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The Pretend Gourmet

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The Pretend Gourmet

Food & Wine to Inspire Your Own Culinary Creativity & Experimentation. Instagram

05/09/2026

2020 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino: Tuscan Elegance with Depth

From the northern slopes of Montalcino, the 2020 Canalicchio di Sopra is a beautifully expressive Sangiovese combining richness with remarkable freshness. The nose opens with black cherry, plum, violet, and wild berries, layered with cedar, leather, dried herbs, and hints of clove and menthol.

On the palate, it is refined yet structured — ripe cherry and raspberry mingle with licorice, savory herbs, and earthy minerality, framed by polished tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long, balanced, and persistent, with lingering notes of dark fruit, spice, and citrus.

A beautifully composed Brunello that balances power with finesse - unmistakably Montalcino and already expressive, with the structure to evolve gracefully for years.

04/09/2026

A Late-Summer Harmony of Smoke, Fruit, and Spice

Grilled Boneless Chicken Breast, gently charred and generously finished with Peach Chutney which is a vibrant blend of Peaches, Prunes, Onion, Brown Sugar, Fresh Ginger, Dijon Mustard, Apple Cider Vinegar, Crushed Red Pepper, and Ground Cloves. The sweetness of ripe fruit meets bright acidity, savory depth, and a lingering touch of spice in a beautifully balanced expression of late summer where the simplicity of the grill meets the complexity of the chutney.

01/09/2026

A Bright Mediterranean Expression with a Modern History

Herbed Pearl Couscous, delicately tossed with Italian Parsley, Fresh Mint, Scallions, Toasted Almonds, and the Zest and Juice of Fresh Lemon. Bright citrus and garden herbs meet the warm nuttiness of toasted almonds, creating a dish that is fresh, aromatic, and beautifully textured.

Often known as Israeli Couscous, Pearl Couscous traces its origins to Israel in the early 1950s, when it was developed during a period of rice shortages as an alternative to rice. Its distinctive toasted pearls and pleasantly chewy texture have since found their way into kitchens around the world from a humble necessity transformed into a remarkably versatile culinary tradition.

31/08/2026

2018 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir: Oregon Elegance with Burgundian Soul

From Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the 2018 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir is a beautifully refined expression combining richness with remarkable freshness. The nose opens with raspberry, cherry, and blueberry, layered with forest floor, mushroom, lavender, orange zest, and subtle spice.

On the palate, it is silky and beautifully balanced - vibrant red fruit, clove, and earthy mineral notes unfold over juicy acidity and fine, lightly chalky tannins. The finish is long, polished, and energetic, balancing the depth of the vintage with classic Pinot Noir finesse.

A sophisticated Oregon Pinot with an unmistakable Old World sensibility - graceful, complex, and drinking beautifully with some age.

30/08/2026

A Summer Study in Sweetness and Earth

Heirloom Tomato Salad, layered with ripe Sweet Magnolia Blackberries and Pecorino Muffato. The juicy brightness of peak-season tomatoes meets the dark sweetness of the berries and the earthy, savory complexity of the cheese - an unexpected composition where fruit, acidity, and richness come together in quiet harmony.

25/08/2026

A Delicate Expression of Island and Sea

Fluke Sashimi, pristine and delicately sliced, resting in a fragrant Coconut–Lime Broth with Crisp Radish and Fresh Cilantro. Inspired by the bright, aromatic flavors of Indonesia, the dish moves gracefully between citrus, coconut richness, and ocean freshness - light, vibrant, and quietly exotic.

23/08/2026

2018 San Leonardo: Alpine Elegance with Bordeaux Soul

From the historic Tenuta San Leonardo estate in Trentino, northern Italy, the 2018 San Leonardo is a refined Bordeaux-style blend shaped by the cool Alpine climate. The nose opens with blackcurrant, wild berries, violet, and dried herbs, layered with cedar, to***co, graphite, and subtle balsamic notes.

On the palate, it is elegant and beautifully structured with dark berry fruit, savory herbs, licorice, and earthy minerality unfold over fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long, precise, and persistent, balancing depth and power with remarkable freshness.

A distinctly Italian interpretation of a great Bordeaux blend that is sophisticated, restrained, and built to evolve gracefully for years.

22/08/2026

A Fragrant Harmony of Sea and Spice

Pan-Seared Atlantic Halibut, delicately nestled in a Silken Thai Coconut Sauce infused with Lemongrass and Red Curry. Accompanied by Fragrant Jasmine Rice and finished with Fresh Scallions, the dish balances gentle heat, aromatic citrus, and coconut richness - a warm, layered composition that allows the delicate character of the halibut to shine.

21/08/2026

A Sunlit Taste of Summer

Grilled Corn Salad, lightly charred to deepen its natural sweetness and finished with Fresh Mint for a cool, aromatic lift. Simple, vibrant, and quietly refreshing - a celebration of summer where smoke and sweetness meet the garden’s freshness.

17/08/2026

A Rich Conversation of Sea and Harvest

Diver Scallops, delicately seared and paired with Charred Corn, Peruvian Potatoes, and Savory Guanciale. The natural sweetness of the scallops and corn meets the earthy warmth of the potatoes and the rich, cured depth of the guanciale - a beautifully composed interplay of sweetness, smoke, and salt.

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