Date Night with Chateau St. Jean and a Salmon Piccata

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We are staying in tonight and having a great Date Night with Chateau St. Jean and a Salmon Piccata recipe. Salmon Piccata is a simple dish made with fresh salmon, lemon, garlic, wine, butter and capers served over angel hair pasta paired perfectly with a glass of Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay.

After a long week of school activities, work, chores and just being a mom, a Friday night staying in with the spouse and a good glass of wine is all I need to wind down and recharge. We enjoy getting a babysitter and going out to dinner from time to time but lounging around the house without makeup or having to get dressed up is so much more relaxing.

Chateau St Jean

I have been hearing some buzz around Living Wine Labels lately and was eager to try one out! I was really drawn to the Chateau St. Jean line because I enjoy learning about my wines and the vineyards they come from. Every wine has a story and Living Wine Labels has created such a unique way to share that.

Haven’t heard of Living Wine Labels yet?

You download an app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store called The Living Wine Labels and pick the wine label you are drinking. Simply scan your bottle using the app and the bottle label comes alive! Check out the photo below for a sneak peak.

Margo Van Staavren shares the story behind Chateau St. Jean once the label is scanned. Margo Van Staavren  tells you how she met her husband many years ago and together built a world-class winery in California where the ideal soil and unlimited sunshine create the perfect bottle of wine.

You can find Chateau St. Jean at Kroger, Ralph’s and Fred Meyer on the Fine Wine aisle.

For our Salmon Piccata, I recommend the Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay. The light, oaky flavor will pair perfectly with our dish but look for other Chateau St. Jean varieties to also try soon that link with The Living Wines app:

• Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir
• Chateau St Jean Merlot

Salmon Piccata

Salmon Piccata is a spinoff of a traditional Veal Piccata. It is a dish that sounds a bit fancy but actually has basic ingredients and simple instructions. It is the perfect dish for date night! The only ingredient you may not use often are capers but you can find them in either the Italian food section or next to the olives and they really pack a lovely punch of flavor into the dish.

Begin by preparing your salmon. You will want to remove the skin or you can buy salmon without the skin. I always look for a fresh Sockeye salmon but you can use whatever type of salmon you like or is available. Cut the salmon into two portions and sprinkle each side with a little salt and pepper. As you are preparing the salmon, boil a large pot of water with a pinch of salt to begin the pasta. Not in the mood for pasta? You can substitute pasta for mashed potatoes.

Next, dredge the salmon in flour covering each side. Place the salmon into a hot pan with a bit of olive oil and cook 3-4 minutes on each side. While the salmon is cooking, mince some garlic cloves, slice the lemon and chop the fresh parsley. Push the salmon to one side of the pan and add 2 tablespoons of butter with some minced garlic. Work the butter and garlic for a minute and add in your wine, lemon juice and capers. Simmer and place over pasta with a lemon garnish and parsley.

What do you typically do for date night? Would you rather stay in or go out? Let me know in the comments below and visit Living Wine Labels by clicking HERE to learn more about Chateau St. Jean and to download the app.