Curry & Wine

Your pairing conundrum solved! While beer is usually the go- to beverage for accompanying a curry, some of us prefer a good glass of wine instead. Italian wine specialist and online shop Bacco Wines suggests some great vino-pairing varietals from its ext

One of the first considerations when pairing wine with Indian food is how much spicy “heat” you like to taste from the dish. If you want to counter the heat, go for a wine with some sweetness. If, on the other hand, you like your curries as fiery as possible, you should stick to a drier wine. Think of your wine as a liquid friend to balance the food; the spice in the food will seem to decrease as the level of fruitiness in the wine increases.

Another fabulous characteristic of Indian food is thehe aroma. Pairing it with an aromatic wine will enhancece those lovely spice fragrances. Ideally, try to find a winene that has some natural aromas on the nose that you also o find in Indian dishes; for example, sweet green cardamom,m, citrusy coriander, toasty black pepper and smoky cumin. n.

In particular, you could look for an aromatic c Gewürztraminer, as this delicious white wine typicallyy has a slight sweetness that balances the heat of a curry,y, plus a range of aromas to complement Indian spices. s. Traminer Aromatico ($52 for Bacco members) fromm Trentino winemakers Pojer & Sandri is a delicious winene that pairs well with various Indian dishes; the aged d version (2010 vintage) is subtler and smoother, and d perfect for an aromatic food pairing; while the youngerer vintages (2012 and 2013) are more powerful, workingg well alongside hotter curries.

If you’re partial to a rosé, particularly with creamier curries like korma or butter chicken, you can try the rare Gaglioppo grape wine Savu ($33 for members), by igreco of Calabria, which brings together sweetness and great aromas. The Gaglioppo grape is very special, as it’s an ancient variety that was nearly lost when vineyards prioritised the planting of better-known grapes; but, thankfully, a small group of passionate winemakers have kept Gaglioppo wine alive.

Reds sometimes get overlooked in spicy food pairings, but there are many delicious vino rosso choices that work wonderfully. Primitivo grapes from southern Italy (known as Zinfandel elsewhere) are usually fruity and j juicy in style, with smoky notes, making for a lovely wine to accompany Indian dishes; try Alchimia by Duca Di Saragnano ($48 for members), for example.

For those who like to maintain all the heat in an Indian dish, look for a drier red that has pleasant aromatic qualities. Consider a red wine with black pepper notes like Nero D’avola from Sicily, or grab a bottle of Syrah – Tellus Syrah ($37 for members), for instance – which typically offers a spicy pepper finish. There aren’t many reds famous for being fully “aromatic”, but the rare grape Ruché is a stunning find grown only in Piedmont (specifically the Asti province). Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato remains one of Italy’s lowest-production varietal wines; in fact, only a handful of winemakers work to showcase this incredible grape’s potential. Ruché is naturally a very aromatic grape and it makes a mouth-watering red; give I Firmati ($42 for members) by Ferraris a try next time you need a red for your jalfrezi.

Nothing says the holidays like party dips and traditional Christmas treats. Not much of a chef or a baker? Now you can whip up your very own goodies from scratch with these upcoming cooking classes at Expat Kitchen.

Sweet Christmas Cheer

End the year ( and dinner) on a sweet note by baking your favourite yuletide treats. At this class you’ll learn how to make mince tarts, mini Christmas puddings, ginger cake with lemon frosting and Christmas cookies. EL readers get $45 off this class by quoting “SCTEL”.

Dips & More

Dips are great for two reasons: they’re easy to make and they keep your guests occupied if you need extra time in the kitchen! On the menu are appetising starters like roasted red pepper dip, Tex-mex grilled bean dip with corn chips and smoked salmon spread with ciabatta crostini. EL readers get $ 45 off this class by quoting “DAMEL”. If you’re in need of some help with drinks and décor, check out these classes from The Providore, perfect for the holiday season.

Cocktail & Canapés Night

Head down for a fun and relaxing night, where mixologists from Sipsmith Gins will demonstrate how to create cocktails. You’ll also learn to make canapés, perfect for the upcoming party and holiday season. Check theprovidore.com for dates.

Wreath Making & Canapés

In this combined craft and cooking session, you’ll learn how to create your very own holiday wreaths and table centrepieces, and enjoy a canapé- making demonstration. Featuring florist Kristy Cornell and cookbook author Ghillie James, this is the cooking studio’s first series of craft and canapés sessions. For dates, check theprovidore.com. Once you know how to make everything, stock up on all the ingredients you’ll need to make those canapés, dips and desserts. Online specialty marketplace Foodsterr is a great go-to this season, with a huge range of dried fruits, seeds, oats and nuts, organic products and superfoods, plus those hard-to-find ingredients. Trust us, you’ll be glad you’re in the know when you’re sourcing reasonably priced pecans for that traditional Thanksgiving pecan pie recipe you’ve been dying to try. (Hey, we’ve been there, so save yourself the trip to Mustafa!) It’s $2 delivery for purchases above $50, and free delivery on orders of $100 or more.