|
|
Dear Kelly,
Well, with Memorial Day picnics now behind us,
summer has begun-unofficially, at least. Entertaining
gets a bit more easy breezy this time of year, with the
mantras for parties and get-togethers being "laid
back" and "no-fuss".
This month, I'll give you my top nine summer food and
wine pairings. Why not round it out and make it top
ten? Well, summer is what you make it, and I'm sure
you have some of your own favorites. Please email
me at kmagyarics@gmail.com and let me know what
they are, and I'll add them to my blog.
I've been busy talking to--and learning a lot from--
winemakers, sommeliers and mixologists. You can
read my latest articles in the "In the Media" section.
I'll also share a fantastic summer cocktail called
Gnome's Water, courtesy of
mixologist Gina Chersevani of EatBar in Arlington, VA.
I've loved Hendrick's Gin since it was released a few
years ago--its hint of cucumber makes it
pair so well with any drinks that have the slender
green vegetable. And no season is better than
summer to enjoy cool libations made with this
ingredient. Try it, and I can assure you it will be your
house drink this summer.
So take some time to enjoy the park, the beach, the
pool, or just a lazy
afternoon on the hammock or porch swing. I hope you
make some great summer memories, with friends
and family. Isn't life sweet this time of year?
Cheers--
Kelly
 |
|
|
Kelly's Top Nine Summer Wine and Food Pairings
Why Nine? Why Not!
- Fried Chicken and Spanish Cava: Perfect
for a
picnic, the bubbles in the Cava cut the greasiness of
the fried chicken's breading.
- Curried Egg Salad and American Off-Dry
Gewurztraminer: Adding
curry powder and fresh cilantro breathes new life into
ho hum egg salad, and pairing it with this
spicy,interesting white makes for an egg-cellent lunch!
- Grilled pizza Margarita and Italian Barbera:
Impress your
dinner guests by making pizza on the grill (it's really
not difficult...) and then opening up a slightly chilled
bottle of this easy drinking Italian Red.
- Oysters on the half shell and Loire Valley
Muscadet: Do what the French locals do and
enjoy these
beguiling bivalves with light, spritzy, lemony
Muscadet.
- Chips and Salsa Fresca with New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc: The acidity in the tomatoes
goes
perfectly with the assertive crisp herby and citrus
notes in the wine. Score extra points by choosing
tortilla chips flavored with a hint of lime.
- Peppered rib-eye steak with Argentinean
Malbec: Skip the Cab in favor of this big, bold red
from South America. It's low price point means you
can spend more moola on the meat.
- Grilled chicken kabobs and Spanish
Albarino: A fun alternative to other lighter style
whites, Albarino has attractive peach and floral notes,
and finishes crisp and clean.
- Cedar-planked salmon with Oregon Pinot
Noir. It's so easy to make your salmon sing when
you give the fish a nice rub with your spices of choice,
and then grill it on a cedar plank. (Remember to soak
the plank first for a few hours to avoid flare ups.)
- Cheese and Charcuterie Platter with Provence
Rose: With some of the weight and body of a red,
and
attractive strawberry and raspberry fruit flavor, a dry
rose is a great summer sipper. Look for the most
recent vintage for the brightest fruit flavor.
|
|
|
|
|
In the Media
Kelly's latest articles
I have been busy updating my wine
blog,as
well as writing wine-related articles. Here are links to
my latest work:
"Raise the
Bar," Modern Luxury DC, June, 2008
"Hot
Sauce?!", Modern Luxury DC, May, 2008
"Let It Breathe,"
Imbibe, May/June,
2008
Read more of Kelly's articles
|
|
|
|
|
Cocktail Corner
Gnome's Water, EatBar, Arlington, VA
Awhile back, while researching cocktails for an article I
was working on, I got to taste through Gina
Chersevani's liquid creations at EatBar in Arlington (I
love my job...) Everything she does is inventive, cool
and often unexpected, but the best libation I tasted that
night, in my humble opinion, was her Gnome's Water.
She combines cucumber and rose-scented
Hendrick's Gin with lavender, cucumber water and
fresh lime, and the resulting sipper is irresistibly
refreshing. I can see myself drinking this all summer
long...and it would go perfectly with oysters or clams
on the half shell. Gina generously shared the recipe
with me. Try it this summer:
Gnome's Water
Courtesy of Gina Chersevani, EatBar
1 1/2 oz of Hendrick's Gin
1/2 oz of Cointreau
Dash of cucumber water (grate cucumber and then
strain through cheesecloth)
Dash of lavender syrup (cook equal parts sugar and
water until sugar dissolves, then add lavender
blossoms and steep to taste)
1/2 oz of fresh lime juice
Dash of soda water
Mix first five ingredients. Add to a cocktail glass filled
with ice. Top with soda water.
|
|
If you are planning a special event, whether it is a
wedding shower, birthday party, get-together with
friends, or a business promotional event, consider
Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting to make your event
complete. Our interactive, educational wine tastings
and classes
are a memorable option for your next gathering. Kelly
holds an Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits from
the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust), and she
has been offering wine tastings for private and
corporate events in the DC area for over six years. Just
see what our clients are saying about us.
Check
out www.trywine.net
for more information, email us
at trywine@gmail.com, or call us at
703.203.9463.
Feel free to pass this along to
other wine lovers you know!
And don't forget about Kelly's other services. She is
available for freelance writing, wine list creation and
management, and wine and food pairing consultation.
Cheers, and happy sipping!
|
|
