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Chateau Ste Michelle Culinary Director John Sarich

Chateau Ste Michelle Culinary Director John Sarich
Washington State has so many well-known wineries; it is a challenge as to which one to visit. One we knew we were intent on visiting while in the Woodinville area was Chateau Ste Michelle. We were fortunate to have Culinary Director, John Sarich, lead a tour of the Chateau. After discovering all this wonderful winery has to offer, we enjoyed a wine pairing, prepared especially for our International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association group. John feels fortunate he has access to world-class wines and fresh foods and says, “Not only do we have an outstanding variety of ingredients from the land and sea, we also have exceptional wines from Washington’s Columbia Valley, where long summer days and crisp autumn nights produce ideal conditions for well balanced wines. ”In addition to his wine and food tastings, John offers cooking classes, wine dinners, and special events. He is proud to say, “I present training seminars and classes for wine and food professionals and aficionados around the world.”John started in 1976 as a wine guide, when Chateau Ste Michelle first opened. After his enthusiasm for wine and food skyrocketed, he was teaching cooking classes. Shortly after, he moved into sales, as a wine and food consultant for chefs along the Pacific Coast.

John took a break in 1980 and founded the successful Seattle Adriatica Restaurant and Dalmacija Ristoran. After ten years, he returned to Chateau Ste. Michelle as Culinary Director. He has hosted many TV shows and released his fifth cookbook, Chef in the Vineyard in 2010.

Chateau Ste. Michelle was happy to share a popular salmon recipe.

Grilled Wild King Salmon from Chateau Ste Michelle

Grilled Wild King Salmon from Chateau Ste Michelle

Grilled Wild King Salmon with Spring Vegetables & Lemon Beurre Blanc

6 servings

Vegetables

Ingredients:

1 bunch asparagus, snapped where it breaks naturally
1c English peas
1c fava beans, shelled
2c morel mushrooms, cleaned and cut into ½ inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 oz olive oil
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock

INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water. Place the asparagus in the boiling water and cook until the water comes back to a boil. Remove and place it immediately in the ice water. When the asparagus has cooled completely, remove it from the water and reserve. Repeat this process with the English peas and then the fava beans. You can use the same blanching water for all of the veggies. After the fava beans are blanched and cooled, remove the tough outer skin to reveal a lovely spring green fava bean.

Place a large sauté pan over medium high heat. When hot, add the olive oil and sauté the morels for 1 minute. Add the garlic, sauté for 30 seconds add stock, season with salt, and reduce for 2 minute. Add the prepared veggies, season with salt and cook until all the ingredients are coated and almost all the stock has evaporated. Serve immediately.

Salmon

INGREDIENTS:

6 (4 ounce) salmon fillets, with skin
Salt, pepper and lemon to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas). Season salmon all over with salt and pepper, then grill, flesh sides down, on lightly oiled grill rack 4 minutes. Turn fillets over and grill until just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes more. Serve on vegetables with beurre blanc.

Lemon Beurre Blanc

INGREDIENTS:

1 shallot, minced
6 oz white wine vinegar
6 oz CSM Sauvignon Blanc
2 oz cream
6 oz butter, room temperature
Salt, pepper and lemon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine the shallot and vinegar in a small pot, place on the stove over medium heat. Reduce the vinegar to 1 ounce, add the wine, reduce to 1 ounce. Add the cream, reduce by half. Reduce the heat to medium low, add the butter and season with the lemon, salt and pepper. Keep warm until ready to use.

Wine Pairings

Ethos Chardonay

Photos courtesy of Chateau Ste Michelle

About The Author

Norman Hill

Norman E. Hill, FSA, MAAA, member AICPA, Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine is author of Winner and Final Chairman. Norm is an actuary by vocation and journalist by avocation. He writes food and travel articles individually and with Maralyn. He is also known for writing numerous, ongoing articles for industry publications. Norm has edited books and articles with Maralyn. Norm’s travel articles can be found on The Epoch Times; Spa Tours Worldwide; Business Insider; JetsetExtra; The Big Blend's Vacation Station Magazine; Way Back When Magazine, Radio & TV; Global Writes; and Where and What in the World. Norm is a member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. http://whereandwhatintheworld.com.

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