Drinks Before Dinner

We all enjoy our beverage of choice before dinner, or what we might associate as cocktails. So, let’s look at a formal definition. It is known as an Aperitif. An Aperitif is an alcoholic drink that is served to stimulate the appetite. Aperitifs are commonly severed with something small to eat, such as crackers, cheese, nuts or other finger foods. Aperitifs, along with appetite stimulation, can also increase the amount of food we crave and intake. The eating of fresh fruit with citric acid can also trigger your salivary glands and boost your appetite. The history of the Aperitif is believed to date back to the Egyptians, but we don’t have any solid record keeping that might prove that! The word aperitif in Latin aperire means “to open”.

So what makes a good aperitif?
We often drink beer, wine, or cocktails before dinner. As far as pre dinner drinks go, higher alcohol drinks and beer can dull your palet, especially if you are having a lighter dish for dinner. Lower alcohol drinks, like a dry sparkling wine or champagne, work best to kick-off a meal. Other appetite stimulant drinks can be found in herb based drinks such as Campari and Lillet. Also consider a Fino Sherry like I wrote about last month. Campari is a red Italian drink that is bitter, so it’s an acquired taste. It would be best to mix this with sparkling water or soda. Lillet is a wine based aperitif that comes in red and white varieties. Lillet was requested by James Bond to be mixed in his martini in the movie Casino Royale. Try the white version chilled with a twist of orange.

As you think about your pre dinner drinks, think about the dinner course that it is to follow, and keep pre dinner drinks lights and refreshing to stimulate your appetite.
Cheers!

Sherry

So what is Sherry? Sherry is not something we go to seek out on our visit to the wine store. It’s a neglected wine, and often misunderstood. Sherry is an acquired taste for most. It’s a fortified wine made from white grapes. Most Sherries are initially dry; with any sweetness being added later on. The famous region in Spain in were Sherry comes from is Andalucía. It’s the oldest wine making area in Spain. Let’s focus on the 2 main styles of Sherry: Fino and Oloroso. Sherry is meant to be drunk with food. Sherry is produced in a variety of styles, from dry and light such as Finos to darker heavier styles know as Olorosos, again all made from the same white grape Palomino. The word Fino means “fine” in Spanish. It’s the driest and palest of Sherries. Manzanilla is also another light variety of Fino Sherry. These styles of Sherries pair well with green olives, almonds, Serrano ham and salty snacks. Also try it with fried foods especially calamari. I like the Manzanilla style with grilled or sautéed shrimp.

Oloroso means scented in Spanish. The scent or perfume you should notice is that of salted hazelnuts. Oloroso’s are a little fuller bodied. They are typically higher in alcohol and range between 18-20%. Oloroso’s can be dark or Carmel in color. These Sherries can be dry and sweet. You will notice richer taste and a longer finish on your tongue. Try these with beef especially the dry Oloroso’s. Also Blue cheese or hard cheeses work well.

In the end most Sherries are dry with the exceptions of Cream Sherry and PX or Pedro Ximenez. PX’s are very sweet with a syrupy consistency. They have aromas of dried fruits, dark spices. A treat would be to drizzle a little of vanilla ice cream.
Don’t be afraid of Sherry, it’s truly an untapped secret.