One of the most comprehensive, accessible and authoritative guides on wine and food matching I've read. Evan Goldstein a Master Sommelier and wine educator, knows his subject, yet makes it imminently interesting and enjoyable. There are also lots of delicious recipes. His book made me both thirsty and hungry!—Natalie MacLean Epicurious
“As a wine and food journalist, I see many culinary books, but there are just a few that compel me to say, "I must have this for my library." There are even fewer that specialize in wine and food pairing. But "Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food," by Evan Goldstein with recipes by Joyce Goldstein, meets my standards on both counts. Evan Goldstein, a master sommelier and career wine educator, and his mother, renowned chef and cookbook author Joyce Goldstein, joyously and gracefully explain and demystify the "magic" of pairing wine and food. They make it so easy, it seems that everyone can do it; after reading their book, I'm convinced everyone can.”—Lynne Char Bennet Fargo-Moorhead Hub
“Maybe the most practical and informative book on matching wines and foods I’ve ever encountered is Perfect Pairings by master sommelier Evan Goldstein, whose mother is a well-known San Francisco restaurateur and supplied some terrific recipes for the book. If you’ve ever stumbled over what to serve with what-and we all have-you need this book. It can get a little esoteric, but so what? Maybe you’ll learn something. I did-a lot.”—Houston Chronicle
“Evan is one of the legends of the wine industry. . . A lot of recipes and wine recommendations make it as practical a book as you will find.”—Doug Frost Kansas City Star
“This is a book you really ought to have in your library.”—Narsai David KCBS Radio
“This mother-and-son tag team could not be better suited to take on a theme that has been addressed in many books over the years, but infrequently with such authority and conviction. Evan Goldstein is a leading sommelier and wine educator who once worked with his mother at her acclaimed Square one restaurant in San Francisco.”—Bryan Miller Philadelphia Inquirer
“A useful primer for those who like wine but don’t have extensive knowledge of the subject.”—Publishers Weekly
“As a wine and food journalist, I see many culinary books, but there are just a few that compel me to say, "I must have this for my library." There are even fewer that specialize in wine and food pairing. But "Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food," by Evan Goldstein with recipes by Joyce Goldstein, meets my standards on both counts. Evan Goldstein, a master sommelier and career wine educator, and his mother, renowned chef and cookbook author Joyce Goldstein, joyously and gracefully explain and demystify the "magic" of pairing wine and food. They make it so easy, it seems that everyone can do it; after reading their book, I'm convinced everyone can.”—Lynne Char Bennet San Francisco Chronicle
“A magnificent, well-organized presentation of his ideas about wine-food matching. . . .An indispensable–and utterly agreeable–reference.”—Sante, The Magazine For Restaurant Professionals
“You can come away with a deeper understanding of the concepts of matching wine and food so you can figure out for yourself what makes the best match.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“Goldstein’s flexible approach manages to be both educational ad entertaining, which makes the world of food and wine matching a lot easier to navigate.”—Vines
“The book takes you into the mind of a sommelier--a thoughtful, unpretentious sommelier who truly enjoys considering what goes with what--and provides a model for approaching food and wine on your own.” A Best Book of 2006—Wine & Spirits Magazine
“One of the most useful books on the subject. . . . Rather than simply listing which wines are good matches for which foods, it teaches the reader to create his own pairing based on wine’s level of acidity, sweetness, saltiness, tannin or oak. Equally handy, the book also lists pairings that usually don’t work, like Zinfandel with spicy foods. Way to go, Evan.”—Tina Caputo Wines & Vines
"The best wine and food pairing book ever written. Required reading for all who love to cook and entertain but are fearful of choosing the final ingredient of the recipe, the perfect wine."—Kevin Zraly, author of
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course"Inspired yet down-to-earth, this book will make your life easier, your food more enjoyable, and the conversation around the table more spirited."—Jacques Pépin
"I was crushed when the seminal California restaurant Square One closed its doors in 1996. The animated culinary dialogue between Evan and Joyce Goldstein—he with the corkscrew, she with the whisk—was always surprising, generous, and delicious beyond belief.
Perfect Pairings revives that spirited magic so that any of us can learn to do it at home. I'm feeling better already!"—Danny Meyer, coauthor of
The Union Square Cafe Cookbook"It doesn't get much better than this. One of the most important wine educators of our time and one of America's most influential chefs conspire on the glorious subject of wine and food pairing.
Perfect Pairings is valuable for the professional and layperson alike, with expansive information presented in straightforward terms. This book will be mandatory reading for all of my staff!"—Charlie Trotter, restaurateur and author
"Groundbreaking and very user-friendly. I really, really, like it."—Sara Schneider, Senior Wine Editor,
Sunset Magazine