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11/09/09
Odd Couple
Hot List: Finger Food and Wine Pairings
You're an evolved creature. And yet, there's nothing quite as anthropologically satisfying as eating with your bare-knuckled digits—particularly when paired with a fine wine. Lest you undertake this endeavor casually, we have enlisted the expert opinion of the city's top sommeliers. Don't tell us we never classed up your act.
GIRLS ON FILM
Fried Chicken at Foreign Cinema
The food: The Five-Spice Fried Chicken, deboned half-bird that's pounded flat,
spice-rubbed and fried à la chicken tenders.
The wine: The '06 Tokaji Sec from Hungary.
The reason: The chalky taste pierces through the chicken's kick to quell the burn. And you get to say "Hungarian wine" in the same sentence as "fried chicken."
The wine: The '06 Tokaji Sec from Hungary.
The reason: The chalky taste pierces through the chicken's kick to quell the burn. And you get to say "Hungarian wine" in the same sentence as "fried chicken."
- 411:
- Foreign Cinema, 2534 Mission St (at 21st), 415-648-7600
DUCK DUCK GOOSE
Spruce's Duck Fat Fries
The food: Spruce's killer duck fat fries.
The wine: An '07 Jean Foillard 'Cuvee Corcelette' Morgon Beaujolais.
The reason: Because it's a time-tested truism—everything is better with duck fat. And that includes Beaujolais.
The wine: An '07 Jean Foillard 'Cuvee Corcelette' Morgon Beaujolais.
The reason: Because it's a time-tested truism—everything is better with duck fat. And that includes Beaujolais.
- 411:
- Spruce, 3640 Sacramento St (at Spruce), 415-931-5100
POP ROCKS
La Folie Lounge's Truffled Popcorn
The food: Some good puffs drizzled with white truffle oil.
The wine: Fizzy '02 Roederer Estate Ermitage.
The reason: You'll feel the bubbles cut the butter on your palate, like the culinarian you are. Besides, you always felt popcorn deserved a broader platform beyond the movie theater.
The wine: Fizzy '02 Roederer Estate Ermitage.
The reason: You'll feel the bubbles cut the butter on your palate, like the culinarian you are. Besides, you always felt popcorn deserved a broader platform beyond the movie theater.
- 411:
- La Folie Lounge, 2316 Polk St (at Green), 415-776-5577
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
Deviled Eggs at SPQR
The food: Spicy deviled eggs.
The wine: An '07 Marisa Cuomo 'Ravello' from Campania, recommended by owner Shelley Lindgren.
The reason: The spice calls for a wine with a high dose of granite and limestone minerality to accentuate the heat from the chiles (obviously).
The wine: An '07 Marisa Cuomo 'Ravello' from Campania, recommended by owner Shelley Lindgren.
The reason: The spice calls for a wine with a high dose of granite and limestone minerality to accentuate the heat from the chiles (obviously).
- 411:
- SPQR, 1911 Fillmore St (at Bush), 415-771-7779
GREEN FAIRY
Absinthe's Kobe-Beef Hot Dog
The food: A Kobe-beef dog nestled in a bacon fat-rubbed bun, which (almost) needs no other
distraction.
The wine: Wine manager Ian Becker recommends a Grenache-based Rhone like a '06 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse.
The reason: Because it doesn't compete with the spices in the hot dog. And because—dammit—it's just fun to drink.
The wine: Wine manager Ian Becker recommends a Grenache-based Rhone like a '06 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse.
The reason: Because it doesn't compete with the spices in the hot dog. And because—dammit—it's just fun to drink.
- 411:
- Absinthe, 398 Hayes St (at Gough), 415-551-1590
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