Vineyard Cuisines: Meals & Memories from Messina Hof is divided into five chapters offering the history of Messina Hof Winery & Resort and more than 90 recipes. The book portrays the struggles of Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo as they strove to start a vineyard and develop it into a renowned winery destination site.
Five Chapters of Recipes and Love Story
- The first chapter of Vineyard Cuisines: Meals & Memories from Messina Hof is entitled “Recipes from Our Roots: A German-Italian Love Story.” Details include mention of their parents and how Paul and Merrill met. The first recipe is Merrill’s Cinnamon Rolls. Other recipes include Mini Potato Pancakes and Treberwurst (Wine-Soaked Bratwurst).
- Chapter two is “Recipes From the Villa… A Home for the Extended Messina Hof Family." This chapter offers information about the Villa at Messina Hof and about their experience at a wine tasting in Boston where they met Robert Mondavi.
- Enjoy the third chapter “Recipes From the Chef’s Table…Showcasing Texas Vineyard Cuisine” which features five menus with four separate courses.
- The fourth chapter “Recipes From the Wine Cellar…Perfect Pairing with Food” includes information on how to pair wine with a variety of food flavors. “When preparing a dish for a particular wine, you can use ingredients that complement and help bridge the food and wine.”
- Chapter five is “Recipes From the Heart of the Home… Togetherness Begins in the Kitchen." This chapter refers to the blending of family traditions like a blending of “a fine Meritage wine.” Recipes include Vintage House Focaccia Bread and Chocolate Pâté.
The Legend of Paulo's Salad
Vineyard Cuisine has been organized in a delightful way making it more interesting than traditional cookbooks. The story is a delight and the recipes selected for this book have been thoughtfully chosen. There appears to be something that will please everyone. One of the most interesting and inspiring recipes/stories is the recipe Paulo’s Salad, which is accompanied with the story, “The Legend of Paulo’s Salad.”
Anyone interested in pairing sauces and wines will enjoy the easy to use chart on Wine and Sauce Pairings. At the end of the book. the Appendix includes descriptions of a number of red and white wines. The index of recipes provides an easy way to locate particular recipes.
Pros and Cons of Vineyard Cuisine: Meals & Memories from Messina Hof
Pros: This is an entertaining and true love story with more than 90 recipes. Many pictures add to the enjoyment of the book. This is a cookbook many people will enjoy having on their bookshelf.
Cons but not really a con: Perhaps additional recipes could have been added to the already nice selection.
Consider visiting Messina Hof Winery & Resort, tasting the wines, enjoying dinner and perhaps a stay in the delightful villa. While there, take the opportunity to purchase Vineyard Cuisine: Meals & Memories from Messina Hof. The book can also be purchased at Amazon.com.
Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo, Authors
Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo are the cofounders of Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan, Texas. Merrill is the founder of the Designer Events Company. Paul, Director of the Sports and Back Clinic, is a physical therapist.
Authors: Merrill & Paul Bonarrigo
Title: Vineyard Cuisine: Meals & Memories from Messina Hof
Publisher: Bright Sky Press
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-1-933979-02-1
Kathleen Sullivan - Kathleen Sullivan is the co-owner and writer for Wine Trail Traveler, a winery and vineyard virtual visitor center. The Wine Trail ...
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