Discover Champagne Soup, a Wine Food Pairing Adventure! |
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Consider combining wine food pairing in just one bowl. Imagine the heat and humidity of summer. What could be better than to invite a few friends over to cool off with a chilled champagne soup with sun ripened mangoes? An impromptu party is always a good way to raise the spirits! If you have a mango tree in the neighborhood that supplies you with fresh fruit, so much the better. These kind of informal parties are always the BEST! I like to use Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut. It is a crisp, dry sparkling wine that has a soft, smooth flavor and pairs beautifully with the juiciness of the sweet ripe mango. The Freixenet also works great with ripe, full flavored peaches as the fruit addition. Serve this wonderful soup into cut crystal bowls and it will knock your guests socks off! YIKES!! Pair the soup with warm from the oven croissants and fresh creamery butter, what could be better. Many times I cheat with the croissants and use the dough from the tube and just pop them in the oven as the guests arrive . The best part is they only take a few minutes to bake. For this special occasion, you should definitely bring out your cloth napkins. This, along with a centerpiece of freshly cut flowers arranged in your favorite vase will set the tone for your classic get together. Does this take hours to prepare? I think not, but I will not tell! How about dessert? Summertime always offers up such terrific bounty when it comes to fruit and berries. Big, juicy strawberries dipped into a melted healthy dark chocolate are always a winner. Be sure to melt your chocolate carefully in a water bath. Perhaps you are even lucky enough to have one of those new chocolate fountains, they work great, too. I always leave the stem on for added color and it also makes a great handle on the berry to keep your fingers from getting burned! Let the berry cool off on waxed paper and then present them to your guests on your favorite platter. This is a super, make ahead, dessert that can be done a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Try pairing your chocolate strawberries with a bold red wine. I love the wines from Chile and I chose Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot. The dark chocolate will bring out the best of the wine and vice versa. Decant your wine early and allow it to breathe. ENJOY! A cup of coffee might be nice as the party winds down. A very special treat that the Austrians invented is called a melange. This coffee beverage is a fifty-fifty mix of coffee and milk stirred to form a foamy top. In the Austrian coffee houses this is usually served on a silver tray with a glass of sparkling mineral water on the side, garnished with a slice of fresh lemon. Very CHI CHI! Do not forget to bring out all your silver and crystal. Always stop at garage sales to look for partyware as they usually have a lot of grandmas old silver and crystal items that make up for a festive party. Discover how easy wine food pairing really is. Plan ahead and WOW your guests. With this in mind you will be able to enjoy the party right along with your friends. CHEERS!
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