Event language: English
From renowned certified sommelier and Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 tastemaker Cha McCoy (with Layla Schlack) comes Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond, a first-of-its-kind guide to inclusive wine pairing that challenges conventional wisdom by pairing wines with the rich, diverse cuisines of the world.
The wine world often emphasizes that “what grows together, goes together,” prioritizing European cuisines and neglecting pairing options for vibrant, flavorful dishes from regions where wine grapes aren’t prevalent. Diving in by continent and then by region or country, from Africa to the Caribbean, Latin America to the United States of America, and Asia, McCoy takes readers around the world, sharing her journey of learning and connecting with culinary traditions and regional cuisines.
Part practical guide and part travelogue, Wine Pairing for the People will appeal to people who love to cook and eat out, armchair travelers, and hobby and professional sommeliers and chefs alike.
This crucial wine resource includes:
• Perfect pairings categorized by country and cuisine
• More than 25 curated recipes for global fare from renowned chefs and mixologists
• Stunning full-color photography and maps
• Foreword by Stephen Satterfield, host of Netflix docuseries High on the Hog
Among the important themes in the book:
• Wine through a non-Eurocentric lens: The importance of highlighting wines and other local beverages from regions where Black and Brown people are part of the industry
• Reclaiming the pairing conversation: The path to making wine more accessible through food
• Travel as a classroom: How living abroad in Italy introduced the acclaimed sommelier to wine
• From Harlem to hospitality: Defining the challenges and triumphs of being a Black sommelier
About the author:
Cha McCoy, MBA, is an entrepreneur, educator, and event producer. As a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, she developed The Communion, a wine dinner series that offers an inviting, accessible approach to gathering and enjoying wine. This experience inspired her to open her first brick- and-mortar store, The Communion Wine & Spirits. The dinner series was profiled in Food & Wine, and Cha was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40. Cha has held coveted industry positions, including Cherry Bombe’s first beverage director, the head of beverage for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal. Passionate about education, she spends her spare time mentoring and teaching at her alma mater, Syracuse University, where she served as an adjunct professor, educating and inspiring new wine drinkers. You can find Cha in Harlem, New York—or on one of her international adventures.
About the moderator:
Margo Gabriel is an award-winning Haitian American freelance journalist, author, associate producer, editor and culinary creative from Boston, MA, based in Lisbon, Portugal. She is the author of The Expat Kitchen and Quick Guide to Lisbon and has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, Público, RTP Bem Vindo, Conversas Ao Sol, and Mensagem de Lisboa. Her writing appears in Boston Art Review, Cuisine Noir, Culinary Backstreets, Uncorked & Cultured, Fodor's Travel, Time Out Portugal, and Refinery29.
She is a contributing writer at Cuisine Noir and a food and wine writer for Shall We Wine's Pour & Explore. Her most recent role was Time Out Portugal's Food & Drink columnist, where she explored Lisbon's dynamic food scene. She also curates dinners introducing locals to Haitian cuisine and culture. She is an Editorial Consultant for the English edition at Falstaff Portugal.
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Good Company Books is an independent English Bookstore in Lisbon. Born from our love of global literature and our Portuguese heritage, we are crafting a space for people of all backgrounds to gather and enjoy the best books, events, coffee, and wine. Find out more on our Instagram.
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