Wine Dinner 1 -- Caviar Pasta with Vodka Sauce

Caviar Pasta with Vodka Sauce (I like to add some smoked salmon chunks to this) Serve with a nice Medium Bodied Red Wine like Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Chianti or Tempranillo Active Time:  20 Minutes Total Time:  20 Minutes Yield:  Serves 4 as an appetizer or light brunch dish This recipe calls for salmon roe - which is colorful, flavor, and not quite so expensive as sturgeon caviar. For the best results, use fresh fettuccine and imported Parmigiano-Reggiano. Have extra vodka on hand for sipping while you cook. RECIPE INGREDIENTS For the Sauce: 2 cups heavy cream 1 small clove garlic, peeled and gently crushed with the side of a cleaver 2 strips lemon zest (removed with a vegetable peeler) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese 2 tablespoons vodka (preferably Limon vodka) Freshly ground black pepper 1 pound fresh fettuccine salt 2 ounces salmon roe 2 tablespoons very finely chopped chives or scallion greens

Note: A nice side salad of 1/8 wedge slice of iceberg lettuce sprinkled with feta, chopped shallot, julienned beets, chopped yellow pepper, and small slices of purple cabbage sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and chopped roasted garlic is superb.  and can be paired with the same wine as the pasta.