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Do You Taste Your Food While Cooking?

partysugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:19 -0700

Come Party With Me: Oktoberfest - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:30:25 -0700

No specialty cocktail is needed at an Okotberfest celebration, the German festival is all about one thing - beer. Instead invite friends to partake in a beer tasting! There are several different ways to host a beer tasting. You can get the same kinds of beers, say German pilsners, all made by different breweries. You could select one brewery, purchase all the varieties of beer they make, and serve those. Or you can just buy a bunch of beers from various styles and regions. Head to Bevmo, Trader Joe's, or other local shop that sells a wide assortment of beers and purchase six packs or larger bottles for the tasting. To get more beer-tasting tips read more.

When selecting beers, think about the likes and dislikes of your guests. If the majority of people enjoy lighter style beers, get those. On the other hand, if your guests are adventurous drinkers, consider picking up hoppier/darker ales.
Handle the beer carefully and be sure to properly chill it.
Like wine, beer requires appropriate glasses for each type. However, for the sake of the tasting, simply serve the beer in standard glasses. Avoid using plastic or paper cups.
Drink slowly and take note of the beer's color, aroma, and head. Discuss how it tastes.
Each pour should be about 3-4 ounces.
Host the tasting before dinner and have extra bottles on hand to enjoy while consuming the meal.

Have you thrown a beer tasting? Please tell us about your experience below!

Happy Hour: Casa Noble Tequila and Cheese Tasting

partysugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:38 -0700

In my quest to become more educated on the world of spirits, I've taken a liking to high-end tequilas. Beyond Patron, there's a huge variety of wonderfully complex tequilas that are perfect for sipping solo or shaking into a classic margarita. One brand, Casa Noble, produces an amazing collection of authentic tequilas. Packaged in a traditional yet sexy bottle, Casa Noble's tequilas are uniquely modern because they're triple-distilled and naturally produced in French wine barrels. Recently I attended a tequila tasting hosted by the founding partner of Casa Noble, David Ravandi. To illustrate the fact that his tequilas are distinct from anything else on the market, Ravandi paired them with cheese. To find out what I thought of the unexpected combination of cheese and tequila, read more.

Although the idea of tequila and cheese together is shocking, I was pleasantly surprised by the duo. Ravandi paired Casa Noble Crystal (the brand's easy-drinking, award-winning silver) with a creamy goat cheese. The lingering finish of the cheese eliminated the usual bite of tequila.

The delicate Casa Noble Reposado (aged for 364 days in French oak barrels) was my favorite of the three tequilas. Fruity and floral, it has a peppery finish. Paired with roquefort, the reposado was rich, layered, and smooth.

The third pairing - the Casa Noble Anejo and stilton - was the least pleasing to my palate. While I enjoyed both alone, together the powerful spirit and pungent cheese canceled one another out.

After the cheese tequila tasting was finished, Ravandi invited me to sample Casa Noble Crystal in a vibrantly hued cocktail. Created by the bartender at the Fifth Floor, the tequila mockingbird was an interesting, almost salad-like concoction of celery juice, lime juice, and bitters. Rimmed with a mixture of cayenne and celery salt, the drink was refreshing, and the tequila blended flawlessly with the other ingredients. I enjoyed my experience with Casa Noble so much, I plan on adding a bottle of the reposado to my liquor cabinet.

How about you? Do you enjoy tequila? What's your favorite premium offering?

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Say Cheese! On Pairing Cheese With Wine

partysugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:15:39 -0700

There was one thing I learned at the Artisan Cheese Festival that changed my life. No joke! Normally when I think of pairing wine and cheese I choose a red wine.

However, after tasting over 30 types of cheese paired with both red and white wine, I have to agree with cheese expert Laura Werlin: in general, cheese pairs better with white wine than it does red wine.

Why? Simply put, cheese affects the taste of the wine more than the wine affects the taste of the cheese. A bold, highly tannic red wine cancels out the flavor of most cheese and leaves a soapy taste in the mouth. On the other hand, the buttery richness of cheese is complemented by a creamy Chardonnay or acidic Sauvginon Blanc.

Especially if there is a dominant characteristic in the wine - too much oak, extremely high alcohol content, etc. - it won't pair well with cheese. To truly understand the difference, I highly suggest you perform your own cheese and wine tasting. To learn how read more.

Select several different types of cheese from a variety of cheese families. Brie, cheddar, Pecorino Romano, and Stilton would be a nice group for the tasting.
Pour two glasses of wine. A red (easy-drinking Pinot Noir) and a white (unoaked Chardonnay).
Take a bite of cheese and a sip of white wine.
Take a bite of the same cheese and a sip of red wine.
Think about how they taste together. Which one tastes better?

Let me know how your tasting goes and if you agree that cheese does in fact taste better with white wine!

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How to Taste Fine Whiskey

partysugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:47 -0700

While downing green drinks or beer cocktails is a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, sipping a fine, Irish whiskey is a low-key way to mark the occasion. Like wine, there is a special technique to enjoy the potent caramel-colored spirit.

Here's how:

Make sure the whiskey is at room temperature. Pour into a clear glass with a narrow mouth and wide bottom.
Examine the color of the liquid. The darker the whiskey, the longer it has been aged.
Warm the glass with your hands and smell the whiskey's aroma. Note any fruit, spice, or other flavors, like butterscotch.
Before tasting, add a tiny bit of water to dilute the concentrated spirit. You will be able to better taste the whiskey without a harsh burn from the strong alcohol.
Finally, sip the whiskey like you would a wine, and be aware of its body and flavor.

Do you enjoy whiskey? Have you ever been to a whiskey tasting?

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PartySugar's Favorites From Fancy Foods

partysugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:30:33 -0800

Although there were over 200,000 products and 81 countries represented at the Fancy Foods Show, only seven items stood out in my mind (okay eight if you include the caviar!). These delicious bites were the highlight of the show. Start clicking to check them out.

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Tasting the Tasting Tent

partysugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:30:28 -0700

A highlight of any food festival is getting to taste a bunch of fabulous bites. The Food Network's NYC Wine and Food Festival was no different, the tent featured over 50 restaurants and attracted more than 4,000 people in two days. I was a champion taster and ate everything I came across. Here, I've rounded up my top tastes.

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A Closer Look at the Grand Tasting

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:00:05 -0700

Words and pictures can hardly describe the grand tasting tent at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. When I first walked in, I was overwhelmed by the never-ending tables filled with wine, cocktails, and food. However, by the third tasting, I felt like a seasoned pro. To share the incredible experience, we've put together this exclusive video. Enjoy!

Drinking the Tasting Tent: Cocktails

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:28 -0700

With the food ranging from s'more bites to duck paninis, you could imagine that the liquid side of Aspen was also quite varied. Although it's called the Food and Wine Classic, there were actually loads of mixed drinks to be found. During one of the five grand tastings, PartySugar and I ended up skipping the wine and going straight for the cocktails. To check out some of our favorite finds just click the "Start" button.

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Tasting the Tasting Tent

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:30:21 -0700

At the three day Food and Wine Classic in Aspen there are five Grand Tastings: two on Friday, two on Saturday, and one on Sunday. During each session, the public is invited to enter the tasting tents and try a plethora of food and drink. At these power tastings I experienced some delicious bites. Here's a collection of my favorite foods from the tents.

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