Food and Wine Tips for a Great New Year Celebration

Chef Jonathan Everin's Horseradish and Breadcrumb Crusted Artic Char

For those looking to cook their own fish for New Year's Eve or any other occasion, Mount Kisco Seafood's resident chef gave us his version of an easy-to-prepare main dish.

Amounts are approximate, and meant to be guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules:

Ingredients:

Artic Char filets or steaks (or other fleshy fish, such as salmon) (approx. ½ lb. per person)

Dijon mustard (enough to cover surface of fish)

Prepared white horseradish (to taste but together with mustard, enough to cover surface of fish)

Breadcrumbs (enough to coat entire surface of fish)

Cooking:

Preheat oven to 350° F

Put fish in baking dish

Mix Dijon mustard with horseradish

Slather on top of fish

Sprinkle bread crumbs to ensure an even crust

Bake for approximately 20 minutes (allowing for temperature variations of individual ovens)

Sparkling Wine Suggestions, Courtesy of Jonathan Bueti, Owner of Mount Kisco Wines and Spirits

A good sparkling wine does not have to be Champagne from France. There are some reasonably priced alternatives using the méthode Champenoise to produce a refreshing bubbly wine.

Italy is known for its prosecco, made with the grape of the same name. Prosecco grapes are grown primarily in the Veneto region of northern Italy, near the Alps, and in the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano wine regions, both north of Venice.

Spain's version of sparkling wine is cava, made primarily in the Penedès area of Catalonia. Andalucia is also home to cava production. Traditionally, cava is made from macabeo, xarello, and parellada varietals; these are white grapes. Some cava is made with a red pinot noir. Depending on the amount of sugar added, cavas range from brut (dry) to dulce (sweet.)

In the United States, where region does not dictate wine classification (appellation) many wineries make many different versions of sparkling wine.

Jonathan Bueti favors the French Champagnes crafted by Cedric Bouchard under the Inflorescence and Roses de Jeanne labels.  The former uses grapes from Bouchard's father's vineyards, the latter uses grapes cultivated by Bouchard, himself. "These are as artisanal as it gets."

While the Bouchard wines are in the $100 per bottle range, Jonathan Bueti recommends two sparkling wines that cost a lot less:

Laetitia Brut Cuvee

This wine is from California's Arroyo Grande Valley in San Luis Obispo County. It comprises three varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc. The average price of a 750 ml bottle is $19.99. Laetitia also bottles a 375 ml. brut cuvee.

Pierre Gimonnet Champagne Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru

This wine is those happy to spend more for a "real" Champagne from the country of origin, France. It is made from 100 percent Chardonnay grapes. The average price for a 750 ml bottle is $43.99. Pierre Gimonnet also bottles a 375 ml. premier cru.

For the main article on New Year's Eve plans, click here.