I’ve been thinking about developing Simply Paired for many years. It started as a means of building a repository of recipes and memories for my kids, friends, and family. But as my passion for cooking and wine pairing grew over the years, I knew that someday I wanted to share it with a broader community.
So, on a rainy fall day, I decided to make my vision for Simply Paired a reality. I built the blueprint to bring together an online community of amateur foodies and wine lovers to connect, learn, and share their recipes and passion for food & wine pairings. I’ve purposefully designed the Simply Paired experience in a way that welcomes honest (but polite) feedback and open dialogue. I’ve enlisted help from Simply Paired “Ambassadors” to test my recipes & pairings; share their own recipes & pairings and host Simply Paired parties to invite others to join the community. I have to say, it has been a lot of fun!
Check out our Simply Paired Brand Ambassadors and content contributors:
Mike’s Simply Paired Story
So, I guess I first took an interest in cooking after college. I watched the FoodNetwork religiously. My go-to chefs are Emeril, Jamie Oliver, Ina Garten, Lidia, and Two Fat Ladies (Queens of rustic cooking). As I began to experiment in the kitchen, I discovered that I enjoyed what I was doing. My grandparents and great-grandmother all had what some refer to as “the touch”, measuring by hand and sight and determining when something is done by smell. Fortunately, I inherited that gene and although I generally follow the measurements in a recipe, I do prepare certain foods and experiment with new ideas and combinations without a recipe. Most of my signature dishes come from simple and fresh ingredients. Cooking is not complicated. Take a chance, you might surprise yourself. Check out my latest recipe, Pork Cutlet & Beurre Blanc Sauce, paired with a White Burgundy from France! Until the next time.
~Twoje zdrowie~ (“Cheers”)
Erin’s Simply Paired Story
I invited a few of my college friends to my home for a dinner party and had NO idea what to make! Did I want to impress? Of course! But also, I wanted to be able to enjoy myself chatting and catching up and not be stuck in the kitchen prepping. Enter: Simply Paired. I reached out to Valerie (my aunt) for ideas/suggestions of what would fit the bill for this kind of event. She suggested her Roast Chicken with Salsa Verde. Not only was it super simple, but it was also incredibly delicious! I served it with roasted potatoes, an arugula salad, and even had a mini tasting with some Rosé and red Côtes du Rhône she suggested. Delicious food simply prepared, great wine, and even better conversation is my kind of night!
Garrett & Gabi’s Simply Paired Story
I’ve always enjoyed drinking wine but found myself buying the same few types every time I went to the store. It became a habit without much thought. It never dawned on me to focus on pairing the wine I was buying with the meal I was going to prepare. It wasn’t until I spoke with Valerie about Simply Paired and the concept of connecting the wine with the flavors in my meals. It was during a meal at her house where she introduced me to Rosé wine, and she paired it with a Tuna Nicoise Salad. It was perfect. I couldn’t wait to share that meal with my husband, Garrett. He is typically the chef in our family and I knew he would love it. That started our obsession with finding a great wine pairing for our meals.
Check out my latest recipe, Garlic, Spinach & Mushroom Pizza paired with a nice, dry Riesling!
If you would like to be a Simply Paired Brand Ambassador, email me at valerie@getsimplypaired.com. To Join the Simply Paired community to receive weekly pairings, subscribe to our newsletter above.
