Food Briefs: Web site pairs N.C. wine, food

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
Published: November 18, 2009

■ The Wines of Yadkin Valley has added a series a food-and-wine pairing videos to its Web site, www.winesofyadkinvalley.com.

The series, Yadkin Wines and Kitchen Magic, is produced in conjunction with Applewood Bistro, a restaurant in Wilkesboro.

The videos feature Chef Thua Nguyen preparing a dish, and Scott Koegler, the publisher of Yadkin Valley Wines, and Alan Day, an owner of Applewood Bistro, tasting a wine with the dish and commenting on the combination.

Initial segments have included pairings of Shelton Vineyards Madison Lee Red with bouillabaisse, Shadow Springs Vineyard Dark Shadow sweet red blend with apple tart, Parson Vineyard and Winery Chardonnay with shrimp and grits, and RagApple Lassie Vineyards Syrah with pan-seared ahi tuna.

Gingerbread-house entries on display at Grove Park Inn

■ The entries in the 17th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition will go on public display today at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville. The houses will remain on display through Jan. 3.

The contest attracts hundreds of entries from people ages 5 through adult every year and awards a total of $10,000 in prizes.

The display is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.groveparkinn.com.

Chapel Hill diner rated No. 2 by Southern Living

■ Mama Dip's Kitchen in Chapel Hill was named one of the Top Five diners in the South in the November issue of Southern Living magazine.

Mama Dip's Kitchen, owned by Mildred Council, is No. 2 on the list. The magazine mentioned the macaroni and cheese as the restaurant's "don't miss" dish.

Other restaurants on the list are The Bel-Loc Diner in Baltimore, Md., No. 1; Arnold's Country Kitchen in Nashville, Tenn., No. 3; Celebration Restaurant in Dallas, Texas, No. 4; and Strawn's Eat Shop in Shreveport, La., No. 5.