Episode 101: Cooking in Cuernava:
Pairing Wine With Mexican Food
Three typical American couples take a culinary vacation to Cuernavaca, Mexico to learn about authentic Mexican cooking and the wines that complement it from Karen MacNeil and Chef Ana Isabel Garcia head chef at La Villa Bonita School of Mexican cuisine. Join Karen and the group as they shop at the local market for fresh ingredients, prepare Mexican dishes in Chef Ana’s kitchen, and learn the secret to Karen’s signature sangria.

Episode 102: Stocking a Wine Pantry
Karen MacNeil takes an unused corner of a Maryland couple’s basement and constructs a simple “wine pantry” stocked with wines to fit their entertainment needs and personal lifestyle. Gene Clouse of Caves de Vins Designs builds shelving, while chef Ann Cashion joins MacNeil to cook her signature roast chicken to complement the couple's favorite wine.

Episode 103: Grilling & Barbecue, Texas-Style
The Saveur Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival in Austin, Texas is the perfect place to learn how wines can complement barbecue and grilled meats. There, Karen MacNeil meets Steven Raichlen, host of Barbecue University With Steven Raichlen, who dispenses tips on grilling the perfect steak. Then, it’s on to Cooper’s Barbecue, where MacNeil surprises some loyal patrons by pairing barbecue with sparkling wine.

Episode 104: Wine Week
at the Culinary Institute of America
This episode follows students at Karen MacNeil’s week-long seminar on wine tasting at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. The group is a mix of inspired amateurs and restaurant professionals whose progress is charted both in the classroom and at wineries and restaurants throughout the Napa Valley.

Episode 105: Dating & Wine
Three couples go on three first dates on the same night at the Washington, D.C. area’s most romantic restaurant, L’Aurberge Chez Francois. There, Karen MacNeil previews the menu of classic French cuisine with head chef and owner Jacques Haeringer. MacNeil provides the dating couples with advice on handling restaurant wine lists, ordering and enjoying wine in a restaurant.

Episode 106: Artisan Cheeses
Karen MacNeil goes bi-coastal in search of the perfect marriage of wine and artisanal cheeses. In Northern California, she visits Bellwether Farms to sample their hand-made cheeses. And in New York she stops by the Artisanal Cheese Center and its companion restaurant, the Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro, to pair wines with a variety of special cheeses.

Episode 107: Italian Food & Wine in New York
New York City’s Little Italy is the perfect place to pair wine with classic Italian dishes. Karen MacNeil is joined by Lidia Bastianich, host of public television’s Lidia’s Italian American Kitchen, and the first lady of Italian cuisine in New York. She also meets Lou DiPalo, a fifth-generation Italian food importer. Historian Vincent Cannato provides a walking tour of this famous neighborhood, and introduces Karen to New York-style pizza.

Episode 108: Napa Valley Wedding
This episode follows a bride and groom as they prepare for their wedding in Napa Valley. From the hors d’ouevres to the entrées, the all-important wedding toast and even the wedding cake — MacNeil helps the couple choose the perfect wines to complement each stage of their celebration.

Episode 109: In Quest of Oregon’s Pinot Noir
The International Pinot Noir Celebration outside Portland, Oregon has become an annual pilgrimage for lovers of this food-friendly red wine. Karen MacNeil dives into the festival, pairing Pinot Noir with two of Oregon’s best-loved foods: fresh grilled salmon and wild mushrooms.

Episode 110: In the Kitchen With Karen
Karen MacNeil invites two of her favorite chefs to pair some of their favorite dishes with some of Napa Valley’s best wines. First she is joined by Bill Briwa, chef-instructor at the Culinary Institute of America’s Napa Valley campus to match two if his delicious dishes with wonderful white wines. Then Greg Cole, owner and head chef at Cole’s Chophouse, prepares two of his signature dishes for Karen to demonstrate the mouth-watering marriage of meat and red wine.

Episode 111: Dessert Wines & Ice Wines
Karen MacNeil teaches three young pastry chef students from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York about dessert wines. Together, they travel to the Inskillen Winery and Ice Wine Festival in Ontario, Canada, to sample ice wine and pair various sweet wines with classic American desserts.

Episode 112: Supper Club
Supper clubs have become an increasingly popular way to bring people together for an evening of wine, food and fun. In this episode, Cooking Light Supper Club members get together in Sterling, Virginia for a dinner that includes two recipes from Karen’s article in the October, 2004 issue of Cooking Light Magazine. The group – formed on the magazine’s bulletin boards – shares a common interest in wine and healthy cooking. Karen helps the club decide on the kinds of wine to buy, how to serve them and how to include some fun wine education in their supper club activities.

For more information on Cooking Light Supper Clubs, visit cookinglight.com.

Episode 113: European Wine Lists
Karen MacNeil is joined by Savvy Traveller Rudy Maxa, host of public television’s Smart Travels — Europe With Rudy Maxa, on a tour of three European restaurants: Spanish, Italian and French. Along the way, they sample the fare, pair each country's most flavorful wines with national dishes and show you the best ways to navigate each country's wine lists.