Matching Food With Wine Cooking International Guide
Matching Food With Wine To Create A Delicious Meal
By Barry J Smallhorn
Matching food with wine, is one way to improve your next dinner
party. Historically, the wine traditions in many cultures have
created a staple serving of wine with food at the dinner table.
These traditions have their origins many centuries ago, due to
the fact that the wine was safer to drink than water, as there
were fewer impurities due to the wine making process, cleaning
out any impurities.
There are regions around the world, including Italy and France,
where winemaking and culinary traditions have evolved simultaneously
over the years, to match local cuisine with local wines.
Texture And Taste In Pairings
The main idea behind food pairings is that some elements, including
texture and taste, in the food and wine react differently to each
other, take a review of your options and finding the right combination
of these elements makes the whole dining experience even more
enjoyable.
But the taste is very subjective, and what may be a perfect pairing
for one, it may prove less pleasant to someone else.
Balancing Weight Of Food With Weight Of Wine
Food and wine experts believe that the most fundamental part
of the food and wine pairing is to understand the balance between
the weight of food and weight (or "body") of wine, to
create better pairings.
For example, a heavy, sturdy wine will likely overwhelm a lighter,
more delicate dish, while the lighter body wines would become
overwhelmed by a heavier meal.
Complement Or Contrast Strategies
Apart from the weight, you also need to consider the taste and
textures of the food. Pairing flavors and texture can be achieved
by using either complement or contrast strategies.
You can purchase a special wine with a dish to complement each
other. For example, an earthy, Burgundian Pinot noir can be matched
with an earthy, mushroom dish.
Opposites Attract With The Contrast Strategy
Alternatively, you may want to use the contrast strategy, where
the opposites attract, making for a delicious meal. You can combine
food and wine with contrasting properties, like a crisp, acidic
Sauvignon Blanc and a fish with a creamy lemon sauce.
The bright acidity of the wine serves as a contrast to the creaminess
of the sauce and give a different, refreshing sensation on the
palate. Historically, most people were using the complementary
strategy for their food and wine pairing.
But, starting around 1980 and continuing today, more people,
both food professionals and enthusiastic amateurs, started to
discover and experiment with pairings.
Coming Up With Surprising Combinations
As a result, more people are using the contrast strategy to pair
their wine and food, coming up with more delicious pairings, rather
than the bland and predictable complementary strategy, the contrast
strategy has come up with surprising combinations.
There are other options for pairings apart from the complementary
and contrasting strategies. One option is matching multiple layers
of texture and taste with bridge ingredients where ingredients
and flavors with similarities with wine pairing (eg, slow cooked
onions in creamy wine).
Adding Herbs And Spices
It may also refer to adding special herbs and spices perceived
in the wine and added to the food as an ingredient to help both
the wine and the food right pair up well, to create a delicious
dish.
Although you may read plenty of information about matching food
with wine, you should be the best judge of the best combinations
to suit your palate. You can experiment with different combinations
to find the best food with wine pairing for you.
About the Author:
Barry J Smallhorn has written a number of articles on beer, wines, cocktails, cooking, food and recipes including
Cocktail Recipes,
Seafood Recipes,
Jerky Beef Meat Recipe,
Make Jerky,
Food Recipes,
Tuna Fish,
Caviar,
Potato Recipes,
Organic Gift Baskets.
Keep a lookout for more articles on this website.
Did You Know This About Wines?
Are you a fan of great wines but do not know how to appraise
the wine for its value? Do not be dismayed. There are resources
out there in retail stores and on the internet that can teach
you how to appraise the value of wines and even show you how to
make your own wines.
There are even books that teach you how to grow your own grapes!
Think of how impressed your friends will be when you present them
with a present of wines from your own garden.
From the grapevine to the table you can learn how wines are valued,
made and even how the grapes are grown. Before long you will be
a connoisseur of wines and will be able to wow your friends with
your knowledge. All it takes is the right information and you
will be on your way.
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