10 food-related reasons why I love autumn

10. Fresh nuts from the shell using a nutcracker. ‘Tis the season.

9. Oktoberfest!

8. Roasted vegetables: I always feel like I get an extra boost of beta-carotene during fall.

7. Mother Nature’s broad-strokes of gold, crimson and orange, along with the harvest moon, are all vibrant reminders of the earth’s bounty.

6. The aroma of chimney smoke makes city streets smell like the country, which also reminds me where our food grows.

5. Halloween candy! And caramel apples!

4. Summer’s over and winter’s not yet here. Now’s the time to ride the wave of nature’s most soulful season. Sure, there’s pumpkin and other squash. But think about larger joints of meat, or birds and stuffing, oily fish like sardines and mackerel, and seasonal cakes and pies (pumpkin, pecan, apple and the like). It’s like the holidays, minus the extra fat and humiliating office Xmas party PDAs.

3. I find the colour-burst of trees so breathtaking that I’m almost afraid to drive (I’m easily distracted.) So I walk a lot, in the cool temps with a warm fleece under a blue sky. And then I reward myself with a great latte and fresh-baked treat from one of my area coffee shops.

2. Roasted chestnuts.

1. Time to make the switch from G&Ts back to red wine!

This just in: France's favourite wines apparently go with everything

I don't know if you've heard, but the economy is in pretty bad shape. Which means we're eating out less and drinking more, behind closed doors. But just because we're cutting down on restaurant face time, doesn't mean we can't turn take-out into a culinary experience. 

Enter the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB) -- a group of French grape-growers, co-operative members and wine merchants, the BIVB is offering up tips for pairing take-out with affordable, top notch Burgundy wines. 

Here are some of its recommended appellations and food pairings:

Gourmet Pizza (delivery or take-out). Try a rich red that compliments the flavours of the meat:

Red wine - Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Beaune or Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits

White wine - Petit Chablis

Rose wine - Marsannay

Indian take-out. Try a red or white Burgundy to compliment a spicy rich curry:

Red wine - Volnay, Vosne-Romanee, Rully et 1ers Crus

White wine - Macon villages, Cotes de Beaune-Villages

Chinese take-out. Try a red or white Burgundy to complement your Chinese dish:

Red wine - Macon or Givry

White wine - Saint-Bris (the only wine in Burgundy made from the Sauvignon grape), Petit Chablis

Fried chicken (KFC or likewise). Try a red or rose which will nicely complement your fried food:

Red wine - Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Beaune or Irancy

Rose wine - Bourgogne Rose

Sushi & Sashimi. Try a white Burgundy that will bring out the freshness of the fish:

White wine - Macon Villages, Mercurey, Montagny or Pernand-Vergelesses