Last year around this time, I decided that I'd apply myself, use the resources The Chopping Block has in abundance, and start really learning about wine and liquor. What a year it's been. Between the build out of our new bar at the Merchandise Mart for our Happy Hours, our partnership with The Violet Hour, and the launch of our new cocktail program, I've been overwhelmed with opportunities to pursue the knowledge I was so thirsty for.
But one thing still escaped me: the best way to match all of these exciting new beverages I'd learned about with food. I've finally developed enough of a palate to know that no, not everything goes with a dark beer- but what should I match to Chef Sara's chicken wraps I was making on the grill? (I've also gotten better at cooking than I used to be. It's been a busy year.)
With two years of food education and a year of gathering up all the alcohol knowledge I can get my hands on, I knew this question had to be more complicated than it seemed on the surface. So, since I was at home with the grill already fired up, I pulled out my phone and started in on the research.
Sure enough, there's a lot to consider when pairing alcohol with food - on both sides of the equation! While drinking what you love is the first step (and my dark beer days are far from over) every flavor you put together is going to interact during a meal. That seems like common sense, but once you get into the science of how flavors work, like we do in our Flavor Dynamics class, it turns out to be pretty complicated!
Any wine connoisseur can tell you, for instance, that a red wine with lots of tannins pairs well with fatty meats like steak and hamburgers. But not all will know that there's a scientific reason why- according to our Sommelier Viktorija Todorovska, tannins are an astringent that will actually help clear the layer of fat the meat leaves behind off of your tastebuds. This means that each bite, and each sip, will have more flavor if you pair these two tastes together!
Once I realized that taste pairings were so complicated, I knew I'd have to go back to my friends at The Chopping Block for more information if I really wanted to get it. With all of the wine, beer, and liquor to choose from in our beverage program, I knew we'd have a lot of opportunities for pairings and education as we rolled into the end of summer for everyone else as well as for me.
So we're throwing a party! Mark your calendars for August 27th at our Lincoln Square location. We'll offer free samples of wine, beer, and cocktails with matching foods as well as two classes that go into more depth about how and why to match your drinks to your meals this summer. It should be an exciting and tasty day! Come and tell me about your misadventures in pairing, and talk to our experts about how to avoid any pitfalls. We hope to see you there.
