What Foods Pair Well With Merlot Wine?

On 02.27.10, In Shaker, By admin
When serving or ordering a dish, one of the details that people spend the most time worrying over is: What wine would go well with this food? Many novices to wine are afraid to experiment with wine and food combinations, thinking that ordering the “wrong” wine with their food would be a major restaurant gaffe. While certain wines certainly do go better with certain foods, there are few choices that could be considered downright wrong.

Matching Tastes

The key to matching a wine with your food is finding a wine that complements the flavors of the food. If when you taste a food you don’t think “Ah, (fill in the blank) wine would go very well with this”, do not fret. It takes experience with wine to get a feel for food and wine combinations. If you are a novice wine drinker, start by trying different types of wines and noting the flavors that you taste. These are the major hints to what foods would go best.

Another detail to consider is how strong the food is. Fish and dishes with cream sauces are generally considered to be light flavors, while steaks, stews, and other hearty dishes are strong flavors. Typically, white wines go better with light foods and red wines with stronger tasting foods. This is an oversimplification of the art of wine and food pairing, but it is a good initial rule of thumb to follow.

The Flavors of Merlot

When you taste a Merlot, see if you pick up on certain tastes. Merlot wine is typically described as being a strong red wine with a hint of spice, berry, and herbs in the smell and taste. These qualities are referred to as “tones”. Smell the wine and see what tones immediately come to mind for you. The tones will vary based on vineyard, year, and method of storage.

Because Merlot is a stronger wine with some spice, it goes well with steak and other meats such as pork, lamb, and duck. Stews are also a good choice, as are hearty pastas that use a tomato sauce base. Once you feel comfortable tasting the tones of Merlot, try branching out and pairing the wine with some of your own recipes that you feel would be a good match, or try pairing food with a different type of wine. There are many varieties of wine from vineyards all over the world, and experimenting with the infinite pairing possibilities can add joy and excitement to everyday cooking. Be brave, and enjoy!

For More Information

To learn more about wine and food pairings and new recipes to match with your wine selection, please visit the interactive, innovative cooking website CD Kitchen here.

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How to Set a Table For a Formal Dinner

On 02.24.10, In Shaker, By admin
A gourmet meal for a unique event calls for special protocol when setting your table. Not sure which plates to use or where they should be placed? Which fork goes where? A number of factors need to be taken into account; from dinnerware placement to how you behave at the table, here is a description of everything you need to know for your next formal dinner event.

General Items
The tablecloth should reach half the distance between the edge of the table and the floor. The traditional color of the tablecloth is white. Silverware should be placed so that your guests start from the silverware placed furthest away from the plate (for appetizers) and finish with the silverware closest to the plate (entree). Silverware for desserts should be placed above the plates

Glasses
Glasses are placed to the right of dessert silverware and should be ordered as follows:
Place the glass for white wine furthest to the right, then the glass for red wine and finally, closest to the plate, the glass of water. The glasses should be placed on a diagonal line that points towards the center of the plate.

Bread plate
The bread plate is placed to the left of the main course dish, at the height of the dessert silverware. During the meal, bread is cut with your hands and carried to your r mouth with your right hand.

The Napkin
When sitting place the napkin on your knees, stretched but not open. When you leave the table place it on the left side of your plate without folding it.

Table manners
In a formal dinner do not place the water and wine on the main table. Only serve water to your guests sitting at the table prior to serving food White wine can be served during the appetizers and red wine during the main course (depending of the menu). The wine bottle should be covered by a napkin to prevent wine from dripping. When serving food, do it from the left and when removing it, do it from the right. If you are adding a clean plate, it should be done from the left If offering food from a platter, it should be done from the left Salad is recommended to serve in separate bowls or small plates placed to the left of the guest’s main plate Before serving dessert you must remove the salt and pepper shakers as well as the bread plates. Champagne, if served, should be served with dessert. Do not start eating until the host begins Your elbows should be held close to your body when using silverware Bring the food to your mouth, not your mouth to the food.

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Happy Mother’s Day – Gifts to Make Her Smile

On 02.22.10, In Shaker, By admin
With Christmas excess and New Year hedonism fading away, our thoughts now turn to the celebrations of 2009 – all of which are a perfect occasion to mark and enjoy everything that’s important in life, such as friends and family. Of course, no one could be more important than your mum, which is why Mother’s Day in March is an occasion that needs marking with some thoughtful and creative Mother’s Day Gifts…

Your mum does after all spend all year racing around after the family – cleaning, cooking and ferrying people about in the car, so this one day is your opportunity to give a little back, treat your mum like the star she is for the day, and put a smile back onto her face! Remember that Mother’s Day gifts don’t have to be expensive to make her day – you can put together a lovely little package of presents such as home-made tokens for activities such as cooking for a day, putting out the rubbish for a month, maybe doing your mum a home manicure or taking her out for a meal. With a bit of creativity and thought, there’s plenty of scope to put a smile on your mum’s face! You can also have fun surfing the internet for the latest in quirky and innovative presents for your mum – there’s a huge range of things you probably never even knew existed and the bonus of online shopping is that you can read reviews from other satisfied customers, get ideas for different gifts, and have everything neatly wrapped, shipped and delivered to your door in time for the big day!

Mother’s Day Gifts to Relax and Rewind

Mother’s Day presents to put a smile on your mum’s face will ideally involve some kind of activity that she can share with you – after all, mums love spending time with their families and her special day is all about giving her your full attention and treating her like a queen for the day! If your mum is one of those people who is constantly racing about and doing things for other people, then why not think about Mother’s Day Gifts which calm and relax? These will provide the perfect antidote to your mum’s hectic life and remind her that she needs to take care of herself too! A good example of these type of gifts is the ‘Wellbeing Gift Box’ from Learn it. The stylish gift box is more than just a simple present – it contains all the secrets and tips needed to transform the lucky recipient into a healthy and relaxed person, and once qualified, your mum will actually receive an NVQ Level 2 qualification, which could even see her heading towards a new career! The set is packed with useful information, top techniques and expert tips on ‘wellbeing and lifestyle management’ which includes topics such as how to live in harmony with nature and the surrounding world, and how to boost your immune system. It’s a really unusual and interesting gift which will give your mum hours of interest and enjoyment, and show just how much you think of her.

Experiences To Share

You might also want to consider Mother’s Day presents which involve some kind of family event – something which will provide happy memories and lots of good fun along the way… Well the Madison luxury hamper is a great example of this. It’s a big gorgeous basket hamper which contains everything you need for a classy picnic! It’s been inspired by the clean look of modern country life, and has high quality contents such as mugs, cotton napkins, stainless steel cutlery, wine glasses and fine china plates, all for four people, as well as a bottle cooler for champagne or wine, a corkscrew, salt and pepper shakers, a flask and a luxurious wool picnic blanket to sit on. Why not fill up the basket with delicious food and drink treats for an impromptu Mother’s Day picnic – even if it is only in your mum’s living room to avoid the rain outside! She’ll love the thought and preparation you’ve put into the gift and will feel like a lady of leisure for the day – without having to cook for once!

Remember too that mums love to get cards, and if you mark her day with a homemade or special personalised card then she will definitely have a smile on her face. Basically mums just like to feel treasured and appreciated – as we all do – and Mother’s Day is that chance to show exactly how loved she is – and make her laugh at the same time with some witty rhymes or funny gifts!

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Bar Supplies Should Set the Tone

On 02.20.10, In Shaker, By admin
Whether you run a local pub or a fine dining establishment, having the right bar supplies can make all the difference in the world. There are some bar supplies that are absolute necessities and then there are just some that make life a little easier.

If you serve any type of beer, wine or cocktails at your establishment you are going to need everything from bottle chillers to cocktail napkins. Make sure that you assess the specific bar supplies that you need and invest in the products and equipment that are right for your business. If you don’t need to invest in a big bottle chiller you can simply buy individual bottle holders that will chill a bottle of wine in five minutes or so and can be delivered right to your party’s table.

If you do serve a lot of wine or beer, you should invest in a bottle cooler. There are some versions that can just be available for your serving staff to reach in or you can have a cooler that can actually go anywhere and even blend in with the front of the house. Storing your beverages in a bottle cooler will free up your refrigerator for other food items. It can also move a lot of traffic away from servers who are waiting on menu items. You can set up your bottle cooler wherever you wish to make it more effective for you and your serving staff.

Glassware is a major investment when it comes to bar supplies and not the place to cut corners. Any type of product that is used so regularly by a mass amount of people needs to be strong enough to take some wear and tear and still look as good as new each time you serve a beverage in it.

Glassware racks are pertinent to storing your stock of glasses and should be easily accessible. If you are running a pub, many places put the racks overhead or under the counter. Other bar supplies that come into play if you are running a pub are bottle stands and brackets, dispensers and measuring devices for making cocktails and cocktail shakers.

If you have a fine dining establishment or are putting on a catered event such as a wedding or anniversary party you may want to make sure that you have wine and champagne buckets. Standard ice buckets are a given when it comes to purchasing bar supplies.

The little extras that complete the bar area include your napkins, straws and mixer sticks which can all be kept conveniently in a bar caddy. Bottle openers and cork extractors may seem like an expense you can do without until one day when you can’t get that cork out of an expensive bottle of wine.

Creating a comfortable environment to serve your bar beverages, whether it’s a pint, a cocktail or a bottle of vintage champagne, is where you can set the tone of your dining establishment or pub.

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A Look at Picnic Gift Baskets

On 02.18.10, In Shaker, By admin
Picnic gift baskets are a great gift for just about anybody who likes the outdoors and who likes to eat. Most people enjoy the idea of picnicking, but haven’t invested in the supplies to be able to do so. You can personally add some extra enjoyment to their spring, summer, or fall by giving them the necessary supplies to enjoy a picnic outdoors.

Virtually all picnic baskets are picnic gift baskets. The style that comes to mind when people think of picnic baskets is either wicker or rattan. These classic weave-type baskets are egg-shaped, bowl-shaped, or bundle-shaped. You can buy them built for two, four, six, eight or more people, depending on how many you are looking to impress.

If you want to buy a picnic gift basket for the new neighbors in town, try giving them a non-traditional basket. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness and your hipness for choosing something so different. Some picnic baskets come with a backpack full of supplies, allowing you to hike and then picnic with ease.

These non-traditional picnic basket backpacks often come with quality, solid, nylon shoulder straps, and contain everything required for a fine picnic for two, including plates, salt and pepper shakers, a bottle stopper for wine bottles, silverware, napkins, a corkscrew, picnic blanket, and a cutting board.

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What Groomsmen Really Want

On 02.16.10, In Shaker, By admin
Giving groomsmen gifts is a traditional way of expressing (the groom’s or the couple’s) appreciation for the groomsmen and their effort in one’s wedding.

Wedding preparation is both fun and exciting, with a bit of anxiousness every now and then. You’re probably working on a long wedding to-do-list, making sure you don’t miss anything. As you do so, you will definitely come to this point in time – choosing your groomsmen’s gifts.

Now don’t let the hustle of the wedding preparation be an excuse to overlook this, and say “they’re my buddies anyway.” Remember, every detail of a wedding is special, including your groomsmen gifts. Give it as much attention (or even more) as with the other details for your wedding.

How important are Groomsmen gifts?

Giving out groomsmen gifts is one wedding tradition we hold dear, especially for the groom himself. Not only because the groomsmen are a close of his, but also because they would probably do more than being part of the wedding entourage.

Besides being escorts to the bridesmaids, the dashing groomsmen can also help out the ushers on the wedding day. And don’t forget that they’re also responsible for organizing the fun bachelor’s party! And of course, their presence is most likely required on your pre-wedding events such as the engagement party and rehearsals/dry-runs.

Remember, you don’t hire them to do all these (yes, they’re fun but they’re also lots of work). You invited them and they’re doing you a big favor, even if they’re your friends. So naturally, you say “thank you” by giving them little gifts as a token of appreciation.

How to choose your Groomsmen’s gifts?

Budget

For starters, try setting up a budget. There are so many gift ideas you can find and setting a budget not only narrows down your choices, but it also keeps you from buying real expensive ones, which are not necessary. You can also adjust your budget depending on how many groomsmen you have. If you have just a handful, say half a dozen, then you can probably spare a little more.

Fortunately, you can find a wide selection of gift ideas without the hefty price. They’re neat and special, and also quite inexpensive.

The “Actual” Gift

Whether you’re budget-conscious or not, the most important thing you should consider is the actual gift – what groomsmen really want. And what better question to ask when choosing groomsmen gifts!

If you’re buying them individual gifts, make sure it’s appropriate to the person. Match it with his interest or relate it to one of his hobbies. If you want to be sure with this one, ask somebody close to him. If you’re buying in uniform, it saves you  a lot of time (compare to buying individual gifts) plus, if you’re buying in wholesale (which is most likely), you may even get discounts.

“Personalize”

This is a great way to make your gift “extra” special, which works well for both individual and uniform gifts. You can find many wedding gift stores offering this service. You can engrave your groomsman’s name or monogrammed them on the back of a pocket knife, or on the cufflink, or fountain pen, and so on.

Here are some great Groomsmen gift ideas you can easily personalized:

Cufflinks Belt buckle Key rings Money clipper/Credit card holder Pocket knives and Multi-tools (example: swiss army knife, locked knife, pocket knife) Business card holder Passport holder Leather pads Pens with cases Pocket watch Flasks and leather flask holder Glasses and mugs – sports mug, beer stein, shot glass, wine glass, pilsner glass, glass tumbler, pint glass , coffee mugs Cocktail shaker Portable bar set Wine case Bottle stopper Keychain Bottle opener Coaster set Beer cooler Koozie Cigar humidor, cigar cutter, cigar case/holder Travel bags, sports bags, wallet Plaques or framed gifts

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I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Molise Cuisine With White Wine

On 02.14.10, In Shaker, By admin
Molise is a small region of central eastern Italy on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most unspoiled regions of Italy, about 90% hills and mountains. As you might guess, many white wine pairings involve fish and seafood. However, there are also some surprises.

You won’t get hurt from eating Zuppa di Ortiche (Nettle Soup) often made from early spring nettle sprouts with tomato and bacon. However, if you’re not careful gathering the nettles, you’ll know why they are called stinging nettles. Enjoy this unusual soup with an Italian Sauvignon Blanc.

Insalata all’Abruzzese (Vegetable and Tuna Salad) is Abruzzi’s answer to Salade Nicoise. It’s made from zucchini, green beans, red pepper, red onions, tomatoes, anchovy fillets, canned tuna, and some other goodies. Enjoy this summer dish with a Vermentino di Sardegna DOC or a more expensive Vermentino di Gallura DOCG from Sardinia.

Trota ai Ferri (Grilled Trout) is easy to make. Season a trout with olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Grill, ideally over charcoal. Serve with lemon and an Italian Gewurztraminer, Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc.

Another fine fish dish is Triglie Fritte (Fried Red Mullets) also known as porgies. This dish calls for small mullets. If the fish are small enough you won’t even have to gut them. The fresher the better. Coat them in flour and deep fry in olive oil. Serve with an Italian Trebbiano wine. Or if you want to up the ante serve with a Chianti DOCG or a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, both red wines from Tuscany.

You’ll enjoy Calciuni (Molise Christmas Cookies) that are made from boiled chestnuts, candied citron peel, almonds, honey, rum, eggs, and several other ingredients. This is not a simple recipe to make, but you’ll enjoy this dessert especially with a Vino Santo del Chianti DOC or a Vino Santo del Chianti Classico DOC. These golden, sweet Tuscany wines are made from white grapes.

Molise claims to be the home of Jordan almonds locally known as Nocci Attortati. The ingredients are as simple as can be, almonds and sugar. The preparation is somewhat tricky, as you don’t want to brown the almonds or burn the sugar. Enjoy them with a Vino Santo.

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The Basics of Bartending

On 02.12.10, In Shaker, By admin
It is quite easy to set up and start up your own bar. There are a few basic elements that a good bartender must keep in mind to run a bar with as little effort as possible. All bars must contain the most basic and important spirits and liquors as well as equipment. Also, there are essential techniques a bartender must learn about mixing cocktails and long drinks.

First and foremost is the physical set up of the bar. Location is the key. It will be to your advantage if your bar is in an easily accessible place in the room and make sure that you have enough space behind the bar. This is a good tip because you can store extra liquor and glasses. In the space, install a small sink with running water, which is important to keep hygienic, a small refrigerator and a chair or two for you to rest in your free time. The bartender must know his way in, out and around his bar to avoid confusion and to save time and energy especially when he is catering to a party of a thousand people. The rush hour, which is from one to two in the early morning, the mixing stations can serve up to 180 drinks per hour. In these situations, four to six mixing stations are set up all around the place. Inventories must be made before the bar opens.

The next step is to know your menu and learn how to mix the drinks by heart. But with the wide variety of drinks, a “Mixing List” can be posted discretely under the bar. Since you may not have a lot of time in mixing, you will not have time to read the labels of each bottle of liquor. To help in this dilemma, you can set up your spirits and liquors in a certain order. You may have whiskey to Swedish punch arranged from left to right according to the decrease in alcohol content of the different liquors. You may end with grenadine and sugar. In the refrigerator, there should be a supply of fresh fruit juices, sodas, cream, milk, lemons and other ingredients that are perishable.

Each mixing station should contain the base spirits which are Vodka, Tequila, Gin and Rum. Also, the stations should have available sets of fruit juices and extracts such as Orange juice, Pineapple juice, Lemon and Lime. These are present in a lot of cocktail drinks. Below the bar of each station, there should be available cooled soft drinks like Schweppes, Russian Water, tonic water and the usual Coca Cola, Sprite and others.

Some drinks require the use of special gadgets. All stations must have them handy at all times. A Shaker, a measuring cup, a rinsing bowl and straws should be present and ready to use. Each station must have sets of glasses in three sizes, 32cl, 25cl and 8cl. They should also have the ever-needed cloth that is placed over the mixing area to wipe off spills and deal with other incidences.

Lastly, hygiene and sanitation is very important for all bartenders. Your nails must be trimmed short and make sure to wash your hands and gadgets in between drinks as much as possible. Wash glasses when they become empty so that you will always have spare glasses. Always serve napkins to the customers so they too will keep clean.

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Entertaining Like a Pro: Part Three

On 02.10.10, In Shaker, By admin
Part Three: The Bubbly

Whether you’re throwing a New Year’s Eve party or a party just because you can, a Champagne toast is always a welcome event. Don’t let the search for that perfect bubbly to fit both the occasion and your pocketbook spoil the celebration. Here are some champagne tips from m National Wine Director Marian Jansen op de Haar of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Vive La France: Champagne is a dry white wine made from grapes grown only in the region of Champagne in France. Perrier Jouet, Grand Brut France NV is an excellent choice. Crisp and lively, it features lingering flavors of fresh apples and lemons making it a great companion to hors d’oeuvres. Another good choice is the extra dry Moet & Chandon White Star France NV, which has mellow well-developed flavors and just a hint of sweetness.

Make It Sparkle: Sparkling wine uses the same process, fermenting sugar in white wine, as Champagne. The only difference is that sparkling wine can be made anywhere from California to Russia while Champagne cannot. A superb sparkling wine to try is Gloria Ferrer, Blanc de Noirs Sonoma County NV. The rich, bright strawberry, raspberry, and black cherry aromas are enhanced by a lush palate, small, lively, bubbles, and a persistent finish.

Corral the Cork: Once a Champagne or sparkling wine has been selected, resist the urge to “pop” the cork as that releases too many bubbles too quickly resulting in a flat wine. While holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle and covering the cork with your thumb, loosen the wire cage and slowly twist the bottle. Slowly pour into a Champagne flute, and delight in the explosion of tiny bubbles.

If you’re feeling daring, raise a glass of more than just bubbly with this signature champagne cocktail recipe created by Oren Cohen of Nobu 57 in New York.

Agua Luca’s 07 Heaven
1.5 oz. Água Luca™ 1.5 oz. Champagne ½ oz. Fresh lemon juice ½ oz. Honey

Sugar the rim of the flute. Melt honey gently in a shaker by immersing the shaker in hot water; add lemon juice and Água Luca™ and shake. Add half champagne to shaker and pour into flute; top off with remainder of champagne.

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Groomsmen Gifts Tips For the Groom

On 02.08.10, In Shaker, By admin
One of the responsibilities of the groom is to find gifts for his groomsmen. Giving gifts for groomsmen is not mandatory, however, it is the least way to give thanks and show appreciation towards buddies who have been very helpful and supportive all throughout the wedding process. As a new groom, finding the best groomsmen gifts may seem a bit challenging, in a sense that there is an endless selection of gift ideas to choose from and above all, shopping is usually not the thing that interest men. That, however, shouldn’t hinder you to give thank you gifts to your beloved buddies, whom you share sad and happy moments with.

So, what ideal gift should be given anyway? The answer is personalized gifts. Personalized groomsmen gifts are far excellent than other gifts that you can easily buy and wrap in no time. Personalizing the gifts simply means including thought onto the items. Any recipient would love the idea of receiving something that was made specially for him. Personalized groomsmen gifts will remind them of you, and are something that they will always cherish and treasure.

Depending on your choice, groomsmen gifts may be the same or individualize. Perhaps you can buy them neck ties, in their favorite color or your wedding colors, with their embroidered initials. They would not only appreciate their tie being personalized, but they would also enjoy using your gift for years! Other embroidered gifts your consider are personalized gym bags, caps, robes and towels.

Another great gift idea you can give to each of your groomsmen is a personalized pocket knife. Pocket knives are tools that can be utilized anywhere they would like to go to, especially outdoor. If your buddies enjoy fishing or hunting, personalized pocket knives would be very useful to them. You can have each knife engraved with name or initials of each groomsman.

Barware! Beer mugs, shot glasses, flasks, wine glasses, bottle openers, wine stoppers, cocktail shakers and the likes are a few barware choices you may consider buying for your buddies. Let’s face it, men love beers, wines and other alcoholic drinks, so why not support it even just for once? Whichever barware you’d like to buy for your buddies, have them personalized with their engraved names or initials. Most of these barware gifts are available for personalization, just check out the Internet to find so many choices of those.

Personalized groomsmen gifts, however, doesn’t only mean engraving or embroidering names or initials, but they can also be something that reflects interests or relationship with them. Choose gifts according to their personal preferences, and that will also be considered as personalized groomsmen gifts. Think outside the box and be creative! For example, you can buy them tickets to a major league game, if they are all sports fanatics. Or, you can send them to a spa where they will enjoy a pampering and relaxing gift from you.

Check out the Net to find online stores that specializes on groomsmen gifts. From embroidered attendant gifts to engraved gifts, you are sure to find the best presents for your buddies!

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