Some of us love to camp, some of us feel so-so about it, and some of us want a real bed while still enjoying the outdoors. A little something called “glamping” has gained in popularity over the years. It generally involves a structure of some sort, but still the open sky and a place to enjoy food, friends, and a good beverage while being outside in nature. We think this is the perfect moment to enjoy a bottle of our Alchemist wine for an elevated experience.

Alchemist Chardonnay pairs perfectly with this fancy-looking, yet simple-to-make meal. We dug through our favorite cookbooks and found a whole trout recipe that is easy to prepare and doesn’t require too many ingredients. Bonus points if you catch the trout earlier in the day. Otherwise, just make sure you ask your local fishmonger for a “dressed” whole trout. Dressed means it is descaled and gutted. Start off the meal with a fire-baked brie and you’ll be in heaven.

Camp Fire Baked Brie

1 small brie wheel

1 apple

honey

Rosemary and thyme

Crusty bread

Cut the top off the wheel of brie and place the brie in a small cast iron pan. Slice the apple and place it around the wheel along with some fresh herbs. Put some tin foil over the pan and place it over a fire with hot embers. Check on it every 5-10 minutes until the top is gooey and slightly melted. Once it is done, remove it from the fire, drizzle with honey and some fresh apple slices. Enjoy on pieces of bread or crackers.

Whole Pan-Roasted Trout with Green Goddess Butter and Roasted Spring Vegetables

Whole Pan-Roasted Trout 

serves 3 to 5

2–3 whole trout, branzino, or small black bass (12–14 ounces each), gutted and scaled

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

A few sprigs of fresh savory, thyme, oregano, marjoram, or rosemary

1–2 tablespoons canola oil

Green Goddess Butter (see the recipe below)

2 lemons or limes, halved

Flaky sea salt.

Make sure your fire has enough hot embers to cook

Season the fish inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the inside with the herbs of your choosing and rub the outside of the fish with the oil. Place the fish directly on a pre-warmed cast iron pan with the spine facing you (this will make it easier to flip later). Let it cook, without moving or fussing, until the skin is charred, crisped, and fully cooked on one side, 6 to 8 minutes.

Test to see if the fish is ready to turn by using a spatula to flip the fish away from you onto its other side. A perfectly cooked fish will easily release from the grill; if it struggles, chances are it’s not ready, so give it another minute. Once ready, flip the fish and continue cooking until the skin is crisped and the fish is fully cooked, another 6 to 8 minutes.

Use the spatula to transfer the fish onto one large serving platter (or two large plates). Spoon on some of the butter, letting it melt over the fish. Squeeze the citrus over and sprinkle with the flaky salt. Serve any extra butter alongside.

Green Goddess Butter – Can be made ahead of time

1⁄2  cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1⁄2  cup fresh parsley, tender leaves and stems, very finely chopped

1⁄4  cup fresh tarragon leaves, very finely chopped

1⁄4  cup very finely chopped fresh chives

4 anchovy fillets, very finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely grated

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine the butter, parsley, tarragon, chives, anchovies, garlic, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Smash with a fork until well blended (alternatively, place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until well combined). Season with salt and pepper.

DO AHEAD  Green Goddess Butter can be made up to 2 weeks ahead, covered tightly, and refrigerated. Bring the butter to room temperature before serving.

Pan-Roasted Late Spring Veggies 

1 bunch of small turnips

1 bunch radishes

Green garlic

3 tablespoons olive oil

Flaky sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

Trim green tops off of radishes and turnips and half lengthwise. Trim off the bottom and tops of green garlic and half lengthwise as well. Toss radishes, turnips, and garlic in olive oil with salt and pepper. Add a glug of olive oil into your second cast iron pan. Add a piece of tin foil to the top to act as a lid, or a lid if you have one. Roast anywhere from 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally until the vegetables look brown and roasted.

Chardonnay pairs nicely with a more meaty fish like salmon, trout, or halibut. Our Chardonnay is fresh and bright, aged in neutral French oak for only a few months. This gives it a little bit of body and texture, but not an overpowering oakiness.

Trout and Green Goddess Butter Recipe by Alison Roman. The roasted vegetable recipe is based on an Alison Roman Recipe. All these recipes can be found in her book, Nothing Fancy.