Posts for July 6th 2011

Wine

Happy Hour: Presto Moscato Dolce

Ever since I was pleasantly surprised by Yellow Tail's latest wine, a well-priced Australian Moscato, the muscat grape has assumed the role of flavor of the month.

Ever since I was pleasantly surprised by Yellow Tail's latest wine, a well-priced Australian Moscato, the muscat grape has assumed the role of flavor of the month. Call it coincidence, but a few days later, I sampled Presto Moscato Dolce and fell hard for its flavor profile.

This Italian bottling isn't nearly as sweet (nor has the same intensity) as its Yellow Tail counterpart. Rather, it greets you with a light perfume of honeyed stone fruits and lots of effervescence. The finish, which is more off-dry than an extra dry sparkling wine, but not quite as sweet as Moscato d'Asti, isn't overly saccharine.

Presto Moscato Dolce's perfect for sipping solo, although I can't wait to try this at an outdoor concert, accompanied by brie, bread, and Summer fruit. Given that it's available nationwide at Whole Foods for around $10, I'm sure I'll be giving it another whirl soon. What's your favorite picnic wine?

cooking tips

How to Care For Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Like double-walled reusable cups, metal drinkware — in particular, the portable stainless steel water bottle — is ubiquitous these days.

Like double-walled reusable cups, metal drinkware — in particular, the portable stainless steel water bottle — is ubiquitous these days. While they're an eco-friendly way to stay hydrated on the go, it's important to remember that they have to be properly cared for in order to maintain longevity. Want to be sure you're preserving your bottle so it lasts as long as possible? Follow these tips.

  • Be gentle. Wash your drinkware by hand, as the dishwasher can be damaging to bottles, and the narrow nature of metal bottles means dishwasher detergent may not hit all interior surfaces. (Exception: if you have a plastic lid, this can go into the machine.) Don't use bleach- or chlorine-based cleansers.
  • Clean your drinkware correctly. Fill your bottle with warm water, then drop in a specialized bottle cleansing tablet. Alternatively, mix warm water with a drop of dishwashing soap, put the top on, and give it a good shake. Rinse thoroughly with warm to hot water. Need to give the lip of the bottle a good scrub? Enlist the help of a soft toothbrush.
  • Remember that metal is a conductor of heat! Avoid pouring very hot liquids into your bottle, as it'll increase the temperature of the exterior wall, making your drinkware hard to handle. Be sure to allow steaming hot liquids to cool to a drinkable temperature before transferring them into the container.

How often do you wash your stainless steel drinkware?

Food News

Meet the World's Largest Hamburger

File this report under This Is Why America's Fat: This week, the United States officially set a new record for the world's largest hamburger.

File this report under This Is Why America's Fat: This week, the United States officially set a new record for the world's largest hamburger.

The 777-pound burger, known as "Juicy's Outlaw Burger," was created this past Saturday by Oregon concessions company Juicy's at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, CA. The 1,375,000-calorie behemoth, which clocked in at five feet in diameter and three feet thick, toppled a previous Canadian record of 590 pounds.

It's only apropos that the United States sets a record for the largest burger world over at a time when it's setting a record for eating the largest quantity of burgers ever. According to the Burger Consumer Trend Report released today by research firm Technomic, a whopping 48 percent of consumers are eating a burger at least once a week. Are you one of them?

Source

Food News

Yummy Links: From Shore Food to Grilled Meats

san francisco

Pairing Tea With Pastry at a Modern Pop-Up

From community-conscious eatery Mission Street Food to Dale Talde's Bodega, pop-up shops — roving restaurants open only during select dates and times — have become all the rage.
First course

From community-conscious eatery Mission Street Food to Dale Talde's Bodega, pop-up shops — roving restaurants open only during select dates and times — have become all the rage.

In fact, they're a dime a dozen, especially in food-centric metro areas like the San Francisco Bay Area. Last weekend, however, saw the debut of Kettle Whistle, a high tea service pop-up and a joint venture between a fine tea purveyor and one of the country's best pastry chefs in a first-of-its-kind collaboration.

At a time when wine or beer and food pairings have become a common topic of discussion, the concept of matching sweets and savories with aged-old tea is a breath of fresh air. Keep reading to scope out pictures from the city's first-ever high tea pop-up — and learn how to pair your own tea with food.

giveaway

Win Tickets to an Exclusive Friends With Benefits Screening

We're giving away tickets to a fabulous girls' night out event!

We're giving away tickets to a fabulous girls' night out event! PopSugar and PopSugar City are hosting an exclusive screening of Friends With Benefits on Wednesday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. Want to join the fun?

Select your city below for a chance to win tickets to the PopSugar screening of Friends With Benefits! If you can't make it, be sure to see it in theaters starting July 22.

Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Miami

sandwiches

Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Peach and Pancetta Sandwiches

Savory peach dishes are a Summer favorite, and if peaches can pair well with pancetta and basil as an appetizer, why not throw them all into a grilled cheese sandwich?

Savory peach dishes are a Summer favorite, and if peaches can pair well with pancetta and basil as an appetizer, why not throw them all into a grilled cheese sandwich? I did just that on a recent warm evening. The resulting sandwich was absolutely scrumptious! It's a great combination of flavors (salty and sweet) and textures (crispy and gooey). Putting peaches in a grilled cheese sandwich may sound crazy, but trust me, it really works! To give this quick and easy recipe a try, read on for the technique.

community

Garden Birthday Party

Hosting a party this Summer?

Hosting a party this Summer? Be inspired by the gorgeous garden birthday that Vane Elliemae recently threw.


A garden birthday party I put together. We met at 5 p.m. and enjoyed the night until the sun set. The theme was flower garden party. The flower arrangements were all done by myself, as well as the decorations and the sangria with some help from friends. The food was catered and the cake was provided by a friend. It was a very nice relaxing night. I hope you enjoy the photos!

More of her awesome party spread, after the break.