Red Wine Cream Sauce with Rigatoni Pasta and Shiitake Mushrooms

Red wine is my favourite alcoholic beverage, hands down. How ideal that some studies show a glass a day is good for the heart! You can use cooking wine to mimic the taste as an alternative, but I would recommend going for high quality in both cases. It doesn't have to be vintage from the 18th century at $100 a bottle, but something with body and good flavour! I used a merlot from Bogle.

The great thing about pasta is that we can infuse it with many non-traditional ingredients, from greens to starchy fibres to herbs to, well, wine! I used some red wine rigatoni from the Pasta Palette. You should find something similar in a speciality store near you. If not, regular rigatoni will do!

As for the mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms are the way to go! Not only do they add a striking visual component, but the natural umami makes them perfectly balanced and an ideal meat substitute (although braised beef or short rib would compliment this dish just fine).