A 1998 Tokaji, the year we met, called for something equally special: homemade foie gras torchon. Three days, a bamboo sushi mat, a pair of tweezers and one very good bottle of wine later, Thanksgiving suddenly felt rather luxurious.

We used to live just an hour from Hermitage - close enough for a Saturday morning wine run. Some regions stick with you. So when there’s lamb on the table and Chave Farconnet beside it, Northern Rhône memories come back.

A pot of lentils so good it deserves its own headline. Earthy, comforting, and endlessly adaptable, these heroic lentils play beautifully with crisp-skinned salmon or rich, savoury pork. Add a glass of Canadian wine - bright Riesling or a confident Cabernet Franc - and suddenly dinner feels intentional, cozy, and a little bit celebratory. Proof that simple food, done well, is never boring.