, there are two general ways to go when pairing — a wine that echoes similar flavors in the food, and one that contrasts. I'll give a few examples from our Small Plates, Big Pours offerings.
Take our Sliced Filet Mignon with Shiitake Risotto, for instance. There are several ways to go with the wine, but I like it best when paired with the Penley Merlot. The texture of both the steak and the wine are smooth and intense, and the earthy mushroom flavors of the risotto contrast with the fresh-tasting fruit of the wine making the berry and plum flavors shine. Or try it with the B.R. Cohn Silver Cabernet. You might be surprised at what different flavors evolve with the tighter tannins in that delicious red.
The velvety richness and sweetness of our Lobster Tempura really echo and heighten the rich vanilla- tinged flavors of the full-bodied Silverado Chardonnay. At the same time, the citrus notes of the wine make you want to take another bite of lobster. It's a classic and wonderful pairing I know you'll enjoy.
You could pick a pairing with a blindfold and you wouldn’t go wrong with the seven wine selections on our Small Plates, Big Pours menu. In fact, bring a group of friends and have your very own discovery pairing evening.
* Excluding tax and gratuity. Promotion not available in OK and UT. Fleming’s abides by all local and state liquor laws. Hours and offerings subject to change per location. Available for a limited time, April 11 - May 10, 2012. At our Providence location, offer is available in the bar Monday-Friday, after 6pm. Offer is available in the bar until 9pm in OH. Offer is available in the bar until 11pm in TX. At our Boston location, offer is available 4/9/12-5/13/12 only. Alternative wine pairings will be offered at our Radnor location.