that was really good

Sounded delicious to me! What wine was used?

My bet would be a red Merlot ...:3

that looks amazing.

My family is still in Germany.....we always used to poach pears whole in red wine with spices and then cut off the top, remove the core and fill with sweetened cheese with vanilla bean seeds. Then boil down the wine for a sauce.

I really wish the curriculum for my European cuisine class covered Germany as much as it did Italy, and France. There's a lot more potential with German cuisine for heartier food, and a rich history of food preservation. Hell, half of the history on the matter of Garde Manger comes from Germany. I mean hell...sausage ALONE...

to say NOTHING of BEER

Also the Germans can do things with mushrooms that would make you cry! I remember getting rabbit with a mushroom sauce and then a currant berry preserve of some sort......

And don't drop a quarter into Zealous about cultural methods of food preservation.....she has unnecessary feelings towards the pickling arts XD

I lived in Italy *flails* Best food IN THE WORLD although France was good too! I was in Normandy in time for the pear harvests.........now I am hungry

Mmm...duxelle sauce.

Northern or Southern Italy? (Or that crazy central Italy area that's a mix of both?)

Also, come about autumn, I'm *SO* going to can/jar/pickle/preserve my own stuff. I've not even gotten my tax return yet, and I've already spent it on stuff I need (new brakes, overdue bills) then stuff I want (a PROPER razor, kitchen tools/toys, various articles of hippy-esque jewelry).

My parents were stationed in Camp Darby....a US base near Pisa. But we traveled all over. Northern Italy is really just Switzerland with wine and olives XD....my family is military so we went everywhere. I (Saytr) ate my way through several countries....(what can I say my family are all totally hobbits)
...yeah tax returns have a way of flying out the window faster then last nights date...>.<
Hurray for pickles! We have shelves dedicated to them here! There is nothing finer then homemade pickles, jam and tomato sauce!