Champagne Soup, Anyone? A Wine Food Pairing Treat!

Consider combining wine food pairing in just one bowl.

When the heat and humidity start to get you down in the dog days of summer, what better way to bring back your cheer than to host a quick get together? Try chilled champagne soup and sweet from the tree, sliced mangoes. Nothing perks up a crowd faster than this icy cold sparkling treat. Call all your friends and tell them to put on their party hats and dancing shoes!

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.

Red wine and dark chocolate is a match made in heaven! I like Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot. Dark chocolate needs a bold red wine and this Chilean wine fills the bill bringing out the best in both. Be sure to decant in advance and give the wine time to breathe. Yummy!

Now as your party starts to wind down, you will want to offer your guests a cup of coffee. The Austrians invented a coffee beverage called a melange. This drink is served throughout Austria in all the coffee houses and is a fifty-fifty mix of coffee and milk with a foamy top. Traditionally, they serve this with a glass of sparkling mineral water on the side. Add sliced lemons on the table for those that like a bit of citrus with their water and you have a delightful end to a wonderful party. Remember to get out all your fancy glasses and crystal, they do not even have to match to make it festive! Garage sales are a terrific resource for items like this.

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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