Salmon, Beer, Wine and Cocktails

If you like food and you like a well-crafted beverage then it is only natural to put the two together. Pairing wine with food has been popular for a long time and now beer and cocktails are making their way onto the dinner table. With all three of these adult beverages there are some styles that work better with different types of food. The drinks should enhance the food's flavors without taking over the experience and when we're making these decisions it's important to look at the flavor profile of both the drink and the food.

This week a few of the Guides on About.com are celebrating the debut of a new, ongoing project. Every two weeks we will take one main dish and recommend a few beers, wines and cocktails that we think pair well with that dish. The panel includes myself, Bryce Eddings (About.com Beer Guide) and Stacy Slinkard (About.com Wine Guide). For those of you who are kitchen-challenged (like myself), don't worry because the recipe for the dish we choose comes from one of our fellow foodies and if I can follow the recipe you can too.

To kick off the pairing segment I chose one of my favorite meals, salmon - I am lucky enough to have a husband who can cook salmon a hundred different and wonderful ways. In particular this recipe is a grilled salmon recipe seasoned with fresh dill and lemon, perfect for summer. The salmon and beverage pairing recommendations are all fantastic and the beauty about this is that no matter if you're in the mood for wine, beer or a cocktail, we have a suggestion for you. Look for more pairing suggestions coming soon!