A great Cookbook for the person who loves wine but does not know a awful lot about what kinds of wine to serve with certain food types.
This book will make you a instant sucess..

I have been studying wine for several years and have accumulated a mountain of books on the subject. A big fan of "The Wine Bible," I was excited to receive "Wine, Food & Friends," as a holiday present this year. I haven't put it down since! The wine pairings are great because Karen does a good job at explaining the pairing and selects wines that are easy to find no matter where you are in the country. And the recipes - I can't believe they're healthy! The Valentine's Day menu is simply divine. I made the chocolate cheesecake last night and can't wait to get home tonight and enjoy it with a glass of Port. Thanks, Karen!

The other reviews I saw about this book only said it was a great book and applauded Ms. MacNeil but did so without giving any specifics. Well here's why it would be a good book to own.

The menus are divided into seasons. So the food will be at its peak and then with Ms. MacNeil's wine pairings you just can't go wrong. The unfortunate thing is that she suggests specific wines. In my little town I can't find many of the wines she suggests. I try to go with a wine that is a similar grape varietal, region, etc but I've failed more than I've succeeded in this hit or miss pairing. However, it's been fun making new finds and we have found some of the specific wines that she has suggested and they were wonderful.

For the holiday dessert menu, all 4 wines that were suggested were $75+ dollars each. I would have liked to have had different price points rather than blow out my budget on one gathering. I'm sure the $75+ Port she suggests is outstanding but I still have to feed my family for the month and that's definitely a splurge rather than a frequent event.

I wanted to find a book that I could use over and over and spending that kind of money is not something I could do on a regular basis. If there had been different price point suggestions then I could purchase one bottle that's pricey but these were all pricey. Just couldn't do it. But the dessert recipes were great and it gives me ideas and encourages me to broaden my wine/food repertoire.

I made the garlic rosemary roasted chicken, spicy sweet potato wedges and then paired it with Cotes-du-rhones. I could not afford the $$$ suggestion she made of Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas. I'm sure it would have been good but $35 for a weekday dinner wine is too stiff for my budget.

The recipe for the classic french bread was excellent. I had the Alsace Riesling with it and a pork roast. It was delish but again I did not purchase the $$$ bottle she suggested but a much cheaper bottle that was just as good. So this cookbook has certainly gotten me interested and motivated to try new things and provides the food recipes to do it.

If you're looking for a book that includes recipes and wine pairings then I would suggest This Food, That Wine it had more reasonably priced wines for everyday consumption as well as everyday type meals. Wine, Food & Friends is reserved for the special occasions when you want a presentation that includes expensive food and expensive wine.

The other reviews I saw about this book only said it was a great book and applauded Ms. MacNeil but did so without giving any specifics. Well here's why it would be a good book to own.

The menus are divided into seasons. So the food will be at its peak and then with Ms. MacNeil's wine pairings you just can't go wrong. The unfortunate thing is that she suggests specific wines. In my little town I can't find many of the wines she suggests. I try to go with a wine that is a similar grape varietal, region, etc but I've failed more than I've succeeded in this hit or miss pairing. However, it's been fun making new finds and we have found some of the specific wines that she has suggested and they were wonderful.

For the holiday dessert menu, all 4 wines that were suggested were $75+ dollars each. I would have liked to have had different price points rather than blow out my budget on one gathering. I'm sure the $75+ Port she suggests is outstanding but I still have to feed my family for the month and that's definitely a splurge rather than a frequent event.

I wanted to find a book that I could use over and over and spending that kind of money is not something I could do on a regular basis. If there had been different price point suggestions then I could purchase one bottle that's pricey but these were all pricey. Just couldn't do it. But the dessert recipes were great and it gives me ideas and encourages me to broaden my wine/food repertoire.

I made the garlic rosemary roasted chicken, spicy sweet potato wedges and then paired it with Cotes-du-rhones. I could not afford the $$$ suggestion she made of Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas. I'm sure it would have been good but $35 for a weekday dinner wine is too stiff for my budget.

The recipe for the classic french bread was excellent. I had the Alsace Riesling with it and a pork roast. It was delish but again I did not purchase the $$$ bottle she suggested but a much cheaper bottle that was just as good. So this cookbook has certainly gotten me interested and motivated to try new things and provides the food recipes to do it.

I have already commented on the virtues of this book which influenced me to prefer it over the highly vaunted volume: What To Drink With What You Eat by Dornenburg/Page. See the review there for the contrast, if interested.

The only thing that bugged me here was the apparent reluctance to speak the word "Christmas" (!!!), but only the innocuous substitute of "holiday" in the book's "Winter" section. Are you kidding me? I realize MacNeil hosts a PBS series, but has the tyranny of political correctness now extended this far? If the author finds no personal significance in the meaning of this most cherished of American celebrations, it was at the very least a major missed opportunity to address the occasion (directly) in her otherwise fine work. (Needless to say, the same applies to the "Easter"/"spring celebration" situation.)

I received this as a gift and I am here to tell you, it is wonderful. I have made many, many of the recipes and they have all turned out great.. Even love it so much, I went out and bought it for 4 friends and they tell me they cannot wait to try the recipes.

Lots of good ideas and great parings and great recipes. Can't wait to try them all!

I already am a fan of Karen MacNeils Wine,Food ,and Friends on PBS.Shes very eloquent and soo knowledgable.She presents her ideas in a friendly way as well.The recipes are phenomenal also.I tried the meatloaf with sundried tomatoes and the stuffing so far.They turned out great and the less expensive wines were not difficult to find.I cant wait for her Season 2 series on PBS.

I already am a fan of Karen MacNeils Wine,Food ,and Friends on PBS.Shes very eloquent and soo knowledgable.She presents her ideas in a friendly way as well.The recipes are phenomenal also.I tried the meatloaf with sundried tomatoes and the stuffing so far.They turned out great and the less expensive wines were not difficult to find.I cant wait for her Season 2 series on PBS.

I may love wine, but I'm by no means an expert. As a food writer and long-time cook, I know my way around the kitchen, have no trouble whipping up a dinner party, and enjoy feeding people. However, I needed some help/advice for wine pairings. Oh... I know enough to know which whites work best with poultry or seafood, and I know a heavier beef dish calls for a more substantial red wine. Beyond that, I'm a novice learning my way. This book provides loads of information, suggestions, tips and encouragement in an entertaining style that isn't intimidating or condescending. The author knows food and wine, she loves food and wine, and it shows!

I highly recommend this book if you want to brush up your pairing skills, or if you simply want to learn a little more about wine and food for deliciously entertaining dinners. Those very seriously into wine (who know much more than I do) will also find the book a useful addition to their collections, as her recipes are wonderful.

This is one of the first cookbooks I have used since I have taken up cooking and I found all of the food recipes to be easy to follow and complete. The ending food product from these recipes is high quality and are great tasting. I found her wine pairings to be right on the money as being a knowledgable wine advocate. For those who are looking for great food menus to entertain freinds or family, this book is a "must have".

I pre-ordered Wine, Food and Friends by Karen MacNeil and could hardly wait to receive it. In her true fashion, Ms. MacNeil has created another wonderfully accessible book on wine and food. The Wine Bible (her first book) is a staple in any true wine enthusiast's library and her new book is also a must. The recipes, along with wine pairings, and sharing of Ms. MacNeil's vast knowledge and expertise in wines and the wine world, make this more than just a visually beautiful book ... but a book one will turn to again and again for advice on entertaining with food and wine. Ms. MacNeil exhibits a warm, witty and personable style of writing that is universally appealing. I will be sending many copies of this book to friends and family!