Family Meal: Wine Director Joe Campanale

May 11, 2011

Inspired by the restaurant industry tradition of family meal, we're chatting with industry insiders to find out what they actually eat and drink.

For our inaugural Family Meal, we've reached out to the wine director and owner of three New York City restaurants, Joe Campanale. Between running restaurants and running marathons, Joe can appreciate a quick meal like this Charred Asparagus with Fried Egg and Ricotta Salata. The dish is on the menu at his West Village restaurant L'Artusi, but he will make it at home for breakfast or a late night meal. He loves "this dish because asparagus is one of those ingredients that signals the start of spring" and he likes to "put eggs on top of everything."

And to drink? Joe recommends it "with sparkling wine because it is an anytime dish... and there is no wrong time for sparkling wine." His current favorite is the Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis Pétillant "Triple Zero", a sparkling wine made from chenin blanc in the Loire Valley of France with no added sugar. The wine is elegant and crisp, and will "refresh the palate after these intense flavors." If you can't find Joe's wine, look for a dry but aromatic bubbly made from chenin blanc or riesling.

Charred Asparagus with Fried Egg and Ricotta Salata

Click below for Joe's recipe: Grilled Asparagus with Fried Egg and Ricotta Salata