Crab Cake Duo with Old Bay Aioli + Rosé Wine Pairing

“Eating has to be fun.” - Jose Andres

Crab cakes have always been a favorite of mine. Remembering the first time I ever took a bite of one brings me so much joy. During my annual summer visit to Washington D.C. with my grandmother as a child was, she insisted that I try the dish and that I’d love them - I was hooked immediately.

This entrée is always sentimental to me because it brings back the memories of my childhood, and those magical summer months bonding with my grandmother in Silver Spring, Maryland and Washington D.C.

I’m pairing this classic dish with a new favorite rosé, courtesy of Brown Napa Valley, their 2019 Betelgeuse Rosé.

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This dish is bursting with flavor. The jumbo lump crab cakes have little filler, so the meat is soft, delicate, and sweet. It is complimented with arugula, which has a bitter and spiciness that pairs perfectly together. Lastly, you have the homemade Old Bay aioli, that is packed with an array of spices (celery salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and paprika) and lemon - the ideal dipping sauce for any crab cake.

Two crab cakes on a bed of arugula, with a lemon wedge and Old Bay aioli.

Two crab cakes on a bed of arugula, with a lemon wedge and Old Bay aioli.

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2019 Betelgeuse Rosé

I was immediately blown away by this wine, as it is nothing I’ve had in a really long time. There are so many wonderful flavors in this bottle, that are just so complimentary of one another - pure perfection. The complexity of this wine is unique, inviting, and just lovely all the way around.

Let’s breakdown this wine, here are the notes on this stunning rosé:

  • Red fruit: strawberry, cherry, watermelon

  • Tropical: guava, kiwi

The watermelon and strawberry notes were so well balanced, also stone fruit was immediately present on the palate as well. For the secondary notes, you’ll taste rose petal and a touch of citrus and lemongrass.

This wine is fresh, light, very easy to drink with or without food. The rosé is so smooth, I was blown away at how silky it was. The wine lingers on the palate long after taking a sip - which is a pure joy as it tastes really amazing.

Also, this is a Pinot Noir based rosé, and it is just stunning. This is the perfect thing to drink all summer long, and pairs beautifully with seafood or a light fresh salad.

2019 Betelgeuse Rosé

2019 Betelgeuse Rosé

XO, Analise

Cork & Fork: Brown Napa Valley + Food Pairings

“A gourmet meal without a glass of wine just seems tragic to me somehow.” ― Kathy Mattea

I absolutely love trying new wines, and supporting Black-owned businesses is something I’m always a huge advocate for. So, when I heard wonderful things about Brown Estate in Napa Valley, it was a must that I try their wines.

Brown Estate - Napa Valley, is the first Black-owned estate winery in its respective county. Their wines are stellar, and I was so thrilled to support and receive my order from this wonderful establishment.

Today, I’m sharing the six bottles I ordered, and pairing them with my favorite recipes on the blog! Check out my wine and meal pairings below.

The line up from Brown Estate - Napa Valley.

The line up from Brown Estate - Napa Valley.

2018 Chaos Theory

This wine is simply wonderful. It is medium bodied, smooth tannins, and so well balanced. It is a blend of the following varietals:

  • 50% Napa Valley Petite Sirah

  • 40% Napa Valley Merlot

  • 10% Sierra Foothills Zinfandel

The notes on this wine are guava, passion fruit, red fruit - cherry and raspberry, black fruit - plum and blackberry. Also, there are some subtle notes of oak, tobacco, and persimmon. This wine is bold, dry, medium to high tannin, and medium to high acid. Chaos Theory will leave you with a smooth finish, inviting you to take another sip.

My ideal food pairing with this wine is a Short Rib Stir Fry. It would compliment the wine perfectly and provide the optimal balance. The beef and seasoned vegetables and rice would pair wonderfully with the red blend.

Food Pairing:

Short Rib Stir Fry - find my recipe here

2018 Napa Valley Zinfandel

The 2018 Zinfandel produced at Brown was absolutely lovely. It was bold, dominant in black fruit, such as blackberry, plum, and blueberry. You’ll get some oak on the palate as well as red fruit - cherry, strawberry, and a hit of raspberry.

There are some herb notes like clove, and hints of forest floor - leaves and pine kissed with orange. Over all, this wine is well balanced in fruit and acid.

This wine is unique and lovely, it’ll pair perfectly with a Smoked Pork Chop. The protein has the perfect balance of sweet and smoky, which will complement the Zinfandel so well.

Food Pairing:

Smoked Pork Chop - find my recipe here

2018 Merlot

The Merlot is a perfect balance of dry, smooth, soft, and bold notes on the palate. You’ll get a hint of cinnamon, black and blue fruits, leather, and herbaceous notes.

This wine has a medium body, and the finish is long. The perfect pair for this wine would be Grilled Lamb Lollipops. Lamb is an ideal compliment to the structure that this Merlot possesses.

Food Pairing:

Grilled Lamb Lollipops - find my recipe here

2018 Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is aged in oak and has the following fruit notes:

  • pear

  • pineapple

  • honeysuckle

  • lemon

  • guava

  • lychee

  • citrus - dried and candied

What makes this wine so special is how bold, silky, and full it is. It is so well balanced, and is truly exceptional. The Chardonnay has a lengthy finish, inviting you for more. In addition, to the fruit notes, there are hints of sage and jasmine. The acid in this wine is low to medium, and is so wonderful on the palate.

This wine would be perfect with a vegetarian or seafood dish, and I have recommended both. A Broccoli and Asparagus Quiche or Fried Prosecco Shrimp would be a great match.

Food Pairing(s):

Broccoli and Asparagus Quiche - find my recipe here

Fried Prosecco Shrimp - find my recipe here

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet Sauvignon is medium bodied, and the tannins are soft. You’ll get notes of citrus, spice, blackberry, boysenberry, and roses.

It’ll be an amazing match for a Smoked Prime Rib. The coffee dry rub on this protein would pair so well with this lovely wine.

Food Pairing:

Smoked Prime Rib - find my recipe here

2017 Petite Sirah

The Petite Sirah has floral and ripe black fruit notes - plum and blackberry. Additionally, you’ll find notes of the following items:

  • tobacco

  • oak

  • spice

  • eucalyptus

  • brown sugar

  • cocoa

  • leather

This structure is so complex thus resulting into a full bodied wine. The acid is vibrant, which yields to a medium to high level. The tannins are high, and its finish lingers after each sip.

A wine this bold deserves a protein that can match - a 45-Day Dry Aged Steak would be the perfect pair.

Food Pairing:

Dry Aged Steak - find my recipe here

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XO, Analise