Pair Up with La Sommelierre - September 2009
Festive Labor Day BBQ
Labor Day is the last chance to BBQ for many. Standard faire is chicken or hamburgers with potato salad and coleslaw. Here is a different kind of BBQ that is truly a fiesta.
Prosecco is the perfect way to start just about any party. It is light, effervescent, and slightly sweet. Prosecco goes with almost every appetizer. The sweetness of this sparkling wine creates a nice counterpoint to Spicy Scallop Ceviche. Throw in some good quality tortilla chips, guacamole and pico de gallo and you have a full spread. Be prepared to have extra bottles of bubbles on hand as sparkling wine goes down easy. Count on four full glasses from each bottle.
Creating a menu that pleases everyone is challenging for any occasion but even harder when it is a large gathering. In my family, we have vegetarians as well as ‘fish or chicken only’ eaters. My solution is a fajita extravaganza.
Grill shrimp, chicken and flank steak and serve with caramelized peppers and onions in flour tortillas. Toss in some Mexican rice and beans and the meal is complete. To complement this meal serve a fruit forward, slightly sweet California Zinfandel. The bold flavors stand up to the intensity of the food and the sugar balances the chili heat.
After a big Mexican fiesta, dessert should be light. Rosemary Shortbread cookies alongside good quality, store-bought lemon sorbet is sweet finish that won’t take up any more room. If your guests are wined-out, serve some sparkling water with wedges of lime. If not, pop another bottle of the prosecco that started the party. It will be a delicious book-end to a festive evening.
So, go on. Pair Up!
